Everything you need to know to turn AI Into Your Assistant: Master Mindful Prompting
Y’all know I love my productivity systems! I’d love to have an honest heart to heart about the controversial topic of AI (Artificial Intelligence). So lets dive in:
What Even IS AI & ChatGPT tho?
Let’s kick it off by answering the question on everyone’s mind: "What the heck even IS ChatGPT?" If you’ve heard the hype but still feel like it’s just some mysterious tech thing everyone else somehow understands... you’re not alone.
Imagine if Google and your favorite helpful bestie had a baby — but instead of giving you a list of links to sift through, she gives you direct answers, custom ideas, and even helps you write stuff when your brain is tired. That’s ChatGPT. It’s an AI tool that writes with you, like a creative assistant you don’t have to put on payroll.
It runs on something called an LLM (Large Language Model), which is just the techy engine behind the scenes. Think: ChatGPT is the brand, like Kleenex. LLM is the tissue. One is the product, the other is the tech powering it. So when people say ChatGPT is “AI,” they mean it’s a product that uses AI tech to chat, write, brainstorm, and more.
✨ TAKEAWAY
ChatGPT is basically your content co-pilot. It's not going to replace you (and it shouldn’t). But it can help you get unstuck, plan content faster, and write in your voice — when you know how to ask it the right things. Don’t worry, we’ll get to that part soon.
📝 TRY THIS
Pop into ChatGPT and say something like: "Hey bestie, I’m a photographer trying to grow my brand online. Can you give me 5 Instagram post ideas that feel fun, aligned with my vibe, and easy to write when I’m overwhelmed?"
Then scroll through what it gives you. Does anything spark an idea? Do you feel like it’s close, but not quite? That’s totally normal: it’s a starting point, not a final product.
AI and Environmental Mindfulness
Don’t be fooled: AI is amazing but it is also energy-intensive.
Every AI interaction uses significant computational power, translating to higher energy usage compared to a regular Google search (sometimes 10–30 times more!). This isn't to shame anyone for using AI; it’s about gently nudging ourselves to be more mindful and intentional with our AI use.
Research highlights that even our small interactions add up to significant environmental impact—think massive data centers requiring tons of electricity and water. But don't panic! You have the power to make choices that blend productivity with sustainability beautifully.
How to Use AI Sustainably
Mindful AI Usage
Start by asking yourself in your brain, "Does this task genuinely need AI?" Traditional methods like a google search or critical thinking might just suffice: helping you save energy and stay eco-friendly. Reserve your AI magic for when your brain truly needs a break or when a creative spark is needed ASAP.
Efficient Prompting = Less Energy Use
Prompt engineering—crafting precise, detailed prompts—can significantly reduce AI's energy footprint. Think of prompts like coffee orders: vague orders get mixed results, clear orders get exactly what you need. Include specifics (role, audience, purpose, context, and desired tone) to ensure the AI gets it right the first time, reducing unnecessary energy-draining revisions.
Prompt Formula Cheat Sheet:
Role ("Act like a social media pro…")
Audience ("Busy moms considering boudoir sessions…")
Topic + Purpose ("Promote my Spring 2025 mini-sessions…")
Context + Details ("Sessions are body-positive, inclusive…")
Tone + Format ("Warm, conversational Instagram caption…")
CTA ("Join my VIP Facebook group today!")
Choose the Right AI Model
Smaller, specialized AI models like Grok AI or DeepSeek can handle tasks efficiently and use significantly less energy compared to general giants like GPT-4. Picking the right AI model for your tasks is like choosing the right lens—select the one designed specifically for your goal.
Hardware & Cloud Choices
Support cloud services powered by renewable energy. Providers like Google and Microsoft actively invest in green energy and optimize their servers to be eco-friendly. Simply choosing the right cloud provider can meaningfully decrease your environmental impact.
Refining, Not Restarting
If AI responses initially feel "off," don't discard—refine! Gently coach your AI intern:
"Make this warmer and more personal."
"Shorten this, please."
"Rewrite this like a caring bestie hyping up their friend."
Refinement saves energy, respects your mental bandwidth, and makes your collaboration smoother.
Train AI Like Your New Assistant
Consistency is key! Create a reusable doc (an "AI Prompt Kit") with:
Your brand’s voice description
Ideal client details
Effective prompts you've discovered
Signature phrases or CTAs you love
Reuse this toolkit to keep your AI interactions consistent and environmentally mindful.
ChatGPT ain’t Magic
Omg, something that trips so many people up when they first try using AI: they expect it to just... know things. Like it’s a psychic or mind reader or magical content fairy. Spoiler alert: it’s not.
ChatGPT is powerful, yes, but it’s also kind of a people-pleaser. It wants to give you what you ask for, but if your prompt is super vague or missing key info, it’ll fill in the blanks — and not always in ways that feel aligned with your brand or goals.
💡 WHAT THIS MEANS
Think of ChatGPT like a barista taking your order. If you just walk up and say, “Coffee,” you’re gonna get whatever they feel like handing you. But if you say, “Hi! I’d love a hot oat milk latte with one pump of vanilla and extra cinnamon on top,” now we’re talking. You gave them the context to deliver exactly what you want.
Same thing with prompts. Instead of typing, “Make me an Instagram caption,” try something like, “Write an Instagram caption for a moody, cinematic boudoir photographer launching a body-positive mini session. My brand is empowering, a little spicy, and deeply inclusive. Use a tone that’s confident and warm with a CTA to join my VIP email list.”
✨ TAKEAWAY
The more details you give ChatGPT, the more aligned and you the results will feel. You don’t have to write a novel — just be intentional. Who are you? What’s the vibe? Who are you talking to? What do you want them to do?
📝 TRY THIS
Open a thread in ChatGPT and paste this: "Act as a copywriter for a soulful boudoir photographer who helps women feel confident in their bodies. Write 3 Instagram captions promoting a self-love mini session, using a warm, poetic tone. Include one call to action encouraging sign-ups."
Now that you know AI isn't a mind reader and needs a lil' direction... let’s level up. If you’ve ever typed something into ChatGPT and thought, “Why does this sound like a robot who doesn’t know me at all?” then this one’s for you.
💡 WHAT THIS MEANS
The secret sauce to making ChatGPT feel like a you clone is crafting what I call "Prompt Engineering." This is like handing over a fully-styled mood board and detailed creative brief all in one. When you give ChatGPT the full picture, it can serve content that actually slaps.
Think of it like planning a photo session: You wouldn't show up without knowing the location, the vibe, the client’s story, or the goal of the shoot. Your prompt should do the same — paint the picture clearly so AI can bring it to life.
Here’s your PROMPT ENGINEERING formula:
ROLE:
Who should ChatGPT act as? (Your dream expert — Instagram coach, copywriter, etc.)
AUDIENCE:
Who are you talking to? (Be specific: moms, creatives, couples, etc.)
TOPIC + PURPOSE:
What are you saying, and why? (What’s the point?)
CONTEXT + DETAILS:
What’s the bigger picture, and what do they need to know?
TONE + FORMAT:
What’s the vibe and how should it show up? (Caption, blog, etc.)
CTA:
What do you want your reader to do afterward?
✨ TAKEAWAY
When in doubt, follow the formula. You don’t have to include every piece, but the more you do, the more your results will actually sound like you — not a meh version of a Canva template. Less overwhelming, right?
📝 TRY THIS
“I want you to act as a social media coach. Write a confident, bold Instagram caption for a boudoir photographer (me!) who’s launching a spring self-love campaign. My ideal clients are women in their 30s-50s who want to reconnect with their sensuality. The tone should be edgy, empowering, and playful. End with a CTA to book through the link in my bio.”💬 YOUR TURN
Try your own Prompt Engineering using the formula above, then tell me if you like what you got!
Use AI as a Content Creation tool for Your Photography Biz without sounding like a robot…
If you’ve ever thought, "Ugh, I don’t want AI writing my stuff... it’ll sound cold, boring, or nothing like me…"
I get it. Truly. That fear is so valid. But here’s the thing: ChatGPT only sounds robotic if you don’t tell it how to sound like you. By default, ChatGPT plays it safe. Its responses are often bland on purpose. It’s like ordering a sandwich and not telling the person at the counter what toppings you want. Sure, you’ll get something... but it might be the plainest turkey sandwich of your life. No spice. No sauce. No flavor.
You get to be the one who adds the flavor. ChatGPT will give you the bread, but it needs your help to make it delicious and on-brand. You set the vibe.
You can literally guide ChatGPT to match your voice. Want flirty and fun? Moody and poetic? Confident and cozy? Just say so. And if the first draft feels off, you can ask it to revise with more personality or adjust the tone to sound more like a creative bestie. It’s not about getting it perfect on the first try. It’s about collaboration.
✨ TAKEAWAY
ChatGPT doesn’t replace your voice. It helps you access it faster. Think of it like a stylist who helps you pull outfits from your own closet. The pieces are already yours. AI just helps you put them together with more ease.
📝 TRY THIS
Take a caption you’ve written (or one you’re struggling with) and paste it into ChatGPT. Then say, "Can you rewrite this in a confident, warm, conversational tone like a photographer bestie hyping me up?"
💬 YOUR TURN
If you feel brave, share in the comments below how it felt to use your own voice more clearly.
ChatGPT Can’t Read Your Mind… But It Can Learn Your Voice
If you’ve ever gotten an output that made you go, “Um... this kinda sounds like a corporate email from 2008,” that’s your sign to teach it how you talk.
💡 WHAT THIS MEANS
ChatGPT doesn’t come pre-loaded with your brand tone or the emotional vibe you bring to your audience. It doesn’t know you’re fun, bold, poetic, cheeky, empowering, soft-yet-edgy — unless you tell it. The cool part? You can train it to speak in your voice, especially when writing to potential clients.
Instead of starting from scratch every time, create a mini "voice memo" prompt you can reuse. Think of it like your go-to client-facing brand intro, the tone you bring to every caption, blog, or email.
📝 TRY THIS
Here’s an example you can tweak to your own personal taste, personality, and brand voice:
“My brand voice is warm, supportive, and cinematic. I speak directly to women who want to reconnect with themselves through empowering portrait sessions. I use a tone that’s reflective and inviting, like a best friend gently hyping you up. I don’t use stiff or corporate language. Please write this like I’m speaking directly to a potential client who’s curious about booking a session but might need a little emotional nudge.”
Why ChatGPT Sometimes Misses
Ever typed a prompt into ChatGPT and gotten something that made you go, “Okay, cute idea... but not quite it”? Maybe it was too vague, too wordy, or just didn’t sound like something you’d say. That’s totally normal. The first draft is just that — a starting point.
ChatGPT isn’t a perfection machine. It’s a collaboration tool. Think of the first draft like a rough sketch. It gives you something to react to, edit, or build on. The trick is knowing what to ask next.
How to Fix It Fast…
If the response feels off, don’t delete it and start over. Instead, coach it. Literally type: “Make this shorter.” “Add more emotion.” “Use language that’s more playful and empowering.” Or even, “This sounds too formal — can you rewrite it like I’m talking to a friend who needs a little encouragement?”
✨ TAKEAWAY
You’re allowed to guide the conversation. Think of ChatGPT as your creative intern — smart, capable, and fast — but it needs direction. You’re still the creative director here. You’re just getting a helpful head start.
📝 TRY THIS
Give ChatGPT a task, then follow up with: “Now revise this to sound more inviting and personal, like I’m talking directly to a client who’s been nervous to book their first session.” My question to you is: have you ever gotten a weird or robotic response from ChatGPT? Drop it below and I’ll show you how I’d tweak it.
If you’ve ever thought, “Ugh, I wish it just remembered how I like things,” you’re going to love this trick.
Ready to save even more time with AI? Let’s talk about how to make it work for you. Consistently. Not just one-off.
Think of ChatGPT like your new creative assistant. You wouldn't expect a fresh hire to read your mind. You’d walk them through your style, your goals, your vibe. Maybe even show them past work. That’s exactly what you can do with ChatGPT too.
Save your favorite prompts and your brand voice description in a notes app or doc. Start every new thread by pasting that in. You can even say, “Refer to the voice guide I just shared for all answers moving forward.” Boom. Instant consistency.
✨ TAKEAWAY
You don’t have to keep reinventing the wheel. Create a mini prompt toolkit and reuse it. This keeps your content on-brand and saves you brainpower. Especially when you’re juggling 500 other things.
📝 TRY THIS
Create a doc called “My AI Prompt Kit.” In it, add: • Your voice and tone description • Your ideal client description • A few example prompts that worked really well • Any phrasing you always want to include (like your signature sign-offs or CTAs)
💬 YOUR TURN
Do you already have a system for saving prompts or brand voice notes? Drop your favorite time-saving tip in the comments. If you don’t have one yet, no shame. This is your sign to start fresh today!
Writing Captions When You’re Tired, Overwhelmed, or Just Not Feeling It
Finally, let’s be honest. Some days, writing a caption feels like climbing a mountain in flip-flops. Your brain is foggy, your energy is low, and Instagram is the last thing you want to deal with. That’s exactly when AI can help the most.
You don’t have to wait until you’re "in the zone" to create something beautiful or valuable. ChatGPT can take a tiny spark of an idea and turn it into a warm, clear caption that still sounds like you. The goal here is not perfection. The goal is to keep showing up with care and ease.
✨ TAKEAWAY
You’re still the voice behind the message. But you don’t have to do the heavy lifting alone. Let ChatGPT be the brainstorming buddy who helps you say what you mean, even when you’re not sure where to start.
📝 TRY THIS
When you’re tired or stuck, open ChatGPT and type: “I’m a [your genre] photographer and I’m feeling low energy today, but I still want to connect with my audience. Can you help me write a short, supportive Instagram caption that reminds people why they deserve to be seen and celebrated in photos?”
💬 YOUR TURN
Save this prompt for a rainy day and try it when your creativity needs a little love. Let me know if it helped or if you want me to help shape a custom version just for you.
Starting to see how AI isn’t hijacking your creativity but supporting it?
Don’t stop at chat-based tools!!! As a chronic over-shooter (hi, me 😌), I love to follow the story, the movement, the vibe… and I never want to cut myself off mid-creative flow just to stay within a set image count. But the culling hangover after a big wedding or styled shoot? It used to be brutal.
🦄 Enter: Aftershoot.
This AI-assisted culling + editing software has literally given me my time back. It learns my patterns. It sorts the gems. It takes my overwhelm and turns it into order. It’s not here to replace your eye. It’s here to lift it up.
If you’re already dreaming about a more streamlined, less soul-sucking post-process… Just try the 30-day free trial. Like, seriously. No pressure. But you’ll probably be hooked by week two. I’m on the Pro plan now and obsessed is an understatement.
🌈 Get your time back by clicking 👇
Have fun prompting! 🫶
🔖 Bookmark this post for later!
Nikki Connor is a 📍 Houston, Texas based photographer and digital planning enthusiast behind 📷 ClickNikki Photo & Boudoir and ✏️ Nikki Plans. She specializes in bright and moody, story-driven imagery celebrating confidence and connection, and also creates cozy iPad planning PNGs and resources. Nikki supports her fellow photographer community through her 💻 For Togs educational content and templates. Her brand is strongly rooted in empowerment, authenticity, and honest communication: wherever or however you work with her.
