Yeah, that profectionist part. I still do some post work for a couple photographers in the US. Now a days there are so called filters and apps that you just click on to do some particular type of work. I had aways took a lot of pride in my skin work for the benefit of whoever is the model. There were a lot of steps to isolate an area, do the work needed, go on to the next area and repeat until completed work. Then, make sure all the areas match. Could take anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour for each photo. Today, I still do the same. Step by step, minute by minute. I still refuse to use apps that claim to do the work for me. Really, what satisfaction can one get by letting something else do your work?
I see these smoothing/beauty apps used in social media post and I can pick them out every time. Last time I checked, skin had pores. I get to a point sometimes my work can lose the pores so I put them back in. Click on a beauty app and it adjust the entire photo so that counter or that dildo you forgot to move are now all adjusted the same as the subject.
I would rather take my time and do it right. These are professional photographs so I believe the need professional care. While there certainly are professional and costly addons to Lightroom and Photoshop that many who do post work use and they are not bad, I would still chose my way over them. Photographers are paying me. They demand perfection so that is what I have to deliver.
As for coloring with AI, great for that snapshot you found in the attic. AI continues to have the same problem with coloring as it always has. Getting better but not their yet. The coloring bleeds into each other and especially the edges of each item in the photograph. Even with AI I would need to go in and redefine the edges and remove the bleeds and match the intended colors. Plus, it's much more educational to actually reseach what original colors may have been prior to color film. Checking museums and collections to get ideas lets me match original colors. The filters in AI do not always guess right. Plus, old BW photos have rips, scratches, creases, missed corners, water marks, and so on. AI colors the photos but all the physical problems are still there.
