This video, titled "Level Up - AI Edition: Using AI in Your Creative Process with Mehmet Turan," offers an in-depth look at how AI can be effectively integrated into professional creative workflows. Mehmet shares his journey from traditional retouching to advanced AI usage, discussing tools like MidJourney, Firefly, and Magnific. He breaks down practical applications, including compositing, mood boards, and enhancing 3D renders. He shares insights on the evolving role of AI in post-production, touching on topics like copyright, resolution, and the intersection of CGI and AI. Mehmet also provides valuable tips for creative professionals interested in harnessing AI to streamline processes and elevate visual quality.

This is a celebration post, not a complaint, although it may seem like one. I am celebrating the end of a decade of freelancing against all odds, my longest job ever.

Today is November 3, 2024, marking ten years since I bid farewell to the corporate world. My corporate career began in August 1995. Later, when I left Turkcell on November 3, 2014, I had spent 19 years in the corporate grind, excluding an 8-month military service. I worked for Turkish companies and French, Finnish, and American firms during this time. The Finnish company was the one I was most satisfied with regarding work culture and valuing employees.

Adieu is an innovative startup dedicated to introducing a streamlined and efficient approach to personal care in the marketplace.

To support their launch, we crafted lifelike marketing visuals for the website, utilizing advanced 3D techniques to create an experience that is as realistic and engaging as possible.

A few months back, One Step Solar, a SolarPanel Company based in Poland, contacted us with an exciting project. As you may have noticed, this industry is rapidly gaining popularity and importance in today's energy landscape. The brand expressed a desire to renew its website with product visuals that appear both real and clean, ultimately improving its online presence. For this innovative project, we decided to creatively mix 3D modeling, 3D renders, and advanced AI technology to significantly enhance the realism of the visuals. I’ll share some of the stunning visuals we’ve created for their brand.

Photographer: Ross Laurence (Studio + Commerce)

Post Production: Mehmet Turan (35milimetre)

Nixie Sparkling Water has carved out a niche in the beverage market with its emphasis on clean, organic ingredients and sustainability.

I have been exploring LLM (large language model) based AI imagery since the beginning of the initial beta releases. Despite their initial poor quality, these creations fascinated me. The rapid growth of such services has made it challenging to keep up with all the new platforms. Currently, the quality of the generated visuals has advanced to the point where they are being used in advertising and various commercial projects. Major global brands have inquired about the legal use of these AI-generated images, and I have attempted to create a comprehensive list of these companies, along with my insights (although I am not a legal professional; for precise verification, it is advisable to seek legal counsel in your jurisdiction). This could help others in similar situations.

In recent months, Element has undergone a comprehensive rebranding, revitalizing its logo and packaging design. The brand opted for 3D renders instead of traditional photography for its new visuals to keep costs manageable. This decision presented an exciting challenge, which our team embraced wholeheartedly. We meticulously crafted 3D renderings of Element's products, seamlessly compositing them onto pre-existing scenes and creating some from scratch. The result is a visually striking and sustainable representation of the brand's ethos.

I recently encountered a fascinating scenario that left me scratching my head. An entrepreneur approached me, seeking help with a product that wasn't selling well on Amazon US. He believed the root cause lay in how the product was presented. Now, as someone who thrives on contributing meaningful solutions, I wasn't about to jump to conclusions. Before diving in, I needed to analyze the competition and understand the entrepreneur's perspective.

When a new AI tool emerges, it often sparks a flurry of comments from various accounts, many of which predict the demise of the creative industry and the obsolescence of our jobs. However, such comments are often made without a solid foundation, merely citing a video from a newly launched AI tool like Sora. It's important to recognize that these tools, while powerful, are not replacements for the nuanced and creative work that professionals in the creative industry, such as post-production artists, bring to the table. 

We're thrilled to announce the successful delivery of our latest project with Synergistic Research. Synergistic Research is a high-end audio company specializing in creating audiophile-grade cables, power conditioners, and other accessories. They are known for their innovative designs and their commitment to quality. Synergistic Research products are used by audiophiles and professionals all over the world.

Sunparadise AG is a leading manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, customized outdoor glazing solutions that enhance homeowners' quality of life and increase the value of their properties. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Liechtenstein.

They recently created some 3D renders for a new lineup they had, but they were not pleased with the results. The results were found to be too artificial, and we asked if the realism could be improved without a new render process; that’s how we got involved.

Gone are the days when image editing was confined to minor tweaks and adjustments. Artificial intelligence has opened up a world of possibilities, allowing creators to bend reality and explore new artistic frontiers. During a personal project, I leveraged the power of AI to transport Tesla's Cybertruck, a vehicle that dominated headlines, to the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland. This endeavor led me on a virtual journey across diverse terrains by feeding existing images of the futuristic truck into AI tools like Adobe Firefly and Magnific.

One of the biggest advantages of OOH advertising is its ability to attract attention and stimulate curiosity. Unlike digital ads, which are often viewed passively and ignored, OOH ads have the potential to spark genuine interest and engagement. For example, a well-placed billboard with a clever or thought-provoking message can create buzz and generate word-of-mouth advertising.

Deutsche Heilmittel GmbH is a supplement producer based in Germany (as you can guess from their company name). They asked us if we could create six professional images that could be used for Amazon. Images should fit into Amazon standards, have space for infographics, and show the product with its packaging.
They delivered the sizes, packaging files, fonts, and some smartphone photos for us to understand how the products looked.

This project is a bit interesting for me. I didn’t shoot Radisson Blu; I didn’t retouch it. I added signage on outdoor shots of this chain. Radisson Blue is a new hotel; for some reason, due to regulation or timing, their signage wasn’t up on their roof when architectural photographer Saleh Mostafa took these fascinating photos of the new hotel. As the images are to be used on the web as well, the signage had to be added realistically, and all exterior photos should look like it’s part of the photo.

Beverage packaging design is an ever-evolving art that plays a crucial role in product branding and marketing. With consumer preferences and trends constantly changing, it's important for beverage brands to stay on top of the latest packaging innovations and styles. In this blog post, I'll highlight some of the top online resources to check out if you want to get inspired and see where beverage packaging design is headed. Whether you're a beverage brand owner, product developer, graphic designer, or just someone interested in cool new packaging, these sites showcase beautiful, creative designs across various drink categories like water, soft drinks, juices, alcohol, and more. By regularly browsing these sites, you can gain insight into new materials, structural techniques, color palettes, and visual aesthetics influencing the beverage packaging space. So, read on to discover some of my favorite go-to sites for checking out cutting-edge beverage package designs!

The alcoholic beverage industry constantly evolves to meet changing consumer tastes and trends. From new flavors to innovative packaging, brands are getting creative to stand out on crowded liquor store shelves. I'll explore some of the latest developments in alcoholic beverage bottle and label design and photography styles for ads as I go through many visuals from various web sources such as Behance, Ads of the World, and LinkedIn. Understanding these trends can help inform branding and marketing strategies in this competitive market.

Recently I saw a simple question from a talented food and beverage photographer: Andy Element. I very much like his minimalistic approach and bold color choice (No I haven’t done any work for him yet :) ). His question was:

I'm in the process of putting a new website together and I'm really keen to know what you look for when visiting a photographers website?

I frequently check LinkedIn lately, as I find more content I enjoy reading and seeing there than on other platforms. Twitter is typically disheartening, and I am uncertain about what it is precisely anymore. Nevertheless, it remains a valuable resource for AI imagery. Although I enjoy the imagery there, Instagram is visually appealing but does not necessarily educate me. Finally, I find LinkedIn the most engaging platform, where I can follow and see the works of people I admire (and unfollow those I don't). Recently, a few photographers have caught my attention with their innovative use of color. If you're not following, please check out Charlotte Turton, Sigourney Whitesel & Chrissie Knudsen. I love the minimalistic but, at the same time, impactful use of colors.