AI Explored Podcast Summary

Episode: AI Images for Business: Tools, Prompts, and Strategy

Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Michael Stelzner
Guest: Lauren Devane (“Your AI Ante”), AI Creative Futurist & Founder, The Bemused Studio

Episode Overview

In this masterclass episode, Michael Stelzner interviews Lauren Devane, an AI-powered creative director, to help marketers, creators, and business owners unlock the potential of AI-generated images for their brands. The discussion covers the misconceptions about AI art, practical benefits for businesses, comparison of leading AI image tools, and Lauren’s comprehensive seven-pillar framework for crafting effective image prompts. The episode is packed with actionable insights, vivid examples, and strategic advice for anyone seeking to elevate their visual content using AI.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Creative Evolution: Lauren’s Journey into AI (02:27—05:10)

• Lauren shares her tech-forward background and initial fascination with AI imaging via Midjourney.
• With a professional foundation in creative direction and photography, Lauren foresaw how AI would reshape creative workflows, prompting her to pivot her career toward teaching AI for creatives.

“Even back then when [AI image generation] wasn’t that good, I knew that it was going to get better… I immediately decided, all right, Lauren, you're going to shift course.”—Lauren (03:40)

2. Mythbusting: Is Using AI Images “Cheating”? (05:56—06:55)

• The notion that AI-generated images are not creative is challenged. True creativity, Lauren argues, is about ideas, perspective, and the ability to synthesize connections—not manual labor.

“Creativity is not about the physical labor you’re putting in. It’s about connecting dots and finding connections that other people don’t see.”—Lauren (06:13)

3. Business Benefits of AI Imagery (07:15—08:43)

• Democratization of Quality: Brands no longer need large budgets for high-quality imagery.
• Speed: AI enables near-instant image creation, delivering a competitive edge in time-to-market.
• Creative Focus: Frees teams to concentrate on aesthetics and strategy rather than logistics.

“It’s going to allow brands and businesses to move faster… to produce and create imagery that they need at the drop of a hat.” —Lauren (07:23)

4. Who Can Succeed with AI Image Tools? (08:31—10:55)

• Those with a photography or design background have an edge, but anyone able to articulate their vision (with or without a creative background) can leverage AI image models, especially when assisted by large language models like ChatGPT or custom GPTs.
• Tip: Use tools that can convert plain ideas into well-structured prompts.

5. Understanding AI Image Models: The Tool Landscape (10:55—14:18)

• Nano Banana Pro: Google’s newest image model, leveraging Gemini’s world knowledge for real-time, accurate, and context-aware imagery (excellent at text and faces).
• SE Dream: Great for editorial looks and saturated colors.
• Flux: Noted for strong editing capabilities.
• Freepik: A practical aggregator service for accessing multiple top AI image models, including Nano Banana and Flux, with an unlimited image generation plan (~$300/year).

“Being able to have access to a bunch of models and knowing what they do well is going to be the key.”—Lauren (14:10)

6. Why Nano Banana Pro Is a Game-Changer (14:18—16:51)

• Integrates Gemini’s real-time, multimodal intelligence, uniquely excelling in:
  • Authentic, photo-realistic outputs
  • Accurate text rendering within images
  • Data-driven infographics
  • Analyzing and recreating complex references (e.g., mood boards)

“Nano Banana is actually using Google Gemini as a large language model on the back end. It can even be doing real-time stuff… It’s nuts what you can be doing!”—Lauren (14:51)

7. Tools and Workflow Recommendations (17:37—20:10)

• Freepik offers unlimited image generations, making creative exploration affordable and frictionless.
• Single Platforms: Using Nano Banana or Google Gemini directly is suitable for casual users.

"When you have that unlimited ability, it really opens up your creativity... you can start really playing and exploring different ideas.”—Lauren (18:24)

Lauren’s 7-Pillar Framework for Effective AI Image Prompts

(21:40 and throughout—main section: 21:40—43:07)

Lauren’s practical framework helps users structure prompts for powerful, consistent results across all major AI image models.

1. Subject (22:54)

• Clearly detail the focus: person, product, or abstract concept.
• Include specifics: age, clothing, color, features, style, shape.
• More detail yields more controlled results—especially when crafting recurring character images.

“If you care less about the actual identity... and you just, need an older woman, you could say, ‘an older woman in her 70s, wearing a woolly scarf.’”—Lauren (24:03)

2. Action (25:07)

• What is happening in the scene? Is the subject walking, running, holding, balancing, floating, etc.?
• Even inanimate products should be described actively to tell a compelling story.

“What's happening right before this shot and what's about to happen right after this shot…that’s an important piece as well.”—Lauren (25:13)

3. Scene or Setting (27:11)

• Specify context/location: countertop, city, rainforest, etc.; mention other visual elements.
• Don’t fear leaving some elements to chance—happy accidents spark ideas.
• Referencing an existing image or uploading a mood board is often easier than lengthy descriptions.

“You can use your image as the reference… and really use natural language to kind of edit existing images into new images.” —Lauren (29:09)

4. Medium (32:29)

• Define the visual style: photography type (e-commerce, cinematic, drone), or specify illustrations, paintings, collages, etc.
• The choice of medium impacts mood, clarity, and branding.

“You can basically take that, use that style as your reference all the time. And then you’re able to just create your branded imagery in your brand colors.”—Lauren (33:42)

5. Composition (36:33)

• Direct camera angle and crop: close-up, wide shot, bird’s-eye, from below, creative cropping, rule of thirds, etc.
• Composition shapes emotional impact.

“How is this shot?... close up… pulled back… drone photography… cropping in interestingly... more interesting image rather than just straight on.”—Lauren (37:09)

6. Lighting (39:56)

• Describe the mood through light: golden hour, studio, colored gels, from side/window/halo.

“Lighting is such an important piece to really making that image sing.”—Lauren (39:56)

7. Vibe/Aesthetics & Intent (41:54—43:07)

• Vibe/Aesthetic: Add overarching style: 1970s, futuristic, editorial, Gen Z, premium, cozy, etc.
• Intent: Specify the image’s purpose—social post, billboard, detailed texture, logo, etc.—improves model’s focus and suitability.

“If you can explain to the model what it is that this image is being used for... it’s going to do a better job.”—Lauren (41:57)

Notable Quote on the Framework

“If you don’t tell it, it doesn’t know, it can’t read your mind… The more details you give it, the better it’s going to be.”—Lauren (21:46)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Creativity:

  “Creativity is taking existing ideas and flipping them on their head. If you can do that without a bot, the bot is really just going to help expand those ideas for you.” —Lauren (06:35)

• On Democratizing Design:

  “You don’t need to have a 6-figure budget in order to have quality photos anymore.” —Lauren (07:19)

• On Workflow Impact:

  “Now in the last month and a half they have. And so it’s really truly, you know, if you are getting into this and listening to this now, AI imagery is truly at a point where it is usable. You can actually use these assets that you are creating in your business and your brand.”—Lauren (44:23)

Example: Using AI as a Creative Partner

“I could drop in a mood board and tell it to act like a graphic designer and analyze this mood board and now generate a mock up for a website using this brand mood board... It will give me something that’s actually a really good starting place.” —Lauren (16:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Lauren’s Tech Journey & Experience: 02:27–05:10
• The Creativity Myths of AI: 05:56–06:55
• Business Benefits of AI Images: 07:15–08:43
• Who Benefits Most from AI Image Tools: 08:43–10:55
• AI Model Differences Explained: 10:55–14:18
• Nano Banana & Google Gemini Deep-Dive: 14:18–16:51
• Freepik & Subscription Workflow: 17:37–20:10
• Lauren’s 7-Pillar Prompt Framework (Full Walkthrough): 21:40–43:07

Where to Learn More from Lauren

• Instagram: @thebemusedstudio (B E M U S E D Studio)
• Course: Foundations of Photography (“Faux x Photography”), launches/reopens end of January; link in Instagram bio
• Community: The Launchpad at school.com (link via Instagram bio)

Final Thoughts

This episode is a rich, practical guide for anyone wanting to move fast and stand out in the rapidly shifting world of AI-powered visual content creation. Whether you’re brand new to image generation or looking to professionalize your workflow, Lauren’s structured approach and top tool picks will help you become the “AI expert everyone depends on.”