Sevda Albers is a woman of many talents, with a vast knowledge of art and culture and a history of collaborating with high profile brands and magazines across a span of over 25 years.
Albers’s journey began as a coder during the early days of the internet, a foundation that set the stage for her subsequent roles in creative direction and art. At 38, she made a pivotal shift into photography, a medium that has become central to her professional identity. Over the past year and a half, she has turned her attention to the rapidly evolving AI landscape, developing cutting-edge campaigns, offering Midjourney courses, and coaching fashion designers on seamlessly integrating AI into their creative processes—from technical drawing to material model shoots and mood imagery.
A sought-after speaker at industry conferences, Sevda continues to inspire and educate others while maintaining her vibrant photography career, collaborating with fashion brands and magazines.
For the EOE Eyewear Fall/Winter 2024 Campaign, Albers and EOE Imagined the beauty of the Swedish Wild, and created a campaign that truly captures the spirit of the collection and the vast and wild arctic north.
What got you started in working with AI?
Initially, I wasn't very enthusiastic when I saw the first AI-generated images on Instagram. They just didn't match my aesthetic—too clean, too pink, top fantasy-like for my taste.
Still, I wanted to explore it further, given my coding background and long standing passion for technology. After trying out the usual prompts, I thought: Why not experiment with something that has been on my bucket list for a long time?
Throughout my creative career, I never had the opportunity to work with a Turkish fashion model—a topic close to my heart due to my own Turkish roots. So I thought: If not now with AI, then when?
At the time, it was quite a challenge to create a fashion editorial with an AI-generated model that looked Turkish, since Midjourney wasn’t as diversely trained back then as it is today, but after a two-week deep dive into the then-limited parameters, I finally managed to create my first AI-generated fashion editorial, featuring a model that carried the stereotypical visual traits of a Turkish woman.
Today, although I still work occasionally as a photographer, my main focus is on the AI field, where I can combine all my interests.
From developing and running AI courses to coaching teams, offering on-demand Midjourney courses, and generating entire campaigns—my scope is broad and exciting.
This variety and the constant opportunity to try new things make my work more thrilling and dynamic than ever.
What has been the highlight for you in working with this campaign?
I’ve been to the Kiruna area a few times, and it completely captivated me. I still remember the first time I saw a reindeer flock and seeing encountered members of the Sami community, it was really special to me. Right from the start of this project,I was a fan of the idea to integrate both into the EOE campaign.
For smaller brands, AI is an incredible tool for realizing unique visions, and I was passionate about integrating these inspirations, despite some inclusivity limitations in Midjourney. It took effort and experimentation with parameters, but seeing everything come together was the real highlight.
Working with the EOE team was a wonderful experience. Their input was invaluable, and I truly appreciate the trust they placed in me to make this campaign happen. It was a collaborative process and I am proud by setting a good example for inclusivity in AI generated imagery.
Where would you like to see your craft moving forward?
The fascinating thing about AI is that it can really go in any direction. I think the future will be very micro-niche, and the individual style - The truly fascinating thing about artificial intelligence is its limitless versatility.
In the future, the creative industry will continue to split into micro-niches, and the individual style of each creative will be crucial, since AI-generated art is only as good as the artist guiding it.
AI still needs the input and vision created by the artist—at least at this stage of generative AI. We'll see what the future brings.
Creatives will have to specialize in order to maintain their uniqueness and relevance in the market, since the development of AI is progressing so rapidly that it is almost impossible to learn every new technical innovation.
In the future, I will focus entirely on the video area - for me a super exciting area that is fast-moving and full of creative possibilities. I believe that the coming years will certainly be characterized by dynamism and diversity, and I look forward to continuing down this path with a clear specialization.
