Turns Out Building Things by Hand Is Controversial Now | Jada and David

Turns Out Building Things by Hand Is Controversial Now

Blog by Jada Parrish | Article| 07/07/25

We recently shared a behind-the-scenes reel from one of our older shoots, thinking it would be a fun, casual look into our process. What we didn’t expect was to spark a full-on debate about whether it’s “worth it” to build something physically—when you could just do it digitally with AI or Photoshop.

As more people saw the post, the responses poured in. There was so much encouragement and love, which we’re always grateful for. But there was also a surprising amount of criticism. Not about the final image, but about how we made it. About the fact that we made it at all.

And what made it even more interesting? This wasn’t a new shoot. We photographed this series back in the fall of 2023 and have shared photos and BTS content from it before. Back then, the response was overwhelmingly positive. But now, in 2025, AI has become a much bigger part of the creative conversation—and suddenly, we’re being asked why we “bothered” to build anything at all.

It’s wild how quickly public perception can shift. Just because a new tool exists doesn’t mean it's the only way—or even the best way—to create. There are a thousand different ways to make a single image. But what makes one better than another? We don’t believe there’s a universal answer to that question. And honestly, it’s a little arrogant to assume there is—especially without knowing the context or the intention behind the choices an artist makes.

We’ve had a few posts reach wider audiences over the years, and when that happens, it always draws in people who seem to show up just to be negative. They clearly missed the day in school when they taught the golden rule: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” But that’s the internet—and that’s the price you pay for putting your work out into the world. And we’re totally fine with that. It doesn’t rattle us. But this time, it was surprising to see how many people took issue with the simple fact that we chose to build something by hand.

We know the world is changing. AI and digital tools are evolving quickly. But just remember: there are so many ways to create. You can paint the same image using oil, acrylic, spray paint, watercolor, or pixels—and each version will feel completely different. The same is true with photography. Yes, you can do a lot in post. Yes, you can use AI. But the magic of our work comes from physically building environments and inviting people to interact with them.

When someone steps into one of our sets, it changes their posture. It affects their expression. It shapes the energy of the final photo in ways that no digital replacement ever could. The texture, the light, the space—all of that becomes part of the storytelling. That’s what excites us. That’s what makes it feel alive.

Here’s what we believe: creativity doesn’t have one right path. Some people create on screens. Some people build with their hands. We happen to love the challenge of bringing ideas into the real world—using light, texture, and time to shape what we see in our minds.

Because it’s real. It’s fun. And for us, it’s meaningful.

There are countless ways to make art. So by all means—critique the final image if you want. But let’s not tear down someone’s process just because it’s different from our own. We need more people building wild ideas, not fewer. We need more encouragement, not less.

So wherever your creativity takes you—digital, physical, or somewhere in between—keep going. Keep making. And let’s keep cheering each other on.

✨ You can check out the viral reel here and a full behind-the-scenes video of us photographing the shoot here.