Google Launches NanoBanana

Editing Memories, Not Just Images

NanoBanana opens the door for photographers, marketers, and everyday users to revisit nostalgic imagery — family albums, analog photos, heritage shots — and reimagine them without erasing what made them personal in the first place.

• Colours can be rebalanced, backgrounds swapped, clothing styles updated, while faces remain recognisable.

• It becomes possible to transport memories: imagine putting an old childhood photo into a new setting, or restyling a vintage snapshot to fit a modern aesthetic.

These capabilities raise meaningful questions about how much an edited image is a memory vs. a reinterpretation. As Forbes points out, there’s a fine line between enhancing memory and sanitising the past.

What It Means for Photographers

Professional photographers now have tools to give new life to archived work:

• Portfolio updates: Outdated lighting, backgrounds, or outfits can be modernised.

• Heritage commissions: Restoring or enhancing old family portraits with respect to the original style.

• But also ethical decisions: when editing subjects, to what extent do you alter their appearance? Preservation of authenticity matters.

Implications for Marketing

From a brand and marketing perspective:

• Existing creative libraries can be leveraged across campaigns, reducing the need for frequent re-shoots.

• Localisation and personalisation become more viable when one image can be adapted for different markets, seasons, or demographics.

• Nostalgia becomes a creative tool — retro styles, heritage aesthetics, or “then vs now” content can be refreshed and made relevant.