In this article, my goal is to provide my insider review as a professional headshot photographer on AI-generated headshots and the pros and cons. This will help you make an informed decision whether an AI headshot is right for you. Side note: the photos in this post are all original headshots and not AI-generated ones.
AI GENERATED HEADSHOTS
Before you decide whether to use an AI-generating service for your headshot or hire a real human to take your photos, let's stop for a moment and acknowledge that you are on the right track. You are probably here because you need to update your headshot, don't have a headshot, or want to research your options. That said, I'm sure you are seeing a lot of AI headshot companies popping up. Just like the rise of AI in other industries and parts of our lives, artificial intelligence can create photos. But this doesn't mean it's a good idea. While convenience and cost-effectiveness are driving people to consider AI headshots, I will provide you with the knowledge from a professional photographer's viewpoint on whether an AI-generated headshot benefits you.
What is an AI-generated headshot?
AI-generated headshots are computer-generated images. These are made by submitting photos of yourself and allowing the AI software to generate an image. The process typically involves retouching your image by making your skin look smooth, adding body and color to your natural hair, whitening your teeth, and maybe even straitening them, providing an artificial background, changing your wardrobe, and much more. Some AI headshot companies do the image retouching for you, others offer AI tools through their platform, and you edit the photos.
While these AI-generated headshots might seem convenient and cost-effective they might be missing the element of a human touch. This could be costing you in the long run. As AI gets more popular I believe most people are going to be able to tell whether your headshot is fake, or AI-generated. If I were looking at someone's profile or headshot I would want to feel confident in who I'm looking at and know they are being truthful about their appearance. This helps build trust whether you are using your headshot for LinkedIn, your website, or other social media platforms.
AI Headshots: The Pros and Cons
An AI-generated headshot might work and have a place in some of your portfolios. Some photos have low stakes. Like your personal Instagram profile or your personal Facebook page. However, even these profiles should be consistent with the way you look.
Pros of an AI-generated headshot
- Small investment means its affordability factor is appealing
- This can be done without going to a photo session
- Some AI headshot generators claim to give you headshots in as little as 19 minutes
- Some offer a money-back guarantee
- Access to editing tools
- Headshots are created remotely and not in person
Cons of An AI headshot
LinkedIn profiles, corporate websites, email signatures, and other professional sites would greatly benefit from a genuine headshot that doesn't look fake or AI-produced.
- Photos don't always look like you
- AI-generated images look overly produced and sometimes fake or artificial
- Quality can be poor
- Lacks the human connection
- Produces a generic look
- Misleading representation of how you look
- Not able to manage details in the photo
- Mistakes are overlooked by AI
What Makes a Headshot Truly Stand Out?
So what makes a headshot truly stand out?
- A genuine smile showing teeth
- Authenticity
- The background
- Proper lighting
- Your outfit
- Facial expressions
- How you pose
- Your overall appearance and deminer
When you can get a genuine and authentic look this conveys to the audience you are welcoming, trustworthy, and friendly. It is easy to portray the opposite and look standoffish, closed off, and unapproachable.
Your professional headshot has more than just one job to do. Your photo needs to be recognizable and look like you and it needs to reflect the personality of the person in the photo. This is done through proper coaching and facial expressions.
The Value of a Professional Photographer’s Expertise
The Human Touch: Why Professional Headshots Are Irreplaceable
Getting a natural facial expression such as a laugh or genuine smile still takes a human prompt. Take a moment, look in the mirror, and try to make yourself laugh. You will notice this is difficult to do. Now try smiling in the mirror. Did you know you can smile without your eyes moving? But a genuine smile reaches all the way up to your eyes. That is why people say you are smiling with your eyes. When you use a photographer they can get real emotions out of you. Including, a genuine smile. AI cannot adapt to subtle nuances like lighting and mood. Which angle works best for you? Whether it's a slight head tilt or moving your shoulders.
A professional photographer will help clients bring out the best through guidance and coaching during the photo session. The results are unparallel to AI-generated headshots.
The importance of investing in your Image
While AI headshots may be a quick solution, I am confident that professional headshots offer long-term value by creating authentic, engaging, and polished representations of your authentic self.
The lasting impact of a real headshot far outweighs the convenience of AI-generated headshots.
Bottom Line
In the ever-growing use of AI in our daily lives, it is important to remember the time and place and how much you should depend on AI. Knowing that more and more people use AI and that it is becoming more recognizable as its popularity and convenience grows as well. But keep in mind the outcome, the authenticity of using AI, and whether it will benefit or harm your online presence.
The most important takeaway is that you want authentic and genuine photos of yourself. If they seem fake or heavily AI-generated this could have a negative impact on the viewer. It is important to remember technology is growing quickly but some things are best left to a real human being.
Meet Your Portrait Photographer
Call Me Chris
I won't bore you with too many details, but I will say that I consider myself to be the luckiest guy in the world and I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to merge my passion and career.
A couple of quick things about me personally. I was born and raised in Orange County. I currently live with my family near Huntington Beach where I love to surf or be in the ocean with my boys.
My passions include art, traveling, and of course photography.
Meet Your Portrait Photographer
Call Me Chris
I won't bore you with too many details, but I will say that I consider myself to be the luckiest guy in the world and I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to merge my passion and career.
A couple of quick things about me personally. I was born and raised in Orange County. I currently live with my family near Huntington Beach where I love to surf or be in the ocean with my boys.
My passions include art, traveling, and of course photography.
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