Thirteen. That's the number of selfies you need to generate the perfect AI headshot. However, balancing consistency and diversity can be hard. Most selfies should be lit naturally, but is it okay to have a few indoor selfies? And what about angle diversity?
To clarify these and other questions, we decided to create a guide on how to create the perfect AI headshot with 13 selfies, one by one. In the table, you can find a quick summary of the 13, but we will be taking a look at each individually later on:
| # | Lighting | Expression | Pose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indoor | Neutral | Full face |
| 2 | Indoor | Neutral | Full face |
| 3 | Outdoor | Neutral | Full face |
| 4 | Indoor | Smile | Full face |
| 5 | Outdoor | Smile | Full face |
| 6 | Indoor | Neutral | Looking right |
| 7 | Outdoor | Neutral | Looking left |
| 8 | Outdoor | Neutral | Full face |
| 9 | Outdoor | Smile | Tilt |
| 10 | Outdoor | Neutral | Looking away |
| 11 | Indoor | Neutral | Tilt |
| 12 | Indoor | Neutral | Full face |
| 13 | Indoor | Smile | Tilt |
Notes:
- Indoor: "Indoor" doesn't mean poorly lit. Be extra careful with the lighting of your indoor photos, avoiding weird reflections, flashes, and shadows.
- Smile: Don't go over the top! A slight smile is enough to add some variety. Try to look professional 🙂
- Full face: Meaning your entire face is in the center of the frame, looking straight at the camera.
- Tilt: Again, don't exaggerate. A slight tilt or angle variation is more than enough.
1. Indoor, Neutral, Full Face
Make this the clearest selfie of them all, ensuring your indoor area is excellently lit. Both your expression and background should be neutral: posing against a white wall is recommended.
2. Indoor, Neutral, Full Face
For this one, add some variation by assuming a slightly different neutral expression (like looking slightly to the side). You can keep the same white-wall background!
3. Outdoor, Neutral, Full Face
This should be your natural-light, neutral-everything selfie, so make sure the background doesn't get in the way. It's not that hard to find neutral surfaces outdoors (like the outside walls of your house, for example).
4. Indoor, Smile, Full Face
Things can get "messy" when smiles are involved, so here's something to keep in mind: smile casually by only moving your lips slightly. Your shoulders should be relaxed, and there's absolutely no need to show teeth!
5. Outdoor, Smile, Full Face
Do everything like in the previous selfie, but outdoors!
6. Indoor, Neutral, Looking Right
Keeping your face centered is one of the essential rules of taking selfies for AI headshots. However, it can be good to add a tiny bit of variety to your selfie bundle by including two side-looking photos. For the first one, go to a well-lit indoor location, maintain a neutral expression, and look right.
7. Outdoor, Neutral, Looking Left
You know the drill, right? This time, just do it outdoors. Naturally, the two (left and right) are interchangeable.
8. Outdoor, Neutral, Full Face
Selfie #8 is the first out of a trilogy of three outdoor photos. For the first one, go with the safest, clearest combo: neutral expression and full face.
9. Outdoor, Smile, Tilt
You're outdoors, so there's no reason not to smile! Add variation by smiling and tilting your head slightly.
10. Outdoor, Neutral, Looking Away
We suggest looking away, but you can get creative with this one as long as you keep it outdoors. Just make sure not to overdo things: your face should be clearly visible whether you're looking away, looking at the ground, or performing any other pose.
11. Indoor, Neutral, Tilt
For the last three selfies, an indoor trilogy. The trick is to make sure each is slightly different, maintaining consistency while adding variation.
12. Indoor, Neutral, Full Face
We know: this is your third indoor + neutral + full face selfie. Do you really need that many? Well, this type of direct, neutral selfie is essential for creating a perfect AI headshot, so it should constitute the majority. Sometimes, we need to sacrifice diversity.
13. Indoor, Smile, Tilt
Uff, we're almost there! For your final selfie, keep it indoors and combine a nice smile with a slight head tilt.
Outdoor & Indoor Lighting
Finding the right light is essential for taking perfect selfies, and arguably the hardest part of the process. So, here are a few helpful tips:
- When outdoors, use soft and indirect light
- When indoors, stand near an open window
- When outdoors, avoid harsh shadows
- When indoors, look at the light source so your face is more evenly lit
- When outdoors, avoid backlighting
The Bottom Line
With 13 selfies alone, you can create a professional AI headshot in seconds and get an edge over the competition in an increasingly crowded job market. The better your selfies, the better your AI headshot. The better your AI headshot, the better your odds of finding your dream job. Put in the work, and you will be rewarded!
