Get Your AI Professional Headshot in 5 Simple Steps

According to Google Trends, searches for "AI headshot" have grown steadily in the past year, with more and more people resorting to AI to create tailored pictures for their CVs, cover letters, and social media profiles.

If you want to join the trend, you've come to the right place. In this short guide to creating AI professional headshots, you can find all you need to turn your unimpressive headshot into something that will catch the eye of online recruiters.

To make things easier for you, we have divided the process into 5 simple steps.

Step 1: Find a High-Quality AI Headshot Generator

HeadshotKiwi website screenshot.

To create custom AI headshots, you first need to find the right AI headshot generator. There are several quality options in the market, including Headshot Kiwi. When compared with other tools, Kiwi stands out due to the ease of use, realism of the generated images, and number of headshots (up to 250 per user).

These are some of the key factors to consider when choosing an AI headshot generator:

• Headshot quality: The essential criterion that should guide your decision. You should avoid generators that have issues dealing with unwanted artifacts, like crooked hands, unrealistic hair, and misplaced accessories such as glasses.
• Number of headshots: The more the merrier! Having multiple AI headshots to choose from increases your chances of landing new jobs and allows you to use different pictures in different promotion channels without sacrificing cohesion.
• Generation process: AI headshots are better than traditional photography services because they're less time-consuming. So, it makes sense to opt for an AI headshot generator that makes things simple for the user.
• Pricing: While the cheapest option is seldom the best, pricing is always an important factor to consider when choosing any product, AI headshot generators being no exception.

After carefully considering these characteristics, you should be able to choose the AI headshot service that best fits your needs.

Step 2: Prepare Your Selfies

Selfies for HeadshotKiwi made by author.

This is the only step of the process that may require some work. To create an AI headshot that truly reflects your appearance, you must first upload some selfies to the AI engine. These selfies are what allow the generator to "know" what you look like.

It's important not to make mistakes at this stage, because some AI headshot generators only let you generate your headshots once. Luckily, it's easy to get your selfies right from the get-go; you just need to follow some basic rules:

1. Use a high-quality camera: Avoid low-resolution images and ensure the camera's lens is clean before snapping the selfies;
2. Frame your face correctly: It should be clearly visible and at the center of the frame;
3. Add some variety: While the selfies shouldn't be radically different, it's important to add some variety by using diverse outfits and exploring multiple facial angles;
4. Avoid common mistakes: These include uploading selfies showing other people, using Snapchat or Instagram filters, and photos with accessories that may cover your face (hats, sunglasses, etc.).

You can learn more about this by reading our guide to taking perfect selfies.

The number of selfies required changes from generator to generator, but it's usually around 10-20. With Headshot Kiwi, for example, you only need 13 to get flawless results.

Step 3: Generate Your AI Headshots

After capturing all the selfies you need, upload them to the AI headshot generator. Usually, the generator will ask you to provide a few details about yourself, such as age group, ethnicity, and so forth. The more accurate the information provided, the more accurate your AI headshots will be.

Before authorizing the generation of the headshots, make sure to review everything, including the quality of the uploaded selfies. Then, you just have to wait around 45 minutes (depending on the generator) to get up to 250 AI professional headshots.

Step 4: Review the Generated Headshots

Generated Images by HeadshotKiwi.

After being generated, the AI headshots will be stored online and made available for download. It's your job to carefully review every image and choose the ones you like the most.

Here are three things to consider at this stage of the process:

1. Make sure the AI headshots are appropriate to your industry: The ideal look of a start-up candidate and an executive candidate (for example) is necessarily different, so take context into account. Looking for your first job? A casual headshot with a confident smile can do wonders for you. Trying to land a top-tier position at a major corporation? Go for a headshot with formal attire and a more serious expression that screams: "I can get the job done".
2. Don't use the same AI headshot everywhere: Since you're getting up to 250 AI headshots, it's important not to use the same one in all of your promotion channels. Different headshots for LinkedIn and Upwork, for example, show potential clients and recruiters that you have a keen eye for detail and don't just settle for the easiest alternative.
3. Download the headshots ASAP: Keep in mind that some AI headshot generators may delete your headshots after a given period (like 30 days), so download all the generated content onto your device as soon as possible.

The final step? Putting your AI headshots to use in the real world…

Step 5: Land New Job Opportunities

Professional headshot made using HeadshotKiwi.

Creating AI professional headshots is easy, quick, and much more affordable than relying on traditional photography services. However, it's only worthwhile if it actually helps you get better results in the job market and catch the eye of potential employers.

While studies regarding the effectiveness of AI headshots are still lacking, research shows that AI amplifies traits of memorability and attractiveness in images. This means that it's easier to stand out with an AI headshot than a non-AI one.

Psychology notions also support the effectiveness of AI headshots, highlighting their ability to form a lasting first impression and increase your chances of getting hired, especially in the context of platforms like LinkedIn.

The bottom line? AI headshots can give you an edge in an increasingly busy and global job market. This means that, if you're still using old, non-AI headshots, you may be shooting yourself in the foot and limiting your own potential.

In Summary:

Here's a quick summary of everything we have learned about AI professional headshots today:

1. Choose a high-quality AI headshot by focusing on criteria like image quality, number of generated headshots, and simplicity of use. Headshot Kiwi ranks high for every major factor.
2. Prepare the selfies you must upload to the AI headshot generator with the utmost care, prioritizing aspects like image quality and face visibility and avoiding common mistakes like uploading selfies with other people or Instagram/Snapchat filters.
3. Review everything carefully before generating the headshots (normally, you can only do it once).
4. Analyze the generated headshots and select the ones you like the most, collecting different images for different promotion channels.
5. Put your AI headshots out there and see for yourself how effective they can be!