Few words sound as formal and professional as the word "corporate". But when it comes to corporate headshots, is the formal and traditional approach really the best?
With AI headshot generators such as HeadshotKiwi, Aragon AI, or BetterPic offering up to 250 photos for under $60, are real-life corporate photographers worth the trouble? In this article, we will tell you why corporate AI headshots are the future and compare them with traditional headshot services.
We have 5 reasons why you should switch from traditional photographers to corporate AI headshots right now:
1 - Corporate AI Headshots Are More Cost-Efficient
Professional studio headshots made by a local photographer.
According to our research, professional photography services cost $150 to $200 on average, with well-known studios charging up to $2k. AI headshots, on the other hand, often cost less than $50, with tools such as HeadshotKiwi offering plans under $30.
The price difference is even greater when we look at the average cost per headshot. The problem with traditional photographers is that, even if they take hundreds of pictures, they will only edit a few. This means you can end up paying as much as $200 for just a couple of headshots! AI headshot generators, on the other hand, offer up to 250 corporate headshots for under $60.
I decided to look for a headshot photographer in my area (Berlin) and found Caroline Wimmer. Even though she's one of the most affordable options, she charges €229 (roughly $270) for just three headshots. This means that:
- The cost of 1 studio headshot in my area is $90.
- The cost of 1 HeadshotKiwi corporate AI headshot is $0.24 (and less than $0.80 on the starter plan).
In conclusion, you can get 375 HeadshotKiwi corporate AI headshots with the same money you'd spend on 1 studio headshot. And we're not even taking into account costs related to commuting (going from your home to the studio), make-up, clothes, etc.
2 - You Can Get Them Faster and More Easily
Corporate AI headshots are more convenient than studio alternatives for the following reasons:
- Professional photographers can get busy, and they usually take at least one week to deliver the goods. AI headshot generators never get tired and can create hundreds of corporate shots in under one hour (HeadshotKiwi takes 30 to 45 minutes).
- You can generate corporate AI headshots on your computer or smartphone without ever leaving the house. This way, you don't waste hours on trips to the photographer's studio. Additionally, headshot services are hard to find outside big cities.
- Pro photographers are limited to their studio's background, and the clients are forced to wear their own clothes. With corporate AI headshots, there's no such hassle, as the AI system can generate different styles of backgrounds and attire. This means you can "wear" a suit in your headshot… Even if you don't actually own one!
- After being photographed in a studio, clients have little say about how their headshots look (revision services are either unavailable or cost extra). With AI tools, the headshots are already on your computer and can be instantly downloaded, without the need to exchange links or contact the photographer.
3 - Corporate AI Headshots Are as Good (or Even Better) Than Studio Headshots
My corporate AI headshot, generated by HeadshotKiwi.
The biggest concern people have with corporate AI headshots is: "Do they look real?"
The definitive answer is yes. After using HeadshotKiwi to create 250 corporate AI headshots (including the example above), I can personally vouch for two things:
- AI headshot generators are already capable of creating headshots indistinguishable from real photos.
- Using selfie uploads, users can create corporate AI headshots that accurately represent them - the person in the headshot will look exactly like you, not like a weird AI-generated version.
And no, this is not just my opinion. This case study shared on Reddit, for example, shows that the AI-generated headshots a company used for six months were never identified as AI during that period. The study is backed by general studies on AI that point out how hard it is for humans to distinguish between real and AI-generated media.
Moreover, corporate AI headshots can help you boost job applications and networking by increasing perceived attraction. Take my case: I never look good in photos, but HeadshotKiwi made me look good - the right pose, expression, attire… In sum:
- AI headshot generators can do what professional photographers can't: make you look even better than you do in reality!
4 - With Corporate AI Headshots, You Don't Have to Know How to Pose
Another big plus of corporate AI headshots is that they level the playing field. Before AI, photogenic professionals had a small (but unfair) advantage, as they simply looked better on their headshots than those who didn't know how to pose. With AI, everybody can look their best, with or without posing skills.
So, if you're the kind of person who finds photoshoots painstakingly awkward, we have good news: with HeadshotKiwi and other AI services, you can do it without ever saying "cheese"...
5 - Corporate AI Headshots Are Better for Organizations
Services for teams by HeadshotKiwi.
For their convenience (as well as the fact they're 100% digital), corporate AI headshots can be more easily incorporated by organizations - including your business - than studio headshots.
Imagine that you want to get headshots for a team of 20 members. If you choose traditional headshot services, you have to:
- Coordinate everyone to ensure they reach the photographer's studio on time.
- Sacrifice productivity (employees will stop working to go to the studio, and photoshoots can often take hours).
- Manage headshot files from the photographer (asking for the headshots, uploading them to the cloud, sharing them with the team, etc.).
Corporate AI headshots save you all this trouble!
Are There Any Limitations to AI Headshots?
Yes, corporate AI headshots also have some limitations, albeit mostly non-consequential:
- You can't control exactly how you will look
- Results vary depending on the AI tool (make sure you choose one of the best)
- AI generators resort to standardized elements (for example, the same crossed-arms pose); sometimes, this can make some AI headshots look similar.
Corporate AI Headshots vs Studio Headshots: The Conclusion
Regardless of the industry, corporate AI headshots are better than studio headshots because:
- They're up to 375 times less expensive!
- They're more convenient.
- They look just like real headshots (sometimes even better!).
- They make individuals look good even when they don't know how to pose.
- They're effortlessly incorporated by organizations.
Learn more about how to generate AI headshots with HeadshotKiwi.
