How to Take AI Headshots: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Getting professional headshots used to mean booking a photographer, scheduling a session, and spending hundreds of dollars. With AI headshot generators, you can get studio-quality results in 30 minutes from your couch.

What You Need Before Starting

Before you generate AI headshots, gather these essentials:

5-15 clear selfies from different angles. This is the most important step. The quality of your selfies directly determines the quality of your AI headshots.

Good lighting - natural window light is ideal. Avoid harsh overhead lights or dark rooms.

A neutral background - while the AI will generate new backgrounds, clean selfies help the AI focus on your features.

Step 1: Take the Right Selfies

The selfies you upload are the foundation of your AI headshots. Here is what works best:

Angles to include:

• Straight-on (looking directly at camera)
• Slight left turn (15-30 degrees)
• Slight right turn (15-30 degrees)
• Slightly looking up
• Slightly looking down

Expressions to include:

• Natural smile
• Slight smile (professional)
• Neutral/serious
• Laughing (for approachable shots)

What to wear: Wear solid, neutral colors. Avoid busy patterns, bright logos, or anything that dramatically changes your appearance from how you normally look.

Step 2: Choose Your AI Headshot Platform

Not all platforms are equal. Here is what to consider:

• PhotosShoot ($19/mo) - Best value with workflow automation and multiple packs
• HeadshotPro ($29 one-time) - Good for one-time corporate headshots
• PhotoAI ($29/mo) - Most photo pack variety

We recommend starting with a free tier to test quality before paying.

Step 3: Upload and Generate

1. Create your account
2. Upload your 5-15 selfies
3. Select the “Professional Headshots” pack
4. Choose your preferences (background, attire style)
5. Click generate and wait ~30 minutes

Step 4: Select Your Best Shots

You will receive 50+ headshots. Here is how to choose:

1. Eliminate any with obvious artifacts
2. Look for natural expressions
3. Check that the photo looks like you
4. Consider the use case (LinkedIn, resume, etc.)
5. Pick 3-5 favorites for different purposes

Pro Tips for Better Results

• Upload selfies taken on the same day for consistent appearance
• Remove glasses in some selfies to give the AI both options
• Keep your hair consistent across all uploads
• Use your phone rear camera (held by someone else) for higher quality
• Avoid heavy makeup or filters that alter your features

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Uploading too few photos - 5 is the minimum, 10-12 is ideal
2. Using heavily filtered selfies - the AI needs your real features
3. Inconsistent appearance - same hairstyle and general look across all uploads
4. Poor lighting - dark or overly lit photos produce poor results
5. Expecting perfection from 1-2 selfies - more data = better results