I need high-quality professional headshots quickly, but I don’t have time for an in-person photo shoot. There are so many AI headshot generator tools out there and I’m not sure which one actually gives realistic, professional-looking results. Which tool do you recommend and why? Any suggestions or personal experiences would be appreciated.
I’ve tried a bunch—mostly cuz I also didn’t want to deal with the awkward “tilt your chin this way” for 45 minutes at a studio. My top rec right now is StudioShot. Out of the batch, their results actually looked like me and not like an AI-melted wax figure. You give it about 8-10 selfies (I used random shots from my phone, gym pics, whatever), pick a style, and it spits out like 70 different headshots in about an hour. Super high-res and those classic neutral office backgrounds or a bunch of other options.
Dreamwave and TryItOn were the other ones I tried. TryItOn was decent for LinkedIn if you need it now, but I found their results a bit more generic—definitely cranked an AI filter to max smooth skin, which was a little uncanny valley for me. Dreamwave is pricier but has wild customization, so if you’re picky about your vibe being creative but still corporate, that’s worth looking into.
One tip—whatever service you pick, the better the starting photos, the better the headshots. Don’t feed it night-out pics with friends cropped out and expect magic. And avoid uploading ones where you’re wearing sunglasses or hats—AI gets real weird about accessories.
Real talk: none of these are 100% perfect; you sometimes get one that looks slightly off, but honestly, for how quick and easy it is, I’ll take it. Zero need to put on a suit IRL and stare at blinding lights. They’re definitely good enough for LinkedIn, company profiles, etc. Just stay away from the free “AI headshot” apps on app stores, they mostly spit out low-res or watermarked junk.
Honestly, the AI headshot thing is a weird mix of impressive and kind of unsettling, right? I saw what @nachtschatten said about StudioShot and Dreamwave, and while those sound okay, I actually wasn’t wild about StudioShot—mine came out a bit too “Instagram face” and less “actual human being.” Maybe I just don’t photograph well, lol.
I tried ProPhotos.ai and HeadshotPro too. ProPhotos landed somewhere in the uncanny valley for me, with a couple shots that had my eyes looking in slightly diff. directions. HeadshotPro was a little better—solid for those truly last-minute updates where you just want to look like you showered and own a collared shirt. But tbh, I noticed if you have facial hair or glasses, some platforms freak out and just blur everything, so watch out if you’ve got any distinguishing features.
If you’re picky about “realistic AND professional,” and you want something that doesn’t overdo the smoothing/snapchat filter thing, Portrait AI (portraitai.app) is kind of a dark horse. It gives a more classic, slightly softer result. Still, nothing is going to replace just standing in front of a window with an iPhone and throwing a black tee on if you want to look like yourself—AI always has that “I make up a bit of your face” problem. If all you need is a solid LinkedIn pic, these work. Just don’t expect to trick your grandmother into thinking it’s a real photo, lol.
And I’ll def echo the part about steering clear of the free app store “AI headshot” options—they’re a bad time (pixelated, weird backgrounds, watermark city). But, unless you’re applying to be the CEO or starring in Forbes, most of the decent paid ones are “good enough” and save a LOT of awkward small talk at the photo studio.
We’re all just trying not to look like a potato in a suit, after all.
Quick take: the search for AI headshots that don’t look like an Instagram filter collage is real. Most tools out there either overly “beautify” you until you look like a wax museum selfie, or leave you with those dead-in-the-eyes artifacts. If “instantly looking employable” is your main goal, you have plenty of options, but what’s actually useful if you care about high-quality professional vibe and not total uncanny valley territory?
Let’s break it down based on what others said and my own trial/error parade:
- StudioShot: Pros: Super fast, heaps of options, generally realistic skin tones, multiple backgrounds. Cons: Sometimes overdoes the smoothing, can end up with a bit of an “AI FaceApp” look, especially if your selfies aren’t well-lit or consistent. Hit or miss if you have unique traits (beard, glasses, etc).
- Dreamwave: Pros: Customization galore, some creative/corporate blend styles available. Cons: Very expensive and you have to spend time picking settings—paralysis by choice is real. Sometimes just too “illustrative” for super professional uses.
- TryItOn: Pros: Probably the fastest/easiest option, decent if all you want is a LinkedIn refresh. Cons: Stereotypically bland “corporate” style, aggressive skin softening, won’t win any awards for realism.
- ProPhotos.ai / HeadshotPro: Pros: Solid “look like you showed up and tried” baseline, especially HeadshotPro for simple updates. Cons: On both platforms, keep accessories simple—some AI hiccups with glasses/facial hair, can look generically weird at the edges.
- Portrait AI: Pros: More classic, a touch softer, better for DIYers who hate plastic-looking skin and want something “maybe real if you squint.” Cons: Not great if you need that full corporate polish—leans almost toward portrait painting.
The best AI headshot generator comes down to whether you want high realism or just “good enough” for basic biz needs. If you need consistent results for a whole team (especially if you’re in HR/marketing), HeadshotPro holds up best across various faces, despite occasional quirks if you’re rocking accessories. If you’re particular about your look and want more personality, Dreamwave is interesting but pricey.
Bonus tip: Always use recent, well-lit selfies facing the camera, with minimal distractions. If you experiment, try uploading pics from the same day so it doesn’t scramble outfits/facial hair.
Verdict: Unless you’re after a Forbes cover shot, HeadshotPro is a solid middle ground for speed and professionalism. Its pros: consistency, reliability for teams or solo updates, and generally avoids the “botched wax dummy” effect. Cons: mild blurring with glasses or facial hair on occasion, and not the most stylized for ultra-creative types. Stack it up against StudioShot or Dreamwave, and it’s less likely to over-smooth or cartoonize, but might lack niche flair. For most of us who just need to look vaguely employed and alert on Slack or LinkedIn, it more than does the job—just don’t lose your actual face beneath the AI polish.