AI-generated headshots can look polished at first glance, but they often fall short in the details that make a strong headshot feel believable.
The eye area is usually the biggest problem. A good headshot should feel as though the person is looking directly at you. In many AI-generated images, the eyes look unfocused, overly symmetrical, or almost lifeless. You may not immediately identify what is wrong, but the image does not feel natural.
Skin can also look overly smooth or plastic. I provide professional retouching with every headshot, but my goal is not to remove all texture or make someone look artificial. I take care to preserve the natural details that make you recognizable. You can see more about my approach in Ten Steps to Authentic Retouching.
AI may also change your facial structure, hair, teeth, body shape, or expression. The finished image may resemble you without accurately representing how you look in person. That can create a disconnect when someone meets you after first seeing your headshot online.
A professionally photographed headshot gives you control over the lighting, wardrobe, background, pose, and expression. More importantly, it captures a real moment and an expression that actually belongs to you.
When Can AI Be Useful?
AI can still be useful as part of your branding and marketing. The better approach is to begin with authentic photographs created by a professional photographer, then use those images as the foundation for other content.
For example, you might use your professional headshots to:
- Create AI-assisted videos or animated content
- Test alternate backgrounds
- Adapt an image for a specific campaign or platform
- Develop creative marketing graphics
Starting with a strong, accurate photograph gives the AI better source material and helps your final content remain recognizable and connected to your real brand. We can create the images that better match the final planned usage to get the most out of AI.
About the image: I photographed the lawyers in my air conditioned studio in the middle of a hot Houston summer. I captured the photos of the Houston Ship Channel to use as the background. The lighting in the studio was used to mirror the lighting outside, and I used AI to composite the images together for a unified shot.
Whether you are looking for a basic studio headshot session or building a full branding library of images, I can help you with your marketing needs.