Are AI Generated Headshots Any Good?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly sophisticated in recent years and continues to impress us with what it's capable of producing based on a set of input parameters.  AI is being used to generate all types of digital content, from simple text to complex images and videos, and everything in between.  Most recently, AI has started to produce headshots.  That sounds intriguing, and at the very least, you're probably curious.  I wonder what my AI generated headshot would look like?  Is it a fad or viable replacement to investing in a professional photographer for your headshots?  Let's take a deeper look.

As with all AI generated content, it requires a set of input parameters.  You'll have to supply a few images of yourself.  These few images will be limited in their scope and appearance, and may not accurately reflect your true appearance, essence, or spirit.  AI generated headshots are often based on combining stock images with your likeness.  AI will process all those images, apply various filters and other effects that often make them look unnatural.  The AI generated images may initially look "cool", but they often lack certain details, personality and emotion, often looking generic and lifeless.  You're not a mannequin, you're a person.  You want the viewer to be able to connect emotionally and in a positive way when viewing your image.  AI generated headshots can be inconsistent in terms of quality.  Some may look great while others may be blurry, be poorly lit, or have strange generated effects.  They often lack consistency and resubmitting your images again can result in a totally different set of images AI generates.  It's truly like rolling the dice hoping for great results.  Since AI combines stock images with your likeness as part of its input parameters, the generated images can often lack details specific to your face, such as wrinkles, pores and freckles.  You will often appear smooth and airbrushed, lacking emotion and personality.  You already know this is of key importance even if you don't realize you know it.  Every time you look at a person's face in a picture, whether it's a profile picture, headshot, portrait, or other type of picture, you're looking for their authenticness and for a way to connect to them.  You're looking at their general appearance, face, eyes, mouth, cheeks, and posture.  You're sizing them up, making your own impression, and forming your own opinion, whether you realize it or not.  You want to know if that's a person I can relate to, if they're genuine and real or fake, if they're competent, if they're trustworthy, and if they're someone you'd interact with or avoid.  That connection is paramount, and something that can't be generated by AI.

But wait, why would using a professional photographer be any different or better?  First and foremost, a professional photographer has expertise in their field and can produce consistent, reliable results.  Professional photographers maintain the human connection and personal relationship.  They can make the process enjoyable and relaxing rather than stressful.  Professional photographers can make you laugh and smile naturally so your expression isn't forced or held.  They create or elicit emotion and personality, coach you and guide you, address your apprehensions or insecurities, and provide you with positive reinforcement and encouragement.  Professional photographers have expertise on camera settings, camera height, camera angle, lighting equipment, lighting positions, lighting to enhance or reduce certain features or flaws, posing and expression coaching, facial expressions, emotion, personality coaching, clothing styles, makeup preparation, and image retouching.  So you can choose to have your headshots done by a professional photographer and know they will be done well, or you could just roll the dice with AI and hope for the best.

When looking for a professional photographer:

• Look at their portfolio to get a sense of their style and quality of work.  Make sure their work aligns with your vision and you like the way they capture their subjects.
• Consider their experience in the specific type of photography you need, whether it's headshots, portraits, weddings, events, or another type.  An experienced photographer will have expertise in lighting, composition, and other technical aspects of photography, as well as, the ability work with a variety of clients.
• Read reviews or ask for referrals from people who have worked with the photographer before to get a sense of their professionalism and the quality of their work.
• Discuss your goals.  It's important to have an open and honest conversation about your goals to ensure the photographer understands what you're looking for and that they can deliver the results you want.

AI generated headshots, just like app filters, can be fun to try, but they should not be a replacement to having your actual headshots done by a professional photographer.   Remember, you only get one chance to make a positive first impression!