Will AI-Generated Headshots Replace the Real Thing?

AI headshots went viral, sparking a surge of apps promising the "perfect" fake headshot. For less than $30, you upload selfies and receive variations of your likeness. But are these images truly you?

For two decades I've created professional headshots for individuals, small businesses and corporations across the country — often hired to replace subpar headshots with quality ones. The experience of working with a photographer who truly sees you cannot be replicated by artificial intelligence.

Authentic headshots

At their core, AI images are combinations of existing photographs merged to resemble the participant. When a portrait is built from a fusion of images, the nuances of personality are lost. The result might bear a surface resemblance — but it isn't authentically you. A real photographer directs and encourages you, capturing glimpses of your genuine self. AI only replicates what it has learned.

AI's real limitations

The Wall Street Journal reported that while AI headshots are "in vogue with young workers," women of color have experienced significant problems — lightened skin tones, botched hairstyles and altered facial shapes. Even the founder of one AI platform conceded that people using it for true-to-life headshots "are going to be disappointed."

So — will AI replace the real thing?

AI can enhance features, adjust lighting and simulate expressions, and it's cost- and time-efficient. But it cannot capture a person's essence or freeze a real moment in time. As someone who values authenticity, I believe a genuine, professionally made headshot will always serve an important purpose.

Book a real headshot session.