Selecting the right headshot could mean the difference between portraying a seasoned professional and a poor employee online. It’s not easy to make the right decision, but with the help of AI technology, you can curate an eye-catching online presence.
Understanding how AI headshots are created and the possible backgrounds that could be incorporated into your headshots can help you better choose the right headshot for your profile.
How Is an AI Professional Headshot Created?
To create professional headshots using AI, you don’t want to use just any AI platform. You want to find an AI headshot generator. Portrait Pal is an example of a high-quality AI headshot generator that can create professional headshots.
Using an AI headshot platform is generally straightforward. The user simply uploads photos of themself, such as candids, selfies, and portraits. These photos should have a clear view of the user’s face and uncluttered backgrounds.
In addition to uploading images, you will typically write a prompt for the generator, explaining your vision for your headshots. The prompt is where you get to explain your ideas for necessary headshot components, such as hairstyles, outfit ideas, and backgrounds.
The AI generator will do the rest of the work once you follow these simple steps and any other directions. While you wait a short time for your completed headshots, you can work on updating or creating different areas of your profile. Within around two to three hours, you’ll receive several completed headshots.
Based on the prompt you wrote, each headshot should showcase you against a different background, giving you various options to use in your online profile.
Background Styles For Professional Headshots
The background can make or break your professional headshots. If you have a distracting one, it takes away from showcasing you as a professional. Luckily, many different background options will present you professionally and enhance your headshots instead of losing you as the focal point.
Outdoor
Outdoor backgrounds for headshots is a rising trend that more and more people are utilising. They offer a unique yet sophisticated take on presenting you as a professional.
There are many outdoor background options, including but not limited to fountains, trees, a beach, cityscapes, a garden, or a park. You could also use exciting architecture, such as a bridge, old building, or winding staircase.
The key is to use the beauty of an outdoor background to enhance your photo without it being so busy that you get lost in the background. A professional photographer will understand how to do this, and AI headshot generators will, too. The AI technology has been trained to use outdoor backgrounds to support you as the professional focal point of the headshot.
Casual
For a more business casual feel, consider having a background in a coffee shop, a library, a homey living room, a home office, or a home kitchen. Unique backgrounds can feel inviting and portray you as a relaxed, relatable, and trustworthy professional.
As an example, a home kitchen background could showcase the craft and enhance the branding message of a home-based bakery business owner.
Or, a home office background or library full of bookshelves could help freelance writers appear more studious and dedicated to their work.
Plain Colour
If you want to keep things strictly professional, straightforward, and traditional, go with a plain background. The most common plain-colored backgrounds are gray, white, and black. You can’t go wrong with these simple, neutral shades that will work well with your outfits and professional branding.
If you’re feeling somewhat more adventurous, you could use a darker blue, purple, or green background to add a pop of color. In some cases, bright colors may be appropriate, but that will depend on the profession.
Textured
A textured background may be unconventional in professional headshots, but it can add depth and a touch of uniqueness to your style. Texture backgrounds are an excellent option for more casual or creative professions, such as acting, and provide the opportunity to showcase creativity in professional headshots.
Prop Shot
Prop shots can add personality and additional flair to your professional headshots. Props should be used sparingly, as you want to ensure you’re still maintaining the proper air of professionalism. Still, props can be beneficial in sending a positive message about who you are to potential employers and clients.
If you’re a photographer, having a camera in hand would make sense for a prop. When doing a headshot at an office desk, you may include props such as a stack of books, a small plant, a candle, a laptop, a pencil holder, and other office supplies that make sense but aren’t too busy.
As a general rule, all props should pertain to your business and make sense in the headshot; otherwise, they would be distracting.
How to Choose the Right AI Professional Headshots
Think about your industry and how you want and need to be portrayed as a professional within that sphere. If you’re in a corporate position, a sophisticated background such as an old architectural building, cityscape, or bridge will offer a unique image for your industry. In contrast, you could use a traditional solid black or white background or change it up slightly with a dark purple or blue.
A more business casual professional may find a coffee shop, garden, or leafy background more fitting. A whimsical background like the beach or a fountain could be fitting if you’re in the artistic industry.
Props may be appropriate in any industry as long as they’re subtle and don’t distract from you as the main focal point. A beneficial and eye-catching headshot for corporate industries could be one at your desk with an uncluttered workspace. A baker may find that holding a whisk while using a home kitchen as a background could work well as a headshot in their industry.
Start Using Your AI Professional Headshot
Based on your uploaded prompt, the AI generator will create several headshots for your convenience. You can narrow down which is the best for your online profile. You’ll usually receive between 10 and 100 headshots, and with so many options, there are bound to be a few that are perfect for sending the professional message you want your online profile to portray.
Creating a professional headshot to represent you can be stressful, but with the ease of AI technology, you’ll have plenty of options. Your ideal background will enhance your headshot and truly showcase you as a dependable, unique, and even fascinating professional.
