By the end of this guide you will have a set of professional headshots made from your own selfies, ready for a LinkedIn profile, a CV or a company page, without booking a photographer. The job is done by an AI headshot generator: you upload clear photos of yourself, the service builds a model of your face, and it produces new portraits with different clothes, lighting and backgrounds.
If you want to make a professional headshot with AI, the main choices are how many selfies you are willing to provide, how much you want to pay, and whether you need the result to look convincingly like you. This guide compares seven tools from our Image generation category.
Key takeaways
- Take varied, clear selfies, upload them to an AI headshot tool, pick a style that suits the platform, and choose the result that looks most like you.
- The main decision is the pricing model: one-off packages (Aragon.ai, BlackHeadshots, PhotoGuru), monthly subscriptions (MyPicNow) or credits (Photo AI Studio).
- Results can contain small flaws such as distorted features, so check them carefully before you use one as a profile photo.
- Use only your own photos, and read each service's refund and data terms before you pay.
What you need before you start
- Selfies of yourself. Requirements differ: from one photo on Photo AI Studio to 8 to 14 on BlackHeadshots. Use clear, well-lit shots.
- A phone or computer. Most tools are web based. AI Photo Forge runs inside Telegram, so you need a Telegram account.
- A payment method. Most services here are paid. A few offer free trial credits or a few free photos.
- Time. Taking photos and uploading takes under an hour. Generation times in the listings range from under a minute for a first photo to about 30 minutes for a full set.
- Difficulty. Easy. No design skills needed.
- Consent and honesty. Only upload photos of yourself. Check what the places you will use the photo expect, since some employers and platforms care that a profile photo is a fair likeness.
Which kind of AI tool fits this job
Choose by how the tool charges and what it is tuned for.
A package you buy once. Aragon.ai sells headshot packages that produce between 40 and 100 images, with a choice of attire and background, and offers branded team orders. BlackHeadshots turns 8 to 14 selfies into portraits and is built to render Black skin tones and features accurately. PhotoGuru turns one to ten phone selfies into headshots and sells one-time credit packs that do not expire.
A subscription or credit service with many styles. MyPicNow trains a personal model and offers 60+ styles for LinkedIn, resumes, dating apps and social media. Photo AI Studio generates photos from a single selfie across 49+ themes and uses credits.
A phone-first option. AI Photo Forge is a Telegram bot: upload 1 to 12 pictures and pick a style category. It works on a phone, tablet or computer.
A general editor with headshots as one feature. Fotor lists AI headshots and face generation alongside enhancing, background removal and design templates, on web, iOS, Android, Mac and Windows. This suits you if you also want to edit other photos.
Step 1: Take a set of clear selfies
The quality of the headshot depends on the photos you provide, so take them carefully.
- Use natural daylight facing a window, with no harsh shadows across your face.
- Take a mix of close-ups and shots from the chest up, with different expressions.
- Vary the clothes and background between shots. MyPicNow recommends a mix of close-ups and full-body shots with varied outfits, settings and expressions.
- Avoid sunglasses, heavy filters, group photos and other people in the frame.
- Check the file type. MyPicNow accepts JPG, PNG, WebP and AVIF but not HEIC, so convert HEIC files to JPG first.
Check it worked by scrolling through the set and confirming your face is sharp and clearly visible in every photo.
Step 2: Decide what the headshot is for
The platform decides the style, so settle on it before you pick a tool.
- List where the photo will appear: LinkedIn, a CV, a company site, a portfolio.
- Pick the look you need: plain background and business clothing for a CV, something warmer for a creative portfolio.
- Decide if you need only a few images or a large set to choose from. Aragon.ai packages produce between 40 and 100 images.
- Decide whether you need a commercial licence. BlackHeadshots states its images come with a commercial licence and no watermark.
Check it worked by writing down the platform, the style and the number of images you want.
Step 3: Choose a service and price model
You finish this step with one service chosen.
- Compare one-off packages with subscriptions. If you only need headshots once, a package or credit pack avoids a recurring charge. PhotoGuru says there is no subscription and that credits do not expire.
- Check the free options. Photo AI Studio says new accounts receive free trial credits. AI Photo Forge says new users get several free photos with no credit card. MyPicNow's FAQ says there is no free version.
- Read the refund rules. BlackHeadshots offers refunds only within 24 hours of purchase, PhotoGuru within 7 days for technical problems, and Aragon.ai's headshot refunds depend on whether photos were downloaded.
- Use the comparison table further down to see pricing and stated limits side by side.
Check it worked by being able to say what you will pay in total and when you can get a refund.
Step 4: Upload your photos and choose styles
The goal is to start the generation with the right inputs.
- Create an account and start a new headshot order.
- Upload your selfies, following the on-screen guidance. Skipping instructions can void refunds on BlackHeadshots.
- Choose styles and attire. BlackHeadshots lists styles such as LinkedIn, Bold and Casual Chic. Aragon.ai lets you choose attire and backgrounds depending on the package.
- Confirm the order and wait. BlackHeadshots says most orders are ready in about 30 minutes, MyPicNow says training takes roughly 30 minutes on average, and AI Photo Forge lists roughly two to three minutes.
Check it worked by seeing a processing screen or a confirmation that training has started.
Step 5: Review the results critically
AI headshots look polished, but the details can be wrong.
- Open each image at full size and compare it with your real face.
- Check eyes, teeth, ears, hands and jewellery for distortions. MyPicNow lists minor artifacts such as distorted features as a limit.
- Make sure your skin tone, hairline and age look like you. A flattering but different face can cause trouble at an interview.
- Ask a friend or colleague which images look like you, and choose from their answers.
Check it worked by having two or three images that a person who knows you would recognise immediately.
Step 6: Fix small flaws
Small edits can rescue a good image.
- Use the built-in editor if the service has one. MyPicNow has an editor for fixing artifacts, and PhotoGuru lists relight, change background, retouch and outfit swaps.
- Crop to the shape your platform uses and keep your face centred.
- Avoid heavy retouching that changes how you look.
- If every result is poor, return to Step 1 with better photos rather than regenerating endlessly.
Check it worked by viewing the cropped image at the small size it will appear on your profile.
Step 7: Download and use your headshot
Save your files in a quality that suits each use.
- Download the highest resolution your plan offers. Aragon.ai's Standard package gives images of 896 x 1088 pixels, and higher resolution comes with the Executive package. PhotoGuru lists HD or 4K downloads.
- Download promptly. AI Photo Forge keeps generated images for 30 days and then deletes them.
- Keep the chosen image and your original selfies in your own storage.
- Upload the headshot to your profile and check how it looks on both phone and desktop.
Check it worked by viewing your live profile as another person would see it.
Tools for this job compared
| Tool | Good fit for | Pricing | Stated limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aragon.ai | Headshot packages and team orders on the web | Freemium, paid from $15/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Standard package images are 896 x 1088 pixels; subscription refunds only within 14 days if no credits used |
| BlackHeadshots | Headshots tuned for Black skin tones and features | Paid, from $19 one-time (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Refunds only within 24 hours and a 5% fee applies; Starter has one style; Portrait Studio costs extra |
| MyPicNow | A personal model with 60+ styles | Paid, from $19.99/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | HEIC not supported; some images can contain minor artifacts; refunds restricted once a subscription starts |
| Photo AI Studio | One selfie, many themes, plus an API | Freemium, paid from $19/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Each photo generation uses 100 credits; prices differ by country tier; not for people who have not consented |
| AI Photo Forge | Telegram-based headshots on a phone | Free trial | Needs a Telegram account; credit prices not listed; generated images stored for 30 days |
| PhotoGuru | One-time credit packs, no subscription | Paid, from $9.99 one-time (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Uploaded originals are processed by third-party AI providers; refunds within 7 days for technical problems |
| Fotor | Headshots as part of a wider photo editor | Freemium | Credits are a separate meter; plan prices not listed |
Prices and plan limits change, so confirm the current terms on each vendor's site before you subscribe.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Uploading a few similar selfies. Near-identical photos give the model little to learn from and can produce a stiff or inaccurate face. Fix it by taking varied shots with different expressions, angles and clothes.
- Choosing the most flattering image instead of the most accurate one. A headshot that does not look like you can embarrass you at an interview or call. Fix it by asking people who know you which image looks most like you.
- Missing the refund window. Some services refund only within 24 hours, or not after you download. Fix it by checking results promptly and reading the refund terms before you pay.
- Skipping the privacy terms. Your face is sensitive data. PhotoGuru says originals go to an AI provider and MyPicNow says uploaded images are deleted from its servers within 30 days of removal. Fix it by reading the data terms and deleting your data if the service allows.
- Using someone else's photos. Training a model on another person's face without permission is a consent problem. Fix it by only uploading your own images, as Photo AI Studio says it is not suited to editing people who have not consented.
How we put this together
This is an evidence-based guide built from each tool's listing in our directory, which is compiled from the vendor's own site and pricing page. It is not a review based on using the tools. We don't rank tools, and nobody paid to be included. Some outbound links may be affiliate links; see our disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free way to make a professional headshot with AI?
Only in a limited way. Photo AI Studio says new accounts receive free trial credits, and AI Photo Forge says new users get several free photos with no credit card. Fotor has a Basic plan with limited free credits. Full headshot sets generally need a paid package or credits.
How many selfies do I need?
It depends on the tool. Photo AI Studio works from a single selfie, PhotoGuru asks for one to ten, AI Photo Forge for 1 to 12, and BlackHeadshots for 8 to 14. More varied photos usually give the model more to work with.
How long does it take to make an AI headshot?
PhotoGuru says the first photo is ready in under a minute, AI Photo Forge lists roughly two to three minutes, BlackHeadshots lists about 30 minutes for most orders, and MyPicNow says training takes roughly 30 minutes on average. Allow extra time for choosing and checking images.
Can I make a headshot on my phone?
Yes. AI Photo Forge runs in Telegram on a phone, and PhotoGuru, a web service, works from selfies taken on your phone. Fotor has iOS and Android apps. Check each vendor's site for current options.
Is it acceptable to use an AI headshot on LinkedIn or a CV?
The services market their images for exactly this, but you are responsible for how you use them. Choose an image that is a fair likeness of you, check the rules of the platform or employer, and avoid heavy changes to your appearance.
Compare more options in our Image generation category. If you also need an image of something else, see how to generate images from text with AI.
