Score a Cost-Effective LinkedIn Headshot with AI

We’ve all seen some ultra weird (and hilarious) headshots that were clearly generated with artificial intelligence. You know what I’m talking about — the ones that are oddly cartoon-like, or come complete with piercing eyes, extra teeth, misplaced hands, or—as I’ve learned through my recent trials with two AI platforms—even feathery veils.

But you’ve probably also seen dozens of great AI headshots, perhaps without even knowing it.

Knowing that many professionals are at least thinking about updating their LinkedIn headshot—but, perhaps, don’t want to spend the time and money a professional photographer will require—I decided to take a spin with two of the AI photo platforms that rank among “the best” time and time again: TryItOn.AI and HeadshotPro .

Here's how it went:

HEADSHOT PRO

I trialed HeadshotPro using their $29 "Small Shoot" option, which gave me 40 headshots. This package offered me choices over my backgrounds and clothing, and a handful of edits. This is the most cost-effective option HeadshotPro offers. They also have packages that include more images, edits, and clothing/background choices. These are $39 and $49, depending on how "all in" you want to go.

The way this service works is that you upload 20 or more snapshots of yourself (and, yes, I thought 20 was a lot, but I managed to scrounge them up) then select what backgrounds and outfit themes you'd like to see. In a few hours (mine took just over two), your headshots are ready for action.

The Results: In general, I was pretty impressed with my HeadshotPro images. I also had a few good laughs over a few of them, including the one (lower right) with extra teeth, the feathery veil/nonsensical button look I've got going on in the lower left shot, and the odd hoodie I'm wearing in top right shot.

Nevertheless, about 10 of the images were ones I'd consider using as a professional headshot, which means I paid $2.90 per photo. A win.

TRYITON.AI

I also ordered the basic TryItOn.AI package, which provided 100 images for $21. It's a great deal, but "human edits" don't come with the package (You have to order them separately). This provider only requires you to upload 10 snapshots or selfies, but allows up to 30. For the sake of consistency, I added the same 20 that I'd used for the HeadshotPro trial. And in 90 minutes, I had my 100 shots.

The Results: The best way to describe my TryItOn results is to say the highs were higher and the lows were lower. What I mean by this is that my favorite images in the batch were really good. However, the crazy errors in other shots were, um, crazier than those I received from HeadshotPro: missing hands, bucked teeth, shellac-esque bangs, some sort of bandage on my head, and colored-contact-lens looking eyes (I have green eyes, they are not that bright!)

But again, of the batch, I found three that I'd absolutely use for a professional headshot. So that brought my cost to $7 per "keeper," which is also pretty darned cost-efficient.

All that said, if you're thinking that it's (well past) time to update your LinkedIn headshot and don't want to shell out hundreds of dollars for a studio/pro photoshoot, the AI options are plentiful today and, based on my experiment with two leading providers, well worth the investment.

Have you tried an AI tool for your LinkedIn profile headshot? Post your faves in the comments below!

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