Why I Chose AI Over a Photographer for My Headshot

How much would you spend on a professional headshot? $250? $500? More than that? What if I told you that you could update your existing headshot for less than $10 right now? This is exactly where I found myself recently after a change in my hair color and length. I realized that my old headshot no longer reflected the real me.

At a previous role in a marketing agency, I had several headshots taken that were so perfect that I continued to use them for years. The photographer touched up the photos so that I looked like a polished version of myself (which, let's face it, is the goal for any headshot, right?). So, how is that any different from using AI technology to polish up a photo? I would venture to say it’s not. These days, using AI shortcuts can not only save you time but, most importantly, money!

There was a time when professional headshots weren’t a necessity for everyone. This is still true in some industries. But in marketing, we know the value of a good headshot for employees. Professional headshots are mostly used for marketing efforts, personal branding, and career-related content. At the end of the day, they help portray whatever image you want the rest of the world to see.

Now, before I go any further, let me be clear: I absolutely value the talent of a professional photographer. When your budget allows, you should definitely hire a photographer for headshots. Case in point: I will be scheduling a photoshoot soon for all of our attorneys to get updated headshots. As a law firm, we frequently use these headshots for various marketing purposes, including social media, billboards, and digital advertising.

However, today’s article is about how to make it work if you need a headshot in a pinch but don’t have the budget for a professional photographer. In my case, a professional headshot is nice to have because, as the Director of Marketing, I am one of the faces of the company. Lesser known than the attorneys, of course, but still a recognizable figure from community activities, media interviews, and networking events. But do I need to spend $500 on a headshot for myself? No. In my opinion, that would be a poor use of my budget that could be better spent on other advertising methods that contribute to our overall marketing goals and strategy.

For the sake of research, I tested out a few popular apps, and my favorite was Photoleap. (Disclaimer: This is not a paid promotion, and I am not receiving anything from Photoleap for singing their praises.) Photoleap allows you to sign up for one week at $7.99 or $59.99 for the year. This app offers a ton of features, but I only used the AI generator for headshots. It’s as simple as uploading a photo, and it provides several templates that you can refresh until you find a headshot that closely resembles what you’re looking for.

The only drawback is that it can take some time to find one you like, as you can't give the AI specific direction on what you want it to look like. However, it’s still less time-consuming than a full photoshoot and waiting for the photos to come back. If you want to see the end result of mine, scroll up and take a look at the headshot at the top of this article.

Bottom line: I didn’t need to spend money from our marketing budget on a headshot for myself. I leveraged a much cheaper option to achieve the same result by taking an existing headshot and having AI update the hair color and length. I spent around 10 minutes creating this updated headshot to use in the header art for this article. For small businesses or content creators, I would 100% recommend using an AI app to create your headshots before dropping a hefty check on a professional photographer.

So, have you tried using AI tools for your personal branding or business? I’d love to hear your thoughts—what’s your experience with AI photo editing apps, and do you think they’re a good alternative to traditional photography??