Use a recent, sharp photograph with an unobstructed face, select a professional style, and limit the requested changes to clothing, lighting and background. An AI headshot should be judged by whether colleagues recognize you, not just by whether the suit and backdrop look expensive. Review the final crop in the place it will actually appear.
Choose a reference that explains your face
A front or gentle three-quarter view is easier to evaluate than a face hidden by sunglasses, motion blur or strong shadows. Keep the original file rather than a screenshot from a messaging app. A current hairstyle and natural expression reduce ambiguity.
Do not assume that a larger number of references always improves the result. Some tools accept only one image; others use several. Use only the input method supported by the chosen workflow, and never mix photos of different people as identity references.
Write a short workplace brief
Resolve these decisions before generating:
| Decision | Example choice | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Use | Company directory and professional profile | Determines crop and visual restraint |
| Clothing | Navy suit, open-collar white shirt | Avoids contradictory wardrobe requests |
| Background | Muted blue studio wall | Separates subject without looking distracting |
| Expression | Relaxed closed-mouth smile | Limits unnecessary changes to teeth |
| Crop | Head and upper torso | Leaves flexibility for a circular avatar |
Adobe's professional headshot guide organizes its workflow around a reference photo and explicit appearance choices. Our suggested review process adds a separate identity check before selecting the most polished result.
An original example brief
Create a professional portrait of the person in the reference. Preserve facial proportions, hairline, hairstyle and visible skin tone. Use a navy suit over a plain white shirt, a muted blue studio background and soft light from camera left. Keep the head fully visible and the shoulders relaxed. Retain realistic skin detail. Do not add logos, awards, text or occupational props.
This is a starting brief. It is not a promise that every output will preserve the face exactly. If your current clothes are already suitable, request fewer wardrobe changes.
Review identity before styling
Compare eye spacing, brow shape, nose width, jaw contour and smile against the source. Check ears and glasses, which are easy to overlook at thumbnail size. Then check collars, lapels and shoulders for structural errors.
For a team directory, use a shared backdrop and framing brief, but obtain permission and approval from each person. A shared visual style should not make different people look like the same generated face.
Avatar or magazine poster?
Keep these deliverables separate. A professional-profile avatar usually benefits from an uncluttered face crop. A headshot poster can include a name, role and other approved text outside the portrait.
Do not ask the image model to invent a job title, employer or qualification. Set important wording as editable typography after approving the portrait. Check the current upload requirements of the destination platform; this guide does not prescribe universal platform dimensions.
Is a generated headshot an identity-document photo?
No. Do not assume that a professional-profile portrait satisfies passport, visa or other official photo rules. Use the relevant issuing authority's process for those cases.
What if it looks attractive but not like me?
Reject it. Reduce the transformation or use a better reference rather than choosing an unfamiliar face.
Open Portrait Studio, choose the professional-headshot category and review the specific style before uploading. Image generation and any further successful regeneration use the points shown for the selected resolution.