Professional Headshot Generator

Your next professional headshot is one prompt away. This skill transforms any clear photo of yourself into a polished, business-ready portrait using AI image generation.

No expensive equipment. No photographer. No complex editing software. Just upload your photo and get studio-quality results in minutes.

Overview

A great professional headshot opens doors. It's often the first impression you make on LinkedIn, company websites, speaking bios, and press features. But getting a quality headshot traditionally requires:

• Booking a photographer ($200-500+)
• Traveling to a studio
• Awkward posing sessions
• Waiting days for edited results

This skill eliminates all of that. You provide a clear photo, and AI handles the lighting, framing, styling, and professional polish.

What You'll Get

• Studio-quality portrait with professional lighting
• Identity-preserving transformation - it's unmistakably you
• Proper business framing - chest up with headroom
• Clean, neutral background - works everywhere
• Professional styling - smart casual or business attire

Prerequisites

Before starting, you'll need:

• A clear photo of yourself (well-lit, full face visible)
• The photo can be casual - selfies work fine!

Photo Tips for Best Results:

• Face clearly visible and well-lit
• Full head in frame (not cropped at top)
• Front-facing or slight angle
• Neutral expression or natural smile
• Avoid heavy shadows on face

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STEP 1: UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO

Use the attachment button (paperclip icon) in the chat to upload your photo.

Supported formats: JPG, PNG, GIF (max 5MB)

Once uploaded, your photo will appear as an attachment in the chat. I'll use this image URL to transform it into a professional headshot.

What Works Best

Good Input Photos:

• Selfies with good lighting
• Casual photos where your face is clear
• Group photos (I'll focus on you)
• Outdoors in natural light
• Indoor with decent lighting

Photos to Avoid:

• Heavy shadows obscuring facial features
• Extreme angles or distorted perspectives
• Very low resolution or blurry images
• Face partially covered (sunglasses, masks)
• Top of head cropped out

The AI Advantage

The beauty of this workflow is that it works even with imperfect photos. AI can:

• Correct lighting issues
• Adjust framing and composition
• Add professional styling
• Create clean backgrounds
• Enhance while preserving your identity

The clearer your input, the better your output - but don't let imperfection stop you.

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STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR STYLE

Tell me what kind of professional look you want:

Style Options

Classic Corporate

• Dark blazer or suit jacket
• Neutral background (dark gray or navy)
• Formal, confident expression
• Perfect for: Finance, law, consulting, executive roles

Modern Professional

• Smart casual blazer
• Light neutral background
• Approachable, confident expression
• Perfect for: Tech, startups, creative industries

Creative Professional

• Business casual or stylish attire
• Subtle color or gradient background
• Warm, engaging expression
• Perfect for: Marketing, design, media, entrepreneurs

Friendly Expert

• Smart casual or button-up
• Bright, airy background
• Warm smile, approachable
• Perfect for: Coaches, consultants, educators, speakers

Customization Options

You can also specify:

• Background color preference (dark, light, specific hex code)
• Attire style (blazer, button-up, sweater, etc.)
• Expression (confident, approachable, serious, friendly)
• Lighting mood (bright and airy, dramatic, soft and warm)

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STEP 3: GENERATE YOUR HEADSHOT

I'll use the WaveSpeed AI Nano Banana Pro model to transform your photo.

The Generation Process

The AI prompt I'll use includes these professional photography elements:

Framing & Composition

• Subject framed from chest up
• Ample headroom above head (not cropped)
• Subject facing camera directly
• Room for negative space (versatile cropping)

Lighting

• Soft, diffused studio lighting
• Gentle illumination on face
• Subtle catchlight in eyes
• No harsh shadows

Technical Quality

• High-resolution output
• 85mm portrait lens simulation
• Shallow depth of field
• Sharp focus on eyes
• Soft background bokeh

Professional Polish

• Natural, realistic skin texture
• Crisp fabric detail
• Clean, cinematic color grading
• Balanced, contemporary tones

What Happens Behind the Scenes

I'll use the wavespeed_edit_image tool with your uploaded photo URL:

Tool: wavespeed_edit_image
API: WaveSpeed AI - Nano Banana Pro Edit
Input: Your uploaded photo URL + professional headshot prompt
Resolution: 2K (default) or 4K for crisp, production-ready output
Aspect Ratio: 1:1 (square, ideal for profile photos)

The Nano Banana Pro Edit model accepts your uploaded image and transforms it based on text instructions. It understands facial structure, lighting, and scene composition - making it ideal for professional headshot transformations while preserving your identity.

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STEP 4: REVIEW AND REFINE

Once generated, I'll show you the result for review.

Evaluation Checklist

Ask yourself:

• Does it look like me? (identity preserved)
• Is the lighting flattering?
• Does the expression feel right?
• Is there enough headroom?
• Does the background work?
• Would I use this professionally?

Refinement Options

If the first result isn't perfect, we can adjust:

Identity Issues

• "Make it look more like my original photo"
• "Preserve my [specific feature] more accurately"

Lighting Adjustments

• "Make the lighting softer/more dramatic"
• "Add more warmth to the tones"
• "Brighten the overall image"

Composition Fixes

• "Add more space above my head"
• "Zoom out slightly"
• "Center the subject better"

Style Changes

• "Try a different background color"
• "Make the attire more/less formal"
• "Adjust the expression to be more [approachable/confident/friendly]"

Quick Fixes

• "Remove the text/watermark" (if any appears)
• "Clean up the background"
• "Sharpen the focus on the eyes"

Usually 2-3 iterations get you to the perfect result.

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STEP 5: EXPORT AND USE

Once you're happy with the result, it's time to put it to work.

Download Options

I'll provide:

• Full-resolution image (highest quality)
• Optimized version for web use
• The prompt used for future reference

Where to Use Your New Headshot

Professional Profiles

• LinkedIn profile photo
• Company website/team page
• Professional associations
• Speaker bios

Business Assets

• Email signature
• Business cards
• Proposal documents
• Press kit

Social Media

• Twitter/X profile
• Professional Facebook
• Industry forums
• Slack workspace

Size Recommendations

| Platform | Recommended Size | |----------|------------------| | LinkedIn | 400x400 px (displays at 200x200) | | Twitter/X | 400x400 px | | Company Website | 500-800 px wide | | Email Signature | 100-150 px wide | | Press Kit | Full resolution |

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The Professional Headshot Prompt

Here's the core prompt template used for generation:

Edit this image. I need a professional, high-resolution profile photo,
maintaining the exact facial structure, identity, and key features of
the person in the input image.

The subject is framed from the chest up, with ample headroom and negative
space above their head, ensuring the top of their head is not cropped.
The person looks directly at the camera, and the subject's body is also
directly facing the camera.

They are styled for a professional photo studio shoot, wearing a
[smart casual blazer / formal suit jacket / business casual attire].

The background is a solid [#141414 / neutral gray / soft gradient]
neutral studio.

Shot from a high angle with bright and airy soft, diffused studio
lighting, gently illuminating the face and creating a subtle catchlight
in the eyes, conveying a sense of clarity.

Captured on an 85mm f/1.8 lens with a shallow depth of field, exquisite
focus on the eyes, and beautiful, soft bokeh.

Observe crisp detail on the fabric texture of the blazer, individual
strands of hair, and natural, realistic skin texture.

The atmosphere exudes confidence, professionalism, and approachability.

Clean and bright cinematic color grading with subtle warmth and balanced
tones, ensuring a polished and contemporary feel.

This prompt is customized based on your style preferences.

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Example Transformations

Casual Selfie to Corporate Executive

Before: Casual selfie in natural lighting, outdoor background After: Professional headshot with dark blazer, neutral studio background, confident expression, studio lighting

Group Photo to Individual Portrait

Before: Cropped from team photo, uneven lighting After: Polished individual portrait, proper framing, professional attire, clean background

Home Office Shot to Speaker Bio

Before: Zoom screenshot, home office visible, uneven lighting After: Warm, approachable headshot suitable for speaking engagements and podcast appearances

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Tips for Best Results

Before Generation

Choose the right source photo:

• Pick one where you like your expression
• Ensure face is clearly visible
• Better lighting = better results
• Recent photo reflects current you

Know your use case:

• LinkedIn? Go classic professional
• Creative role? More personality okay
• Speaking/coaching? Warm and approachable
• Corporate? Formal and polished

During Generation

Be specific about what you want:

• Mention specific colors if you have brand colors
• Describe the vibe (approachable, authoritative, creative)
• Reference the context (LinkedIn, team page, speaker bio)

Iterate thoughtfully:

• One change at a time for refinements
• Keep what works, adjust what doesn't
• Trust the process - usually 2-3 rounds

After Generation

Consistency matters:

• Use the same headshot across platforms
• Update all profiles at once
• Keep the prompt for future updates

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Troubleshooting

"It doesn't look like me"

This can happen with challenging source photos. Try:

• Using a clearer, better-lit source photo
• Requesting "maintain facial structure exactly"
• Trying a different angle in your source

"The background has artifacts"

Request: "Use a solid, clean background with no gradients or textures"

"The lighting is too harsh/flat"

Request: "Use softer, more diffused lighting" or "Add more dimension with subtle shadows"

"The styling isn't right"

Be more specific: "Smart casual blue blazer" vs just "professional attire"

"Text appeared in the image"

Simply request: "Remove any text from the image"

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Creating Your Personal Brand Kit

Once you have your perfect headshot, consider creating variations:

Fork This Skill

Customize this skill for your ongoing needs:

• Save your preferred prompt settings
• Lock in your brand colors
• Create presets for different contexts

Build a Brand Kit

Generate consistent imagery:

• Primary headshot (formal)
• Secondary headshot (approachable)
• Speaking/event photo
• Casual professional (for social)

Stay Current

Update your headshot:

• When your appearance changes significantly
• Every 2-3 years minimum
• When entering a new professional context
• When rebranding

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Advanced: Batch Headshots for Teams

This skill can also be used for team pages:

1. Collect clear photos from each team member
2. Define a consistent style (background, attire suggestion, lighting)
3. Generate headshots using the same prompt template
4. Result: Cohesive, professional team page

This creates visual consistency without requiring everyone to visit the same photographer.

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Remember: Your headshot is often your first impression. A professional, polished image signals that you take yourself and your work seriously. With AI, there's no excuse for a blurry selfie or outdated photo.

Upload a clear photo, choose your style, and let's create your next professional headshot.