How to Take a Professional Headshot (Without a Photoshoot)
A credible headshot needs three things from the shoot (light, angle, expression) and two from the edit (framing, studio polish). Get the first three right with your phone, and the AI pass handles the rest — same face, studio finish.
Quick answer: Face a window, camera at eye level, plain background a step behind you, shoulders angled. Crop it in the free local panel, then run the AI Headshot Generator — it adds business attire and a studio background with your exact face preserved. 3 free edits a day.
Light: face a window, not a lamp
Soft, directional daylight from slightly above eye level is the entire secret. Stand facing a window; if one side goes too dark, turn slightly toward it. Overhead office lighting and on-camera flash create the shadows that scream 'webcam' — avoid both.
Angle and framing
Camera at eye level (prop the phone, don't hold it low), shoulders at a slight angle to the camera, face turned toward the lens. Frame from mid-chest up with a little headroom. A step of distance between you and the background keeps you sharp and it soft.
Expression: the 'thinking of something funny' look
A forced grin reads as forced. Exhale, relax the jaw, and think of something mildly amusing right before the shot — the difference shows around the eyes. Take six shots, not one; expression varies more than any other variable.
The AI pass: what it changes and what it can't
Upload the best shot to the AI Headshot Generator. It restyles setting and clothing — business attire, neutral studio background, soft key light — with your facial identity locked. It will not make you younger, thinner or someone else; if a result drifts, re-run while your free daily edits last.
Where headshots get used
- LinkedIn and job applications — the profile photo is the first thing reviewed.
- Company team pages — consistency beats glamour.
- Conference bios, press kits, speaking decks.
- Resume headers where photos are customary (check local norms — in some markets they're discouraged).
What this site doesn't do
- We don't generate faces from text — the headshot is built from your photo, with your face preserved.
- We don't beautify by default: no automatic slimming, skin smoothing or age changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a ring light?
Selfie camera or rear camera?
What does the AI change, exactly?
Free?
More tools used in this guide
One selfie → professional headshot, same face, studio polish — 3 free AI edits a day.
Fix dull, soft or noisy photos in one click — 3 free AI edits a day, plus a free local adjust panel that never uploads your photo.
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