Unless you’ve been living under a pixelated rock, you’ve probably seen the AI buzz flooding LinkedIn and social media lately. “AI is coming for your job!” they say. Well, I don’t scare easily. I’ve watched enough sci-fi to know that resistance is not futile-but it is smarter when you work with the tech, not against it.
Look, AI is here to stay. It’s not going to kindly excuse itself from the party just because we feel a bit awkward. So instead of doom-scrolling through fear-mongering posts, I asked myself the better question: What can AI do for me as a photographer? Then, like any overly committed professional with a curiosity itch and a penchant for coffee-fueled experiments, I dove in.
Phase 1: The AI Headshot Experiment
As a portrait photographer specializing in headshots and personal branding (aka helping people not look like serial killers on LinkedIn), I wanted to see if AI headshots could actually replace what I do. Spoiler: they tried. Oh boy, did they try.
I tested out a bunch of sites, and here’s the tea:
- Free AI headshot sites? Absolute chaos. Fun for laughs, not for LinkedIn. Think “Sims character meets yearbook photo from another dimension.”
- Paid sites? Surprisingly slick. Professional lighting, flattering tones, and you get loads of images. But then… your hair changes lengths, your outfits get weird, and suddenly you’re wearing a blazer you’d never buy in real life. One AI even gave me a bob haircut. Rude.
- No tattoos allowed, apparently. I uploaded pics of me proudly flaunting my chest tattoo. AI said, “No thanks,” and erased it. Discrimination, I say with a wink.
- Props? Not so much. My beloved camera didn’t make the cut. Instead, I got plopped in front of a very generic laptop in a very generic office. Great if you’re a robot. Not so much if you’re a creative human with, you know, personality.
Sure, some results were impressive. Technically speaking, the AI knows its stuff. But the vibe? It’s just not human. The sparkle, the soul, the subtleties of your story? Missing.
Phase 2: Fighting Fire With Pixels
Never one to back down, I decided to fight AI with… well, AI. But this time, I took the reins. I shot my own self-portraits (with my phone, thank you very much), popped them onto a green screen, and used an AI background generator to inject a bit of magic. My kind of magic.
What I loved:
- I could include my real-life props-my camera, my coffee mug, my personality
- I got to inject my own brand colours and vibes into the scene and rock my glorious leopard print.
- It was fun (and slightly ridiculous) hunting for AI backgrounds that weren’t cringe-inducing. Let’s just say, AI has a thing for overly dramatic bookcases and forests that look like Narnia.
- But my editing time was way down thanks to the background tools.
Of course, there were hiccups. Reflections looked weird, plants had too many leaves (or none at all), and one scene made it look like I was being abducted by stylish aliens. But with a trained eye and some patience, I created a set of images that genuinely felt like me.
The Verdict?
AI can be cool. It has its uses, especially if you’re on a tight budget or need a temporary solution. But let’s be honest: it’s easy to spot a fake. And in a world full of scams, bots, and catfishing profiles, looking too perfect and plastic could backfire.
When it comes to personal branding, when you actually want to connect with humans, show your authenticity, and build trust, nothing beats the real deal. The laughs, the quirks, the genuine expressions? That’s where I come in.
So, if you’re ready to ditch the AI bob haircut and showcase your real self, I’d love to chat. Whether it’s headshots, personal branding, or you just need someone to tell you which side is your good side (hint: it’s both), I’m here for it.
📸 Get in touch and let’s make some headshot magic – no robots required.
Leave a comment in the thread if you would pay me to shoot you in front of a green screen and find a creative AI backdrop that suits your photos and your brand? I’m seriously considering offering this as a service.
