I put an AI headshot generator to the test - and the results had me doing a double-take! Spoiler alert - they're shockingly good (and you can save 40% off)
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Getting your hands on professional headshots for your LinkedIn or Instagram can be expensive and time-consuming – which is why shoppers are now turning to AI to help them create the perfect, professional snaps.
Portrait Pal AI makes this whole process utterly simple – and to that, I can attest because I tried out the oh-so-clever headshot generator myself. But what did I think of the AI tool, and is it worth your money?
Portrait Pal AI is an extremely clever AI tool that takes photos of you and turns them into polished, professional headshots, perfect for everything from LinkedIn to Slack.
Costing from as little as $35 (£26.96), this easy-to-use programme takes a matter of minutes to use, delivering your images in just a matter of hours.
One of the images I uploaded was this one (left), which shows my features close-up with my mouth closed. The AI-generated image is snatched and smoothed, but does resemble me
Getting a good professional headshot is truly an art form – and definitely one you pay for the pleasure of. After background blanking, editing and capturing that perfect pose, you’re guaranteed a hefty (though well-deserved) bill, not forgetting the time out of your day it takes to get yourself picture perfect.
And while the results are likely to be more ‘you’ than any other medium, there’s no denying that AI headshots could certainly tide you over as you find the time and money for the real thing.
This is why Portrait Pal AI caught my eye. Would an AI tool be able to create a quality headshot that actually looked like me? The answer is a resounding yes.
Firstly, it was incredibly easy to get started with Portrait Pal AI. To begin you simply need to choose which package you want: Starter, Basic or Premium, with prices starting from just $35 (£26.96).
Starter gives you 20 high-quality headshots with a 3- hour processing time, Basic gives 60 high-quality headshots with a 2.5-hour processing time and Premium gives you 100 high-quality headshots with a 2-hour processing time. Whichever you choose, you’re guaranteed impressive photos fast.
Then, all you need to do is give the programme a rundown of your gender, age, hair, eye and skin colour, ethnicity and body type. After this, simply upload no fewer than six photos of yourself and the AI does the rest.
Be sure to ensure your images show your face well to give it the best chance of getting all your features right. I uploaded six photos of my face from different angles and on different days – mouth open and closed, hair up and down, teeth and no teeth, etc.
I also uploaded photos of myself with my teeth on show (right), and my hair (though wild and wavy) on show. The AI managed to replicate my teeth well and smoothed my hair to perfection
This way the AI can get a better idea of your features to ensure you get more accurate results. And truly? I was impressed by mine.
After roughly an hour I received an array of headshots that looked so much like me I had to double-take. They included different office-appropriate outfits as well as a number of backgrounds – from sultry library settings and warmly lit offices to totally black backgrounds and even a stint in a forest at sundown.
The poses ranged from toothy smiles to more serious, closed-mouth images, some with visible arms (often crossed), and others simply from the shoulders up. In some images, my hair is down and free flowing, in others up in a neat updo.
Airbrushed and edited, not all of the photos look completely 'natural', but they certainly do display a polished, perfected version of you that's ideal for your LinkedIn
This way the AI can get a better idea of your features to ensure you get more accurate results. And truly? I was impressed by mine
If anything, these images are the perfect reference pictures for your hairdresser (or aesthetician), because the most striking part of the AI-created images was just how elevated they made me look. Me but on a very very (very) good day.
And I’ll be the first to admit that not all of them were a match – it’s AI after all. In some images I look too old, in others I simply don’t look like me at all. However, the majority truly did look just like me. Me, captured by a talented photographer who knows just how to frame and edit the perfect shot. Except it’s not, it's AI.
Looking to try out the revolutionary technology for yourself? Visit Portrait Pal AI today and choose your package now. Your new professional-level headshots are just a couple of hours away…
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