THE HEADSHOT JOURNAL · DALLAS–FORT WORTH
Can an AI-Generated Headshot Look Like You and Still Not Feel Like You?
A personal experiment, and what it reminded me about creating a portrait together.
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Recently, my wife and I decided to try a platform that generates professional headshots with AI. We uploaded ten photographs of her, including two portraits I had taken. I was curious to see how it would interpret someone whose face and expressions I know so well.
The results impressed me. The resemblance was remarkably accurate, and the different outfits, backgrounds, and settings looked realistic. As a photographer, I could appreciate what the technology had produced.
My wife’s reaction was more complicated. She recognized her face, but she felt a disconnect. The images looked like her, yet she didn’t feel represented by them.
That stayed with me because it raised a question I often consider during professional headshot sessions: what makes someone feel comfortable using a photograph of themselves?
Recognizing your face is part of recognizing yourself
A professional photograph can resemble you closely and still leave you uncertain about using it. You might recognize your features while questioning the expression, the clothing, or the overall impression. The image may look polished, but you may have trouble imagining it beside your name on a company website or in a speaker announcement.
In our experiment, my wife’s response was personal. Someone else might have felt differently about the same results. What interested me was how clearly she separated resemblance from the feeling of being represented.
For executives and other professionals, that feeling deserves attention. Your headshot may introduce you before a meeting, accompany your professional biography, or appear in materials you don’t design yourself. It helps to have a photograph you feel comfortable sharing when someone asks for it.
What happens while we create a portrait together
During a studio session, I get to learn how a person responds to being photographed. Some clients arrive knowing what they want. Others tell me they dislike photographs of themselves or feel unsure about their expression.
We begin there. I guide small changes in head position, posture, and expression, then we look at the photographs together through live image review. A client can tell me when something feels unfamiliar, when a smile feels forced, or when an image begins to feel right.
Sometimes the change is subtle. A little tension leaves the mouth. The shoulders settle. A person sees an expression they recognize and says, “I like that one.” Those responses help guide the next photograph. The client participates in shaping the portrait, and I can respond to what they see and feel as we work.
The experience can become part of the photograph
For me, one of the most rewarding parts of photography is watching someone grow more comfortable during a session. They begin to understand what we’re doing, see the effect of a small adjustment, and recognize choices they hadn’t considered before.
I believe that experience can become part of how they remember their photograph. They may recall the conversation, the moment they relaxed, or the surprise of seeing an image they liked.
That doesn’t mean every studio portrait will feel meaningful to every person. It does explain why I place so much value on the session itself. The finished photograph comes from an experience we shared, with decisions we made together.
Choosing a headshot for your professional life
When I help clients select their headshots, we discuss where the images will appear. A LinkedIn profile, leadership biography, conference introduction, and press feature can call for different framing or presentation.
Do you feel comfortable letting this photograph introduce you?
There is no single expression that answers that question for everyone. Some clients prefer a broad smile. Others connect with a quieter expression. We compare the options together and consider how each photograph fits their professional role and preferences.
Practical requirements matter too. Your organization may specify a background, crop, or image format. A useful selection brings those requirements together with photographs you feel represented by.
What our experiment reminded me
I use AI myself, and I appreciate the possibilities it offers. Our experiment gave me a chance to see impressive results firsthand and listen to my wife’s response to them.
It also clarified what I value in my own work: the opportunity to create a portrait with someone, hear their reactions, and help them make choices they feel good about.
At our Farmers Branch studio, that conversation continues from the first photograph through the final selection. My role is to guide the process so you can see the options, understand the differences, and choose photographs you feel comfortable using.
About Nabor Godoy
Nabor Godoy is a professional headshot and portrait photographer at Godoy Shots Photography in Farmers Branch, serving Dallas–Fort Worth. He is a Headshot Crew Associate Photographer and works directly with clients through expression coaching, live image review, and collaborative image selection. Read what his Associate designation means for your session.
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