My in-depth review of the top AI headshot generators

I’m seeing the rise in AI-generated “professional” headshots. Many of my LinkedIn connections have recently updated their profile pictures, and I suspect that most of the headshots were created with generative artificial intelligence.

I personally believe that professionals should update their personal branding materials every 2-3 years as it’s important to make sure that your headshot looks like you now and not you ten years ago. People need to be able to spot you in a coffee shop. My headshot was a couple of years old, and let’s face it, the pandemic lockdowns made me look like I aged a decade! It was time to refresh my pic and show the world the before-and-after effects of homeschooling my children and Netflix binging during lockdown!

I tested out four different AI headshot generators: Tryiton, Secta, Aragon.AI and HeadshotPro. Though dozens of headshot generators are available, these three seem to be the most popular on social media. I also hired a professional photographer to take my photos as well. I wanted to answer one simple question: Are AI-generated headshots just as good as professional photos?

How do AI-generated headshots work?

Users can upload 7 to 40 photos of themselves to a website or app. After uploading, an AI model will analyze these photos to learn your facial features and generate a model. This process can take anywhere from 60 minutes to 48 hours. It’s important that these tools receive clear images of your face—no obstructions and a natural appearance without artificial light, filters, or anything that might reduce image quality, like photos of photos.

Review of Aragon.AI

When I searched “best AI headshot generator” on Google, the top result I found was Aragon.ai. It’s likely that they invested significantly to secure that spot, and if others are seeing similar results, they’re probably getting substantial site traffic, making it worth a closer look.

Aragon.Ai–like many other AI headshot websites– makes you acknowledge and agree to their terms of service before proceeding with their service. As with any of these sites, I recommend reading the TOS carefully.

Aragon.AI had me upload a minimum of 6 photos into their AI-learning model. This is fewer than any other site that I tested.

Once I uploaded my photos, they asked me a series of questions, including gender, age, eye color, and race.

I then had the option to choose my package. Aragon.AI is the most expensive of all of the headshot generators that I reviewed for this article. They are only giving 20 options for $35.

About an hour after I uploaded my images, Aragon.AI sent me an email notifying me that my images were ready for review. They sent several hundred pictures for me to review. I selected the best of the best below. While these pictures are great, I don’t think they could pass as me

Review of Headshot Pro

Headshot Pro markets itself as the #1 AI-generated headshot company and claims to have generated over 7 million headshots.

Their website was pretty straightforward: $29 for 120 headshots. They let you choose the background and clothing style for your photos.

When I wrote the original version of this article in 2021, I gave HeadshotPro a bad review. I did not like the Terms of Service Agreement that you had to accept in order to receive your photos. The agreement in 2021 stated that Headshot Pro owned all generations of your photo. I did not feel comfortable with this statement and chose to forgo my photos.

Since publishing the original version of the article, HeadshotPro revised its terms.

In this updated article, I wanted to give the platform a second chance. This time, HeadshotPro had me upload 15 pictures. In reality, I had to upload 23 photos– the site didn’t accept all of the photos that I tried to use for a variety of reasons.

Once I finished uploading all of my sisters photos so that HeadshotPro could use them to analyze and learn my facial features and create their AI model, the platform gave me the option to choose my style preference. I selected “office” in a navy blazer with a light blue shirt. I like that HeadshotPro gave me style options. One of my issues with other sites are that they put my AI model in clothes I would never wear in real life.

The website was having server issues and it took longer than normal to get the headshots. After 6 hours, I was able to preview Beta images.

The website gave me several dozen Beta images to choose from.

Because the site was having server issues, it took an additional hour for me to be able to download any of the files. In my opinion, these photos look close but like a heavily botoxed versions.

Review of Secta.Ai

Secta had me upload 25 photos of myself. I had to work hard to find that many selfies. For $49, they delivered over 200 headshots. 

I tested Secta out in 2021 and declared them my AI-headshot “headshot of choice.” My own sister thought the middle image was taken by a professional photographer and didn’t realize it was AI-generated.

I offered the opportunity to have Secta-generated photos to my team. The general consensus from everyone on my team who participated is that these photos look like “your television news anchor doppelganger.”

I found Secta’s Terms of Service agreement easy to read and understand. Their terms give you ownership of original content and AI-generated content.

Secta released many new upgrades and a new model. I was given a gallery from their new model. As you can see from the pictures below, they are brand-lifestyle photos featuring me in an office setting. In my opinion, these look very professional. I could see myself using some of these images on my website or in social media posts in the future.

While most of the 50 photos I received from Secta’s latest model were excellent, a few stood out with noticeable issues, particularly in the proportions of hands and neck. Below are the three that turned out the worst.

Review on Try it On

My last encounter with AI-generated images was through TryItOn. A trendy colleague, always up-to-date on the latest TikTok buzz, told me about it. Back in March 2021, TryItOn was the talk of TikTok. Naturally curious, I couldn’t resist giving it a “try” myself (pun intended).

The process was straightforward: I uploaded 10 photos of myself. For $17, they created 100 headshots.

Here’s a selection of the best results. While they did a great job capturing my hair and skin tone, my facial features weren’t quite accurate. Each image had something slightly “off.” Some gave me extra teeth, others oddly shaped baby fingers, and—as seen in photo #3—a strange version of myself framed in the background.

TryItOn does have a clear Terms of Service Agreement page written in easy-to-understand language. One of my biggest concerns with AI photos has been “who owns the rights to these images?” According to TryItOn’s TOS page, all rights to the photos generated using our Services belong to the user.

Review of Professional Photographer

When I hired a photographer, I was looking for more than “just” headshots and a branding partner. I wanted someone I trusted who could help me get the exact shot representing my personal brand. Before our photoshoot, we discussed my vision, including colors, location, and desired outcome. She is pretty familiar with my client base and could make thoughtful suggestions.

I paid her $500 for a one-hour photo shoot, editing, and the rights to the photos.

While this was the most expensive option, I view headshots as one of the most important investments in your personal brand. My headshot is my online brand logo. When people see my content on platforms like Linkedin, they also see my headshot photo. My photo needs to build trust and authority and demonstrate likability.

I recently shared the results of my photo sessions with my followers, with the prompt, “Two of these are real. The rest are fake. Which ones did my photographer take?”

Many longtime friends, colleagues, and former clients weighed in on the guessing game. While most of my close friends were able to accurately select the headshots taken by my professional photographer, most of the responses were incorrect. In fact, a friend with whom I had lunch the week prior guessed (with great enthusiasm) the wrong answer.

Which AI Headshot Generator Did My LinkedIn Audience Like the Best?

I also conducted a blind poll on LinkedIn, selecting the best headshot from each of the four AI headshot generators. For Secta, I used their original headshot, not the new lifestyle branding images from their latest model. The headshots from Secta and HeadshotPro are running neck and neck.

The Pros of Using AI Headshots

AI-generated headshots present a range of benefits for individuals and businesses. I recently offered to pay for my team to have “professional headshots” created through Secta. I manage a fully virtual and distributed team. Scheduling a headshot photographer in different locations felt daunting (and expensive). AI-generated headshots notably slash the time needed to create professional headshots compared to traditional photography sessions, ensuring a swift image generation turnaround.