Best Photos to Upload for AI Headshots (and Ones to Avoid)

An AI headshot generator can only work with what you give it. The single biggest factor in getting a result that actually looks like you — not a vaguely-similar stranger — is the quality of your source photos. A few minutes on this step saves you a wasted generation.

What makes a great source photo

• •Good, even lighting — daylight near a window beats any indoor bulb.
• •Your face clearly visible, filling a good portion of the frame.
• •A few different angles: straight-on, slightly left, slightly right.
• •A neutral or relaxed expression — the model reads your features best when your face isn't distorted by an exaggerated smile or squint.
• •Recent photos — from the last several months, so the result actually looks like you today.

What to avoid

• •Sunglasses, hats, or anything covering your hairline or eyes.
• •Heavy filters or beauty-mode edits — they teach the model the wrong face.
• •Group photos or photos where you're small in the frame.
• •Extreme angles (looking sharply up or down) or motion blur.
• •A single photo only — 3 to 6 gives the model more to work with than one.

How many photos should you upload?

Three to six is the sweet spot. Fewer than that and the model has little to go on; more rarely helps and just slows down your upload. Prioritise variety in angle over sheer quantity.

Try it yourself

Frameworthy uses whatever selfies you upload — no professional camera required. Grab three or four recent photos on your phone in good light and see the difference proper source photos make.