Creating a polished AI headshot for LinkedIn demands thoughtful preparation, precision, and alignment with industry norms

Start with a clear conception of your professional persona

Reflect on your sector, position, and the vibe you aim to project to potential connections

Do you represent a corporate leader, a design-driven innovator, or a startup founder?

Your headshot should reflect your credibility and align with the expectations of your field

Maintain a list of descriptors—calm, decisive, modern, dependable—to guide your choices during generation

Next, choose a reliable AI image generation platform that specializes in photorealistic human portraits

Top platforms for this task are MidJourney, DALL·E 3, Leonardo AI, and Canva’s AI generators

Look for platforms that allow fine-tuned control over lighting, pose, background, and facial expression

Steer clear of generators that create cartoonish, distorted, informative page or surreal faces—they erode credibility

After choosing your AI tool, write a comprehensive and specific prompt

Initiate the prompt with: "headshot of a [gender] between 28 and 42 years old, professionally styled"

Supplement with: "attired in professional clothing—either suit or refined casual—no stubble or neatly groomed, expression neutral with a subtle upward curve of the lips"

Define illumination: "gentle, diffused studio light with delicate reflections in the pupils"

Use a backdrop that is: "unobtrusive and muted—gray, beige, or taupe—with zero visual noise and shallow focus"

Add specs: "ultra-sharp, 8K resolution, hyperrealistic rendering, realistic pores and skin tone, zero glitches, no plastic or AI-smoothing"

Review your prompt for clarity and completeness before submitting

Produce multiple outputs—target between four and six distinct versions

Don’t settle for the first result

Small adjustments to phrasing can yield vastly different results

For example, swapping "slight smile" for "confident gaze" can shift the emotional tone

Organize all generated images in one folder named "AI Headshot Variants" for easy review

Review each image critically

Watch for anomalies like misshapen fingers, asymmetrical ears, patchy shadows, or glitchy edges near the scalp

Reject photos with lifeless, glassy eyes or rubbery, artificial skin texture

The goal is authenticity, not perfection

Slight humanity in the expression builds more connection than sterile, AI-perfect symmetry

Choose your top image and refine it with Photoshop, Lightroom, GIMP, or Canva’s editing suite

Tweak exposure and tonal balance so your features are clearly visible without harsh shadows

Sharpen the details around the gaze and smile to make the expression feel alive

Clean up minor distractions but preserve the natural look of your skin and features

Maintain a simple, cohesive background without visual distractions

Replace a cluttered or inconsistent backdrop with a smooth, solid tone—like pale gray or warm beige—via basic masking tools

Verify that your headshot meets LinkedIn’s recommended specifications

The image should be square or portrait-oriented, with a resolution of at least 400 by 400 pixels, though 1080 by 1080 is ideal

Position your face to fill roughly 60% of the image, slightly turned to avoid stiffness

Never use a full-body image, selfie with friends, or any photo containing individuals besides yourself

Evaluate your image as it will appear to viewers

Upload it to a mock LinkedIn profile or view it on multiple devices—desktop, tablet, and smartphone to confirm it looks clear and professional at all sizes

Seek input from someone who knows your professional persona

Can they identify you instantly? Does it capture your essence? Would they confidently reach out to this version of you?

Finally, once you’re satisfied, upload your edited headshot to your LinkedIn profile

Revise your profile’s headline and "About" section to match the credibility and style of your headshot

Harmony between your visual identity and written profile strengthens your professional brand

AI-generated portraits don’t replace your true self—they amplify your authentic self for professional contexts

The most effective headshots are those that feel like the real you, just polished and ready for the professional world

Invest care into every phase of creation

A thoughtful headshot isn’t just decorative; it’s a gateway to new professional connections and possibilities