AI headshots are becoming popular on LinkedIn and in professional portfolios as job seekers look for affordable profile photos to give them an edge.
Since first impressions are made almost entirely through a screen, a sharp, attractive photo is as important as a strong resume. And in a competitive job market, a good photo can make a big difference. But professional photography has long been a financial barrier for many candidates, with the average starting cost for a professional portrait in the United States easily reaching hundreds of dollars.
Now, job seekers are using fast, low-cost AI tools to replace expensive studio sessions.
“When I was at Yale, a 15-minute session for students cost $200,” said Melanie Fan, head of growth at Plush, an AI-powered online search platform for personalized shopping. “It was very expensive. The process of getting the photos, turning them in, figuring out which ones I thought looked best, and then sending them back to the photographer to edit.”
This frustration has fueled the explosion of AI headshot tools like InstaHeadshots, PhotoPacksAI, HeadshotPro and Aragon AI, services that promise a professional image in minutes starting at less than $50. Users simply upload selfies, choose a background, and receive dozens of them, without the need for a photographer.
“After I changed my LinkedIn photo, the number of incoming messages I received from companies exploded,” Fan said. “Three to four times more messages from companies.”
Design company Canva recently launched its own AI portrait feature, aiming to give users a quick way to create realistic portraits while still being able to edit or restyle them.
According to a recent Canva job market research report, 88% of job seekers believe a polished digital presence influences hiring decisions, an increase of 45% from the previous year. This aligns with the general increase in the use of AI in the application and hiring process, with 90% of hiring managers reporting they used AI to facilitate the hiring process, and 96% of job seekers who used AI in the application process reporting receiving reminders.
Danny Wu, AI product manager at Canva, said the goal is not to replace real photography, but to make high-quality images accessible to everyone, regardless of budget or location. Once a user uploads an image, Canva can use AI to adjust or change the background, place something in a different location, and for styling. “It’s just a more accessible way to get professional, unique portraits,” Wu said.
Risks and questions about authenticity among HR recruiters
Anyone with a phone can get a LinkedIn-ready photo, but the rapid adoption of technology has raised new questions about ethics and trust. Many candidates fear appearing fake or misleading and recruiters are on the lookout for AI-generated headshots that appear too smooth or stylized, saying authenticity matters most.
“It’s seen as risky to use an AI headshot,” said Sam DeMase, career expert at ZipRecruiter. “While recruiters will accept them, a bad AI-generated portrait will turn off most recruiters,” DeMase said. “A poorly produced AI-generated photo is easily recognized, reads as inauthentic, and can harm the candidate’s chances of being selected.”
However, recruiters have difficulty knowing whether a headshot is produced by AI, and the technology will only improve. “It’s becoming increasingly difficult to know whether a headshot has been enhanced or AI-generated,” DeMase added.
Chris Bora, founder and principal AI architect of Bora Labs and former Meta engineer, said he built his own headshot generator, Nova Headshot, after becoming disappointed with existing options. “Some made me look taller and thinner,” Bora said. “The others, they made me look lighter, so it wasn’t really me,” he said. “You no longer need to spend thousands to look professional. You just need a tool that makes you look like your best day. With Nova, it takes less than ten minutes,” Bora said.
Amber Collins, an AI headshots user, said she still feels uncomfortable, especially since not all apps get it right. “There are a lot of bad apps out there,” Collins said. “Seven fingers, half of a necklace, and the rest is gone from your neck. I feel guilty about using AI. There’s a stigma. I would 100% prefer to have headshots done,” Collins said.
But ultimately, she says, the benefits outweighed the risks. “In this economy, you have to be careful about where you’re going to put your money. I don’t need to display my face excessively, but having a few really good, strong, professional headshots is worth it,” Collins said.
Wu said the goal for portrait applicants should be to use Canva’s tool to balance realism and creativity without losing their identity.
The tension between technological innovation and accessibility on the one hand, and authenticity on the other, will persist.
A LinkedIn spokesperson told CNBC that while the platform allows the use of tools, including AI, to enhance or create profile photos, “the photo must reflect your image.”
“Profile photos that violate our Terms of Service or Professional Community policies may be removed,” the LinkedIn spokesperson said.
DeMase noted that many applicants are still hesitant to use an AI photo. “A headshot is one of the few places you can inject humanity into the job search,” he said.
But with job seekers now able to look like they have access to the same studio lighting, camera and editing team as professionals, this trend is unlikely to stop.
A recent survey found that headshot usage among job seekers is highest among Gen Z and millennials. And while recruiters still say they prefer real photos, AI headshots are increasingly difficult to spot and even less likely to be reviewed by humans in the early stages of the application process. A recent study from HR professional group SHRM found that 66% of HR professionals use AI to generate their job descriptions, and 44% use the technology to review or screen candidate resumes.
