published feb 2, 2026

We Tested 20 Prompts for Generating AI Headshots: Here’s the Best Strategy

beginner

Members get every guide, course, and $1,000+ in partner perks.

The Rundown

This guide teaches a workflow for turning selfies into professional-looking headshots with Google’s Nano Banana Pro. You will learn how to avoid the “uncanny” AI-generated look by using a clean source photo and prompting the model to edit the image instead of generating a face from scratch. Expect to test multiple photos and iterations before finding the best result.

Who This Is Useful For

Jobseekers who want to upgrade their headshot
Anyone who needs a new LinkedIn photo
Teams that want to unify company profiles without hiring an expensive photographer

What You Will Build

You will create a polished, reusable professional headshot from your own photo.

A clean source photo taken with good lighting and composition
An AI-enhanced professional headshot
A reusable prompt for future headshot edits

Generated Image February 02, 2026 - 3_55PM

What You Need

Google Workspace account
Access to Google AI Studio and Nano Banana Pro
An API key with Gemini and Nano Banana Pro enabled, if needed
A webcam or phone camera
A neutral background and direct or natural lighting

Going Further

After creating your headshot, use Gemini to generate additional prompt concepts. Paste in the provided prompt and ask for four new headshot concepts using the same principles, making clear that the prompts should edit photos rather than generate new images from scratch.

Start a new chat if you start getting repetitive or low-quality results.

Start with a strong source photo. Bad lighting can cause AI to regenerate your face from scratch, which is what creates the “uncanny” look. The goal is to give Nano Banana Pro a clean image to edit rather than replace.

Background: Use a neutral background, similar to a passport photo.
Lighting: Use direct lighting. If you do not have a light, try your phone’s flashlight, a white background on a second monitor, or natural light near a window. Avoid direct sunshine.
Camera: Use your webcam if possible. If you use your phone, use the front camera with a timer to avoid awkward selfie angles.
Composition: Keep your upper chest visible. Position the camera lens between shoulder height and the top of your head. If needed, prop up your laptop or phone to reach the right height.

In short: pretend you are taking a passport photo and use your laptop’s webcam. AI can upscale it. Snap a couple of photos so you have options to test.

Pro tip: Try rotating your torso 45 degrees while looking into the camera. This was the best pose for Nano Banana Pro besides straight on.

Go to aistudio.google.com and click Playground. It should show that you are using Nano Banana Pro.

Pro tip: Make sure you click the key and add an API key that has Gemini and Nano Banana Pro enabled.

To avoid the deepfake look, tell Nano Banana Pro to edit your photo instead of generating a new image from scratch. Upload one of your photos and send this prompt:

Prompt

Generate: Post-processing enhancement, professional color grading, balanced studio lighting, remove noise and grain, sharpen focus, upscale to 8k, skin texture refinement, subtle dodging and burning, clear and crisp details, maintain exact original facial structure and clothing, photorealistic

Try the prompt with a few of the photos you took. The source workflow tested 20+ prompts before getting a few good results, so expect to iterate. When you get one you like, increase the quality to 4K under “Resolution,” then prompt the AI to generate the same exact photo again.

Pro tip: Start a new chat if you start getting repetitive or low-quality results.

We Tested 20 Prompts for Generating AI Headshots: Here’s the Best Strategy

The Rundown

Who This Is Useful For

What You Will Build

What You Need

Going Further

Take a clean source photo

Open Nano Banana Pro in Google AI Studio

Enhance your photo with the editing prompt

The Rundown

Who This Is Useful For

What You Will Build

What You Need

Going Further

Every workflow on Rundown University, free for 7 days