Log in GO PRO NOW
GO PRO NOW
Your workflow could help someone. Share it!

Guides Google

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

This guide teaches a workflow for turning selfies into professional-looking headshots with Google’s Nano Banana Pro.

beginner 3 steps

Introduction

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.

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

Step-by-step 3 steps

Instructions

  1. Step 1 of 3

    Take a clean source photo

    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.
    Gemini_Generated_Image_44bwi644bwi644bw

    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.
  2. Step 2 of 3

    Open Nano Banana Pro in Google AI Studio

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

    ai_studio
    Pro tip: Make sure you click the key and add an API key that has Gemini and Nano Banana Pro enabled.
  3. Step 3 of 3

    Enhance your photo with the editing prompt

    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.

You're done

That's the whole workflow

Mark it complete to save your progress. Background and answers to common questions follow below.

Keep going

Keep learning with Rundown Pro

A guide shows you one workflow. Pro opens the full course library, so you can learn the whole system behind it.

  • Every on-demand course
  • Certifications on completion
  • Group office hours and member perks

$29/mo, cancel anytime

Overview Back to the steps

Background and context

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.