Let me be honest with you: I absolutely hate taking formal pictures.

Every time I see the camera pointed at me, I tense up and end up with this weird, awkward smile that doesn't look anything like the real me. And don't even get me started on how expensive photographers are. I'm talking hundreds—sometimes thousands—of dollars for a professional photo shoot.

But here's the thing: if you're running a business in 2026, you need a solid headshot. For your website. Your social media. Your LinkedIn page. Everywhere people will find you online.

So when I discovered AI headshots? I was beyond excited. And after testing a few options, I found the one that absolutely blew me away: Headshot Kiwi.

My Journey to Finding AI Headshots

Before I discovered AI headshot generators, I was following all these bloggers who showed me how to take a headshot from home and use Photoshop to make it look "okay."

It was never phenomenal, though. Just... acceptable.

So when I first heard about AI headshots, I'll admit I was skeptical. I didn't want a picture that made me look like an avatar or some weird AI-generated version of myself that barely resembled me.

But as I started researching, I was genuinely impressed by what I was seeing.

Narrowing Down My Top Three

I narrowed it down to three contenders (there are probably way more awesome options now, but I had to make some decisions and move forward with my life, you know?).

My top choices were:

• •HeadshotPro
• •BetterPic
• •Headshot Kiwi

All three had solid reviews and the product samples I was finding online looked incredible. HeadshotPro has an overall rating of 8/10 and is praised for its wide range of customization options. BetterPic stands out with 4K quality and fast delivery (under an hour on most plans). And Headshot Kiwi has been getting positive user feedback for its balance of quality, affordability, and quick turnaround times.

Honestly? I felt like I was starting to split hairs with the quality of the options.

The Price Comparison

Since the quality seemed comparable, I turned to price, number of photos, and turnaround time to make my decision.

All of them had somewhat similar prices and number of photos, but I felt Headshot Kiwi had slightly more in terms of outfit options, backdrop variety, and—most importantly for my impatient self—turnaround time.

My Experience with Headshot Kiwi

Again, I have no doubt all three would have created amazing photos. But I went with Headshot Kiwi, and I was absolutely blown away.

Here's how it worked:

Step 1: Upload Your Photos

They had me upload 13 photos of myself. Not overly posed professional shots—just regular photos where my face was clear and well-lit.

Step 2: Choose Your Preferences

The platform asked me to choose my preferred backgrounds and gave me different styles of clothes and settings to look at. They showed generic examples to help their algorithm understand what kinds of photos I would actually use.

Step 3: Wait (But Not Long)

And then... I waited. Less than an hour later, my headshots were ready.

The Results: Blown Away

I'm not going to lie—about a fourth of the photos looked sort of like me but slightly off. You know, that uncanny valley thing where something's just not quite right.

But that still left me with a LOT of options that looked exactly like me.

I was thrilled that I didn't end up looking like an avatar, but like I had gotten a real professional photo shoot.

The backgrounds were professional—clean office settings, neutral walls, etc. But I could also choose more creative options like outdoor settings or even the ocean if that fit my brand better.

The variety of outfits and styles meant I had options for different contexts. Need a corporate look for LinkedIn? Done. Want something a bit more casual for your website's About page? Got it.

What My Friends Think

I've referred many, many friends to Headshot Kiwi, and they've also had extremely positive results.

Some of them were even more skeptical than I was at first. But when they saw their results? They were sold.

One friend who's a therapist was worried the AI photos would look too "fake" for her profession where authenticity is everything. She was pleasantly surprised by how natural and approachable her headshots turned out.

Another friend who's launching a coaching business needed multiple headshots for different platforms and marketing materials. Instead of paying for multiple photo shoots, she got everything she needed from one Headshot Kiwi session.

Is It Time to Update Your Headshot?

If any of these sound like you, it might be time:

• ✓Your current headshot is more than 2-3 years old
• ✓You're launching or rebranding your business
• ✓You're updating your website or social media profiles
• ✓You cringe every time you see your current photo
• ✓You've been putting off getting professional photos because of the cost or hassle
• ✓You need multiple headshots for different platforms and purposes

If you checked any of those boxes, an AI headshot platform like Headshot Kiwi can help.

The Bottom Line

Look, I'm not saying AI headshots are perfect. Some photos will be duds. The technology isn't magic.

But for busy entrepreneurs who need professional photos without the time, money, or stress of a traditional photo shoot? Headshot Kiwi is an absolute game-changer.

It's affordable. It's fast. And most importantly? The results actually look like you—not some overly polished, unrecognizable version of yourself.

So if it's time to update your headshot and you want to see how an AI platform can help, I'd strongly recommend giving Headshot Kiwi a try.