You are not a cartoon
A case against AI generated headshots
Headshots of all kinds, to match the vibe and the intentions of the subject
We’re rapidly falling into a world where AI generation is becoming the norm. AI can write for us, AI can make art for us, AI can explain things and converse with us. I’m not anti-AI on principle. I’m all about AI tools to help us work faster, smoother, catch errors, process data, summarize tricky concepts, and so on. I have deep concerns about the use of AI automation to replace human hands, minds, work. I think we are what we produce, at the end of the day. If it’s writing an article, telling a joke, painting a picture, making a movie, balancing accounts, or working against the entropy of the universe.
It should go without saying that as a photographer I’m against AI generation for art and for portraits. Let’s get that out of the way and I’ll just say …..obviously.
But there’s more to it than just self interest and a desire to continue making stellar headshots and portraits. It comes down to a question of authenticity.
A question of Authenticity
Your headshot is your opening argument. It’s your headline. Your cover shot. It’s what leads the way when you’re presenting yourself to clients and opportunities.
Why would you want to start of on an artificial note? Why start with something manufactured by an algorithm? Designed not to deliver authenticity, but to deliver expectations. To deliver the “average”, the “norm”, and the “industry standard”.
If you’re putting yourself out there to be chosen, you inherently have to believe you’re worth whatever it is your chasing; a new job, a new client, a new part in a show, whatever. You want the things that make you unique to be what gets you in the door. An AI headshot may look pretty, it’s certainly easier to send a few selfies to a web page and get a dozen fancy looking headshots back in a few minutes, no doubt.
But that’s not you. That’s a computer made caricature. That’s a digital drawing that resembles and imitates you. And it’s goal will not be, it cannot be, to capture your authentic self, what makes you, because it’s not driven to do that. It’s goal is to look at a hundred (thousand?) other headshots and put your face in the average of those. To make sure your headshot fits in. That it’s average, normal, forgettable.
Trustworthiness starts with authenticity, and commitment
When I was a younger man, I was deeply committed to fight choreography and an acting career. When you’re pursuing a career in the arts, and you’re in college, you’ll end up attending a lot of workshops, master classes, and seminars, where someone more experienced than you will tell stories, and give you some tips on how to succeed faster than they did. There’s a lot of stories that go something like “…. what I wish I knew when I was your age” or “… I wish someone had told me sooner that….”
At one of these seminars, a chorographer/teacher I’d worked with a few times was telling another student they needed to remember their gloves. They said something that stuck in my head. “It’s not about the mechanics of the gloves, it’s about the discipline. A ballet dancer doesn’t need to wear what they wear, in order to learn ballet. But it’s part of the discipline. The discipline you bring to your art form will inform your dedication to that art form.”
They weren’t talking to me, but I’ll tell you, I had my gloves, my shoes, my water bottle every day since. I started making sure my gloves, shoes, water bottle, notepad, etc. were all quality, cleaned, and ready - not just because I needed them, but because it reflected my dedication to the craft.
A fancy headshot might not get you the job, but the dedication you show in getting one, the discipline you project by having a clean, professional headshot, says a lot about who you are and how seriously you take your work.
Why would you start with an image that says “I can’t be bothered to put time and energy into this. I want it fast and cheap and easy!”
Clients, employers, customers want to see you - not some cartoon character that looks like you. They will make their decisions about who to hire, who to work with, based on what you show them; and people can tell when something is “off” about a portrait.
Investing in real photos is an investment in being genuine.
It’s an investment of money, of time, and of your authentic self. It’s investing in how you show up in the real world. A skilled photographer will work with you to make sure you’re captured at your best. To make sure you get the most on your investment.
Don’t let a computer company, an algorithm, a fancy program make the choices about how you present yourself to the world. Let’s work together to create images that promote you in the best way.
If you’re interested in fresh images to represent you and your work, contact us today to set up a session. We do headshots for artists and professionals of all walks of life.
