People Can Tell Your LinkedIn Headshot Is AI
Okay, I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this but…people can absolutely tell when your LinkedIn photo is AI.
AI headshots are everywhere right now. They’re fast, inexpensive, and promise a polished, professional look without ever stepping in front of a camera. That sounds like a sweet deal, right? Convenience is never not tempting.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: AI can’t make you look like you (and it definitely can’t make you look trustworthy).
The Dead Giveaways
Common Signs Your LinkedIn Photo Is AI-Generated
AI headshots have a very specific look, and once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it. Fingers tend to look slightly off—elongated, softened, or posed in ways real hands don’t move. Skin takes on a flat, overly-smooth sheen that isn’t dewy or glowy, just uncanny valley-esque. Lighting rarely behaves like real light. Accessories glitch. Clothing looks painted on.
None of these details are huge on their own, but together they create an image that feels unreal. People might not always be able to explain why something looks “off,” but they feel it immediately.
Real headshot vs AI-generated version.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
How Your LinkedIn Photo Affects First Impressions
At first, it’s easy to think: That’s fine if people can tell my photo is AI. They’ll know I’m modern. Techy. Comfortable using new tools. But like, honestly? That’s usually not how it lands.
AI headshots come off like a shortcut. And shortcuts tend to look cheap. Clicking a button isn’t the same as showing up, putting in a little effort, and caring about how you’re perceived. People pick up on that instantly.
You don’t look innovative. You look like you rushed it.
LinkedIn is built on trust, and your profile photo is often the very first impression. A real headshot signals effort, intention, and professionalism. An AI-generated tends to signal the opposite.
What a Real Headshot Says Instead
What Professional Headshot Retouching Should Look Like
A real headshot shows your actual presence. Your personality, warmth, confidence, and approachability. Those tiny micro-expressions matter so much more than people realize.
This is something I hear from clients all the time:
“I actually look like myself.”
“I didn’t think I’d like photos of myself, but I really do.”
“This feels natural, not stiff.”
That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because there’s a real human on the other side of the camera. Someone paying attention, guiding you, adjusting the light, and noticing what works for your face and energy.
This is something I hear from clients all the time when I ask what they liked about their photos or what made them choose me.
So many of them say some version of the same thing: that I’m able to capture the essence of who they are. Not just what they look like, but something that actually feels like them.
I’m not trying to create a “perfect” version of you — I’m trying to photograph the version that feels familiar, grounded, and real. The one that still looks polished, but never overdone.
AI doesn’t do that. It doesn’t notice when a smile feels a little forced, or when a tiny shift would make you look more at ease. It can’t respond to you in real time — and that responsiveness is what makes a photo feel human.
AI Headshots vs Professional Headshots
My approach is simple and comfortable. I work with natural light that flatters skin while still feeling real. My editing is polished and intentional, without erasing what makes you human. I smooth where it helps, refine where it matters, and keep real skin texture intact.
I guide you just enough so you never feel awkward or overly posed, whether we’re shooting outdoors or in your own space. The goal is always the same: something that feels natural, elevated, and like you.
The goal is always the same: you, on your best day.
AI Is Fast. Real Is Lasting.
AI headshots are trendy, which means they’ll date quickly.
A real headshot is something you’ll confidently use for years—LinkedIn, your website, email signature, speaking engagements, Slack, all of it. It becomes part of your personal brand.
And your brand deserves more than a one-click solution.
The Part People Don’t Always Think About
Why Your Headshot Is a Career Investment
I’ll say this gently: it might feel easier to spend $5 or so on an AI image than to invest in a real session. But your photo is one of the few things that follows you through every stage of your career.
It shows up when you apply for jobs. When someone clicks your LinkedIn profile. When you’re introduced on a panel. When a potential client is deciding whether to reach out.
When your photo actually looks like you (not a smoothed, AI-generated version), it builds trust. And trust is what leads to conversations, interviews, referrals, and opportunities.
That’s not about vanity. That’s about showing up like you care.
If You’re Considering the
AI Route…
Choosing the Right Headshot for LinkedIn
No judgment. Truly! The apps are interesting and most everyone’s tried them.
But if you want a photo that actually feels like you, builds trust, and makes a strong first impression, a real headshot still wins. Not because it’s louder or flashier, but because effort shows — and people pick up on that.
Thinking about updating your LinkedIn photo?
I photograph professional headshots and personal branding sessions in Seattle with a focus on natural light, real skin texture, and helping people feel like themselves in front of the camera — even if they’re not sure they’re “photogenic.”
If you’re curious about what that could look like for you, you can learn more about my headshot sessions here:
People can absolutely tell when a LinkedIn headshot is AI — even if they can’t explain why. From uncanny details to trust signals, here’s why real, professional headshots still matter more than ever.