How to choose an AI headshot: an identity-first rubric
Updated November 7, 2026 · 6 min read
Start with likeness, not polish. A convincing background and a flattering expression do not make an image suitable if the person in it no longer looks like you. Review each result yourself before using it, and reject images that misrepresent you or do not fit the destination.
You can do this review without uploading more images to another service. Compare the result with your current appearance in a mirror and, if useful, with recent photos you already have permission to use.
First pass: does this look like me?
Put the generated image beside your current reference and inspect the face as a whole. Then check the features that make you recognizable: face shape, eyes, nose, mouth, hairline, skin tone, and any distinctive features you normally show.
Ask: Would someone who knows me now recognize this as a fair representation? A different expression or lighting can change an image, but reject a result if its accumulated changes make you look like a different person or materially change your apparent age or features.
This is a human judgment, not an automated identity score. If you are uncertain, ask someone who knows you to review the image without prompting them toward a particular answer.
Second pass: inspect the details
Only after an image passes the likeness check, look closely at:
- Eyes, teeth, ears, and hair: Check for uneven or implausible details, strange edges, and features that merge.
- Clothing and accessories: Look for distorted collars, glasses, jewelry, buttons, or text.
- Hands and background: Reject distracting artifacts, objects that merge, or a setting that could mislead viewers.
- Overall presentation: Consider whether the expression and styling feel appropriate and honest for the place you intend to use it.
A small flaw may become obvious in a larger placement. Open the image at the size you expect to use and inspect both the whole portrait and the details.
Third pass: preview the destination
Place the candidate in the actual layout, or make a local mockup. Check the crop, image size, and any rules supplied by the destination. Ask the page owner or designer if requirements are unclear. AI-generated images should not be used where a genuine, unaltered photograph is required, including passports, IDs, and licenses.
Use the size and resolution worksheet if pixel dimensions or printing matter. For styling questions, see what to wear and choosing a background.
The accept-or-reject rule
Use this manual review record; it is not an automated identity or quality score.
| What you find | Decision | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Face shape or recognizable features materially changed | Reject | Do not trade likeness for a flattering outfit. |
| Likeness is reasonable but glasses, clothing or text are distorted | Reject for that placement | Inspect another result; do not treat polish as a repair. |
| Portrait looks accurate but the required crop leaves too few pixels | Set aside for this use | Choose another file or discuss specifications with the destination owner. |
| The destination’s image rules are unknown | Hold | Ask before publishing; do not assume acceptance. |
| Likeness, details and destination checks all pass | Shortlist | Keep the original and prepare a separate placement copy. |
Accept a candidate only if it looks like you now, has no distracting or misleading defects, and fits the actual placement and its rules.
Reject it if likeness is materially off, an artifact undermines the image, or the destination requires something the image cannot provide. If no image passes all three checks, stop. Do not publish the closest result merely because it is the best of the set. A current real photo, a photo editor, or a photographer may be more appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
Should I pick the most flattering image?
Pick an image that first represents you fairly. Then choose among the images that pass the likeness and destination checks.
What if my face looks right but the clothing is distorted?
Reject it if the distortion is distracting or misleading in the intended placement. Inspect the full-size image and the actual crop.
Will all 40 Fylvy images pass this review?
No. Fylvy generates 40 images in 10 preset looks, but does not guarantee likeness or 40 usable or unique images.
Can better source selfies help?
Source-photo quality matters, but it does not guarantee a suitable result. For preparing inputs, read how to take selfies for AI headshots.
What if I have not ordered yet?
Consider the free and paid options in Are AI headshots worth it?. Fylvy costs $39 once, outputs 768 × 1024-pixel images, and requires 8–20 recent selfies of an adult subject, with permission and rights to use them. Read the Terms and Refund Policy, then start an order if appropriate.
Ready for your own headshots?
Upload a few selfies and get 40 professional headshots in 10 looks for $39.