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AI Photo Editor for LinkedIn Headshots

Look like you paid for a professional headshot, without the $300 photographer fee.

FreeNo signupNo watermark
Upload any decent photo of yourself and type 'replace background with professional office blur' or 'enhance lighting for professional headshot look.' EditThisPic's AI transforms casual photos into LinkedIn-ready headshots in 30 seconds. No awkward studio session, no expensive photographer. Just describe the professional look you want. Free to try, no account needed.
Casual outdoor photo with trees in background
Before
->
Professional headshot with blurred office background
After
"Needed a headshot for a job application due in 2 hours. Took a photo in my kitchen, replaced the background, fixed the lighting. Interviewer complimented my professional photo. Got the job." @NewRoleNewMe

Built for Professionals and Job Seekers

Professional headshots cost $200-500 from photographers
Only have casual photos, nothing appropriate for LinkedIn
Current headshot is years old and doesn't look like you anymore
Need a professional photo quickly for a job application
Background of available photos looks unprofessional
Lighting in DIY photos is harsh or unflattering

Your LinkedIn photo is often your first impression with recruiters, clients, and colleagues. Professional headshots cost hundreds of dollars and require scheduling. EditThisPic lets you transform any decent photo into a polished, professional headshot in seconds. Look the part without the studio price tag.

LinkedIn profiles with professional photos get 14x more views - LinkedIn Official Data 2024

Tools for Professional Headshots

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Choose your best photo

Pick a photo where you're looking at the camera with a natural expression. Outdoor photos with even lighting work great. Avoid extreme angles or heavy shadows on your face. Selfies work if they're not too close.

Background blur: 15-20 seconds. Full background replacement: 25-35 seconds.
Photos taken in shade or on overcast days have the most even, flattering lighting.
2

Upload and describe your professional look

Drop your photo into EditThisPic and describe what you want: 'blur background professionally, enhance lighting to look like studio headshot' or 'replace background with neutral gray studio backdrop.'

Combine edits in one prompt: 'blur background, enhance face lighting, remove blemishes, keep it natural looking'
3

Review for professional standards

Check that you still look like yourself. Verify background blur is smooth without halos around your hair. Ensure lighting looks natural, not obviously enhanced. Your headshot should look professional but authentic.

4

Fine-tune and download

If hair edges need cleanup or lighting needs adjustment, use markers on specific areas and regenerate. Download your LinkedIn-ready headshot. Consider creating 2-3 variations with different backgrounds.

LinkedIn displays photos as circles in many views - check that your face is centered and clearly visible when cropped.

Copy-Paste Prompts for LinkedIn Headshots

Professional office background
replace background with blurred professional office environment, warm neutral tones, enhance lighting for professional headshot

Blurred office backgrounds suggest professionalism without distraction

Clean studio look
replace background with smooth gradient gray to white studio backdrop, professional portrait lighting on face

Classic studio backdrop works for any industry and never goes out of style

Blur existing background
blur background with professional portrait bokeh, keep me in sharp focus, enhance facial lighting subtly

Keeping your actual background (blurred) can look more natural than a full replacement

Executive polished look
enhance face for executive headshot, reduce under-eye shadows, subtle skin polish, keep completely natural looking

'Completely natural looking' prevents over-processing that looks fake

Show 4 more prompts
Creative industry background
replace background with modern creative office space, exposed brick, slightly blurred, artistic but professional

Creative fields like design, marketing, or tech can use less traditional backgrounds

Outdoor professional look
blur background to soft bokeh, enhance lighting to warm golden hour look, professional but approachable

Outdoor backgrounds work well for consultants, coaches, and client-facing roles

Fix indoor lighting
correct the yellow indoor lighting to neutral, enhance face with soft professional lighting, blur background

Indoor photos often have color casts - fixing this instantly looks more professional

Confident smile enhancement
slightly brighten teeth naturally, enhance eye brightness subtly, keep my natural expression and features

Very subtle enhancements to smile and eyes project confidence without looking edited

Edit Type Prompt Time
Office background replace with blurred professional office 25s
Studio backdrop gradient gray to white studio backdrop 20s
Blur existing blur background with portrait bokeh 15s
Full polish blur background, enhance lighting, subtle face polish 35s

Real Examples

Casual outdoor photo with trees in background
Before
->
Professional headshot with blurred office background
After

Casual to professional transformation

Outdoor photo with trees replaced with professional office background and enhanced lighting.

Prompt: replace background with blurred professional office, enhance lighting for professional headshot look
Selfie in kitchen with cabinets visible
Before
->
Studio-quality headshot with clean gradient background
After

Kitchen to studio

Selfie taken in kitchen transformed to classic studio-style headshot with gradient backdrop.

Prompt: replace background with gradient gray to white studio backdrop, professional portrait lighting
Indoor photo with harsh shadows under eyes and nose
Before
->
Same photo with soft, even professional lighting
After

Harsh lighting fixed

Indoor photo with unflattering overhead lighting corrected to soft, professional illumination.

Prompt: fix harsh lighting, add soft professional headshot lighting, blur background gently

When Things Go Wrong

Hair edges have halos or look choppy

Why: Fine hair strands against the background are challenging for AI to separate cleanly.

Try: Tap markers on the hair edges, then: blend hair edges naturally with background, smooth transition

Photos where your hair contrasts with the original background (dark hair, light background) work best.

Lighting looks fake or too perfect

Why: Strong lighting enhancement on already well-lit photos can look artificial.

Try: enhance lighting subtly, maintain natural skin texture and shadows, don't over-brighten

'Maintain natural shadows' keeps dimensionality that makes faces look real.

Don't look like myself anymore

Why: Multiple enhancement requests may have accumulated too many changes.

Try: Start fresh with just: blur background, keep face completely unchanged

Do one thing at a time. Background first, then decide if you need face adjustments.

Background replacement has visible seams

Why: The AI didn't perfectly blend your edges with the new background.

Try: Tap markers on the seam areas, then: blend edges seamlessly with background, no visible transition

For tricky edges, try background blur instead of full replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of photo works best as a starting point?

Look for: face clearly visible, looking at camera, natural expression (slight smile works), even lighting (outdoor shade is ideal), not a wide-angle selfie that distorts features. The photo doesn't need a good background - that's what we're replacing. Recent photos are best so your headshot matches how you look now.

Will it still look like me?

Yes, if you keep edits subtle. Background blur/replacement doesn't change your face at all. Lighting enhancement should make you look like yourself on a good day, not like a different person. Avoid heavy skin smoothing or feature changes. Recruiters will meet you in person - your headshot should be recognizable.

What background works best for LinkedIn?

For most industries: blurred neutral office, gradient gray/white studio, or subtle outdoor blur. Conservative fields (finance, law): classic gray studio. Creative fields (design, marketing): can use more interesting backgrounds. Avoid: busy patterns, pure white that looks like a mugshot, obviously fake or fantastical scenes.

Can I use a selfie?

Yes, if it's not too close (wide-angle distortion) and you're looking at the camera with good lighting. Selfies taken at arm's length in good light work well. Front camera tends to flip the image - EditThisPic doesn't auto-correct this, so check that any text in original is still correct.

How is this different from AI headshot generators?

AI headshot generators create entirely synthetic images that may not look like you. EditThisPic enhances YOUR actual photo - changing backgrounds and lighting while preserving your real face. The result is authentically you, just presented professionally.

Should I enhance my face or just the background?

Start with background only. Many photos only need a professional background to look great. If lighting on your face is problematic (harsh shadows, too dark), add lighting enhancement. Skin smoothing and feature adjustments are usually unnecessary and can make photos look fake.

Ready to upgrade your LinkedIn profile?

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