2026 New Year Headshots

Want 2026 New Year headshots that look real and convert?

Want AI photos that win clicks, calls, and contracts?

Want simple, repeatable settings that just work?

AI photo generation builds new headshots from your face data and text prompts. You control lens, light, angle, background, and mood. You get studio-level results without a shoot. You can test many looks fast. You pick only the winners.

This guide shows what to generate and why it works. You get exact looks that fit real business needs. You get settings that stay consistent across platforms. You avoid weak, generic portraits. You build a sharp, useful set of 2026 headshots.

Read each section. Choose the looks that match your goals. Use the photos for profiles, websites, proposals, and press kits. Keep what performs. Cut what does not.

Boardroom Authority Headshot

Use this when you need presence and control. It shows senior judgment and clarity. Use a firm gaze. Keep shoulders square. Minimal smile. Dark jacket. Clean collar. Background should be structured and simple. This look says you lead and you execute.

Prompt: corporate boardroom, 85–105mm lens feel, soft key + subtle rim, light falloff behind. Ask for neutral grading, low saturation, high micro-contrast. Chin slightly down, neck long, forehead forward 2–3 degrees. Crop 4:5, top of head near the frame, eyes on the upper third. Retouch shine on T-zone. Keep skin texture. No plastic skin.

Click on a photo to try your face in it

Client-Trust Smile Headshot

Use this to lower friction and invite contact. A real smile signals ease and honesty. Soft light. Bright but not blown background. Teeth natural. Keep laugh lines. Do not blur them away. This look works for sales, coaching, and services.

Prompt: high-key studio, soft wrap light, 70–105mm lens feel, clean white or warm off-white. Ask for catchlights at 10 and 2 o’clock. Gentle smile, lips parted. Teeth brighten 5–10%. Keep eye texture sharp. Crop 1:1 for avatars and 4:5 for profiles. Avoid heavy saturation. Keep wardrobe in light solid colors.

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Classic Black-and-White Power Portrait

Use this to cut distractions and focus on structure. Black-and-white adds edge and discipline. It works for press kits, thought leadership pages, and resumes. It hides color clashes and keeps attention on shape, eyes, and jawline.

Prompt: monochrome, Rembrandt or short lighting, deep shadows, 85–90mm lens feel. Ask for matte contrast, no color tint. Post: convert to BW, add a gentle S-curve, clarity +10, grain fine and low. Background mid-gray. No props. Keep the expression steady and contained.

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Bold Color Background Pop

Use this when you want instant visual lock. A solid, saturated backdrop makes your face the focal point in crowded feeds. Pair with neutral wardrobe. Do not mix loud patterns. The goal is punch plus control.

Prompt: seamless backdrop, even soft light, 85mm lens feel. Pick one strong color: cyan #0EA5E9, coral #FF6B6B, violet #7C3AED, or lime #84CC16. Choose a hue that contrasts your skin and hair. Keep shadow soft to avoid banding. Crop tight head-and-shoulders. Export a square and a 4:5 version. Test which color drives more clicks.

Click on a photo to insert your face

Clean Neutral Studio Headshot

This is the universal safe choice. It blends into any site or document. It never clashes with layouts. It looks modern and calm. No props. No noise. Just you and good light.

Prompt: light gray or off-white background, large soft key + fill, minimal shadow. 85–105mm lens feel. Balanced white at 5200–5600K. Wardrobe: mid-tone solids. Retouch: remove flyaways, reduce under-eye shadows, keep pores. Export 2048px square and 3000px tall 4:5 for uploads.

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Startup-Creator Smart-Casual Headshot

Use this when you want energy and competence together. Blazer with a tee. Open collar shirt. Slight lean. This shows momentum without stiffness. It fits founders, creators, and product leads.

Prompt: modern office bokeh, window light look, 35–50mm environmental, shallow depth of field. Ask for wood, glass, or plants in soft blur. Keep hands out of frame unless they are clean and still. Wardrobe with texture, not logos. Crop a bit wider to show context. Keep color warm and bright.

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Personal Brand Accent

Add one small, clear brand element. A color stripe, a subtle prop, or a texture that ties to your work. Keep it under 10% of the frame. It should support your face, not compete with it.

Prompt: minimal prop (headphones, notebook, camera, pen) or a single accent color in pocket square, nails, or backdrop edge. Ask for shallow focus to keep the face dominant. Avoid words and big logos. Keep the accent on one side only. Export variants with and without the accent for different uses.

Click on a photo to swap your face in

Angle Control: Jawline & Chin Game

Angles decide power. Chin slightly forward and down sharpens the jawline. Camera a little above eye level opens the eyes. A soft shadow under the jaw cuts the neck clean. Do not shoot from below. Do not squash the neck.

Prompt: camera at or just above eye level, tilt 5 degrees down, head forward 2–3cm, chin down 2 degrees. Add rim light for edge separation. Ask for subtle butterfly or loop light. If needed, request gentle shadow sculpt under the jaw. Retouch: dodge jaw edge lightly; never erase natural lines.

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Urban Authenticity Headshot

Use the city for texture and grit. Brick, steel, glass, or mural blur adds realism. This fits tech, media, product, and field roles. It suggests you move fast in real spaces.

Prompt: outdoor urban background, golden hour or bright overcast, 85mm lens feel, f/2 look. Ask for strong subject separation and clean verticals. Keep color grade natural with subtle teal/orange split. Avoid crowds and signage. Crop tight to avoid distraction while keeping lines behind you.

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Glasses, Hair, and Grooming Close-Up

Details signal discipline. Frames should fit and sit level. Hair should have shape, not frizz. Facial hair must be clean at the edges. Brows tidy. These details change first impressions fast.

Prompt: close-up framing from mid-forehead to collarbone, soft key angled to avoid lens glare, catchlight clear in both eyes. Ask for anti-reflection look on lenses. Control flyaways. Beard lines crisp. Keep skin texture. Retouch only spots and lint. Do not erase character.

Click on a photo to insert your face

Expression Library (5 Looks)

Build a small set you can swap fast. Keep lighting and crop identical. Change only the expression. Use five: neutral calm, friendly smile, confident intent, thoughtful focus, decisive yes. This covers most use cases.

Prompt: fixed seed, same camera and light, vary expression tags only. Export each in square and 4:5. Name files by expression. Use the neutral for formal pages. Use friendly for outreach. Use intent for proposals. This saves time and keeps consistency.

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Industry-Specific Persona Headshot

Match the look to the role. Small style shifts send clear signals. This increases response quality and speed. Do not use costumes. Use real wardrobe cues and settings.

Prompts by role: Finance/Consulting: dark navy jacket, white shirt, low-saturation background, BW or cool grade. Design/Creative: bold color backdrop, textured wardrobe, soft side light. Healthcare: clean white, high-key, minimal shadows, light blue accent. Legal/Policy: library or paneled wall blur, classic tie or blouse, controlled shadow. Tech/Engineering: modern office or lab blur, smart-casual, crisp light. Keep lens 85–105mm. Keep eyes sharp. Keep skin natural.

Click on a photo to make it real with your face

Make Your 2026 Headshots Work Hard

Pick three core looks: one authority, one friendly, one color pop or industry persona. Lock your identity settings and seed. Keep angles tight and lighting consistent. Export square and 4:5 for every image. Keep texture. Kill plastic skin. Test in real profiles and pages. Keep what drives clicks and calls. Replace what does not.

AI now gives you speed, control, and range. Use these 12 headshot types to cover every need in 2026. Build a clean library. Stay ready for any request. Deliver a face that looks sharp, real, and effective every time.