Better portrait sources

A natural smile in a professional headshot

A small, relaxed smile is enough. Choose an expression you use in conversation rather than forcing a broad grin that changes your eyes and jaw.

You choose your own source and review the current cost before generation.

Open-collar top, warm-gray studio, square shoulders-up crop.
Style illustrationOpen-collar top, warm-gray studio, square shoulders-up crop.
01

Choose for the place it will appear

Compare the mouth with the source at full size. Teeth, lip corners and cheek creases should still belong to the same person.

A situation you may recognize

The widest smile looks energetic alone but strained in the biography.

Compare frames from before and after the broad smile. The transition often contains a more relaxed expression. Judge the eyes and mouth together; do not keep a stretched grin simply because all the teeth are visible.

02

Look closely at the examples

IN PRACTICE

Work through a practical example

01

Have these ready

Prepare one relaxed smile and one calm neutral frame from the same light and camera angle.

02

Make the first version

Compare the sources at the intended display size before generating. Start from the expression you prefer rather than expecting a scene to invent it accurately. Afterward, inspect tooth spacing, lip corners and eye creases together; a broad smile is not automatically the most approachable result.

03

Choose the next move

Choose by how you normally greet the relevant audience. If the mouth changes noticeably, try a clearer expression source instead of selecting by overall attractiveness.

Try this before committing

Compare a closed-mouth smile and a gentle open smile at avatar size. Choose the expression you actually use when greeting someone. Reject altered tooth spacing, an uneven lip edge or a smile that changes the shape of your cheeks.

Create a headshot with my photo ↗

Questions for this project

Is a wider smile always more approachable?

Compare a small smile, a relaxed open smile and a neutral frame from the same session. Choose the expression you can hold comfortably in conversation. Inspect teeth and the corners of the mouth for changes after generation.

Can a closed-mouth smile look professional?

Yes. A relaxed mouth, visible eyes and comfortable shoulders can communicate warmth without showing teeth. Test the image in its real context instead of imposing one expression on every profession or person.

When you have chosen a direction

Create a headshot with my photo ↗Photo guides

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