Better portrait sources
Face a window or turn slightly toward it. Soft daylight across both cheeks is easier to work with than direct sun or a ceiling light that darkens the eyes.
You choose your own source and review the current cost before generation.
Turn off strongly colored lamps nearby. Mixed orange and blue light can make the two sides of the face look like different skin tones.
Step out of direct sunlight or soften it with a curtain, then compare both eyes. Do not compensate by over-brightening the whole file: that may erase the already bright cheek while leaving the original lighting imbalance.
Why consider this directionThe brighter office and loose chest-up crop allow a general professional introduction with some surrounding context.
Check before choosingCheck the camel jacket’s edges and collar. Decide whether this much background still works in your smallest placement.
Why consider this directionThe wider seated composition provides context for a personal introduction and leaves more of the workspace visible.
Check before choosingA small avatar may need a closer crop. Check the desk and screen for invented or private details before reuse.
Find a window without strong direct sun and turn off a colored room light for the comparison.
Face slightly toward the window and make a second frame with a small turn. Compare the darker eye and the bright side of the forehead. Choose the source where both remain readable; the aim is useful facial information, not eliminating every natural shadow.
If the face is readable and only the room is busy, edit the background. If highlights are blank or one eye disappears, change the shooting position first.
Stand beside a window rather than directly in front of strong sunlight. Look for detail on both cheeks. If one side is nearly black, turn toward the window before taking another source; asking generation to recover it adds uncertainty.
Create a headshot with my photo ↗Face toward the soft light with a slight turn, then compare both sides of the face. Direct sun can create hard patches, while a bright window behind you can darken the face. Move position before trying to fix the exposure afterward.
Not for a useful first source. Stable soft light and a clear eye area matter more than equipment labels. Check several window positions and times before buying gear; a badly placed extra light can add a second color or harsh lens reflection.
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