Betterpic.ai Tested: Your Guide to Flawless AI Headshots & My Winning Formula
(PC: Betterpic)
The world of Artificial Intelligence is booming, with new tools launching almost daily, promising to revolutionize how small businesses and startups operate. But let's be honest, with this influx comes overwhelm. How do you know which tools are worth your time and investment? How do you make the most of them without spending weeks on a learning curve?
As part of Elevate, and to kick off my new #TipTuesday series, I'm committed to doing the legwork for you. Each week, I'll explore an AI tool, share my honest experience, and provide actionable tips to help you harness its power effectively. AI is being democratized, but the education around its practical use needs to keep pace. This series is my contribution.
Today, we're focusing on a tool that addresses a common need for professionals: Betterpic.ai (@Betterpic – I am excited to share my experience!). Can it deliver truly professional AI-generated headshots, portfolio pictures, and more? Let's find out.
What Exactly is Betterpic.ai?
Betterpic.ai is an AI-powered platform designed to create a variety of professional-looking images of you without needing a physical photoshoot. Think headshots for your LinkedIn profile, website, or speaker bio, and even more creative shots for your portfolio.
Pricing & Packages
Their pricing is transparent, with packages starting around $35 for 20 headshots (I went with Pro though with 60 pictures). In my experience, 60 is more than enough to find at least 10-15 high-quality images that you will love, making it a cost-effective alternative to traditional photoshoots.
How Does Betterpic Work? The Onboarding Experience
The process is relatively simple:
You upload 8 pictures (they recommend one being a half-body shot).
The AI "learns" your features from these images.
You select preferences for backgrounds (e.g., office, outdoor, studio) and clothing colors/styles.
The AI then generates a gallery of images for you.
The onboarding was generally user-friendly. However, there were a couple of subjective areas where a bit more guidance could be beneficial. For instance, options like "long hair", "brown eyes" or race (e.g., the "Indian" option wasn't entirely clear for me as an Asian Indian) could be refined for even better accuracy for diverse users.
My First Attempt: A Valuable Learning Curve
For my initial run, I quickly snapped 8 selfies. Eager and perhaps a little rushed, I had a similar smile in most of them. After about 20 minutes, my pictures were ready.
The results? While the color and background choices were mostly good, many images made my face appear older than I am, with laugh lines prominently featured (perhaps I smiled a bit too hard and consistently in my selfies!). The "studio" background also fell flat for me, often generating my image against a plain wall where my clothes matched the background, creating a washed-out effect.
Disappointed but not defeated, I reached out to Betterpic's support – and this is where they truly impressed me. Their customer service was responsive, understanding, and offered a complimentary redo. This gave me the chance to refine my approach.
The Winning Recipe: My Top Tips for Amazing AI Headshots with Betterpic
Armed with insights from my first try, here is the strategy I used for my redo, which yielded fantastic results:
Curate Your Selfies Carefully: This is crucial. Don't use photos taken in the same minute. Instead:
Variety is Key: Pick clear, high-resolution photos from different times of the day, in various settings, and under different lighting conditions. We all look slightly different, and this variety helps the model. I used face images from the last 2 years.
Diverse Expressions: Capture a range of natural smiles and expressions.
Rethink Backgrounds: While you pick three, the AI sometimes offers variations.
Skip "Studio" (Potentially): Unless you specifically need a very plain backdrop, I found other options like "Office," "Outdoor," or industry-specific ones more dynamic and professional, especially since the background is often nicely blurred.
Guide the Wardrobe AI:
Upload Photos with Varied Collars & Prints: The AI model seemed to generate many images using the prints and collar styles from my uploaded selfies.
Mix Up Your Neck Angles: Avoid the "passport photo" look. Provide selfies with different head tilts and angles to get more varied and natural-looking generated poses.
Share on Social for a Bonus! This was a fun discovery. Betterpic offers bonus images if you share a pre-written blurb on your social media while your photos are generating. I received some beautiful images in a pink color scheme I never would have chosen myself – a delightful surprise!
Quality Control is Essential: Remember, AI is powerful but not perfect. Thoroughly review each image. I found minor anomalies in a small percentage of pictures, like an extra finger or oddly rendered jewelry. However, expect about 1/5 to 1/4 of the images to be genuinely excellent and totally usable, which is a great return.
Who Can Benefit Most from AI Headshot Tools like Betterpic?
Based on my experience, tools like Betterpic.ai are particularly game-changing for:
Busy Professionals & Entrepreneurs: If you are juggling a thousand tasks, finding time for a traditional photoshoot can feel impossible. AI offers quality headshots on your schedule.
Cash-Strapped Startups: Professional branding is crucial, but budgets can be tight. AI provides a high-quality, affordable alternative to expensive photographer fees.
Photo-Shy Individuals: Let's be honest, not everyone enjoys the process of a portfolio shoot. AI tools offer a more private and controlled way to get the professional images you need.
Anyone Wanting Efficiency: These tools eliminate the often time-consuming process of researching photographers, comparing quotes, and coordinating schedules.
Beyond the Pixels: Customer Support & Privacy
As mentioned, Betterpic's customer support was a standout positive. For a relatively new company, this level of customer focus is a strong indicator of their commitment.
Their privacy policy also seems sound. They state that customers retain full ownership of their generated pictures. Furthermore, they mention deleting the uploaded selfies and the trained model after a set period (e.g., photos after 7 days, model after 30 days – do check their latest policy for specifics as of May 2025). This is an important consideration for anyone using AI image generation tools. You can read more on their site.
The Final Verdict: Is Betterpic Worth It?
Absolutely! I would use Betterpic again. It is a convenient and affordable way to get a wide variety of professional-looking images. The ability to experiment with different looks, backgrounds, and styles without multiple wardrobe changes or location visits is a huge plus. While not every image will be perfect, the value derived from the good ones is well worth the modest investment, especially for the individuals and businesses highlighted above.
🤫 My Super Secret Tip for You:
After you sign up for Betterpic, try exploring the platform for a day or two without placing an order. You might just find a friendly email in your inbox with a discount code (I received a 50% off offer when I first explored it!). It is a great way to make an already good deal even better.
Good job to the team at Betterpic! With their strong customer focus and evolving technology, I am excited to see how they grow.
A Note on AI Augmentation vs. Traditional Moments
It's important to view these AI tools as powerful augmentations to our professional lives. They are fantastic for creating polished, on-brand images efficiently. However, this doesn't replace the magic of traditional photography for capturing irreplaceable personal memories. For those special family moments or fun team outings that are as much about the bonding experience as the photo itself, I will still be enthusiastically opting for the traditional route!
Are you a small business owner or startup founder looking to leverage the power of AI to cut costs, streamline processes, and elevate your brand? It can be a game-changer, but knowing where to start is key.
If you would like personalized guidance on navigating the AI tool landscape for your specific business needs, I am here to help.
➡️ Let's connect! Book a free discovery call with me to explore how Elevate can support your growth: