Why a Professional Portrait Still Matters in the Age of AI and why an AI photo can hurt your business
AI-generated images are everywhere right now. They’re fast, polished, and often tempting when you’re looking for a quick solution. But when it comes to personal branding, professional presence, and trust, AI images lack one essential thing: you.
What AI Images Can’t Capture
AI has come a long way, but it still works by assembling patterns. It can generate a face, refine skin, and create something visually appealing, but it can’t demonstrate presence, personality, or nuance.
Authenticity Builds Trust
Your headshot or portrait is often the first introduction someone has to you. Before they read your bio, hear your voice, or understand your work, they see your image. That image sets the tone. Even if someone can’t immediately name it, people feel the difference between a real portrait and an artificial one. AI images often look “too smooth,” too generic, or emotionally flat. They may be visually striking, but they don’t invite connection.
The Experience Matters as Much as the Image
One of the most overlooked differences between AI imagery and professional photography is the experience itself. During a session, my goal is to create a calm, relaxed environment where you don’t feel rushed or judged. Many clients arrive convinced they’re “not photogenic,” only to realize they simply haven’t been photographed in a way that feels supportive.
Often, my clients walk away not only with images they love, but with a renewed sense of confidence in how they present themselves.
Why Real Portraits Endure
Trends come and go and technology evolves. Authentic portraits have always endured these changes because they’re rooted in human connection. In a world that’s becoming increasingly automated, choosing a real portrait goes a long way in choosing authenticity. And that choice matters now more than ever.
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Meet Ruth
Hi, I'm Ruth, a portrait photographer based in the charming, coastal city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
