How to Create AI Headshots in Canva

You can create professional AI headshots directly inside Canva using the Headshots app – the most realistic AI headshot generator available on Canva. Upload your selfies, pick a style, and get 40 studio-quality headshots in about 20 minutes. No photographer, no studio, no leaving Canva.

No other headshot app on Canva matches this level of realism. The app trains a personalized AI model on your face, producing headshots that are virtually indistinguishable from real studio photography. This guide walks you through the entire process step by step, from opening the app to generating custom headshots with prompts.

Step 1: Open the Headshots app in Canva

Go to the Headshots app page on Canva or search for “Headshots” in the Canva Apps marketplace. You will see the app with a before-and-after preview showing what the AI can do.

Click “Use in existing design” to add headshots to a project you are already working on, or “Use in new design” to start fresh. If you choose a new design, you can pick any size: custom, whiteboard, landscape video, or a standard format like a Facebook post.

Step 2: Upload your selfies

Once the app opens, you will see the Generate tab. Click “Choose files” to upload your photos. The app asks for 10 to 20 recent photos of one person with different backgrounds and poses.

For the best results, include selfies from different angles (front, left, right), in different outfits, and with varied backgrounds. Phone selfies in natural daylight work perfectly. Avoid heavy filters, sunglasses, or hats that hide your face.

Step 3: Name your model and choose a style

Enter a model name (any name you want, like “SarahWork” or “MikeLinkedIn”). This helps the AI create more accurate results and lets you manage multiple models later.

Then pick a style from the dropdown. Options include:

• Corporate – professional business look for executives and corporate environments
• Realtor – warm, approachable look for real estate professionals
• Medical – clean, trustworthy look for healthcare professionals
• Startup – contemporary, relaxed style reflecting innovation
• Legal – authoritative, professional look for attorneys and law firms
• And many more industry-specific styles

You can also check “Use your brand colors in some headshots” to generate headshots that incorporate your brand palette. This is especially useful for team headshots where you want consistent branding across all team members.

Step 4: Generate your headshots

Click the purple “Generate headshots” button. The generation costs 90 credits and produces 40 professional headshots. The AI trains a personalized model on your face, which takes about 20 minutes.

You do not need to keep the tab open. You will receive an email notification when your headshots are ready, so you can continue working on your Canva designs or do something else entirely.

Step 5: View and use your headshots

Once generation is complete, go to the Manage tab, select your model from the dropdown, and click Next. Switch to the Headshots tab to see all 40 generated headshots in a grid.

Click any headshot to select it, then drag it into your Canva design or download it directly. Each headshot is high resolution and ready to use on LinkedIn, your company website, business cards, email signatures, or any other platform.

Step 6: Generate custom headshots with prompts

This is where the Headshots app stands apart from every other AI headshot tool on Canva. After your initial 40 headshots are generated, you can switch to the “Run model” tab and write custom prompts to generate exactly the headshot you have in mind.

Describe what you want: the outfit, the background, the pose, the mood. For example: “a professional headshot in a light-colored suit with a pastel blouse, standing in a bright and airy studio setting, projecting a fresh and modern professional image.”

Not sure what to write? Click the “Try another” button to get AI-generated prompt suggestions that you can use as-is or customize. Each custom prompt costs just 1 credit and generates 4 headshots. No other headshot app on Canva offers this level of creative control.

Why the Headshots app produces the most realistic results on Canva

Most AI headshot tools on Canva use generic models that apply the same process to everyone. The Headshots app by AiProPortrait trains a personalized AI model on your specific face. This makes a visible difference:

• Accurate likeness. Your hair color, skin tone, bone structure, and expressions are captured precisely. Anyone who knows you will recognize you in the photos.
• Natural skin texture. No plastic, over-smoothed skin. The AI preserves natural texture so the results look like real photographs, not renders.
• Industry-specific styling. Styles built for corporate, medical, legal, real estate, startup, and other industries ensure your headshot matches your professional context.
• Brand-consistent headshots. The brand colors feature lets you generate headshots that match your company palette, perfect for team pages and marketing materials.
• Custom prompt system. No other Canva headshot app lets you describe exactly what you want and generate it for just 1 credit per prompt. This gives you unlimited creative control after the initial generation.

Tips for the best Canva headshots

Upload the right photos

Upload 10 to 12 photos with variety. Different angles (front, three-quarter left, three-quarter right), different outfits, and different backgrounds give the AI more data to work with. Natural daylight near a window produces the best input quality. See our headshot tips guide for more detail.

Choose the right style for your industry

Each style is designed for a specific professional context. A corporate headshot looks different from a realtor headshot, and the AI adjusts lighting, backgrounds, and styling accordingly. Pick the one that matches where you will use the photo.

Use brand colors for team consistency

If you are generating headshots for a team, enable the brand colors option and set your company palette. Every team member will get headshots with consistent brand elements, which looks polished on your company's about page or marketing materials.

Use custom prompts for specific needs

After your initial 40 headshots, use the prompt system for any specific variations you need. Want a headshot with a particular outfit or background that was not in the initial batch? Describe it in the prompt. At 1 credit for 4 headshots, you can experiment freely.

Canva headshots FAQ

How do I use Canva AI for headshots?

Open the Headshots app in Canva (search for it in Apps or go directly to the app page). Upload 10-12 selfies with varied angles and backgrounds, choose a style and model name, then click “Generate headshots.” You will get 40 professional headshots in about 20 minutes.

How much do Canva AI headshots cost?

The initial generation of 40 headshots costs 90 Canva credits. After that, you can generate additional custom headshots for just 1 credit each (4 headshots per prompt). Credits are purchased through Canva.

How long do Canva headshots take?

About 20 minutes for the initial batch of 40 headshots. The AI trains a personalized model on your face, which is why it takes longer than a simple filter but produces much more realistic results. Custom prompt headshots generate in about a minute each.

Can I use Canva headshots on LinkedIn?

Yes. The headshots are high-resolution and designed for professional use. They work perfectly for LinkedIn profiles, company websites, email signatures, business cards, and any other professional platform.

What makes this app different from other Canva headshot tools?

Three things: personalized model training (the AI learns your specific face rather than using a generic model), industry-specific styles with brand color support, and the custom prompt system that lets you generate exactly what you want for 1 credit per prompt. No other headshot app on Canva offers this combination.

Do the headshots look real?

Yes. Because the app trains a personalized model on your photos, the results preserve your exact features, natural skin texture, and realistic lighting. The headshots are virtually indistinguishable from studio photography. Check out our headshot examples to see the quality.