One Photoshoot, Infinite Possibilities - My Surprising Dive Into AI Photo Enhancement

So here’s something I didn’t think I’d be doing this year: uploading 20+ photos of my face from different angles into an AI system to see what it could do.

Let me back up.

As someone who’s had to sit through a professional photoshoot recently (let’s be honest—most of us don’t exactly love pretending to look “natural”), I figured I’d do one solid session and call it a day. Get the classic professional headshots, a few “approachable” ones for the website, and social media. I have been doing a lot professionally and I wanted to show it off. 

But then I found myself uploading those same photos into an AI tool, just to see what would happen.

Turns out: AI needs a lot 

What I didn’t realize is how many images AI actually wants to really understand what you look like. Not one good photo. Not three. We’re talking 20+ shots from different sides, expressions, lighting… basically a mini documentary of your face. At first, it felt a little weird—like I was doing something I wasn’t supposed to. Things were about to get interesting.

My biggest takeaway: One real-life shoot = endless options? 

The AI didn’t invent a new face or make me look like someone I’m not. Instead, it started generating images that looked a lot like me, but in different settings, styles, and even slight outfit changes. The same dress from the shoot suddenly appeared in different colors and with a blazer. The background shifted to clean outdoors settings. It was like seeing alternate universe versions of my professional and casual self.

No need to re-book a studio or dig through my closet again. One shoot. Endless options.

I’m not saying AI is perfect. Some results were a little too smoothed out, and a few had me squinting, wondering, “Is that... me or a soap opera version of me?” However, most of them were honestly kind of impressive. Not to mention oddly convenient. I started to realize I didn’t need a half-day photoshoot every time I wanted to update my website or refresh my socials.

Instead, I now have a library of dynamic images—all from that one real-life photoshoot! Want a more formal look? Softer lighting? Different color scheme? The AI lets you experiment within reason while still feeling like you are the one in charge.

And maybe that’s the shift here. It’s not about replacing real photos or making everything fake. It’s about expanding what one good photoshoot can do, and giving you more options without needing to repeat the process over and over.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to everyone. But if you’re curious—and already have the photos—it’s kind of fascinating to see how many different versions it can create. 

Just make sure to get good angles. The AI is watching.