Getting Started
This guide uses a "Reference-Driven" workflow. Instead of describing a face from scratch (which rarely works well), we'll give the AI a reference image to pull identity from, while we control the style, lighting, and context.
What You Need
- Google Gemini Advanced (or any model that accepts image inputs)
- 1-2 Reference Photos of yourself (selfies work, just make sure your face is clear)
1
Upload your reference photo to the chat
2
Copy a prompt from below
3
Fill in the [brackets] with your details
Headshots & Profiles
Corporate Studio Headshot
LinkedIn profile, company website, speaker bio
A professional corporate headshot of
[a South Asian woman in her 30s with shoulder-length black hair] from the reference image, maintaining exact facial identity. Shot in a professional photography studio with a clean, subtle gray gradient backdrop. She is wearing [a tailored navy blazer over a white silk blouse]. The lighting setup uses classic Rembrandt lighting with a soft key light at 45 degrees creating gentle shadows that add dimension. Her expression is warm but professional — a subtle, confident smile. Shot with a Canon EOS R5, 85mm portrait lens at f/2.8, creating beautiful background separation. The overall feel is executive-level polish suitable for Fortune 500 company materials.Customize
- Background: "white seamless", "dark charcoal", "brand blue gradient"
- Attire: "black turtleneck", "colorful statement blazer", "open collar shirt"
- Expression: "serious and authoritative", "approachable smile", "thoughtful gaze"
Approachable Natural Light Headshot
Newsletter, personal website, social profiles
A warm, approachable headshot of
[a Black man in his 40s with a neat beard and friendly eyes] from the reference image, maintaining exact facial identity. Shot near a large window with soft, diffused natural light streaming in from the side, creating a gentle, flattering glow. He's wearing [a casual heather gray crewneck sweater]. The background is a tastefully blurred home office with bookshelves and plants, creating depth without distraction. His expression is genuine and welcoming — an authentic smile that reaches his eyes. Shot with natural window light as the key, with a subtle reflector fill. 85mm equivalent, f/2.0 for pleasing bokeh. The mood is professional yet personable, perfect for thought leadership content.Customize
- Setting: "coffee shop window", "modern office", "outdoor terrace"
- Light: "golden hour warmth", "overcast soft light", "morning light"
- Attire: "chambray shirt", "casual blazer", "solid color tee"
Podcast & Speaking
Podcast Guest Studio Shot
Episode announcements, guest appearance promos
A professional podcast studio portrait of
[a Latina woman in her late 20s with long dark wavy hair] from the reference image, maintaining exact facial identity. She is seated in a modern podcast studio, wearing over-ear headphones and positioned in front of a professional microphone on a boom arm. She's dressed in [a rust-colored linen button-up shirt]. The background features acoustic panels, subtle RGB ambient lighting in deep purple and blue tones, and a secondary monitor displaying waveforms. Her expression is engaged and mid-conversation — animated but natural. Soft key light from the front, with colored accent lights from behind creating separation. Shot at a slight angle, 50mm equivalent, capturing her from the chest up with the mic prominent in frame.Customize
- Mood lighting: "warm amber tones", "cool blue tech aesthetic", "minimal white studio"
- Mic style: "Shure SM7B", "modern condenser mic", "vintage-style mic"
- Expression: "laughing naturally", "listening intently", "making a point"
Conference Speaker Setup
Speaking engagement promos, bio images, event marketing
A dynamic conference speaking photo of
[an East Asian man in his 50s with graying temples and wire-rimmed glasses] from the reference image, maintaining exact facial identity. He is standing on a professional stage, gesturing naturally while speaking. He's wearing [a well-fitted charcoal sport coat over a black mock neck]. Behind him is a large LED screen displaying [a presentation slide with abstract geometric shapes]. The venue has professional stage lighting with a spotlight on the speaker creating dramatic rim light, while the audience area is visible but tastefully dark. His posture is confident and engaging, mid-gesture with one hand raised. Shot from a slight low angle to convey authority, 70-200mm zoom capturing the full stage presence.Customize
- Venue: "TED-style red circle", "tech conference", "intimate workshop"
- Slide content: "data visualization", "company logo", "keynote title"
- Framing: "wide shot with audience", "medium close-up", "candid moment"
Product Demos
Workspace with Laptop
Product launches, building in public, tutorial intros
An environmental portrait of
[a Middle Eastern woman in her 30s with curly dark hair pulled back] from the reference image, maintaining exact facial identity. She is working at a beautiful minimalist desk setup, focused on a MacBook Pro with genuine concentration. She's wearing [a cream-colored cashmere sweater]. The scene includes [a ceramic mug, a small succulent, and neat stacks of notebooks] on the desk. Natural light pours in from a window to her left, creating soft shadows and a warm atmosphere. The background shows a thoughtfully designed home office with floating shelves displaying books and small plants. Shot from a three-quarter angle, 35mm lens capturing the workspace context while keeping her as the clear subject. The mood is productive and aspirational.Customize
- Desk setup: "dual monitors", "standing desk", "coffee shop table"
- Props: "notebook and pen", "second device", "whiteboard behind"
- Activity: "typing actively", "reviewing notes", "video call"
Screen Share Presentation
Course thumbnails, webinar promos, demo videos
A professional webcam-style portrait of
[a white woman in her 40s with short blonde hair and warm smile] from the reference image, maintaining exact facial identity. She is positioned at her desk as if on a video call, looking directly at camera with an engaged, teaching expression. She's wearing [a jewel-toned teal blouse]. Her laptop is positioned to the side, showing [a clean dashboard interface with charts] on the screen. Behind her is a thoughtfully designed background with [wooden shelving displaying books, a small plant, and subtle decor]. The lighting is professional: a ring light positioned at camera level creates even, flattering illumination with subtle catchlights in the eyes. Shot to simulate a high-quality webcam angle, slightly above eye level. The overall feel is polished but approachable, perfect for virtual presentations.Customize
- Background: "brand colors on wall", "window with city view", "bookshelf"
- Screen content: "product demo", "data dashboard", "slide deck"
- Gesture: "pointing at screen", "hands explaining", "holding product"
Lifestyle & Social
Thoughtful Moment
Reflection posts, lessons learned, personal stories
A cinematic environmental portrait of
[a Black woman in her 30s with natural hair styled in twists] from the reference image, maintaining exact facial identity. She is sitting at a beautiful desk in a home office, leaning back in her chair, holding a pen and looking thoughtfully at a journal, deep in contemplation. She's wearing [a white t-shirt layered under an unbuttoned denim shirt]. Natural golden hour sunlight streams through window blinds, creating beautiful slat-shadows across the desk adding texture and depth. The scene includes [a coffee mug, open laptop, and small potted plant on the desk]. The composition is cinematic with careful attention to light and shadow. Shot at 35mm, f/1.8, with shallow depth of field keeping her face sharp while the foreground and background gently blur. The mood is introspective and peaceful.Customize
- Setting: "coffee shop corner", "park bench", "library reading nook"
- Activity: "reading a book", "writing in journal", "looking out window"
- Light: "morning light", "overcast soft light", "evening warmth"
Celebration Moment
Milestone announcements, wins, good news posts
A candid celebration photo of
[a South Asian man in his late 20s with a bright smile and short styled hair] from the reference image, maintaining exact facial identity. He's captured in a genuine moment of joy — perhaps arms raised slightly or hands clasped in excitement. He's wearing [a crisp light blue oxford shirt with sleeves rolled]. The setting is [a modern co-working space with large windows and exposed brick]. Natural light floods the scene, creating an optimistic, energetic atmosphere. His expression is authentic happiness — not posed, but caught in a real moment. Other elements like a laptop and coffee cup suggest a work context. Shot candidly at 50mm, f/2.0, with the background pleasantly blurred. The mood is celebratory and inspiring.Customize
- Setting: "office with team visible", "outdoor rooftop", "home office"
- Gesture: "fist pump", "looking at phone excitedly", "jumping"
- Context: "holding award", "looking at laptop screen", "champagne toast"
Travel & Location Content
Conference travel, remote work, location updates
A lifestyle travel portrait of
[a white man in his 30s with a full beard and friendly expression] from the reference image, maintaining exact facial identity. He's standing [on a rooftop terrace with a city skyline behind him], casually leaning against a railing with a relaxed, confident posture. He's wearing [a fitted navy polo and chinos]. The time of day is golden hour, with warm light creating a beautiful glow on his face and the buildings behind. The composition balances the subject with the dramatic backdrop, using leading lines and depth. His expression is content and present — enjoying the moment while still looking professional. Shot at 35mm, f/2.8, with the skyline recognizable but not competing with the subject. The mood is aspirational and worldly.Customize
- Location: "beach boardwalk", "mountain overlook", "urban street"
- Activity: "walking through area", "sitting at cafe", "working on laptop"
- Time: "sunrise", "blue hour", "bright midday"
Creative & Artistic
Bold Urban Composition
Personal brand refresh, standout announcements
A striking urban portrait of
[an East Asian woman in her 40s with a confident expression and sleek bob haircut] from the reference image, maintaining exact facial identity. She is standing against a backdrop of [geometric concrete architecture with dramatic angular shadows]. She's wearing [an architectural all-black outfit — structured blazer with sharp shoulders]. The composition uses strong leading lines from the architecture pointing toward her. Harsh afternoon sunlight creates bold shadows across the frame, adding drama and depth. Her pose is powerful — perhaps arms crossed or hands on hips, owning the space. Shot with a wide angle lens (24mm) from a low angle to emphasize power and architectural scale. High contrast processing with rich blacks and crisp highlights. The mood is commanding and unforgettable.Customize
- Location: "neon-lit street", "glass building reflections", "graffiti wall"
- Style: "editorial fashion", "street photography", "cinematic film"
- Mood: "mysterious", "powerful", "edgy and cool"
High-Fashion Editorial
Major announcements, personal rebrand, attention-grabbing posts
A high-fashion editorial portrait of
[a Black man in his 30s with a shaved head and striking features] from the reference image, maintaining exact facial identity. The setting is a minimalist studio with [a bold single-color backdrop in deep crimson]. He's wearing [an impeccably tailored double-breasted suit in midnight blue with a black turtleneck]. The lighting is dramatic and intentional — a single hard light source creating a defined shadow on one side of his face while the other side is perfectly illuminated. His expression is intense and direct, looking straight into camera with quiet confidence. The composition is tight, cropped from chest up with careful negative space. Shot on medium format with exceptional sharpness and color depth. Processing is refined with rich, saturated colors and careful skin tone preservation. The mood is luxury magazine cover.Customize
- Background: "pure white", "rich emerald", "gradient warm to cool"
- Style: "Vogue editorial", "GQ cover", "artistic portrait"
- Lighting: "butterfly lighting", "split lighting", "backlit silhouette"
Advanced Tips & Techniques
Reference Photo Best Practices
- Use well-lit photos where your face is clearly visible
- Front-facing or slight angle works best
- Avoid photos with heavy filters or unusual lighting
- Keep 2-3 different reference photos to try
Iteration Strategy
Don't expect perfect results on the first try.
- Generate 2-4 variations with the same prompt
- If likeness is off, try a different reference photo
- If setting looks fake, simplify the prompt
- Add "strictly maintaining exact facial likeness" if needed
Creating Your Own Prompts
Build prompts with these elements in order:
- Subject — Physical description + "maintaining exact facial identity"
- Framing — "head-and-shoulders", "full body", "environmental"
- Setting — Specific location and background details
- Clothing — Describe in detail
- Lighting — Quality, direction, and mood
- Technical — Camera, lens, aperture
- Mood — Overall feeling
Helpful Tools
- Nano Banana Gem — Generates contextual prompts based on your LinkedIn post
- Image to Prompt Tool — Reverse engineer prompts from images you like
Troubleshooting
- "It doesn't look like me" — Try different reference photo, regenerate 2-3 times
- "Setting looks fake" — Remove specific brand details, use generic descriptions
- "Weird hands/details" — Regenerate, crop creatively, simplify pose
- "Colors are off" — Specify color temperature, mention "natural skin tones"
Quick Reference
Clothing by Context
tailored blazercrisp button-upcashmere sweaterturtleneckchambray shirtlinen shirtstatement blouse
Background Options
studio gradienthome officemodern coworkingcity skylineoutdoor terracebookshelf wallwindow light
Lighting Styles
Rembrandtsoft window lightgolden hourring lightdramatic rim lightovercast diffused
When to Use What
Headshot → LinkedIn profilePodcast → Episode promoWorkspace → Product launchLifestyle → Personal storyCreative → Major announcement