ai & the future of Actor headshots
AI, if used thoughtfully could be a good tool for so many things. As a photographer AI is really useful to save time editing difficult images or cleaning up backgrounds of photos etc.
I am sure it sounds like I’m scared if I say you don’t want to have AI “take” your headshots. I’m not really scared of that. I do think it’s irresponsible as an actor to give over control of the few things you actually can control in your career. It’s so important that actors look like their headshots on their best day of whatever that characters day would be. What do I mean by that? Well, if you are fighting zombies or surviving the Apocalypse, then you need to look like that is a believable world for you, in your headshot. Headshots are aspirational. Your eyes and focus and intention really help tell each story that you are saying you could be seen in. AI is a derivative version of someone in some scenario as outlined by every image online that exists in that scenario. Good and bad.
If you trust AI to be the manipulator then AI is also making those acting choices for you. You’re giving over control of another piece of your career. Wil it save you money and time? Not necessarily. You only have a little time and you can’t buy more of that.
I’m sure that there will be a time (probably in the very near future) that AI can do a pretty good job at guessing your micro expressions in any situation, but then why even be an actor.
You are just giving up another decision to someone else. Great actors show up and learn and try new things and know that perfect is the enemy of good.
If you don’t want AI showing up and taking your acting job, then why would you let it take your headshot?
Let me know what you think.
