LibraryMidjourney Prompt for Professional Headshot — Free Copy‑Paste Prompts, Beginner Workflow, and Fixes for “Plastic Skin”
** This guide shares a clear midjourney prompt for professional headshot, beginner steps, and free prompts you can copy today.
What Is a Midjourney Prompt for Professional Headshot
A midjourney prompt for professional headshot is a short, photo‑style sentence that tells Midjourney five things—who, look, light, lens, background—plus a few don’ts (negatives) so the result looks like a real LinkedIn or resume photo, not a painting.
One‑line template:
[Person], professional headshot, clean natural light, [lens/focal length], [pose/angle], neutral studio background, subtle retouching, sharp eyes, no makeup smudge, --ar 4:5 --v 6
Why this works: you’re speaking like a photographer—subject, light, lens, pose, background—so Midjourney leans into photo realism rather than illustration.
A 5‑Step Beginner Workflow for a Midjourney Prompt for Professional Headshot
- Start simple: one sentence, one goal (head & shoulders).
- Lock the camera idea: ask for 50mm or 85mm portrait.
- Pick the light: soft window light or softbox; add natural catchlight.
- Choose background: neutral seamless studio backdrop or subtle office bokeh.
- Add negatives: –-no painting, cartoon, CGI, over-smooth skin, harsh shadows, busy background.
New to Midjourney? Use
/imaginefollowed by your prompt. You can also paste a reference image URL before your text to guide likeness. If you find a look you love, click V1–V4 to try variations and U1–U4 to upscale.
Copy‑and‑Paste: 12 Free Midjourney Prompt for Professional Headshot Examples
Tip: Replace the bracketed parts
[ ]and keep the structure. For LinkedIn, try --ar 4:5. For circular avatars, --ar 1:1.
1) Classic LinkedIn Studio
“[30‑something professional], professional headshot, head and shoulders, relaxed confident smile, soft studio key light + fill, 85mm portrait, neutral light‑gray seamless backdrop, natural skin texture, subtle retouch, sharp eyes and lashes, –-no painting, cartoon, CGI, heavy makeup, over‑smooth skin, --ar 4:5”
2) Window‑Light Minimal
“[Person’s gender/ethnicity], professional headshot, eye‑level 50mm, soft window light, gentle catchlight, neat hair, simple wardrobe [navy blazer, white shirt], clean off‑white wall, shallow depth of field, accurate skin tone, –-no busy background, no color cast, --ar 4:5”
3) Tech Founder Vibe
“[Founder/PM/Engineer], professional headshot, calm focus, natural daylight + subtle rim light, 50mm, muted office bokeh background, natural skin texture, minimal retouch, –-no harsh shadows, no glossy skin, --ar 4:5”
4) Author/Speaker Portrait
“[Author], professional headshot, slight 3/4 angle, friendly authority, softbox key + reflector fill, 85mm, charcoal seamless backdrop, crisp eyes, gentle smile lines, –-no dramatic contrast, no vignette, --ar 4:5”
5) Creative Director, Editorial Clean
“[Creative director], professional headshot, neutral pose, subtle expression, large diffused soft light, 50mm, light‑beige studio paper, tasteful color grading, –-no neon, no over‑sharpen, --ar 4:5”
6) Startup Team Pack (consistent look)
“[Employee #1], professional headshot, same studio setup as previous image, 85mm, light‑gray seamless, subtle retouch, –-no distortion, --ar 4:5”
7) Serious Executive
“[Executive], professional headshot, composed, no smile, rembrandt light softened, 85mm, dark slate backdrop, crisp suit, natural skin grain, –-no plastic skin, --ar 4:5”
8) HR/Recruiter Friendly
“[Recruiter], professional headshot, approachable, warm window light, 50mm, pale blue backdrop, neat hair, delicate catchlight, –-no harsh specular highlights, --ar 4:5”
9) Outdoors but Professional
“[Person], professional headshot, head and shoulders, open shade (soft daylight), 50mm, subtle city bokeh, accurate skin tone, –-no wind‑swept hair, no busy background, --ar 4:5”
10) Dark‑on‑Dark (Dramatic but Work‑Safe)
“[Person], professional headshot, calm intensity, feathered softbox key, 85mm, black seamless with gentle separation rim light, natural texture, –-no heavy film grain, --ar 4:5”
11) Image Reference for Likeness (paste image URL first)
“professional headshot, head & shoulders, soft window light, 50mm, neutral gray backdrop, accurate skin tone, subtle retouch, sharp eyes, –-no painting, CGI, --ar 4:5 --iw 1.0”
[Executive], professional headshot, composed, no smile, rembrandt light softened, 85mm, dark slate backdrop, crisp suit, natural skin grain, –-no plastic skin, --ar 4:5
12) Glasses Without Glare
“[Person with glasses], professional headshot, angled light to avoid reflections, 85mm, medium‑gray seamless, gentle retouch, sharp eyes visible through lenses, –-no lens glare, no reflections, --ar 4:5”
Troubleshooting Your Midjourney Prompt for Professional Headshot
- Still too glossy? Add natural skin texture, micro‑contrast, subtle retouch, and negatives –-no airbrushed skin, no plastic.
- Too artsy? Remove stylized words and add neutral studio portrait photography, realistic lighting, accurate skin tone.
- Eyes look soft? Demand tack‑sharp focus on eyes, crisp catchlight, 85mm portrait.
- Background creeping in? Repeat neutral seamless backdrop, shallow depth of field, –-no busy background.
- Different crops each time? Specify head & shoulders, or tight crop, and keep --seed the same.
- Identity shifts between versions? Use a reference image and --iw 0.8–1.2; avoid changing too many adjectives between runs.
Quick FAQ About the Midjourney Prompt for Professional Headshot
Q: Do I need special parameters?
A: Keep it simple: --ar 4:5 (LinkedIn friendly), --seed [number] for consistency, --iw if using an image reference.
Q: What lens words help realism?
A: 50mm or 85mm portrait—safe bets that mimic natural proportions.
Q: Can I keep a consistent team style?
A: Yes—reuse the same lighting/backdrop block and one seed for all teammates, swapping only names/roles.
Q: How do I avoid the “AI look”?
A: Speak like a photographer (light, lens, background), add subtle retouching, and include negatives that ban cartoon/CGI/over‑smooth effects.
Final Note for Newcomers
You don’t need fancy words. Think like a photographer: light, lens, background. Start with the classic prompt above, then tweak one thing at a time. When it looks like you on your best day, you’re done.
