Creating photo realistic AI Images

The Experiment
I had this (somewhat lame, potentially awesome) idea for a presentation: a video of me hanging out with Elon Musk. Step 1? Creating still images of myself that I could use as a base.

My goal was simple (but surprisingly challenging): find a tool that could create high-quality, AI-generated images that looked like me in different styles and poses. Ideally, these images would look like I’d done a professional photo shoot—without actually having to book one.

Over a couple of months of iteration this turned out to be harder than I thought.

The Process and the Struggle
I started with MidJourney, a tool I’d seen hyped everywhere. I uploaded reference images of myself and experimented with prompts. At first, I was hopeful. Then… not so much.

• They kind of looked like me—if you squinted.

• The resemblance wasn’t strong enough to be instantly recognizable.

• And the hands were definitely weird

Frustrated, I left Midjourney by the wayside. I remembered seeing some great AI-generated portraits on Pieter Levels’ Twitter (his demos were really good). He created PhotoAI, so I decided to give it a shot.

The PhotoAI Breakthrough
PhotoAI turned out to be a completely different experience. The pre-set photo packs—like Tinder, Glamour, and Work—were an interesting way of churning out a lot of shots. I uploaded a collection of photos of myself, making sure to include shots from all sides, good lighting, and plenty of angles. (Pro tip: err on the side of more pics rather than less.)

The resemblance was great.

• The dropdowns and checkboxes in PhotoAI made the process easy to navigate—no complex prompts required.

• The styles looked professional and, more importantly, like me.

• PhotoAI even generated a few options with hair, which was a nice change since I’ve been bald for 20 years (even bald men need a little flattery)

It wasn’t perfect, but it was close.

Reflections on MidJourney and PhotoAI
Looking back, I can see how these tools are built for different types of users:

• MidJourney is for the tinkerers and nerds—the people who love experimenting with prompts, iterating endlessly, and getting creative with styles. If that’s you, don’t accept the first option MidJourney gives you—iterate and try different angles. I even used a cheatsheet of prompts (from Rory Flynn), which helped a lot.

• PhotoAI, on the other hand, feels more plug-and-play. If you want fast, accurate results, it’s hard to beat. Plus, the interface with dropdowns and checkboxes is much easier to use than building prompts from scratch. PhotoAI is built using Flux but has an easier user interface to play with (Flux is cheaper, but less intuitive)

I also tried DALL-E, but honestly, it doesn’t feel like it’s in the same league as these two (right now). Grok also gets good feedback, but I may do another evaluation of all of the tools later in the year.

The Outcome
By the end of the experiment, I had:

• A collection of AI-generated images that were eerily accurate (and at times flattering 😀 ).

• New profile pics and marketing assets I could use for presentations and beyond.

• A fun, new way to experiment with AI

While MidJourney has its strengths, PhotoAI is the winner here for simplicity and resemblance. If you’re short on time or just want something that works, this is your go-to.

Key Takeaway
AI tools like PhotoAI and MidJourney can do amazing things, but the right tool depends on your goals. For fast, realistic results, PhotoAI is unbeatable. For creative flexibility, MidJourney may be a better option—if you’re willing to put in the work. (another consideration Midjourney is about ⅓ of the price of PhotoAI)

Pro Tips for Beginners:

1. Prep Your Photos Carefully: Upload a variety of high-quality shots from different angles with good lighting. The more diverse your photos, the better the results.

2. Iterate, Iterate, Iterate: If you’re using MidJourney, don’t settle for the first attempt. Experiment with different prompts and styles to refine your results.

3. Go Beyond LinkedIn: These tools aren’t just for headshots. Use them to create marketing assets, profile pics, or just to have fun—someone I know made an entire collection of cat-themed postcards using these tools!

Want to Try It Yourself?

• PhotoAI: Best for no-fuss, high-res images that look like you.

• MidJourney/Flux: Perfect for creative experimentation and pushing artistic boundaries.

DALL-E: Worth a look, but less suited for high-quality portraits.