Where is the Best Place to Take a Headshot? — Studio vs. Selfie vs. AI Comparison 📸
###### "Where should I get my headshot taken?" This is one of the most common questions I get from people starting their job search.
Should I go to a photo studio? I heard you can just take a selfie these days? What's the quality like if I use AI?
The more options there are, the more confusing it gets.
Especially if you're preparing for a job, you're worried about the cost, you don't have much time, and you might not know where to get a "proper" photo.
As a hair and makeup expert and a researcher who has been running a photo studio for 10 years, I'll honestly compare these three methods.
The answer is "it depends on the situation."
📸 Studio Photography — The Most Reliable, But Not Always the Answer
###### Studio photography has long been the "standard" for headshots. With professional lighting, high-quality cameras, and skilled photographers —
The environment itself is designed for good photos.
#### **What's Good**
Professional lighting captures skin tones most naturally and evenly.
Unlike phone cameras, there's almost no lens distortion, so facial proportions look close to reality.
If you choose a package that includes hair and makeup, it greatly reduces the effort required for preparation.
Being able to see and choose from multiple shots on the day of the shoot is also a great advantage.
What's Not So Good
###### The cost is significant. Packages including hair and makeup usually cost around ₩70,000 to ₩150,000,
and even basic shoots cost around ₩30,000 to ₩50,000. You have to make a reservation, travel there, and spend time on the shoot.
This can be a burden for job seekers who are short on time.
And as a photographer myself, the quality of the photo can vary greatly depending on communication with the customer and the photographer's skill.
So, the truth is, you need to find a studio or photographer that's right for you.
##### **Recommended for These Situations** 💡
If it's an important application that can have a big impact on the outcome, such as a major company's open recruitment, a civil service exam, or admission to law school or medical school,
a studio is the way to go. If you take a good photo once, you can use it in many places for a long time, which can be more efficient in the long run.
#### 🤳 Selfie Photography — Convenient, but May Not Be Good Enough for Final Submission
"Can't I just take a photo with my phone?" I get this question a lot.
To put it bluntly, it's quite risky to use a selfie directly as a headshot for final submission.
What's Good
It costs almost nothing. You can take it whenever and wherever you want,
and you can retake it right away if you don't like it. The freedom to try multiple times is a clear advantage.
What's Not So Good
Smartphone wide-angle lenses distort faces more than you think.
The nose may appear larger, facial proportions may look different from reality, or the edges of the face may appear stretched.
It's difficult to set up the lighting environment yourself, so shadows are often cast, or the skin appears yellow or dull.
Post-processing is also required, such as cleaning up the background, adjusting the size, and adjusting the resolution. If you don't meet the specifications properly, your documents may be rejected.
Recommended for These Situations 💡
For temporary documents or when you need it urgently,
or when using it as an original photo to upload to an AI headshot service.
It's much wiser to use the selfie as a good source for AI conversion than to use the selfie itself as the final result.
 
🤖 AI Headshots — You Can Have Both Cost-Effectiveness and Quality
AI headshots are a method that has grown rapidly in the last few years.
In particular, unlike other companies, Monkos.ai converts a single selfie into a professional-quality headshot using AI.
What's Good
The cost is much lower than a studio. You can use it comfortably at home,
regardless of time or place. You can instantly convert to various specifications such as background color change, passport photo, and resume photo,
and you can print out multiple versions at once. Selfies are naturally corrected as if they were taken under professional lighting.
What's Not So Good
Since the quality of the results varies from service to service, it's important to choose a reliable service.
I think it's important to experience it yourself! Everyone has different needs, feelings, and situations!
Recommended for These Situations 💡
Perfect for those who need headshots often while applying to multiple companies at the same time, those who need various specifications at once,
and those who want to save both money and time. If you're good at taking selfies, you can get good results without going to a studio.
