Headshot Glossary
Plain-language definitions of the headshot and profile photo terms you will run into, plus the FaceShot terms you see in the app, like credits and the Likeness Guarantee.
A
- AI Headshot
- A professional-looking portrait generated by artificial intelligence from one or more photos of a person, rather than captured in a traditional photo shoot. The AI reconstructs the subject in a polished setting with studio-style lighting and a clean background. Quality depends heavily on the source photos provided. Create an AI headshot
- Aspect Ratio
- The proportional relationship between an image's width and height, written as two numbers such as 1:1 or 3:4. Different platforms favor different ratios — square 1:1 suits profile pictures, while a slightly taller 3:4 is common for headshots and LinkedIn. Choosing the right ratio avoids awkward cropping later. Crop a photo to 1:1 or 3:4
C
- Corporate Headshot
- A polished, professional portrait used in business contexts such as company team pages, executive bios, and directories. Corporate headshots typically feature business attire, a neutral background, and consistent styling across a team. Consistency matters most when an entire organization needs matching photos. Corporate team photos
- Creative App
- A one-tap FaceShot tool that turns your photo into something other than a headshot, such as a magazine cover, a yearbook photo or an action figure. Each app has its own credit cost and works from the same selfie you use for headshots. Browse creative apps
- Credit
- The unit FaceShot uses for pricing. A headshot costs 1 credit at standard quality, whatever the style, 1.5 credits in HD and 2 credits print-ready; Touche adds 0.5 credit per image, and a batch total is rounded up to a whole credit. Subscription credits reset each billing cycle, while credits from one-time packs never expire. How credits work
D
- DPI / PPI
- DPI (dots per inch) and PPI (pixels per inch) describe how densely an image's detail is packed when printed or displayed. Higher values mean finer detail, with 300 DPI being the common standard for sharp printed photos. Screens generally need far less density than print.
H
- Headroom
- The amount of empty space between the top of a subject's head and the top edge of the frame. A small, balanced amount of headroom keeps a portrait from feeling cramped or top-heavy. Too much makes the face look small; too little crops the head awkwardly.
- Headshot
- A photograph focused tightly on a person's face and the top of their shoulders, used to clearly show what someone looks like. Headshots are the standard for professional profiles, resumes, and team pages. The emphasis is on a clear, flattering view of the face rather than the body or surroundings.
L
- Likeness Guarantee
- FaceShot's promise that you end up with a headshot that looks like you. If you are not happy with your results, you can claim free Refining Credits to regenerate with a different style, framing or setting. Pricing and guarantee
P
- Passport Photo
- A strictly regulated portrait used for passports and other official identity documents. Requirements typically include a neutral expression, a plain light-colored background, even lighting with no shadows, and the full face clearly visible and centered. Exact rules on size and framing vary by country, so always check official guidance. Passport Photo app
- Profile Photo
- The image that represents a person on a social or professional platform, often displayed as a small circle or square. Because it appears at thumbnail size next to your name, a profile photo should be tightly framed on the face and instantly recognizable. It is one of the most common uses for a headshot. LinkedIn headshots
- Prompt
- The text instruction given to an AI model that describes the desired output, such as the style, setting, or mood of an image. In headshot tools the prompt is often handled by a chosen style preset, though some flows let you refine it directly. A clear, specific prompt produces more predictable results.
R
- Resolution
- The amount of detail an image contains, usually measured in pixels (width by height). Higher resolution means a larger, sharper image that holds up when enlarged or printed. Low-resolution images look soft or pixelated when scaled up beyond their native size. Check your photo resolution
- Retouching
- The process of refining a photograph after it is taken — smoothing skin texture, evening out tone, and removing minor blemishes — while keeping the subject looking natural. Good retouching is subtle and preserves a person's real features. Heavy-handed retouching can make a portrait look artificial.
S
- Source Photo
- The selfie or photo you upload for FaceShot to work from. A sharp, evenly lit photo with your face clearly visible gives the most recognisable results; a plain background helps but is not required. Check your source photo
- Style Preset
- A predefined combination of setting, lighting, attire, and mood that determines the look of a generated headshot — for example Executive, Corporate, or Dating Profile. Choosing a preset is the simplest way to control the final style without writing a detailed prompt. Each preset is tuned for a particular use case. Browse styles
T
- Three-Quarter Shot
- A portrait that frames the subject from roughly the head to the waist or mid-thigh, showing more of the body than a tight headshot. It offers a balance between facial detail and a sense of posture and presence. The term can also describe a face turned partway toward the camera.
- Touche
- An optional FaceShot enhancement that adds a subtle, natural polish to a generated headshot. It adds 0.5 credit per headshot and can be switched on when you pick a style.
U
- Upscaling
- Increasing the pixel dimensions of an image to make it larger and higher resolution, ideally while keeping edges and detail sharp. Modern upscaling uses AI to add plausible detail rather than simply stretching pixels. It is useful when you need a print-ready or higher-resolution version of a photo. Upscale an image
W
- Watermark
- A visible logo, text, or pattern overlaid on an image to indicate ownership or a preview state. Watermarks are often placed on sample images and removed in the final, paid version. They discourage unauthorized use of a photo. FaceShot does not watermark headshots on any plan, including the free one.