How to turn your selfie into professional LinkedIn profile picture with Google Gemini AI: Step-by-step guide

Google has added another powerful new feature to its Gemini app, called Nano Banana, which promises to transform your regular smartphone selfies into studio-quality professional headshots. Shared via the official Google Gemini handle on X, the feature is said to work as an affordable, accessible alternative to booking a photographer or renting lighting rings, making it particularly useful for professionals looking to upgrade their LinkedIn profiles, CVs, or corporate branding.

Nano Banana uses AI to reimagine a basic photo into a polished, business-ready portrait. With the right prompts, the tool handles everything from lighting and angles to wardrobe styling and backdrops, delivering results that mimic a professional photo studio shoot. Here’s how you can do it.

Google’s five tips to create a perfect headshot

To showcase its capabilities, Google shared five key tips for generating clean, professional portraits:

1. Lighting matters: Ask Nano Banana to apply “soft but dimensional studio lighting” that enhances facial features and creates a subtle catchlight in the eyes.
2. Get the angles right: Frame the subject from the chest up, leaving space above the head for cropping, while maintaining a confident, approachable expression.
3. Wardrobe and styling: Try prompts like “contemporary blazer with relaxed yet professional hair” to balance modern style with sophistication.
4. Keep the backdrop simple: Use a neutral, solid-coloured studio background to avoid distractions and keep focus on the face.
5. Bring it all together: Combine these details into a single prompt for the best results – from lens choice to lighting effects, wardrobe textures, and natural skin tones.

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Prompts to create a professional LinkedIn profile picture with Google Gemini AI

Google has even provided a detailed prompt for users to generate professional headshots. You can use this prompt to get the result.

“A professional, high-resolution, profile photo, maintaining the exact facial structure, identity, and key features of the person in the input image. The subject is framed from the chest up, with ample headroom and negative space above their head, ensuring the top of their head is not cropped. The person looks directly at the camera, and the subject’s body is also directly facing the camera. They are styled for a professional photo studio shoot, wearing a smart casual blazer. The background is a solid ‘#141414’ neutral studio. Shot from a high angle with bright and airy soft, diffused studio lighting, gently illuminating the face and creating a subtle catchlight in the eyes, conveying a sense of clarity. Captured on an 85mm f/1.8 lens with a shallow depth of field, exquisite focus on the eyes, and beautiful, soft bokeh. Observe crisp detail on the fabric texture of the blazer, individual strands of hair, and natural, realistic skin texture. The atmosphere exudes confidence, professionalism, and approachability. Clean and bright cinematic colour grading with subtle warmth and balanced tones, ensuring a polished and contemporary feel.”