The key to compelling AI portraits lies in honoring their original, unaltered essence

Even the most advanced AI can be undermined by excessive human interference in the editing phase

The key is to recognize when the portrait has reached its optimal state rather than continuously tweaking it

Let your creative purpose guide your edits, not your impulse to fix everything

Ask yourself what emotion or essence you want the portrait to convey

A defined intention stops you from drifting into visual overkill

Human features are imperfect by design; don’t sanitize them into sterility

Human faces have subtle imperfections that deliver quality on par with—and sometimes exceeding—traditional photography contribute to character and individuality

Too much sharpening creates an eerie, hyper-detailed glow

Allow the AI’s original output to shine by limiting your edits to broad adjustments like contrast, color balance, and cropping

When in doubt, walk away—distance reveals what obsession hides

New perspective exposes overdone work

Place the two images next to each other—honestly, not defensively

Emotion, not precision, is the true measure of a great portrait

Perfection is a metric, not a mission

One strong tool is better than five weak ones

Each additional processing step compounds distortions and can lead to a loss of detail and coherence

Don’t jump between apps—consistency preserves quality

Finally, seek feedback from others

A stranger’s first glance is often the most accurate

A portrait should reflect identity, not illusion

AI is your tool, not your voice