I've been seeing Nano Banana Pro everywhere lately. People are calling it a "game changer" for professional headshots. Some are even saying it's going to put dedicated AI headshot generators out of business.
So I decided to test this myself. I took one random person (my friend Mike who needed a LinkedIn photo), uploaded his selfie to Nano Banana Pro, then compared it to results from actual AI headshot services like PersonaPixel, Aragon AI, and BetterPic.
Here's what I found.
What is Nano Banana Pro anyway?
Before we get into whether it's killing the competition, let's talk about what Nano Banana Pro actually is.
Nano Banana Pro is Google's new image generation and editing model. It's built on Gemini 3 Pro, which is Google's most advanced AI. You give it any photo and a text prompt like "turn this into a professional headshot," and it creates a new version of your image.
The key difference between Nano Banana Pro and the original Nano Banana is quality. The Pro version generates images up to 4K resolution, handles text better, and maintains consistency across multiple edits. It's also 2-3 times faster than the original version.
You can access it through Google AI Studio, the Gemini app, or various third-party platforms. Some charge per image (around $0.04-0.08 per generation), while others offer subscription plans.
The big selling point? You don't need to upload 10-20 training photos. Just one image and a good prompt.
The experiment: one person, four AI tools
Here's what I did. Mike sent me a casual selfie he took on his phone. Nothing special. Natural lighting, plain background, wearing a t-shirt. The kind of photo you'd send to a friend, not put on LinkedIn.
I ran this same photo through four different AI services:
1. Nano Banana Pro (via Google AI Studio)
2. PersonaPixel
3. Aragon AI
4. BetterPic
For Nano Banana Pro, I used this prompt: "Transform this into a professional corporate headshot. Business casual attire, neutral background, confident expression, studio lighting."
For the AI headshot services, I uploaded Mike's photo along with 14 other recent photos of him (mix of selfies and casual pics). Each service required between 4-20 photos for training.
Round 1: Speed
Nano Banana Pro generated Mike's headshot in about 30 seconds. Seriously. Upload photo, enter prompt, wait less than a minute.
The dedicated AI headshot services took longer:
- PersonaPixel: 19 minutes
- Aragon AI: 32 minutes
- BetterPic: 55 minutes
Why the difference? Nano Banana Pro doesn't train a custom model on your face. It just edits your existing photo using its general knowledge of what professional headshots should look like.
The AI headshot generators actually create a personalized AI model of you. They analyze your facial features, learn what you look like from multiple angles, then generate entirely new photos. That takes time.
Winner: Nano Banana Pro by a mile.
Round 2: Quality and resemblance
This is where it gets interesting.
The Nano Banana Pro result looked good. Mike was wearing a nice button-down shirt, the background was a clean gray, the lighting looked professional. But something felt slightly off.
His face looked like him, but also didn't quite look like him. Hard to explain. It was like looking at Mike's cousin who resembles him but isn't actually him. The facial proportions were close but not exact. His eyes were slightly larger than in real life. His jawline was a bit sharper.
The AI headshot generators? Way more accurate.
PersonaPixel's results looked exactly like Mike. Same face shape, same eye color, same subtle details. When I showed the photos to Mike's wife, she immediately recognized him.
Aragon AI and BetterPic had similar results. The resemblance was strong. These photos looked like Mike on his best day with great lighting, but they still looked like Mike.
Here's the key difference: Nano Banana Pro edited one photo. It tried to make Mike look professional based on that single image.
The dedicated services trained on 10 photos of Mike from different angles, with different expressions, in different lighting. They learned what Mike actually looks like. Then they generated new photos that maintained his identity.
Winner: AI headshot generators (PersonaPixel, Aragon AI, BetterPic).
Round 3: Variety and options
We generated multiple headshots with each tool to see what options we got.
Nano Banana Pro: With different prompts, I got Mike in different outfits (suit, business casual, casual blazer), different backgrounds (gray, blue, office setting), different lighting styles. The variety was good.
But every single image had that same "not quite Mike" quality. They all looked like professional photos of someone who resembles Mike.
PersonaPixel: Generated 120 different headshots across multiple style packs. Different poses, backgrounds, lighting, even some with Mike in different professional settings. And they all looked like Mike.
Aragon AI: 80 headshots in various corporate styles. Again, strong resemblance across all images.
BetterPic: Over 150 different styles. Professional, creative, casual business. Huge variety, all recognizably Mike.
The AI headshot generators also offered things Nano Banana Pro couldn't match: consistent branding across a team (everyone gets the same background and lighting style), outfit options you don't own, and the ability to regenerate more headshots later without uploading new photos.
Winner: AI headshot generators.
Round 4: Ease of use
Nano Banana Pro wins this hands down.
Upload one photo. Type what you want. Get result in under a minute. Done.
The AI headshot services required me to:
- Upload 15 photos of Mike
- Make sure the photos were good quality, well-lit, from different angles
- Wait 30-60 minutes for processing
- Browse through dozens of results to pick favorites
If you need one quick headshot and you're not too picky about perfect resemblance, Nano Banana Pro is way easier.
Winner: Nano Banana Pro.
Round 5: Cost breakdown
This is where things get complicated.
Nano Banana Pro costs about $0.04-0.08 per image. If you generate 10 headshots to find one you like, that's less than a dollar.
AI headshot services typically charge $25-50. You get 50-200 headshots for that price, which works out to about $0.10-0.50 per headshot.
But here's the thing: with Nano Banana Pro, you might need to generate 20-30 images before you get one that really works. The AI headshot services give you a bunch of great options in one go.
For a single quick headshot: Nano Banana Pro is cheaper.
For professional photos you'll actually use: AI headshot services offer better value.
Winner: Depends on what you need.
So is Nano Banana Pro killing AI headshot generators?
No. And here's why.
Nano Banana Pro is amazing at what it does. It's fast, cheap, and surprisingly capable. For casual use or quick social media updates, it's perfect.
But for professional use where resemblance really matters, the dedicated AI headshot generators are still way better.
Think about it this way: if you're applying for jobs, updating your company website, or building your professional brand, do you want a headshot that looks sort of like you? Or one that looks exactly like you?
When Mike showed up to a networking event and people recognized him from his LinkedIn photo, that matters. When a recruiter sees your headshot and then meets you on a video call, you want them to think "yep, that's the same person."
The AI headshot generators get that right because they actually learn your face. Nano Banana Pro is guessing based on one photo.
Here's another thing: consistency. If you're building a personal brand or running a business, you might need headshots in multiple styles over time. With services like PersonaPixel or BetterPic, you can regenerate new photos months later and they'll still look like you. With Nano Banana Pro, you're starting from scratch every time.
When Nano Banana Pro makes sense
There are definitely times when Nano Banana Pro is the better choice:
You need something quick - If you're updating your Twitter profile right now and just need a better photo, Nano Banana Pro delivers in under a minute.
You're on a tight budget - Less than $1 for a decent headshot is hard to beat.
You're experimenting - Want to see what you'd look like in different professional styles before committing to a full AI headshot service? Nano Banana Pro is perfect for testing.
You don't need perfect resemblance - For online gaming avatars, creative projects, or situations where "close enough" works, it's great.
You only need one photo - If you literally just need one LinkedIn photo and nothing else, the speed and cost make sense.
When AI headshot generators make more sense
Go with dedicated services like PersonaPixel, Aragon AI, or BetterPic when:
Resemblance really matters - Job applications, company websites, professional profiles where people will meet you in person or on video calls.
You need variety - Multiple photos for different platforms, different styles for different purposes, options to choose from.
You're building a brand - Your headshot is part of your professional identity and needs to be consistent over time.
You want the best quality - 4K resolution, perfect lighting, professional-grade results that look exactly like you.
You need team photos - If you're getting headshots for multiple people and want everyone to have the same style and quality.
The future: will they merge?
Here's my prediction. Eventually, services like Nano Banana Pro will get better at maintaining identity. And AI headshot generators will get faster. The gap will shrink.
But I don't think Nano Banana Pro will kill the competition. Instead, I think we'll see these technologies serve different purposes:
Nano Banana Pro for quick edits, creative projects, and casual use.
Dedicated AI headshot services for professional branding, job seeking, and situations where quality and accuracy matter most.
It's kind of like asking if smartphone cameras killed professional cameras. They didn't. They just created a new category of casual, convenient photography. Professional cameras still exist for when quality matters.
The same thing is happening with AI headshots.
Real talk: what worked for Mike
After seeing all the results, Mike ended up using a photo from PersonaPixel for his LinkedIn. It looked exactly like him, the quality was great, and he had 100+ other options saved for future use.
He did use a Nano Banana Pro version for his Twitter profile because he wanted something slightly more casual and didn't care as much about perfect accuracy there.
So he's using both. Which is probably what most people will do.
Tips if you want to try Nano Banana Pro for headshots
If you decide to experiment with Nano Banana Pro, here's what I learned:
Start with a good source photo - The better your starting photo, the better your result. Use a clear, well-lit photo where you're facing the camera.
Be specific in your prompt - Don't just say "professional headshot." Specify the background color, lighting style, clothing formality, and even the mood you want.
Generate multiple versions - Try different prompts and generate 10-15 versions. Pick the best one.
Check for weird artifacts - Sometimes Nano Banana Pro creates odd details. Look closely at your ears, hands (if visible), jewelry, and background. Make sure nothing looks off.
Test it before using officially - Show the photo to a friend and ask if it looks like you. If they hesitate, it probably needs work.
Consider it a draft - Nano Banana Pro is great for seeing what's possible. If you love the result, great. If not, you've only spent a few cents.
Tips if you're using AI headshot generators
For services like PersonaPixel, Aragon AI, or BetterPic:
Upload 15-20 recent photos - More photos mean better training and more accurate results.
Use photos from the last 6 months - Your current appearance matters. Don't upload photos from 2 years ago.
Include different angles - Front-facing, slight turn left, slight turn right. The AI needs to see your face from multiple perspectives.
Good lighting matters - Upload clear, well-lit photos. Dark or shadowy photos confuse the AI.
Mix expressions - Smiling, serious, neutral. This gives you more variety in the final results.
Skip group photos - Even if the service says it can handle them, solo shots work better.
The bottom line
Is Nano Banana Pro killing AI headshot generators? Not even close.
It's a different tool for a different purpose. Nano Banana Pro is the quick, cheap option for casual needs. AI headshot generators are the professional-grade solution for when quality and accuracy matter.
Both have their place. Neither is "better" across the board.
If you need a professional headshot for something that actually matters to your career or business, spend the $30-50 on a dedicated AI headshot service. The resemblance and quality are worth it.
If you just want to play around, test ideas, or need something super quick for low-stakes use, Nano Banana Pro is fun and affordable.
And honestly? You might end up using both, just like Mike did.
The real winner here is us. We now have multiple affordable options for professional-looking photos that would have cost hundreds of dollars just a few years ago. That's pretty cool regardless of which tool you choose.
Ready to try it yourself? Check out our comparison of the best AI headshot generators to see which one fits your needs. Or experiment with Nano Banana Pro and see what you think. Either way, you're getting professional headshots without breaking the bank.
