There are tons of apps and websites that will take your money and give you minimal control or choices when creating AI-generated professional photos. Most charge $20-50+ for a handful of generic portraits that might not even look like you.

I like to use FAL.AI to access all of their models and the ease of their APIs. But there are many different services (like Hugging Face) that you could use as well. What is very interesting is you could download and use many of these models locally on a gaming computer. So you could build your own custom models and render images completely free with a little time. However, since these models update and get better so fast, I found that it takes more time than I want to spend than just paying a few pennies to let them do it. Time is everything.

Here's how to do it for $2.43 with complete creative control over your results.

The Secret: Train Your Own LORA

The biggest initial cost is $2.40 for training your own LORA (Low-Rank Adaptation). A LORA is a compiled trained model based specifically on your face. You upload 5-7 images of yourself, give it about 10 minutes to process, and what you get in return is a SafeTensor file that's completely trained on the details of your unique features.

You can train your LORA at: https://fal.ai/models/fal-ai/flux-lora-fast-training

Add a Trigger Word

One additional thing to add during training is a trigger word. Keep it one unique word - I use "JoeyJanisheck" for mine. When this word is presented with your LORA in a prompt, it makes sure to make you the feature of the image. It ties your LORA directly to your prompt, ensuring the AI knows exactly who to generate.

One-Time Investment

The SafeTensor file gets stored in the cloud and you'll receive a direct link to it. You can download it and save it locally, or just keep track of the URL so you can use it for custom portrait creation. This $2.40 investment is a one-time cost - you only need to do this once.

Generate Unlimited Professional Portraits

Now it's time to generate images of yourself in whatever style you want. The real power is in the prompt. The more descriptive you are, the better results you get. All you need to do is include your LORA URL in your request along with your trigger word and a detailed description of the camera, lighting, location, and style you want.

Generate portraits at: https://fal.ai/models/fal-ai/flux-lora

Sample Prompts That Work

Here are three different styles I've tested with excellent results:

Classic Timeless Style

Moody Professional Style

Vibrant Magazine Style

Urban Mural

Why This Approach Wins

Unlike those expensive portrait services that give you 10-20 pre-generated options, this method gives you:

• Complete Creative Control: You write the prompts, you choose the style, lighting, and mood
• Unlimited Generations: Each additional portrait costs just $0.03
• Professional Quality: Results rival expensive photography sessions
• Instant Results: No waiting days for a photographer's schedule
• Consistent Quality: Your LORA ensures every portrait actually looks like you

The Technical Advantage

The key difference is that you own your LORA model. Other services use generic models that approximate faces - your LORA is trained specifically on your unique features. This means better accuracy, more consistent results, and the ability to generate portraits that actually capture your likeness.

The SafeTensor file contains all the learned patterns about your face, expressions, and features. It's like having a personal AI photographer who knows exactly how to capture your best angles.

Cost Breakdown

• LORA Training: $2.40 (one-time cost)
• Each Portrait Generation: $0.03
• Total for First Portrait: $2.43
• Additional Portraits: $0.03 each

Compare this to services charging $30-100 for a handful of generic portraits with no customization options.

Adding Credits to Your Account

Before you start generating portraits, you'll need to add some credits to your fal.ai account. I typically keep $10 loaded up in my account, which gives me plenty of runway for experimentation.

Add credits at: https://fal.ai/dashboard/billing

At $0.03 per image, $10 in credits allows you to generate over 330 portraits. That's more than enough to:

• Test different prompt variations and styles
• Generate multiple options for each look you want
• Experiment with different photography styles and lighting
• Create portraits for various professional contexts (LinkedIn, company website, speaking engagements)
• Have plenty left over for future portrait needs

The beauty of this approach is that you're not locked into a subscription or package deal. You only pay for what you generate, and with credits loaded in your account, you can iterate quickly to get exactly the results you want.

Pro Tips for Better Results

• Training Photos: Use 5-7 high-quality photos with good lighting and different angles
• Unique Trigger Word: Make it memorable and unique to avoid conflicts
• Detailed Prompts: Include camera settings, lighting style, and mood descriptors
• Reference Photographers: Mention specific photography styles (Dan Winters, Irving Penn, etc.)
• Iterate: Generate multiple versions and refine your prompts based on results

This approach puts professional-quality portrait generation directly in your hands. No more settling for generic results or paying premium prices for limited options. Train once, generate unlimited professional portraits for LinkedIn, social media, or any professional use case.

The future of professional photography is here, and it costs $2.43 to get started.