HeadshotsByAI - Pro Headshots

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  App Store listing preview

Inspiration

I used to work as a photographer, and clients often complained about the cost of professional headshots. Unlike regular photoshoots, headshots are a long-term investment in personal branding, LinkedIn, and resumes. They can last 10+ years, but the price makes them inaccessible for many people.

In 2022 I launched a website version of HeadshotsByAI, powered by early fine-tuning models. Over time, I realized that professional images could be created with a single photo (especially with the release of Nano banana recently), faster, cheaper, and with better resemblance. That vision inspired me to bring HeadshotsByAI to iOS.

What it does

HeadshotsByAI transforms a single photo into professional-quality headshots in multiple styles.

• Users upload one selfie of themselves
• Then choose from 15+ curated styles or create/edit their own prompts.
• Each generated image can be refined in the chat UI, making edits as natural as messaging a photographer.
• The app runs on a credit-based system, so users only pay for what they generate.
• Outputs are fast, affordable, and tailored, ideal for personal branding or career growth.

By default, the app provides the user with 1/2 free images that are watermarked; they can generate more or remove the watermark from their generations by purchasing credits.

How I built it

• Frameworks: Expo + React Native for iOS app development.
• Payments: RevenueCat SDK for in-app purchases and credit tracking.
• AI Generation: Google Gemini “Nano Banana” model via Fal.ai.
• Backend: Next.js + Supabase for authentication, database, and orchestration.
• Vibe Coded: Used Rork and also published from Rork to Expo.

The first working prototype was built in under 24 hours. I shared my journey publicly, documenting the rejection, fixes, and final App Store approval on September 26, 2025.

Challenges I ran into

1. App Store review: My first submission was rejected. Fixing compliance, things I wasn't aware of, like having a delete account option, adding a screenshot for in-app purchase so it doesn't say missing metadata, etc.
2. Balancing costs: AI generations have variable costs. I needed a credit system that was affordable for users but sustainable for me.

Accomplishments that I am proud of

• Published my first iOS app ever, approved by Apple in September 2025.
• Went from idea (Sept 9) → prototype (<24h) → approval (Sept 26) in under three weeks.
• Already secured early paid users, proving demand.
• Built a system where users see and control prompts, making AI transparent and customizable.

What I learned

• Transparency builds trust: Letting users see and edit prompts improved satisfaction.
• Build in public works: Sharing progress on X and Threads led to real feedback that improved prompts and features.
• Mobile-first is different: Simplicity and instant results are more valuable than raw flexibility.
• Building is the Easy part: With vibe-coding platforms like Rork for mobile app generation, building is easy. I spent more time understanding and fixing review issues than building. lol

What's next for HeadshotsByAI - Pro Headshots

• Remote Styles: Add a way to easily add more styles pulled from the database; currently, styles/prompts are in the app
• Localization: I want to ensure that everyone has access to the app; the UI is already simple for this reason, but I think adding different languages will make it more accessible.
• Android launch: expand reach by shipping the same seamless experience on Google Play.
• AI improvements: Add a Copy Style feature where users can copy headshot styles by uploading an image, use AI to copy the style, and then use the prompt to create a similar headshot with their likeness.

Built With

• apple-app-store-(ios)
• expo.io
• fal.ai
• google-gemini-nano-banana
• next.js
• react-native
• revenuecat
• rork
• supabase
• vercel