How to Start AI Headshots & Photo Apps With AI, Step by Step
Built only from the steps described in 7 sourced AI Headshots & Photo Apps cases. Each step is attributed to the case it comes from; we do not add steps of our own.
How they started
Build on earlier experiments
Levels previously launched AI avatar and interior design products.
From Photo AI (Pieter Levels), step 1. $105,000/mo revenue ($80,000/mo profit), Self-Reported
Target a clear buyer
Professionals and teams who need headshots without a photo shoot.
From HeadshotPro (Danny Postma), step 1. $10,000,000+ since launch, Self-Reported
Buy a small product
Acquired BetterPic at about $1,500 a month.
From BetterPic (Ricardo Ghekiere and Miguel Rasero), step 1. $20,016 gross revenue in one month, Self-Reported
Find a seller pain
D2C brands struggled with photography.
From Blend (Vaibhav Prakash, Jamsheed Kamardeen and Vishwanath Kollapudi), step 1. $100K/mo, Self-Reported
Test many ideas
He launched 12 waitlist apps to see what people wanted.
From Wesley Tian (Aragon), step 1. Over $10M a year, Self-Reported
Upload photos
Customers add their own photos.
From Novaheadshot (Chris Bora), step 1. $12,126 all-time revenue, Independently Documented
Experiment
They tested ideas and used data to decide.
From Tanya van Gastel (The Multiverse AI), step 1. About $350,000 over two years, Self-Reported
What they did next
Keep the stack simple
A single large PHP file instead of a complex architecture.
From Photo AI (Pieter Levels), step 2. $105,000/mo revenue ($80,000/mo profit), Self-Reported
Share numbers publicly
Public revenue updates double as marketing.
From Photo AI (Pieter Levels), step 3. $105,000/mo revenue ($80,000/mo profit), Self-Reported
Sell packages, not subscriptions
Customers pay once for a set of headshots.
From HeadshotPro (Danny Postma), step 2. $10,000,000+ since launch, Self-Reported
Serve teams as well as individuals
Company-wide headshots extend the market.
From HeadshotPro (Danny Postma), step 3. $10,000,000+ since launch, Self-Reported
Improve conversion
Lifted site conversion from 0.68% to 1.8%.
From BetterPic (Ricardo Ghekiere and Miguel Rasero), step 2. $20,016 gross revenue in one month, Self-Reported
Invest in SEO
City 'near me' pages and programmatic SEO.
From BetterPic (Ricardo Ghekiere and Miguel Rasero), step 3. $20,016 gross revenue in one month, Self-Reported
Ship a basic app
A mobile app built in a month.
From Blend (Vaibhav Prakash, Jamsheed Kamardeen and Vishwanath Kollapudi), step 2. $100K/mo, Self-Reported
Keep overheads low
Pivoted with users' needs.
From Blend (Vaibhav Prakash, Jamsheed Kamardeen and Vishwanath Kollapudi), step 3. $100K/mo, Self-Reported
Follow the signal
Appearance-changing apps got the most interest.
From Wesley Tian (Aragon), step 2. Over $10M a year, Self-Reported
Build the product
He launched an AI headshot product.
From Wesley Tian (Aragon), step 3. Over $10M a year, Self-Reported
Pick a package
$29, $39 or $59.
From Novaheadshot (Chris Bora), step 2. $12,126 all-time revenue, Independently Documented
Get AI headshots
The tool generates the images.
From Novaheadshot (Chris Bora), step 3. $12,126 all-time revenue, Independently Documented
Grow through SEO
Organic search brought most users.
From Tanya van Gastel (The Multiverse AI), step 2. About $350,000 over two years, Self-Reported
Add affiliates and AI search
Affiliate marketing and answer engine optimization added reach.
From Tanya van Gastel (The Multiverse AI), step 3. About $350,000 over two years, Self-Reported
AI Headshots & Photo Apps: common questions
How much do people make with AI Headshots & Photo Apps and AI?
Across the 3 of our 7 sourced cases that report a monthly figure, amounts range from $20,016 to $105,000 a month, with a median of $100,000. These are what each source reports, not typical results.
How much does it cost to start?
One case discloses $15K to $20K of personal savings; the others do not say. 2 of 7 cases disclose a startup cost.
How long until the first dollar?
Not stated in these cases. This comes from what our cases report.
How reliable are these income figures?
1 of 7 cases are independently documented, meaning a news outlet says it reviewed records. 6 are self-reported. Every case links its source.
What are the main risks?
Image model costs per customer can be high. Many competing apps appeared after the first ones grew. Results that look unlike the customer lead to refunds.
How many of these cases say when they made their first dollar?
None of our 7 cases state a clear time to first revenue, so we do not give one. Each case page shows what its source says.
What went wrong or held these cases back?
7 of 7 cases list limitations or risks drawn from their sources. Examples: Photo AI (Pieter Levels): A very large personal audience is hard to replicate; HeadshotPro (Danny Postma): No period or profit figure given; BetterPic (Ricardo Ghekiere and Miguel Rasero): Self-reported. Each case page lists them in full.
Do I have to report this income to the IRS if I never get a 1099-K?
Yes. The IRS says that whether or not you receive a Form 1099-K, you must report all income from selling goods or services on your tax return. Payment apps and online marketplaces must send a 1099-K when payments for goods or services total over $20,000 in more than 200 transactions, but they may send one for lower amounts. Source: IRS, "Understanding your Form 1099-K" (irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k), checked 2026-10-20. General information, not tax advice.
Do I owe self-employment tax on side hustle income in the US?
According to the IRS, you must pay self-employment tax and file Schedule SE if your net earnings from self-employment were $400 or more. The rate is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare), and you may need to pay estimated taxes quarterly. Source: IRS, "Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes)" (irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employment-tax-social-security-and-medicare-taxes), checked 2026-10-20. General information, not tax advice.