AI Headshot Generator
The AI Headshot Generator is a professional starter kit powered by Next.js, Leap AI, and Vercel. It is an open-source project from Leap AI ...
Last verified:
What is AI Headshot Generator?
Headshot AI is an open‑source, Next.js–based starter kit that lets developers build a professional AI headshot generator SaaS in minutes. It uses the Astria platform for training and running custom AI headshot models, while integrating Next.js, Supabase (for database and auth), Stripe for billing, Resend for email notifications, and Vercel Blob for image storage.
The tool works by letting users upload personal photos, then training a dedicated headshot model on those images so that the user can generate multiple studio‑style portraits in different styles, poses, and backgrounds. The starter kit comes with a full web UI, auth flows, credits system, and example pricing so developers can clone it, tweak the design and prompts, and deploy their own branded headshot product.
It is aimed at developers, makers, and indie hackers who want to quickly launch an AI‑powered headshot SaaS without building the backend from scratch. The template also supports additional use cases such as AI avatars, pet portraits, product shots, and style‑consistent marketing assets, making it suitable for agencies or product teams experimenting with custom‑model AI apps.
Key components include Astria for model training and inference, Supabase for user accounts and data, Stripe for credit‑based billing, Resend for delivery emails, and Vercel for deployment. The project is MIT‑licensed and encourages contributions and customization, so users can add new packs, workflows, and features beyond the default headshot scenario.
The kit emphasizes good sample hygiene (single‑face, centered, 1:1 crops) and provides guidance on avoiding artifacts such as multiple limbs or repeated subjects. This makes it especially useful for developers who want to ship a clean, production‑ready headshot generator but still retain full control over prompts, models, and workflows via Astria’s Packs API and FLUX‑style fine‑tuning.
AI Headshot Generator pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
The template itself is free and MIT‑licensed, but running it in production requires separate paid accounts for Astria, Stripe, Supabase, Vercel, and optionally Resend. Training models on Astria is only available on paid plans, so you must have an active Astria subscription and API key to generate headshots. Billing is structured as a credit‑based system where 1 credit corresponds to 1 model train, and you configure Stripe pricing (for example, one, three, or five‑credit packages) directly in your .env and Stripe dashboard. The template does not ship with a fixed price; instead, you define your own Stripe products and prices, which can be one‑time or recurring depending on how you set up the Stripe products.
AI Headshot Generator pros
- Built on Next.js App Router for modern, fast web apps
- Includes full authentication with Supabase Magic Link
- Ready‑made credits system for pay‑per‑train or pay‑per‑image
- Stripe integration for flexible one‑time or subscription billing
- Uses Vercel Blob for managed image uploads and storage
- Open‑source and MIT‑licensed so you can modify and rebrand freely
- Pre‑built UI with Shadcn and Tailwind for polished design
- Demo‑ready deployment flow via Vercel Templates and one‑click deploy
- Supports custom Astria model packs and fine‑tuned styles
- Straightforward environment‑variable setup for local and production
- Guides for configuring announcement bars and marketing banners
- Extensible to avatars, pet portraits, and other AI asset types
- Includes webhook‑driven workflows for model training and email alerts
- No need to write SQL yourself thanks to Supabase migrations and tables
- Designed as a starter kit so you can pivot or add new features quickly
- Community‑maintained with clear contributor guidelines
AI Headshot Generator cons
- Requires an Astria API key and paid plan to train models
- Steep learning curve if you are unfamiliar with Next.js, Supabase, or Stripe
- Initial setup involving multiple services (Vercel, Supabase, Stripe, Resend)
- Default UX is opinionated and may not match your brand without redesign
- Email and billing logic are optional but require configuration to feel complete
- No built‑in usage limits or rate‑limiting beyond what you implement yourself
- Webhook and deployment configuration can be tricky on local dev (e.g., Ngrok)
- Customization of prompts and packs requires understanding Astria’s API and docs
Frequently asked questions about AI Headshot Generator
What is Headshot AI and what does it do?
Headshot AI is an open‑source Next.js starter kit that lets you build a professional AI headshot generator SaaS powered by Astria. It handles image uploads, model training, credits, billing, and email notifications so you can focus on customizing the UI and prompts. The app trains a personalized headshot model from a user’s uploaded photos and then generates multiple studio‑style portraits in different styles and backgrounds.
Which technologies are used in this template?
The template uses Next.js for the frontend and landing page, Supabase for database and authentication, Astria for AI model training and inference, Stripe for credit‑based billing, Resend for optional email notifications, Vercel Blob for image storage, and deployment on Vercel. It also uses Shadcn UI components and Tailwind CSS for styling, giving you a modern, production‑ready stack out of the box.
Do I need to pay to use this template?
The code and template are free and MIT‑licensed, but you must pay for third‑party services such as an Astria API key, Stripe transaction fees, Supabase usage, Vercel hosting and storage, and optionally Resend for emails. Astria only allows model training on paid plans, so you cannot generate headshots in production without an Astria subscription.
How do I get started with my own Headshot AI app?
You start by clicking the Vercel Deploy button on the template page, which creates a GitHub repo, sets up Supabase, and configures Vercel environment variables. Then you clone the repo, install dependencies, set up a Supabase project, add your Astria API key and deployment URL, create a Vercel Blob store, and optionally configure Stripe and Resend. Finally, run the development server and open the app locally to test the flow.
How does the credits and billing system work?
The template uses a credits system where 1 credit equals 1 model train. You define Stripe products and prices for different credit packages (for example, one, three, or five‑credit tiers) and store the corresponding Stripe price IDs in your .env file. When a user completes a checkout, Stripe calls a webhook that adds credits to their account, which they then spend each time they train or regenerate a headshot model.
Can I use this for other AI image use cases beyond headshots?
Yes; the template is designed as a starting point and can be adapted to other Astria‑powered use cases such as AI avatars, anime‑style portraits, pet portraits, product shots, food photography, icons, and style‑consistent marketing assets. You can change the prompts, UI, and model packs to fit these scenarios while reusing the same auth, billing, and deployment infrastructure.
How do I improve the quality of the generated headshots?
You get better results by uploading clean, close‑up face photos with only one person, minimal accessories, and clear visibility. The face should be centered and cropped to a 1:1 aspect ratio (for example 512x512 or 1024x1024), and the same ratio should be used when generating. You can also add negative prompts such as ‘double torso, totem pole’ to reduce distortion and artifacts, and follow Astria’s guidance on training sample quality.
Do I need to store users’ photos permanently?
The template stores uploaded samples in Vercel Blob and keeps them as long as needed for training and generating headshots, but you can configure retention policies or implement your own cleanup logic. It does not automatically delete photos after training, so you must decide whether to keep them for future generations or purge them according to your privacy and storage strategy.
How customizable is the UI and workflow?
The UI is built with Shadcn and Tailwind, so you can easily rebrand colors, fonts, and layout. You can also add or remove steps in the workflow, change the credit pricing, modify prompts via Astria packs, and extend the backend logic since the full source is available. The template is meant to be forked and customized rather than used unchanged in production.
What support or help is available if I run into issues?
Astria provides a support email ([email protected]) for issues related to the API, model training, and prompts. The project’s GitHub repository accepts contributions and issues, so you can report bugs or ask for improvements. Additional help can come from community discussions, documentation links, and example implementations shared in the template’s description and related resources.