A CV photo that follows the convention, because CVs have one
In Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Latin America and much of Asia, a CV photo is not optional decoration, it is a convention with rules: plain background, formal attire, even light. Generate one that follows them from the selfies you already have.
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The CV photo is the most conservative photo you own
A CV photo does its work under the worst conditions of any professional photo: printed small, sometimes in greyscale, reviewed in seconds alongside a stack of others by someone looking for reasons to shrink the pile. That environment rewards exactly one strategy, which is following the convention perfectly rather than standing out.
The convention is stricter than people expect. German Bewerbungsfotos are near-formal portraits; French and Spanish CVs expect the same register; Latin American applications sit close behind. A photo that would be charming on LinkedIn, outdoors and grinning, reads as not knowing the format on a Munich application. Every example below stays inside the rules: plain light background, formal or near-formal attire, mild expression.
And in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, the answer is usually no photo at all: anti-discrimination practice means recruiters may set aside CVs with photos. Know which system you are applying into before spending a minute on the picture.
How do I get a great CV photo?
Check the country before the camera
Photo expected: most of continental Europe, Latin America, much of Asia and the Middle East. Photo actively discouraged: US, UK, Canada, Australia. This single fact decides everything else on this page.
Print it small in greyscale
That is how many reviewers will see it. If the photo loses your face at 3 centimeters without color, the background is too dark or the light too moody. The plain-background examples below pass this test by construction.
Dress one notch above the job
Suit and tie for banking, law and public sector. Blazer without tie for tech and creative. The photo should look like your best interview day, because that is the promise it makes.
Mild beats memorable
A slight warm smile is the ceiling. Big grins, dramatic angles and personality backgrounds cost more than they earn in a format this conservative.
Match the interview
The recruiter will compare the photo to the person who walks in. Generate from recent selfies and pick the frame that looks like you on a good, normal day.
What does a great CV photo look like?
Every example below was generated with renza. One trained model produced all of them; each caption says which part of the job that setting is for.
How it works
Upload 5 to 15 selfies. We train a personal AI on your face in about 5 minutes. One click runs the professional pack.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I put a photo on my CV?
Applying in continental Europe, Latin America or Asia: yes, it is expected and its absence is noticed. Applying in the US, UK, Canada or Australia: no; many recruiters discard photo CVs to avoid discrimination exposure. There is no universal answer, only a per-country one.
What does a correct CV photo look like?
Head and shoulders on a plain white or pale grey background, formal or near-formal clothing, even light, a mild expression. The examples on this page are all inside that convention; the variation between them is register, not rule-breaking.
What is a Bewerbungsfoto?
The German application photo, the strictest version of the convention: professionally shot, formal, often larger on the page than other countries expect. If you are applying in Germany or Austria, aim your photo at that standard and it will pass everywhere else too.
Color or black and white?
Submit color; assume it may be printed in greyscale. That is why even light and a pale background matter: they are what keeps the photo legible when the color disappears.
Can the same photo serve CV and LinkedIn?
One direction works: the CV photo is fine on LinkedIn, a bit formal at worst. The other direction often fails, because LinkedIn rewards warmth and settings that break CV convention. Generate both from one model and use each where it belongs.
What does it cost?
From 9.99 dollars per month, personal model included. Against a Bewerbungsfoto studio session this is cheaper and gives you regeneration for every future application season.