Can I use AI-generated headshots for my ERAS application?

Yes. Debut generates headshots that look like real studio photography. The AAMC does not prohibit AI-generated photos. Your photo should meet the technical specs (JPG/PNG, under 150 KB, face centered) and look like how you will appear on interview day.

What should I wear in my ERAS headshot?

Business professional is the standard for most specialties. Debut lets you choose from suits, blazers, and dress shirts during generation, so you don't need to own any of these for your selfies.

Should I wear a white coat in my ERAS photo?

No. The consensus among program directors is standard business professional attire: a navy or charcoal suit with a tie for men, a professional blouse or blazer for women. A white coat reads as presumptuous for an applicant who is not yet a practicing physician, so Debut's ERAS pack generates business professional looks only.

How do I make my headshot under 150 KB for ERAS?

Debut generates high-resolution photos. To meet the 150 KB limit, upload your chosen photo to a free compression tool like TinyPNG. On macOS, you can also open the image in Preview, go to Tools, then Adjust Size, and set the dimensions to 2.5 x 3.5 inches at 150 DPI.

How long does it take?

Under 10 minutes. You'll get an email when your photos are ready.

What if my headshot doesn't look like me?

Every photo goes through an AI quality check. If it doesn't look enough like you, it gets regenerated automatically. You can also use remaining credits to generate a new set with different options. If a photo fails quality checks, the credit is refunded.

Are my photos private?

Yes. Your photos are stored privately behind signed URLs, never used to train shared AI models, and never shared or sold. You can delete your photos and selfies from your account anytime.

AI ERAS Headshots for Your Residency Application

Upload a few selfies. Get polished, ERAS-ready residency headshots in under 10 minutes. Business professional attire and clean neutral backgrounds included. Starting at $19.

Get Your ERAS Headshots

One-time payment from $19. Every photo passes a likeness check.

AI GENERATED

What Are ERAS Headshots?

ERAS headshots are professional portrait photos used in residency applications submitted through the ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) system, managed by the AAMC. Programs use your photo to identify you when you arrive for interviews. While including a photo is not strictly required, most applicants submit one because program directors expect it.

Your ERAS headshot needs to look professional, meet specific technical requirements, and actually look like you when you show up on interview day. Debut generates headshots that check all three boxes from selfies you already have on your phone.

AI GENERATED

AAMC ERAS Photo Requirements

According to the AAMC's official MyERAS Applicant User Guide, your ERAS photo must meet these specifications:

File type	JPG/JPEG or PNG
Max file size	150 KB
Dimensions	2.5 x 3.5 inches (375 x 525 pixels at 150 DPI)
Composition	Face centered in the photo
Background	Neutral (light gray, off-white, or pale blue)
Attire	Business professional

Debut generates high-resolution headshots that resize cleanly to these specs. Our free ERAS photo resizer crops any photo to 2.5 x 3.5 at 150 DPI and under 150 KB in seconds, right in your browser.

AI GENERATED

Skip the Studio. Stay on Your Rotations.

Between Step prep, clinical rotations, and personal statements, scheduling a photographer is one more thing you don't have time for. A traditional headshot session costs $150 to $400+ and takes days to schedule.

Debut gets it done in under 10 minutes, from wherever you are, for a fraction of the cost. Pick business professional or a white coat, choose your backdrop, and every photo passes a likeness check against your real selfies before you see it.

How Much Do ERAS Headshots Cost?

Booking a photographer for a single residency headshot runs about $304 per Thumbtack. Debut generates ERAS-ready residency headshots starting at $19.

DIY

Take your own headshot at home

Why

Free, but between rotations and Step prep you need good lighting, a neutral backdrop, and business attire on hand. Most phone selfies still read as selfies to a program director.

Debut

$19

Use AI to generate your headshots

Why

You get up to 24 ERAS-ready headshots in under 10 minutes, in the business professional attire program directors expect, and every photo passes an AI likeness check before you see it.

Photographer

$304

Hire a professional photographer

Why

The traditional route works well if you have hundreds of dollars to spend during application season and time to schedule a session between rotations.

Create your ERAS headshots in under 10 minutes

Photographer pricing from Thumbtack's headshot pricing data, based on real bookings across the US.

ERAS Headshots in 3 Steps. Under 10 Minutes.

Example selfie upload for ERAS residency headshots

Step 1

Upload your selfies

No suit or studio needed. Upload a few clear photos of your face. We recommend 6 or more for the best results.

✓

Step 2

Pick your look

Choose your attire (suit and tie, blazer, dress shirt) and background (white, light gray, soft blue). Debut applies your selections to every photo.

AI GENERATED

Step 3

Get your headshots

Our AI generates your photos and runs each one through a quality check. If it doesn't look like you, it gets regenerated automatically. Download your favorites in high resolution.

Simple, one-time pricing

Pay once. No subscription required, no hidden fees.

Starter

$59$19

One-time payment

40 AI headshots of you
Your own private AI model
Backdrop and outfit selection
Standard image resolution
Delivered in minutes

Get 40 headshots

83% pick this

Standard

$89$29

One-time payment

60 AI headshots of you
Your own private AI model
Backdrop and outfit selection
Standard image resolution
Delivered in minutes

Get 60 headshots

Best value

Pro

$149$49

One-time payment

100 AI headshots of you
Your own private AI model
Backdrop and outfit selection
Enhanced image resolution
Delivered in minutes

Get 100 headshots

Use Your Headshots Beyond Residency Applications

Your ERAS headshot is just the start. One set of professional medical headshots covers everything that comes after.

LinkedIn profile

Hospital and clinic websites

Academic publications

Conference bios

Fellowship applications

Professional AI that respects your privacy

You own your photos

Full commercial rights and ownership of every photo you generate. Use them however you want, forever. We never sell your photos or your data.

Every photo passes a quality check

Each generated photo is checked for likeness and quality before it reaches your gallery. Anything that fails is rejected automatically and the credit refunded.

Your photos stay private

Your selfies power only your private AI model and are never shared. Delete any selfie or generated photo permanently, anytime, right from your account.