How to Choose the Best Photo for an AI Video Effect
Which photo gives the most recognisable result in an AI video effect: angle, light, resolution, glasses, group shots and the mistakes that waste credits.
The photo you upload decides more about an AI video effect than any other choice you make. The motion, camera and timing come from the original clip, so the only thing the AI learns about you is what's in that single image. A good photo makes the result look like you from the first frame. A poor one makes it look like a cousin you've never met.
This guide covers what actually matters, in order of impact.
1. Face the camera
Most trend clips have the main person looking at or near the lens for at least part of the video. A front-facing photo gives the AI both eyes, both cheeks and the full shape of your mouth, which is what it needs to recreate expressions. A three-quarter angle still works, but a profile shot almost never does: the AI has to invent the half of your face it can't see.
Good: looking straight at the camera, head level. Okay: slightly turned, both eyes visible. Avoid: side profile, looking down at a phone, face tilted far up.
2. Light matters more than resolution
A sharp phone photo in daylight beats a high-resolution photo taken in a dark bar. Low light adds noise and blur that the AI reads as texture, and the result can look smoothed or blotchy. You don't need studio lighting:
- Stand facing a window, not with your back to it.
- Avoid a single harsh light from above, which casts deep shadows under the eyes.
- Turn off the flash at night; it flattens skin tone and fur colour.
On resolution, anything from a normal phone camera is plenty. Our uploads accept JPEG, PNG or WebP up to 20 MB, and each side must be between 301 and 5,760 pixels.
3. One person per photo
If two faces are in the frame, the AI has to guess which one to use, and it can blend them. Crop group photos down to one person before uploading. For two-person effects like the Crazy Frog chase, the neon duet or Alors On Danse, upload two separate photos, one per role.
4. Show what the effect needs
Different effects use different parts of the photo:
| Effect type | What the photo should show | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Face-focused | Head and shoulders, face large in frame | Bulin 47, Unforgettable Car |
| Full-body motion | Knee-up or full body, standing | Neon duet, AI runway walk |
| Outfit kept from photo | Your actual clothes, clearly visible | Neon duet, Ozil goal with "Keep my clothes" |
| Pets | Pet's face at eye level, fur and markings visible | Roadster Day 1, Alors On Danse |
When an effect replaces your outfit (most face-swap trends do), don't worry about what you're wearing. Spend the effort on the face instead.
5. Glasses, hats, beards and makeup
- Glasses: if you always wear them, keep them on; they usually carry over and make the result look more like you. Sunglasses hide the eyes and reduce likeness, unless the original performer wears them anyway, as in Bulin 47.
- Hats and caps: they hide your hairline and forehead. Take them off unless they're part of your look.
- Beards and moustaches: they carry over well and help recognisability.
- Heavy beauty filters: these are the most common cause of a generic-looking result. The AI copies the filtered skin and loses the details that make your face yours.
6. Expression
A neutral or lightly smiling face is the safest starting point because the AI animates it into the expressions of the clip. For effects where the original person is laughing the whole time, like Burning Bridges, a smiling photo helps the AI understand how your face moves when you smile.
7. Permission
Only upload photos you have the right to use: your own, or photos of adults who have said yes. Don't upload photos of children. Photos are stored privately, used only for your video and deleted after 7 days.
The 20-second checklist
Before you press upload, check:
- One person, face clearly visible and facing the camera
- Even light, no harsh shadows, no flash
- No beauty filter, no sunglasses (unless the trend has them)
- The right framing for the effect: face for face swaps, full body for dances and runway
- You have permission to use it
What if the result still doesn't look like me?
Try a different photo before trying a different effect. In most cases the fix is a closer, brighter, front-facing photo. If the generation itself fails, the credits come back automatically. If it completes but you don't like the likeness, the video still counts as used, so it's worth spending a minute on the photo first.
Ready to try it? Browse all effects or see pricing.
Common questions
Can I use a photo from Instagram or a screenshot? Yes, if it's sharp and it's you (or someone who agreed). Screenshots of videos are often blurry; a still photo is better.
Does a professional photo work better than a selfie? Not necessarily. A clear, evenly lit selfie often beats a stylised portrait with dramatic lighting or heavy retouching.
Should I remove the background? No. The background is replaced by the scene anyway.
Can I use an old photo? Yes, the AI uses whatever face is in the photo. Using a childhood photo is not allowed, because the person in it was a minor.