The best photo for a video face swap

A good photo checklist

• Facing the camera straight on, or close to it
• Good, even light on the whole face, like near a window
• Face fully visible: no sunglasses, no hat brim across the eyes, no hand over the mouth
• Sharp, not blurry or heavily filtered
• One person only in the photo

Common mistakes

• Photos taken from far away, where the face is tiny
• Strong filters or beauty effects that change the face
• Harsh shadows across half the face
• A group photo cropped down to one person

Take a good one in 30 seconds

1. Stand facing a window in daylight.
2. Hold the phone at eye level, with the camera facing you.
3. Take two or three, and pick the sharpest one.

Whose photo can you use?

Yourself, or someone who agreed. Do not use photos of people who have not said yes, and do not try to make a video that passes as a real public figure.

Questions

Can I use a selfie?

Yes. A front camera selfie in good light works well.

Can I use a photo of a pet or a cartoon?

The tool is built for real faces. Results with other kinds of images vary.

Do you keep my photo?

Your files are used to make your video. See our privacy page for how they are handled.

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