What photo to use for an AI video of yourself

Updated October 21, 2026 · Reviewed by The Rift team

Short answer

Use a recent photo, face to camera, in soft daylight, with nothing covering your face: no sunglasses, hands or heavy filters. For dances and outfits, add a full-body photo too. In Rift, save yourself as a character from two or three photos, so Spark, Rift's video agent, keeps your look in every video. The same rules hold for pets and products.

A recent photo, face to camera, in soft daylight gives the closest AI video of you. Here is what to pick and what to avoid.

The face photo

Face to camera, head straight, eyes visible.
Soft, even light. By a window in daylight is ideal. Avoid hard sun and dark rooms.
Nothing in the way. No sunglasses, hats low on the brow, hands or hair across the face.
No filters. Beauty and face filters change your features and the video copies them.
Recent. Your current hair and glasses, as people know you.

The full-body photo

Use one when the video shows your whole body: dances, outfits, sports.

Standing, arms by your sides, feet visible.
Plain background if you can.
Clothes that show your shape. Very long coats hide how you move.

Pets

Eye level with the pet, in daylight.
The whole animal in frame for anything that runs or dances.
Their real markings visible: the white paw, the patch on the ear.

Products and cars

Clean, on a plain background, label facing the camera.
Cars from a three-quarter angle, in even light, no reflections of you in the paint.

Save yourself as a character

In Rift, add two or three of these photos once and save them as a character. Then say “me” in any line to Spark and it uses the same face each time, so a series looks like one person.

Quick check before you Make

Ask: could a friend recognise me from this photo at a glance? If yes, it’s a good start.

Questions people ask

Can I use a selfie?

Yes. Hold the phone at eye level, not from below, and turn off beauty filters.

How many photos should I use?

One works. Two or three, saved as a character, keep your look steadier across videos.

Does it matter what I'm wearing?

Only if the video shows it. If you want a specific outfit kept, use a full-body photo in it.

Should I smile?

A relaxed, neutral face gives the most room. The video adds the expression.