PHOTO TIPS
The Best Selfie for an AI Video: A Quick Photo Checklist
A favourite selfie is not always the easiest photo to animate. Before you spend credits, choose a picture with a clear face and enough detail for the scene, then use the still preview to check your look.
By ClipJolly · Updated
Start with one clearly visible adult face
Use a sharp photo taken roughly at eye level, with the eyes and mouth visible. An ordinary phone photo in even daylight works well as a starting point. Keep sunglasses, hands, hair and strong shadows away from facial features.
A group photo gives the tool several possible subjects. ClipJolly’s current templates ask for one adult lead, so choose a solo photo. For Quesadilla, the template supplies the supporting cast; you do not need to crop your friends into the picture.
Include your shoulders and useful clothing detail
A head-and-shoulders or waist-up picture provides both facial and outfit information. You do not need a full-body photo for the current templates, and you do not need to photograph yourself in a laundry room or on a porch. The scene preview creates the setting.
Avoid a crop that cuts through the chin or removes much of the hair. Leave a little space around your head. If you want a particular outfit to carry into the video, choose a source photo where its colour and shape are easy to see, then verify it in the preview.
Choose a simple angle before an extreme pose
A front-facing or modestly turned face gives the model more visible detail than a strong side profile. A normal relaxed expression is enough: the generated performance supplies the singing and reaction. You do not need to pose with your mouth open or hold a tortilla for the photo.
Heavy beauty filters, motion blur and dramatic coloured light can change the cues the model uses. If a preview looks unlike you, try a clearer original photo before asking for a video. A larger file alone will not fix a blurred face.
Use a supported image file
ClipJolly accepts JPG, PNG and WebP images up to 10 MB. If your phone photo is HEIC, export a JPG or PNG copy before uploading. Keep the face sharp when resizing; repeatedly sending the photo through messaging apps can reduce detail.
Upload only your own adult photo or a photo you have permission to animate. Keep the original on your device so you can choose a different crop if the first preview needs work.
For Quesadilla, compare both scene previews
Check the face and hairstyle in both images, then compare the outfit. The lead should be easy to identify in each scene. Look at the placement of the two fictional companions and the space around the lead’s arms.
For the laundry-room solo, focus on your facial likeness, shoulders and position relative to the camera. The background can be different from your source photo; the point of the preview is to see yourself in the chosen setting before generating.
- Check facial shape, hair and visible identifying details.
- Check clothing colour and shape across the scene images.
- Check hands, nearby props and the space around the performer.
- Approve the preview only when you are ready to use it for the video.
What to check once the video arrives
A still preview confirms appearance, while the finished video shows the actual movement. Play it once with sound to check the mouth against the generated voice. Then watch the hands and the comic payoff: the tortilla should be readable and the reaction should follow the reveal.
Your photo and scene do not need to be perfect studio portraits to make a funny clip. A clear face, a readable outfit and a checked preview give you a practical starting point. Save the completed MP4 from your private order page within seven days.