Can I use a photo from Instagram or TikTok?

Only if it is your own photo, or the person in it has given you permission. Screenshots usually lose quality and perform worse anyway.

Does the photo need to be a certain size?

At least 512 pixels on the short side is the practical floor. Anything under about 200 pixels will not hold up in the close-up.

What file types are accepted?

JPG, PNG and WebP, up to 10 MB per photo.

Can I upload a photo with a hat?

A normal hat is fine if the face is clear. Hats that shadow the eyes, or caps pulled low, usually make the identity weaker.

Short answer

Use one clear, front-facing, evenly lit portrait per person, with the whole head visible and at least 512 pixels on the short side. Avoid group photos, sunglasses, heavy filters and side profiles. JPG, PNG and WebP are accepted up to 10 MB.

Make my band video

Tiny Desk AI photo requirements

The model holds a face across a head turn and a laugh. Give it something to hold on to.

Updated 2026-10-29

Every render is an identity replacement, not a two-frame face swap. Each shot is regenerated while the model tracks the person through movement, so the photo has to describe a face well enough to survive a head turn, a laugh and three different camera angles.

The short checklist

One person in the photo. No group shots, no screenshots of a video call.
Front-facing, both eyes open and visible.
Whole head in frame, including the hairline, with a little space above.
Even light — daylight from a window or a ring light. No hard side shadows.
No sunglasses, no masks, no hats pulled over the eyes.
At least 512 px on the short side. Bigger is better; 10 MB is the upload ceiling.
JPG, PNG or WebP.

What usually goes wrong

Photo problem	What you see in the render	Fix
Side profile	Face drifts or turns into a different person	Use a front-facing photo
Low light or backlight	Muddy skin tone, lost detail in the close-up	Retake near a window
Very small crop	Identity barely changes	Use a photo with more head room
Person at the frame edge in a wide shot	Seat stays partly original	Move that person to the lead seat
Sunglasses	Eyes not replaced, face reads as someone else	Remove the sunglasses

Which seat is most forgiving

The lead singer seat is the most rewarding: it owns the opening shot and the close-up, so a good portrait has the most screen time to work with. The two backing vocal seats are the hardest, because the people are smaller and partly behind the band in the wide shots.

1.Lead singer
Shots 1 and 3
2.Keyboard
Shots 2, 4 and 5
3.Backing vocal · left
Shots 2 and 5
4.Backing vocal · right
Shots 2 and 5
5.Saxophone
Shot 4

Consent and age

You must be 18 or older and have permission from everyone in the photos. Do not upload public figures, minors, or anyone who has not agreed. Photos are used to render one video and are deleted with it after 14 days.

Next: who you can replace or the full walkthrough.