What you need
- A clear, well-lit photo, with the face visible for portraits
- A phone with a photo-to-video app, such as Vidix, Artvilize or Picsart
- Permission from anyone who appears in the photo
- A music track, if the clip should have sound
Steps
- Choose a clear, well-lit photo
Pick a sharp photo with good light and a subject that is easy to see. Portraits with a visible face usually give the AI more detail to animate. - Upload the photo to the app
Open the app and select the photo from the gallery. Vidix accepts any photo or selfie, and Artvilize also lets users type a text prompt when the right photo is not available. - Pick a style or template
Choose how the photo should move or look. Artvilize offers styles and trending templates, AI Photo Video Maker includes 100+ video templates, and Photo Editor Video Maker's AI Video Generator creates videos from a single photo using templates such as AI Hug and AI Kiss. - Try a cartoon or dance version
For a playful result, change the look before animating. Vidix converts a photo into a cartoon style and then animates it, and Artvilize's AI Dance pairs a photo with music for a dancing clip. For still styled portraits, see how to create AI portraits on a phone. - Add music to the clip
Add a soundtrack that matches the mood of the video. AI Photo Video Maker has a music library and supports imported songs, Photo Video Maker adds background music during editing, and Picsart's video editor edits clips with music, text and filters. - Preview and adjust the result
Watch the clip before saving it. If the motion looks unnatural, try a different photo, style or template and generate it again. - Export in HD and share
Save the finished video to the phone or share it to social apps. Vidix and Photo Editor Video Maker export in HD, and AI Photo Video Maker exports in Full HD with custom resolution.
When this approach is not a fit
- You need frame-by-frame control in a timeline editor; Vidix and Artvilize are built to work without a timeline, while Photo Editor Video Maker and AI Photo Video Maker combine photos in a timeline.
- You only want to improve photo quality or upscale an image without making a video.
- You need a long video; Vidix and Artvilize focus on short clips.
- You do not have permission to use the photo or the people in it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need editing skills to make an AI video from a photo?
No. Vidix guides each step from upload to export, and Artvilize creates a video after the user picks a photo and a style, with no timeline to learn.
Can I turn multiple photos into one video?
Yes. AI Photo Video Maker merges photos into a slideshow video synced with music, and Photo Editor Video Maker turns a set of photos into a video with music, transitions and effects.
Can I make an AI video without a photo?
Yes. Artvilize lets users type a text prompt describing a scene to generate a clip when there is no suitable photo.
