The two source photos do a specific job: they tell the video model who the characters are. A striking vacation picture may be less useful than a plain portrait if the face occupies only a few pixels. Better photos cannot guarantee a perfect likeness, but they can make role assignment and visual review much easier.
Start with permission and clear roles
Use photos of yourself or adults who agreed to appear in an AI-generated fictional video. Do not upload a stranger's portrait or a public figure's image as a substitute for consent. Keep private information, such as addresses and ID cards, out of the frame.
For a two-person story, prepare one image of the survivor and a different image of the person who changes. Write down the order before uploading. The two files are character references: each gives the model a different person to cast. A shared selfie can be tempting, but separate photos make it easier to identify the intended face in each role.
A quick comparison while choosing photos
| If you are choosing between… | Prefer… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A full-body shot far from camera and a head-and-shoulders portrait | The portrait | The eyes, mouth, hairline, and face shape are easier to read. |
| A dark party image and an evenly lit image | Even light | Fewer facial details disappear in shadow or colored light. |
| A heavy beauty filter and an ordinary photo | The ordinary photo | The model sees features closer to the person you want to recognize. |
| A group photo and a solo photo | The solo photo | There is less ambiguity about which face belongs to the role. |
A relaxed expression usually gives the model more room to show fear, recognition, and relief than an exaggerated pose. Face the camera or turn only slightly. Leave some space around the hair and shoulders so a crop does not cut off features that help identify the person.
Do not pre-make the zombie face
For the changed character, start with a normal photo. Ask for subtle pale makeup or dusty clothing in the scene description. Strong face paint, a mask, or an image already edited into a monster can hide the features the model needs to preserve. The warm memory also needs to show the same person without the makeup.
Check the upload and the result
Before generating, confirm that Image 1 and Image 2 have the roles you intended and that both previews show the correct subjects. Use a supported file type and size shown in the upload form. If you crop, keep the original files in case you need a less aggressive version.
After generating, compare the beginning, middle, and end with the source portraits. Look for a role swap, a changed face, an extra character, or a memory scene that no longer resembles the original pair. If that happens, first try clearer photos and a simpler story before adding more instructions.
Next, follow how to make the AI zombie video, adapt the zombie love story prompt, or read what the AI zombie trend is.