The Best Photo for Tiny Desk AI: A Portrait Checklist

The best starting photo for Tiny Desk AI is a clear, well-lit portrait of one person, facing the camera, with the face and upper body visible. It gives the generator a more readable reference, although no photo guarantees an exact likeness.

Compare your photos: four quick checks

1. Angle: Choose a straight-on or gently turned face over an extreme side profile. Check that both eyes and the mouth are visible.
2. Light: Choose soft, even light over a bright window behind the person. If the face is dark, turn toward the window and take another picture.
3. Framing: Choose a head-and-shoulders or chest-up portrait over a distant full-body shot. Leave a little space around the head instead of cropping the chin or hair.
4. Clarity: Choose the original, sharp photo over a blurry screenshot. Remove sunglasses, masks, or hands covering the face when possible.

These are practical starting points, not promises. As Runway’s image-to-video guide explains for its own models, artifacts in an input image may become more noticeable in motion.

Fix common problems before uploading

• Blurry face: Retake the photo in brighter, even light; enlarging a blurry image will not restore missing detail.
• Person too small: Choose a closer original. A tight crop from a distant group picture may still be low quality.
• Strong filter: Use an unfiltered copy so facial details remain visible.
• File rejected: Check the format and size shown in the upload box. The intended production flow accepts JPG, PNG, or WebP up to 8 MB; demo support differs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I upload a group photo for the whole band?

The studio takes one portrait as its reference; it does not provide separate uploads or role assignments for multiple people. Use your own photo or one a consenting adult has agreed to use.

Will a better photo preserve my face exactly?

No. Identity, expressions, clothing, and movement can vary. Review the finished video before sharing it. Live AI output has not yet been verified for this product.

Ready for the next step? Follow the one-photo video walkthrough.