Photo Guidelines
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Photo Guidelines

Quality photos create better AI models

Perfect Training Photos

The quality of your training photos directly impacts how well your AI model learns your features.

Photo Requirements by Category

Essential Requirements

Must Have

Clear Face Visibility

Face should be clearly visible and well-lit in every photo

Good

Front-facing portrait with even lighting

Avoid

Face in shadow, looking down, or partially obscured

High Resolution

Minimum 512x512px, recommended 1024x1024px or higher

Good

Modern smartphone or camera photos in good quality

Avoid

Low-resolution, pixelated, or heavily compressed images

Single Subject Focus

You should be the clear main subject in each photo

Good

Solo portraits or photos where you're prominently featured

Avoid

Group photos where you're small or unclear which person to focus on

Variety of Angles

Include front, side profile, and three-quarter views

Good

Mix of straight-on, 45-degree, and profile angles

Avoid

All photos from the same angle or viewpoint

Lighting Guidelines

Critical

Even Face Lighting

Face should be evenly lit without harsh shadows

Good

Soft natural light, professional photography lighting

Avoid

One side of face in shadow, harsh direct sunlight

Consistent Quality

Similar lighting quality across multiple photos

Good

All outdoor daylight or all indoor soft lighting

Avoid

Mix of very bright and very dark photos

Avoid Backlighting

Light should illuminate your face, not be behind you

Good

Window light or lamp facing your face

Avoid

Standing in front of bright window or light source

Expression & Pose Variety

Important

Multiple Expressions

Include neutral, smiling, and other natural expressions

Good

Natural smile, serious look, slight smile, neutral

Avoid

Same exact expression in every single photo

Eye Contact Variation

Mix of direct eye contact and looking slightly off-camera

Good

Most photos looking at camera, some looking away naturally

Avoid

All photos looking away from camera or closed eyes

Natural Poses

Relaxed, natural poses that show your personality

Good

Casual, comfortable poses that feel natural

Avoid

Forced, unnatural, or overly posed expressions

Background & Composition

Helpful

Varied Backgrounds

Different backgrounds help AI focus on your features

Good

Indoor, outdoor, plain wall, textured backgrounds

Avoid

All photos against the exact same background

Clean Composition

You should be the clear focus without distracting elements

Good

Simple backgrounds that don't compete for attention

Avoid

Cluttered backgrounds with busy patterns or text

Appropriate Distance

Head and shoulders visible, not too close or far away

Good

Headshot to upper body framing

Avoid

Extreme close-ups of face only or full body where face is tiny

Pre-Upload Checklist

Technical Quality

Image is at least 512x512 pixels
Photo is sharp and in focus
File format is JPG, PNG, or WebP
File size is under 5MB
No heavy compression artifacts

Subject Clarity

Your face is clearly visible
Good lighting on your face
You are the main subject
Eyes are visible and clear
No sunglasses or face coverings

Variety

Multiple angles (front, side, 3/4)
Different expressions included
Various backgrounds or settings
Mix of indoor/outdoor if possible
At least 10-15 total photos

Photo Source Analysis

Professional Headshots

High-quality portraits with professional lighting

Pros

  • Excellent lighting
  • Sharp focus
  • Professional quality
  • Clear facial features

Cons

  • May all look too similar
  • Need variety in expressions
  • Could be too formal

Verdict

Excellent base - add casual photos for variety

Social Media Photos

Casual photos from Instagram, Facebook, or other platforms

Pros

  • Natural expressions
  • Variety of settings
  • Different angles
  • Real-world scenarios

Cons

  • May have filters
  • Compression artifacts
  • Inconsistent quality
  • Group photos mixed in

Verdict

Good if unfiltered and solo - check quality

Phone Camera Selfies

Self-taken photos using smartphone front camera

Pros

  • Easy to control
  • Consistent perspective
  • Good for expressions
  • High resolution on modern phones

Cons

  • Limited angle variety
  • Distortion from close distance
  • Arm-length limitation
  • Background repetition

Verdict

Good supplement - don't use exclusively

Event Photography

Photos from parties, gatherings, or special occasions

Pros

  • Natural expressions
  • Good lighting often
  • Professional photographer taken
  • Variety of poses

Cons

  • May include other people
  • Formal clothing only
  • Similar event lighting
  • Date-specific styling

Verdict

Great if solo and recent - adds natural variety

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using Only Selfies

Medium Impact

Problem

Selfies often have distortion and limited variety

Solution

Mix selfies with photos taken by others at normal distance

Inconsistent Lighting

High Impact

Problem

Dramatic lighting changes confuse the AI training

Solution

Use photos with similar, even lighting conditions

Too Few Photos

Critical Impact

Problem

Insufficient data for AI to learn your features properly

Solution

Use 15-20 photos minimum for best results

Group Photos

Critical Impact

Problem

AI can't determine which person to focus on learning

Solution

Use solo photos where you are clearly the main subject

Heavy Filters/Editing

High Impact

Problem

Edited photos don't represent your true appearance

Solution

Use natural, unfiltered photos with minimal editing

Old Photos

Medium Impact

Problem

Outdated photos may not represent your current appearance

Solution

Use recent photos taken within the last 1-2 years

Photo Improvement Strategies

Lighting Setup

Create consistent lighting for multiple photos

1

Sit facing a large window for natural light

2

Use white poster board to reflect light onto face

3

Avoid harsh overhead lighting

4

Take photos during golden hour outdoors

Angle Variety

Capture different perspectives systematically

1

Take 3-5 straight-on photos

2

Take 3-5 three-quarter turn photos (45 degrees)

3

Take 2-3 profile shots from each side

4

Include some slight head tilts naturally

Expression Range

Show different moods and expressions

1

Start with relaxed, neutral expression

2

Natural smile - think of something pleasant

3

Slight smile or gentle expression

4

Serious but approachable look

Background Strategy

Use backgrounds that enhance rather than distract

1

Plain wall (white, beige, or light color)

2

Natural outdoor setting with soft focus

3

Indoor setting with clean, simple background

4

Avoid busy patterns, text, or bright colors

Important Considerations

• Privacy: Only use photos you have full rights to. Never use photos of other people without permission.

• Recent Photos: Use photos taken within the last 1-2 years to ensure the model represents your current appearance.

• Quality Over Quantity: 15 excellent photos are better than 30 poor-quality ones.

• Ethical Use: Create models responsibly and consider the implications of AI-generated content.

Ready to Upload Your Photos?

Training Process

Learn the step-by-step training workflow

Using Models

How to generate content with your trained model

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions for model training

Ready to Upload Your Photos?

Now you understand photo requirements. Start the training process with your perfect photos.