How to Make an AI Avatar Video From a Photo

You can make a talking AI avatar video from one photo. You do not need a camera or a studio. In this guide, you make one with Avatar Studio in SendShort AI Studio.

The guide uses the labels that you see in the app. It takes you from the photo to a finished 9:16 video with captions.

What you need

1. A SendShort Professional or Business plan. AI avatars are not part of Starter. See the pricing page.
2. One photo of the person who will be the avatar: PNG, JPG or WEBP. It must show one person, clear and front-facing.
3. A script, split into short parts. Each part becomes one scene. Or a recording of each part, if you want the avatar to speak with your own voice.

Only use a photo that you have the right to use, for example your own photo or a photo of a person who agreed to it.

Step 1: Open AI Studio

Sign in to SendShort and click AI Studio in the sidebar. AI Studio has two tabs: Avatar Studio and Photo to Video. Stay on Avatar Studio.

Step 2: Create the avatar

1. Click Create Avatar.
2. Type a name for the avatar.
3. Add one reference photo (PNG, JPG or WEBP).

The photo is the most important input. A sharp, front-facing photo with good light and the full face in view gives the best start. Do not use a group photo: the photo must show one person.

Step 3: Write the script in scenes

Click Add scene for each part of your script. A good scene is one idea: the hook, one tip, or the call to action. Short scenes are easy to change later.

Each scene gets its voice in one of two ways.

Option A: text to speech

Type the text of the scene and pick a voice. There are about 100 voices. You can change the speed and the pitch, for example a little faster for a hook.

Option B: your own audio

Upload a recording for the scene. The avatar speaks with your audio. Use this when you want the video in your own voice. SendShort does not clone voices, so record each part yourself.

You can mix the two options: for example, your own audio for the intro and text to speech for the rest.

Step 4: Pick a style and generate

Pick an avatar style:

• Normal
• Close-up
• Circle

Then click Generate Video. The button shows the number of scenes, for example “Generate Video (4 scenes)”. SendShort makes one 9:16 video at 1080p from all the scenes.

Step 5: Finish the video in the editor

Open the video in the editor. There you can:

• add captions, so people can follow the video without sound,
• add B-roll between the talking parts,
• add music.

Then export the video. To post on a schedule, use the SendShort scheduler: it posts videos to TikTok and YouTube. For Instagram Reels and other apps, export the video and post it there.

The quick option: Photo to Video

You do not always need an avatar and scenes. The second tab in AI Studio, Photo to Video, makes one photo talk with one audio track:

1. Open the Photo to Video tab.
2. Set the voice settings and click Generate Audio.
3. Pick a photo.
4. Queue the video.

Use Photo to Video for one short message or a hook. Use Avatar Studio for a longer script, several scenes and a choice of style.

Tips for a better avatar video

• Start with a strong photo. One person, front-facing, sharp, with even light.
• Keep scenes short. One idea in each scene. Then you can change one line without a new script.
• Put the hook first. The first scene decides if people keep watching.
• Add captions. Many people watch with the sound off.
• Watch the length. Past your plan quota, you pay Credits for each started 30 seconds, so a tight script also costs less.

What it costs

AI avatars are included from Professional ($29/month). Business includes more avatar videos than Professional. Starter does not include AI avatars, and Credits do not add the feature to Starter.

When you use all the avatar videos of your plan, an avatar video costs 150 Credits for each started 30 seconds. A 45-second video uses two started blocks, so it costs 300 Credits. Professional includes 500 Credits a month and Business 1,500. A Credit pack is 300 Credits for $9.

Photo to Video costs 60 Credits for each started 10 seconds past the quota.

Related: make videos without any face with the faceless video generator, or let an automated series post faceless videos for you.

FAQ: AI avatar videos from a photo

1. Can I make an AI avatar video from one photo?

Yes. In SendShort Avatar Studio, click Create Avatar, give it a name and add one reference photo (PNG, JPG or WEBP). Use a clear, front-facing photo of one person. Then add scenes and generate the video.

2. Can I make an AI avatar without a photo?

No. SendShort makes the avatar from the photo that you add. It cannot make an avatar from a text description.

3. Can the avatar speak with my own voice?

Yes, with a recording. Upload your own audio for a scene, and the avatar speaks with it. SendShort does not clone voices. You can also use text to speech with about 100 voices.

4. What size is an AI avatar video?

Avatar Studio makes a 9:16 vertical video at 1080p. It fits TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels.

5. Which SendShort plan includes AI avatars?

Professional and Business, from $29/month. Starter does not include AI avatars. Past the plan quota, an avatar video costs 150 Credits for each started 30 seconds.

Thanks for reading,
David Ch
Head of the Editing Team at SendShort