# Tiny Desk AI Photo Guide — Choose a Better Reference

> Choose a clear reference photo for a Tiny Desk AI video: one adult, visible eyes, even lighting and a useful angle. Avoid common identity and crop problems.

URL: https://tinydeskaigenerator.com/photo-guide/
Updated: 2026-10-28

Give the model a face it can actually see. A clean reference is a better starting point than a longer prompt.

## A useful reference photo

- One adult: use a person who has agreed to this use of their image.
- Clear eyes: avoid sunglasses, heavy shadows and hair covering the face.
- Enough detail: use the original photo rather than a tiny screenshot or a heavily compressed repost.
- Even light: natural front or side lighting is easier to read than a strong silhouette.
- A helpful angle: begin with a near-front view if the source performer faces the camera.

## Crop with some breathing room

Keep the entire head, hair and part of the shoulders visible. Do not cut through the chin or the top of the hair. If you start with a group photo, prepare a separate crop for the person you intend to use; check your chosen video tool’s rules for reference images.

## Decide what happens to the outfit

A face reference can also influence clothing. If the source outfit is part of the joke, explicitly ask to preserve it. If you want the outfit from your photo, state that instead. Do not expect the model to infer which detail matters to you.

## Check the source video too

A strong photo cannot remove every difficulty in the video. Fast head turns, a hand covering the face, overlapping people and large camera changes can make identity harder to follow. Pick a steadier passage for the first attempt.

## After generation

Compare the face at the start, middle and end. Look for changes in eye shape, hairline, skin tone and facial proportions. Check normal playback as well as paused frames. If the identity drifts, try a clearer reference and a shorter, simpler source before adding more instructions.

[Prepare your prompt ↗](https://tinydeskaigenerator.com/prompts/#prompt-builder)