> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.magichour.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# AI Talking Photo Tool - Magic Hour Docs

> Animate static photos to speak with realistic lip-sync and facial movements.

export const ToolSection = ({type = "image", outputs = [], title = "", productSlug = "", apiSlug = ""}) => <>
    {outputs && outputs.length > 0 && <Tabs>
        {outputs.map((output, idx) => <Tab key={idx} title={`Example Output ${idx + 1}`}>
            <Frame>
              {type === "video" ? <video controls preload="metadata" playsInline className="rounded-lg h-80" src={`${output.src}#t=0.001`} type={`${output.src?.endsWith("mp4") ? 'video/mp4' : "video/webm"}`}>
                </video> : type === "audio" ? <audio controls preload="metadata" className="w-full" src={output.src}>
                  Your browser does not support the audio element.
                </audio> : <img height="320" className="rounded-lg h-80" src={output.src} />}
            </Frame>
          </Tab>)}
      </Tabs>}

    <CardGroup cols={2}>
      <Card title="API Spec" icon="webhook" horizontal href={`/api-reference/${type}-projects/${apiSlug}`}>
        See API details
      </Card>
      <Card title="Product Page" icon="video" horizontal href={`https://magichour.ai/products/${productSlug}`}>
        Learn more about {title}
      </Card>
    </CardGroup>

  </>;

## Overview

AI Talking Photo brings static photos to life by animating faces to speak with realistic lip-sync and natural facial movements. The API analyzes facial features and synchronizes mouth movements, head poses, and expressions with provided audio or generated speech.

<ToolSection
  title="AI Talking Photo"
  productSlug="ai-talking-photo"
  apiSlug="ai-talking-photo"
  type="video"
  outputs={[
{
  src: "/get-started/images/talkingphotoexample1.mp4",
},
{
  src: "/get-started/images/talkingphotoexample2.mp4",
},
]}
/>

## How It Works

1. **Provide a photo** - Upload an image with a clear face
2. **Add audio** - Upload audio or provide text for speech generation
3. **API animates** - AI creates realistic lip-sync and facial movements
4. **Download video** - Retrieve your animated talking photo

## Use Cases

* **Marketing videos** - Create spokesperson videos from headshots
* **Educational content** - Animate historical figures or characters
* **Personalized messages** - Send video messages from static photos
* **Social media** - Create engaging content from profile pictures
* **Presentations** - Add dynamic talking heads to slides

## Best Practices

### Photo Selection

<Tip>
  **Use clear, front-facing photos** - Best results come from high-quality headshots with visible
  facial features.
</Tip>

* **Good lighting** - Well-lit faces produce better animations
* **Front-facing angles** - Avoid extreme profile shots
* **Clear features** - Eyes, nose, and mouth should be unobstructed
* **High resolution** - At least 512x512 pixels recommended

### Audio Guidelines

| Audio Type       | Best Practice                          |
| :--------------- | :------------------------------------- |
| Voice recording  | Clear speech without background noise  |
| Generated speech | Use natural-sounding text prompts      |
| Music/songs      | Works best with clear vocals           |
| Length           | Keep under 30 seconds for best results |

## Code Examples

### Basic Talking Photo with Text

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Python theme={null}
  from magic_hour import Client
  from os import getenv

  client = Client(token=getenv("API_TOKEN"))

  result = client.v1.ai_talking_photo.generate(
      assets={
          "image_file_path": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png",
          "audio_file_path": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/you-are-just-a-line-of-code.mp3"
      },
      name="Talking Photo",
      start_seconds=0,
      end_seconds=2,
      wait_for_completion=True,
      download_outputs=True,
      download_directory="."
  )

  if result.status == "complete":
      print(f"✅ Talking photo complete!")
      print(f"Downloaded to: {result.downloaded_paths}")
      print(f"Credits charged: {result.credits_charged}")
  else:
      print(f"❌ Job failed with status: {result.status}")
      if hasattr(result, 'error_message'):
          print(f"Error: {result.error_message}")
  ```

  ```javascript Node.js theme={null}
  import { Client } from "magic-hour";

  const client = new Client({ token: process.env.API_TOKEN });

  const result = await client.v1.aiTalkingPhoto.generate({
    assets: {
      imageFilePath: "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png",
      audioFilePath:
        "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/you-are-just-a-line-of-code.mp3",
    },
    name: "Talking Photo",
    startSeconds: 0,
    endSeconds: 2,
    waitForCompletion: true,
    downloadOutputs: true,
    downloadDirectory: ".",
  });

  console.log(`✅ Talking photo complete!`);
  console.log(`Status: ${result.status}`);
  console.log(`Downloaded to: ${result.downloadedPaths}`);
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### With Audio File

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Python theme={null}
  result = client.v1.ai_talking_photo.generate(
      assets={
          "image_file_path": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png",
          "audio_file_path": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/you-are-just-a-line-of-code.mp3"
      },
      name="Talking Photo",
      wait_for_completion=True,
      download_outputs=True,
      download_directory="."
  )

  if result.status == "complete":
      print(f"✅ Talking photo complete!")
      print(f"Downloaded to: {result.downloaded_paths}")
      print(f"Credits charged: {result.credits_charged}")
  else:
      print(f"❌ Job failed with status: {result.status}")
      if hasattr(result, 'error_message'):
          print(f"Error: {result.error_message}")
  ```

  ```javascript Node.js theme={null}
  const result = await client.v1.aiTalkingPhoto.generate({
    assets: {
      imageFilePath: "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png",
      audioFilePath:
        "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/you-are-just-a-line-of-code.mp3",
    },
    name: "Talking Photo",
    waitForCompletion: true,
    downloadOutputs: true,
    downloadDirectory: ".",
  });

  console.log(`✅ Talking photo complete!`);
  console.log(`Status: ${result.status}`);
  console.log(`Downloaded to: ${result.downloadedPaths}`);
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Pricing

Talking Photo pricing varies by video length and resolution:

| Configuration     | Credits per Second  |
| :---------------- | :------------------ |
| 720p or lower     | \~10-15 credits/sec |
| Higher resolution | \~20-30 credits/sec |

## Resolution Limits

AI Talking Photo has a maximum resolution of **720p** across all subscription tiers due to computational requirements.

<Tip>
  **Try this in our Google Colab Cookbook:** [Run this API with sample
  code](https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1NTHL_lr_s-qBJ-mSecSXPzRLi9_V5JiU?usp=sharing). Just
  add your API key.
</Tip>

## API Reference

<Card title="AI Talking Photo API Reference" icon="webhook" href="/api-reference/video-projects/ai-talking-photo">
  View full API specification
</Card>

## Related Tools

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Lip Sync" icon="lips" href="/tools/video/lip-sync">
    Sync audio with existing video lip movements
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Voice Generator" icon="microphone" href="/tools/audio/voice-generator">
    Generate speech audio for your talking photos
  </Card>
</CardGroup>