Seedance · Learn
Animate a photo with AI in Seedance
Photo animation is a core Seedance 2.0 use case: upload an image as a reference, describe camera motion and mood, and get a short clip without an editing timeline.
Good use cases
Portraits, avatars, reel covers, ad visuals. The model needs a clear motion brief—not random effects.
For sentimental photos, prefer subtle moves: slow push-in, soft light change, minimal head turn.
Steps in Seedance
Upload the image and reference it as @Image1 in your prompt. Describe lighting, background, and camera path.
Pick 9:16 for reels or 16:9 for widescreen. Fixed 5–8s often works well for a single still.
Prompt tips
One idea per clip beats a long effect list.
Avoid location jumps when you only attached one photo—the pipeline keeps composition from the reference.