---
title: "Image to video AI: turn any photo into a video — Sozee"
description: "Image to video AI in Sozee: pick a photo from your Vault, describe the motion, choose length and quality, and turn it into a video of your character."
url: https://www.sozee.ai/guides/image-to-video
category: "Video"
updated: 2026-11-11
---

# Image to video AI: turn a photo into a video

> Starting Image turns a photo you've already made into a short video. You choose the photo, say what should happen, pick the length and quality, and Sozee animates it with your character.

Video · 5 min read · Updated 2026-11-11

![Two frames from short videos made in Sozee: a woman in a blue jumpsuit in a wood-panelled room, and a woman in a knitted sweater in a car.](https://www.sozee.ai/assets/guides/posters/v11.webp)

## What you'll learn

- Two ways to start a video from a photo
- How to direct the motion
- Which length, resolution and shape to choose
- What it costs and how to get a better result

## Two ways to start

Image to video in Sozee is called **Starting Image**. It uses photos from your **Vault**, so make or pick the photo first.

- **From a photo you're looking at.** Open any photo in your Vault and choose **Convert to video** in the tool rail. You land straight on the motion step with that photo picked.
- **From the Create page.** Open **Create**, choose **Video** under the prompt and keep **Starting Image** selected, then pick a photo from the grid.

*In the app:* ![An open photo in the image viewer with the Convert to video button highlighted in the tool rail.](https://www.sozee.ai/assets/guides/image-to-video/app-1-convert-to-video.webp)

***Convert to video** (1) in the tool rail of an open photo.*


## Step by step

1. **Choose Starting Image and pick a photo** On the Create page, choose **Video**, then **Starting Image**. Your Vault photos appear in a grid, with a search box and your folders. Click the photo to animate and press **Continue**.

   *In the app:* ![The Choose your source step with Starting Image selected and one photo ticked in the Vault grid.](https://www.sozee.ai/assets/guides/image-to-video/app-2-starting-image.webp) ***Starting Image** (1) and the photo you picked (2).*

2. **Direct the motion** Describe what should happen: the movement, the gestures, the camera and the mood. This field is required. Tap a suggestion such as **Slow push-in** or **She turns to camera** to add it.

   *In the app:* ![The Direct the motion step with the starting image on the left and a motion description typed into the box.](https://www.sozee.ai/assets/guides/image-to-video/app-3-direct-the-motion.webp) *Write the motion in the box (1). The suggestions underneath add common moves.*

3. **Set the output** The shape matches your photo automatically. Choose **480p** or **720p**, and a length of 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 or 90 seconds. The price is on **Generate**.

   *In the app:* ![The Output step with Resolution, Duration and the Generate button highlighted.](https://www.sozee.ai/assets/guides/image-to-video/app-4-output.webp) *Resolution (1), duration (2) and **Generate** with its price (3).*

4. **Generate** Press **Generate**. The video arrives in the same board as the photo and in your Vault.


## How to describe the motion

The photo already sets the person, the outfit and the place. Spend your words on what changes over time.

- **Vague** “Make it move.” “She looks nice.” “Cinematic.” Nothing here says what should happen.
- **Clear** “She turns from the window to the camera, smiles and tucks her hair behind her ear. Slow push-in.” One action, then the next, then the camera.

> **What helps**
>
> - **One or two actions for short clips.** Five seconds fits a turn and a smile, not a whole routine.
>
> - **Say the order.** “First… then…” keeps the motion in sequence.
>
> - **Name the camera.** Slow push-in, static shot, pan left to right.
>
> - **Pick a photo with room to move.** A photo where the hands and hair are visible gives the motion more to work with.

*Made in Sozee:* Video: https://www.sozee.ai/assets/explore/v11.mp4

*A short video made in Sozee: a small, natural movement in a still scene.*


## Settings and cost

| Setting | Options |
|---|---|
| Shape | Matches your photo |
| Resolution | 480p or 720p |
| Length | 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 or 90 seconds |
| Cost | 1 credit per second at 480p, 2 at 720p |

A 10-second video costs 10 credits at 480p and 20 at 720p. You always see the price on **Generate** before anything is made. Making videos is part of the paid plans, including Pay As You Go.

> **Draft at 480p**
>
> Try the motion at 480p and a short length first. Once it moves the way you want, make the longer or sharper version. You can also [upscale a finished video](/guides/ai-image-upscaler) to 1080p, 2K or 4K.


## Other ways to make a video

- **Describe An Idea.** No photo needed: describe the scene in words. See [text to video](/guides/text-to-video).
- **Clone Reel.** The same movement and cuts as a reel you paste, with your character.
- **From a Video.** A new video based on one you upload.
- **UGC.** A talking-to-camera video with a script. See [AI UGC videos](/guides/ai-ugc-videos).

Pick your favorite photo and give it some life. [Open Create](https://app.sozee.ai/create)

## Related guides

- [Text to video AI: make a video from an idea](https://www.sozee.ai/guides/text-to-video): Text to video AI in Sozee: describe a scene in plain words, pin a setting or outfit, review the expanded prompt and get a video starring your character.
- [AI UGC videos: make UGC with your character](https://www.sozee.ai/guides/ai-ugc-videos): Make AI UGC videos in Sozee: pick a format, write a brief, approve the script and render a talking-to-camera video of your character, with captions.
- [Edit moments: video editing inside Sozee](https://www.sozee.ai/guides/edit-moments): Edit video with AI in Sozee: mark a moment in a clip, describe the change, and keep the rest of the video as it was. Steps, tips and limits.

All guides: https://www.sozee.ai/guides