Which photo should I use for my child?

Use a clear, well-lit photo of your child looking toward the camera. Their face and shoulders should be visible, with no other people in the frame. You can take the photo on your phone.

What makes a good reference photo?

• A clear face. Choose a sharp photo with the eyes, nose, and mouth easy to see.
• Even lighting. Avoid heavy shadows across the face or a bright window behind your child.
• A front-facing view. A photo taken at your child's eye level is a good starting point.
• An unobstructed face. Avoid sunglasses, face filters, or anything covering their features.
• Just your child. Use separate photos when adding a pet or another person to a supported story.

How do I upload it?

Open the book you want to personalize and choose the photo upload option. Select a photo from your device, then follow the prompts to add your child's details. Check the character preview before continuing.

If you are creating a saved hero from your account, open Characters and choose Add a hero.

What if the file will not upload?

Try the original photo from your device instead of a screenshot or a copy saved from a messaging app. If the file cannot be processed, export a copy as JPEG or PNG and try again. For a file-size warning, use a smaller copy of the image.

iPhone HEIC photos are converted during upload. If conversion fails, a JPEG or PNG copy is a useful fallback. Let processing finish before continuing.

If the page asks you to choose a different photo, follow that prompt. If another suitable photo also fails, contact us (opens in a new tab) with the message you see and the device and browser you are using.

What if the character still does not look right?

See how to fix your child's character for the difference between trying another result, replacing the photo, and editing a saved hero's appearance.