What photos work best

Face a window or a soft light. Hard shadows and backlight make it harder for the model to keep a likeness. Flash photos often look flat, but they are still better than a dark room.

Fill the frame with the head and shoulders. Leave a little space above the head. Do not crop the chin or the top of the hair, and keep both eyes visible.

For pet templates, show the whole animal, including ears and tail. A standing or sitting pose with the face toward the camera works best. Avoid sleeping poses and dark fur against a dark background.

Group photos, screenshots with text, stickers, heavy beauty filters, sunglasses, masks and motion blur. Also avoid photos of other people unless you have their consent.

• Whose photos can I upload

  Consent, minors, public figures and the line we do not cross.

• Make your first trend video

  A five-minute walkthrough from picking a template to downloading the result.