Feature
Put your face in every thumbnail — without a photo shoot
Faces with clear emotion are one of the strongest click signals on YouTube. Add yourself as a character once, then ask for “me looking shocked in front of…” in any project.
How characters work
- 1
Create a character
Upload a few clear photos of yourself — different angles help. Give the character a name.
- 2
Attach it to a project
Choose one or more characters for a thumbnail project, or mention them in the chat.
- 3
Describe the moment
Ask for the expression, pose and scene you want. The photos are sent to the image model as references for the likeness.
- 4
Refine
Not quite right? Ask for a different expression or angle — the character stays the same person.
Why faces matter in thumbnails
People are wired to notice faces, and an exaggerated, readable expression tells a viewer how the video will feel before they read a word. Creators across almost every niche use a recognisable face as part of their brand.
The catch has always been time: setting up lights, pulling faces at a camera and cutting yourself out for every video. Characters remove that step. Read more in our guide to using faces in thumbnails.
More than one character
Add co-hosts, recurring guests, a mascot or a product. A project can feature several characters at once — useful for podcasts, duos and reaction formats.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos do I need?
A few clear, well-lit photos are enough to start. Different angles and expressions help the likeness hold up across poses.
Can I add someone else as a character?
Only with their permission. You must have the right to use any person’s likeness you upload — see our terms.
Are my photos used to train AI models?
No. We don’t use your uploads to train our own models. They’re sent to the image provider only to run your request — see our privacy policy.
Make your next thumbnail in minutes
Tell the AI agent what your video is about — it proposes a thumbnail, you approve it, and you can tweak it by asking.
Keep exploring
AI thumbnail generator
Describe your video in plain words and get a ready-to-upload YouTube thumbnail.
Learn more →Faces in thumbnails
When to put a face in your thumbnail, which expressions work and how to stay consistent.
Learn more →Vlog thumbnails
Make vlog thumbnails that show the story and your personality.
Learn more →