To make a birthday video with your friend's face in it, pick a short clip they love, add a clear photo of them, and let AI swap them into the scene while the moves, camera and sound stay as in the original. In vswp, that takes a video from Trends or your own upload, one photo per person, and usually a few minutes of waiting, so you can make it even on the day itself.
What kind of birthday video can you make?
The best birthday videos are about the person, not the effect. Pick a scene that means something to them:
- Their favorite movie or show moment. The hero's entrance, a famous dance, a scene they quote all the time.
- A trend they keep sending you. Put them into the dance or meme they love instead of watching it.
- A music video. Make them the singer of the song they play on repeat.
- A group greeting. Cast the whole friend group into one scene, with the birthday person in the lead role.
The easiest place to start is Trends: popular videos where the people are already found and waiting for photos. If you have a specific clip in mind, upload it: 1 to 120 seconds, up to 150 MB, in any common format.
How do you pick a clip that works?
A good clip shows the main character large and clearly, with a calm camera, and the best moment fits into 30 seconds.
- Keep it short. A new video covers one part of up to 30 seconds. In a longer upload, choose the part with the punchline or the big moment.
- Make the hero visible. A face that is turned away, covered by hands or props, or tiny in the frame is harder to get right.
- Avoid crowds. People seen briefly or far away are grouped as the background, and very brief or heavily blurred ones may not be found.
Only use a clip you have the right to use. More tips are in how to put yourself into any video.
Which photo of your friend should you use?
One sharp, evenly lit photo of your friend alone, with the whole face visible. Skip sunglasses, heavy filters and crops from group shots: the AI copies what it sees, so a soft or filtered face comes out looking less like them.
The right framing depends on the Keep the original look switch:
| Keep the original look | What changes | Photo you need |
|---|---|---|
| On | Face and hair; clothes stay as in the clip | A clear portrait is enough |
| Off | Face, hair and clothes come from the photo | A full-body photo of one person |
For a costume scene, a superhero suit or matching dance outfits, keep it on. If you want your friend in their own favorite jacket, turn it off and use a full-body photo. The full checklist is in which photos work best for an AI video swap.
How to make the birthday video, step by step
- Pick the scene. Choose it from Trends or upload your own clip.
- Sign in. Open vswp.app and sign in with Telegram; no password needed.
- Wait for the person search. For an upload, it runs on the first 30 seconds and usually takes a couple of minutes. It's free. For a longer clip, pick another part of up to 30 seconds.
- Add the photo. Put your friend's photo on the card of the person they should replace. Add photos of other friends to other cards if you want a group scene, up to 6 different photos in total.
- Set the look. Turn "Keep the original look" on or off.
- Start the render. Choose 480p or 720p, check the estimated time and price, and press "Create video".
- Watch it before sending. If the face doesn't look quite right, press "Create video" again for a new take.
How do you add a greeting and send it?
The result is an MP4 of the processed part, up to 30 seconds, with the original sound. vswp doesn't add text, so put the greeting around the video:
- In the message. Send the video in Telegram or another messenger with a short personal note.
- On top of the video. Add "Happy birthday, Sam!" in your phone's video editor or in the stories editor.
- As a story. On a phone, share the MP4 straight to stories, and tag the birthday person if they're happy with that.
Timing matters more than polish. Make the video a day early if you can, so there's room for another take.
Can you keep it a surprise and still ask permission?
Ask before you use anyone's photo. For a surprise, there are fair ways to do it: ask a partner or close family member whether your friend would enjoy it, and send the video privately to the birthday person first. Post it publicly only after they say yes, and delete it if they don't like it.
Pressing "Create video" confirms that you have the right to use the video and the photos. Face swap consent and safety covers this in more detail, and rules differ by country; this is not legal advice.
What does it cost?
Start with a free preview: about 5 seconds of your video at 480p, with a small "vswp.app" mark. For the gift itself you need the full video: it is paid, has no mark and can be 720p, and your first paid video is 50% off. Prices are in Telegram Stars (⭐), depend on length, quality and the number of people, and the exact price is shown before you start. Stars come back automatically if a render fails or is canceled.
FAQ
How long does it take to make a birthday video?
Usually a few minutes for the render, plus a couple of minutes for the person search if you upload your own clip. The app shows the estimated time before you start.
Can I put several friends into the same greeting?
Yes. One video can use up to 6 different photos, one per person, and everyone without a photo stays as in the original.
Does the birthday person need to sign up?
No. Only you sign in with Telegram. Your friend just receives the finished MP4.
What if the result doesn't look like my friend?
Press "Create video" again for a new take. If that doesn't help, try a sharper photo with the face larger, or pick a part of the clip where the character is closer to the camera.