# A video for dad with AI: ideas for his birthday and Father's Day > Ideas for a personal AI video for your dad's birthday or Father's Day, with how to pick the scene and his photo and how to give it to him so it lands. Source: https://vswp.app/guides/video-for-dad-with-ai/ · Updated 2026-10-22 A video for dad works best when it puts him into the moment he would never admit he dreams about: scoring the winning goal, driving the hero's car, or playing the guitar solo of the song he still turns up in the kitchen. With [vswp](/) you pick a video from Trends or upload your own, add a clear photo of your dad (and of anyone else who should be in it), and AI swaps them in while the moves, camera, lighting and sound stay as in the original. It usually takes a few minutes, so it works even if you remember his birthday the night before. ## Why make a video for your dad? Many dads answer "what do you want?" with "nothing" and mean it. Another tie or gadget rarely changes that. A short video made only for him is different: it shows that you know what he loves, it gives the family something to laugh at together, and it doesn't end up in a drawer. It also travels well. If you live in another city or country, a video sent in the morning reaches him long before a parcel would. ## Ideas for a video for dad | Occasion | Idea | Who is in it | |---|---|---| | His birthday | Dad scoring a famous goal or making the big save | Dad | | Father's Day | Dad and his kids in one funny or warm scene | Dad and the children | | A milestone birthday | Dad as the hero of the action movie he quotes | Dad | | A thank-you | Dad dancing at a party he would never dance at | Dad, maybe Mom too | | Grandpa's day | Grandpa, dad and grandson in one scene | Three generations | Father's Day falls on different dates around the world, so check yours: in the US and UK it's the third Sunday of June. A few things make these land better: - **Pick his heroes, not yours.** The footballer from his youth, the band on his old T-shirts or the film he has seen twenty times will mean more than this week's trend. - **Tease, but kindly.** A dad who can't dance looking smooth on a dance floor is funny. Anything that would embarrass him in front of people he respects is not. - **Bring the family in.** Dad surrounded by his kids, or dad and grandpa side by side, often moves people more than a solo scene. For football, basketball and other big moments, see [how to put yourself into a sports highlight](/guides/put-yourself-in-a-sports-highlight/). For classic films, read [how to put yourself into a movie scene](/guides/put-yourself-in-a-movie-scene/). ## How do you choose the scene? Start with what he watches, sings and argues about. Then check that the clip will work: - **One clear moment.** vswp processes one part of up to 30 seconds, so pick the goal, the entrance or the chorus, not the long build-up. - **A visible face.** Faces that are large, lit and turned to the camera come out best. Helmets, very fast camera moves and faces seen only from far away may need another take. - **The right number of people.** One video can use up to 6 different photos. Everyone without a photo stays as in the original. The quickest start is [Trends](/trend/): popular videos where the people are already found. You can also upload your own clip, 1 to 120 seconds and up to 150 MB, in any common format. Use only videos you have the right to use. ## Which photo of dad should you use? One sharp, evenly lit photo of him alone, with the whole face visible. This is where dads can be tricky: many of their photos are taken in sunglasses, under a cap or from far away at a barbecue. Look for one without them, or ask him for a quick photo on some pretext. If his beard or glasses are part of how everyone knows him, use a recent photo where he looks the way he does now. Avoid crops from blurry group shots and heavy filters; the result follows the photo you give. Our guide on [glasses, hats and masks in an AI video swap](/guides/glasses-hats-and-masks-in-ai-swap/) explains what to expect from each. Then decide on **Keep the original look**: - **On:** the clothes from the video stay, and only the face and hair change. Good for football kits, suits and movie costumes. A clear portrait is enough. - **Off:** his clothes, hair and silhouette come from the photo. Use a full-body photo of him alone, since a portrait cannot show clothing it doesn't contain. The full checklist is in [which photos work best for an AI video swap](/guides/best-photos-for-ai-video-swap/). ## How to make the video, step by step 1. **Start a few days early** if you can, so there is time for another take and for collecting photos from siblings. 2. **Sign in** at [vswp.app](/) with Telegram. There's no password, and your dad doesn't need an account. 3. **Pick the video** from Trends or upload your own. For an upload, the person search runs on the first 30 seconds, usually in a couple of minutes, and it's free. In a longer clip you can choose another part of up to 30 seconds. 4. **Add the photos** to the cards of the people they should replace. Main people come first; people seen briefly or far away are grouped as the background. 5. **Set the look** with "Keep the original look". 6. **Check with the free preview.** If you haven't used it yet, "Make the free preview" shows about 5 seconds at 480p with a small "vswp.app" mark. 7. **Make the full video:** choose 480p or 720p, check the estimated time and the price, and press "Create the full video". Paid videos have no mark. 8. **Watch it before you send it.** If his face doesn't look quite right, pressing "Create video" again makes a new take, which is a new render. ## How do you give it to him? You get an MP4 of the processed part, up to 30 seconds, with the original sound. vswp doesn't add text, so put your words around it: - **During the match.** Play it at halftime when the family watches a game together. - **At the birthday dinner.** Put it on the TV so everyone sees his reaction. - **With the real present.** Hand over the gift, then show the video, or the other way around. - **With a caption.** Add "Happy birthday, Dad!" in your phone's video editor before sending. If it's a joint present from the whole family, [an AI video as a gift](/guides/ai-video-gift-ideas/) has more ways to hand it over, and [a video for mom](/guides/video-for-mom-with-ai/) has ideas for her day too. ## What about consent? It's his face, so it's his call where the video goes. Show it to him privately first and post it publicly only if he's happy with that; the same goes for anyone else in it. Pressing "Create video" confirms you have the right to use the video and the photos. Rules differ by country, and this is not legal advice; in the EU, the AI Act's disclosure rule for deepfakes applies from August 2026, so label the video as AI-made if you publish it. ## How much does it cost? The free preview costs nothing; the number of free previews per day is limited, and the app says when the next one frees up. The full video is paid in Telegram Stars (⭐). The price depends on the length, the quality and the number of people you replace, and the exact price is shown before you start. Stars are taken when a render starts and returned automatically if it fails or is canceled. ## FAQ ### Can I make a video for my dad on my phone? Yes. vswp works in the browser on phones and computers, and on a phone you can share the finished MP4 straight to Telegram, stories and other apps. ### My dad wears sunglasses in every photo. What can I do? Look for any photo where his eyes are visible, even an older one, or take a quick one yourself. Sunglasses hide the part of the face that likeness depends on most. ### Can I put myself in the video with him? Yes. Add your own photo to another person's card. One video can use up to 6 different photos, so siblings and grandpa can join too. ### Does my dad need an account to watch it? No. Only you sign in with Telegram. He just receives an ordinary MP4 file.