Two-step pipeline turns a portrait photo into AI video by editing the first frame, then animating

A developer describes a photo-to-video workflow that splits the task into two stages: an image-edit model first redraws an uploaded portrait as the opening frame of a target scene, then a video model animates that prepared frame. The approach is meant to give each model a narrower job, though facial identity can still drift during large movements or turns. The article estimates the direct model cost at roughly $0.30 per successful clip, excluding storage, infrastructure, failed tests, and support. It also notes that prompts tuned on one model may perform poorly on another, so each target model needs its own testing. The author stresses that generated videos must use input photos of consenting adults, regardless of technical success.