Making a book
Choosing a reference photo for your storybook
What to look for in a child or pet reference photo, what to leave out, and how to keep expectations realistic when creating an illustrated character.
The best reference is not always your favorite photograph. A lovely holiday picture may leave the hero tiny in the distance, while a simple everyday portrait shows the features you want an illustrator to notice. Choose for clarity and permission first, then think about the feeling of the finished character.
Make the intended hero easy to identify
Start with one clearly visible subject. Look for a view where the face is not hidden by hands, sunglasses, a costume, or another person. Soft, even light can make features easier to see than a strong shadow across the face. You do not need a professional photo shoot.
For a pet, inspect the features that distinguish them: ear shape, coat colors, a white patch, or a curled tail. If the detail matters to your book but is not visible in the reference, use a brief, plain description rather than assuming the image explains it.
Leave private context out of the picture
Before uploading, look beyond the face. A school badge, house number, document, or another child's face can carry information the story does not need. Choose a different photo or prepare a simpler crop on your own device. These are privacy checks, not a promise that any editing step removes every identifying detail.
The adult operating Taleyo must have the necessary rights and permissions to use the reference. Being sent a photograph does not automatically settle permission to upload it to an AI service. Read Taleyo's current privacy notice and terms draft, and do not use a photo if permission is uncertain.
Decide which features matter most
Make a short mental list of two or three recognizable features, such as dark curls and round glasses, or a cream-colored muzzle and one folded ear. Keep the description factual. The story can add an imaginary cape or a woodland setting without needing a long inventory of real-life details.
Avoid contradictory instructions. A heavily filtered reference paired with a request for natural colors gives competing signals. Start with the clearest reference and the illustration style you actually want, then use the character preview to judge the result.
Expect an interpretation, not a copy
A watercolor character and a paper-cut character simplify a face in different ways. Taleyo does not guarantee an exact photo likeness or perfect consistency across a book. The reference guides the process, while adult review decides whether the result is suitable.
Check the preview before generating the rest of the adventure. If a feature is wrong, focus feedback on that feature and check the displayed credit cost before requesting a new generated version. Switching photos repeatedly without deciding what is missing can spend credits without producing a clearer direction.