Here's how to upload your photos in Google Veo 3 to make them talk

Remember those old photos stuck on your phone or in a dusty album? Well, get ready for them to come alive, literally. Google’s Veo 3 seems to have just gotten a quiet but major update. Now, you can upload your own pictures and have them actually speak. There was no blog post, no huge fanfare, but some eagle-eyed folks spotted it and the news is spreading fast.

One of those sharp eyes was Awa K. Penn, who jumped on X to spill the beans. They laid out the steps with videos (embedded below), which seem pretty straightforward. But there are some things you’ll have to keep in mind, which I’ll talk more about later. That said, people on Reddit are already buzzing about it, trying to create consistent characters for their videos. Imagine creating a little digital spokesperson out of your own face, or bringing a beloved pet’s picture to life.

So if you’re ready to give it a whirl, here’s what to do. First, you’ll need to pop over to Google Labs. The direct link is labs.google/fx/tools/flow. To get going, you’ll need to sign up for a Google One plan. Don’t sweat it too much; they often offer a free month to get you hooked, which is perfect for testing the waters.

Step 1:

– Go to https://t.co/eP0GTw33Jx.
– ⁠Sign up and subscribe to Google 1 plan (free first month) pic.twitter.com/lDJ4Rsynob

— Awa K. Penn (@TawohAwa) July 8, 2025

Once you’re in, it’s pretty intuitive. Look for “new project” and click that. Then, choose “Frames to video.” This is the special button that turns your static pics into moving, talking clips. Upload whatever image you’re planning to animate. Could be a selfie, a drawing, or even an AI-generated image you whipped up earlier.

Step 2:

– Click on new project
– ⁠Hit Frames to video
– ⁠Upload any image
– ⁠Type a Prompt
– ⁠then generate pic.twitter.com/gI7B7dtVj6

— Awa K. Penn (@TawohAwa) July 8, 2025

Now for the fun part: the prompt. This is where you tell the AI what your picture should say. You can also give it hints about the tone of voice or even some subtle movements. Want your picture to deliver a dramatic monologue? Go for it. Need it to whisper a secret? Type it in. Once your instructions are clear, hit “generate.” Then, just sit back and watch Veo 3 do its thing.

A couple of tips to keep in mind, because this is still pretty new. Right now, this feature seems to be mostly for those with the Ultra plan. However, one Reddit user is saying their Pro plan works too, so it might be worth a shot if you have that. Also, if you’re outside the US and running into access issues, some folks have had luck using a VPN set to the States.

Also, just a heads-up on the images you use: there’s been some chatter about the system being particular with real human faces, so stick to your own pics or AI-created ones if you want to avoid any hiccups. That said, many users report success with family photos, so don’t be shy about trying.