TikTok is a popular social media platform known for its short form videos. As of 2023, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users globally [source]. A key feature of TikTok is its robust video editing tools that allow users to get creative with their content.
One popular editing technique is to add a video to a photo, creating a dynamic visual effect. This video guide will provide a step-by-step walkthrough on how to add a video to a photo on TikTok using TikTok’s built-in editing tools.
Prerequisites
Before you can add a video to a photo on TikTok, you’ll need to make sure you have the following:
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The TikTok app installed on your mobile device. You can download the app for free from the App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play Store (for Android devices).
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A TikTok account set up. If you don’t already have one, you can easily create an account within the TikTok app itself. Just tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner and follow the prompts.
As long as you have the TikTok app ready to go and are logged into your account, you’ll be ready to add videos to photos!
Locate Video and Photo
The first step is to open the TikTok app on your mobile device and locate the video you want to use. Browse your camera roll or TikTok feed to find a suitable video. Make sure the video is high quality and represents the content you want for your TikTok post.
You’ll also need to find the photo you want to overlay on the video. You can choose a photo from your camera roll or take a new photo directly in the TikTok app. Make sure the photo is clear, eye-catching, and relevant to your video content. For best results, use a photo with a transparent or blurred background so it blends well when layered on top of your video.
Trim Video (Optional)
If your video clip is longer than you need, use TikTok’s built-in trimming tools to cut it down to size. Open the video in the TikTok video editor and drag the sliders at either end of the timeline to set your start and end points. You can preview the trimmed video to make sure you have the portion you want. Trimming down longer videos helps keep your TikTok focused and engaging. Stick to the most relevant and interesting parts of the clip.
Add Sticker
Now that you have your video and photo ready, it’s time to add the photo sticker. Here are the steps:
Tap the stickers icon at the top of the screen. This will open up the stickers menu.
Scroll through the options until you see the photo sticker. Tap on it to select it.
This will allow you to pick a photo from your camera roll to use as the sticker. Select the photo you want to add to the video.
The photo sticker will appear on screen. You can resize it by pinching and dragging.
Position Photo
Once you’ve added the photo sticker, it’s time to position it over your video. Simply tap and hold the photo sticker, then drag it around on the screen to place it where you want. You can move the photo sticker anywhere on the video, including full screen or just a small portion.
To resize the photo, use two fingers to pinch and zoom on the sticker. Expand it to cover more of the video or shrink it down to show more of the original video underneath. Get it to just the right size for your preferred look.
You can continue repositioning and resizing the photo sticker as needed until you’re happy with the placement over your video.
Adjust Timing
Once you have positioned the photo where you want it in the video, you can adjust the timing of when it appears and disappears. TikTok provides a handy slider tool to control the timing.
To adjust the timing:
- Tap on the photo sticker to select it.
- You will see a slider bar appear below the photo.
- Drag the ends of the slider bar to control when the photo appears and disappears in the video.
- You can drag the start point to delay the appearance of the photo.
- Drag the end point to make the photo disappear sooner.
- Use the preview feature to test different timings and get it just right.
The slider provides a simple but powerful way to time the duration of the photo. Make sure to preview and tweak the timing to perfectly align with your video.
Add Effects
One of the best parts of creating TikTok videos is having the ability to add cool effects and elements to enhance your video. After you’ve combined your video clip and photo, you can spice it up with filters, text overlays, stickers, and more. TikTok has a huge library of effects to choose from, allowing you to get really creative.
To add effects:
- Tap on the “Effects” icon on the bottom menu bar. This will open up the effects library.
- Browse through the different effects categories like “Trending”, “Filters”, and “Text”, or use the search bar to find something specific.
- Tap on an effect you want to use to add it to your video. You can add multiple effects.
- Customize the effect settings like duration, intensity, color, etc.
- Tap the checkmark once you are happy with how the effect looks.
Some fun effects to try include the Pixelate filter, Glitch effects, fun Text animations, and the Green Screen tool to place your video over custom backgrounds. Get creative and add the effects that you think will make your video pop!
Final Touches
Once you have added your video, photo, effects, and any text or stickers, it’s a good idea to do one final review before posting your TikTok video. Watch through the entire video and make sure the transitions between clips are smooth and the video flows well. Check that the photo and any text are positioned properly throughout the video. Listen to the audio and ensure the sound levels are balanced. Make any last minute edits as needed – trim clips, adjust timing of elements, add or change effects, etc.
You may also want to consider adding hashtags and tagging people relevant to your video to help it reach your target audience. Use descriptive and popular hashtags so your video becomes more discoverable.
When you are completely satisfied with your video, it’s time to post and share it! Give your video a compelling caption to capture viewers’ attention. Consider the best time to post based on when your followers are most active. Share the video not just on TikTok but other social platforms too to extend its reach. Most importantly, have fun and get creative with mixing videos, photos and effects on TikTok!
Post and Share
Once you are happy with your video, it’s time to post it and share it with your followers! Here are some tips for posting your video:
Add captions to describe what is happening in the video. Captions help people who are deaf or hard of hearing understand your video. They also help if people are viewing without sound.
Add relevant hashtags to help more people find your video when searching TikTok. Do some research to find popular and relevant hashtags to include.
Consider adding a location tag if it is relevant to your video. This allows people in that area to more easily find your content.
Engage with commenters by replying, liking comments, etc. This helps boost your engagement.
Share your video on other social platforms like Instagram, Twitter or Facebook to reach new audiences.
Turn on notifications so you don’t miss comments and engagement on your new video!
Watch your views and engagement closely for the first few hours. TikTok’s algorithm favors videos that get engagement quickly after posting.
Have fun connecting with your new followers!
