# Create your own avatar (/docs/help/create-avatar)

## Before you start

You need two things:

- **A photo** of one person, as a JPG or PNG.
- **A voice** — pick one from the voice library, or upload a 10–30 second sample of the person speaking, as a WAV or MP3.

Creating an avatar uses 200 credits. Custom avatars need the Starter plan or above; Creator and Studio let you make as many as you like.  See [Compare plans](/docs/help/compare-plans).

## Create it

1. Open **Avatars** in the left rail and go to **My avatars**.
2. Select **New avatar**.
3. Under **Photo**, select **Upload a photo** or drop one in. You can also choose **Pick from Library** to use a picture you already have.
4. Under **Voice**, choose one from the voice library, or select **Upload your voice** to use a recording of the person.
5. Under **Name**, give your avatar a name.
6. Select **Create avatar**.

You can also start from the **Talking Avatar** skill: choose **Create my own**, then upload a photo or describe the person and Reela designs a face for you.

## Choose a good photo

The photo sets how your avatar looks in every video, so it's worth getting right.

- One person, facing the camera or nearly so, shoulders up.
- Good, even light and a natural look.
- A clear, high-resolution picture of the face.
- Nothing covering the face: no sunglasses, masks or hair over it.

Avoid group shots, faces that are small in the frame, busy backgrounds, heavy filters, screenshots, and old or heavily edited photos. A licensed 2D or 3D character works too.

## Choose a voice

- **From the voice library** — play a voice to hear it, then pick it. You can search by how it sounds, such as warm, British or narrator.
- **Upload your voice** — a recording of the person speaking, 10 to 30 seconds long, as a WAV or MP3.

Reela uses this voice whenever the avatar speaks.

## Consent and permission

Only use a face or voice that is yours, or one you have permission to use. You'll be asked to accept the terms of service and privacy policy before the avatar is made. 

## When it's ready

Your new avatar appears in **My avatars** straight away, marked **Making preview…** while Reela makes its preview clip. When the preview is done, the avatar is ready to use.

From there you can:

- Use it in a video: pick it from the avatar option in **Create**, or in the **Talking Avatar** skill. See [Avatars](/docs/help/avatars).
- Add it to a brand kit, so it appears in that kit's videos.
- Select it to change its photo, voice or name.

## Related

- [Avatars](/docs/help/avatars)
- [How credits work](/docs/help/credits)
- [Compare plans](/docs/help/compare-plans)