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Turn your pet's photo into an Instagram Reel

Reels reward movement. A living portrait turns a still pet photo into something that stops the scroll.

Because the video loops seamlessly, it plays smoothly as Instagram repeats it, which helps it feel longer and more engaging than a single still image.

For more ideas, read pet videos for Instagram Reels.

How to do it

  1. Make your living portrait on the homepage and download it.
  2. Open Instagram, tap + and choose Reel.
  3. Pick the video from your gallery; Instagram uses a vertical 9:16 frame, so adjust the crop to keep your pet's face centred.
  4. Add music, a caption and a few relevant hashtags, then share.

Best moods for this

Upload one photo, pick a mood - your first preview is free when you sign in with Google (a short 480p clip with a watermark, watch online).

Make your living portrait See pricing

Questions

What size should it be?

Instagram Reels use a vertical 9:16 frame. Instagram lets you reposition the video when you upload it.

Can I use it in Stories too?

Yes. Stories use the same vertical format.

More ways to use it