What to check before uploading family photos to an AI service
A practical privacy checklist for family photo films: consent, AI processing, storage, sharing links and the questions to ask before uploading.
By the Yearlight team4 min read
The short answer
Before uploading, check who can see the photos, which services process them, when they are deleted and whether a shared link can be turned off. Ask the people in the photos for permission. Keep your own copies, and treat an AI film as an interpretation of photos, not historical footage.
Start with permission and the setting
A photo already being in your gallery does not mean everyone wants it animated or shown at an event. Explain what the film will do and who will watch it. For memorials, ask close family whether movement in old photos would feel welcome. A still-photo tribute may be more appropriate.
Separate photo processing from AI claims
A face-selection tool can work on your device while the photos still need to be uploaded for video generation. Ask about both stages. Yearlight uses AI-generated motion between source photographs; the in-between expressions are generated, not recovered memories. Do not describe the result as real footage.
Ask questions with concrete answers
Broad claims about being secure do not tell you how a service works. Read the privacy and AI information before uploading, especially when photos include people other than the person whose story you are telling.
| Question | Look for |
|---|---|
| Who processes the photos? | Named providers, purpose and the current privacy policy. |
| When are files deleted? | Separate periods for source photos, generated frames and finished films. |
| Are photos used for training? | A distinction between the service’s own policy and provider terms. |
| Who can open the link? | Clear sharing controls and a way to revoke access. |
Before you start
- The people involved understand the intended use.
- Processing and retention terms have been read.
- Original photos remain in a private backup.
- The intended audience and sharing method are clear.
Questions, answered
- Does on-device face selection mean photos stay on my phone?
- No. Face selection and video generation are different steps. Yearlight’s photo-to-video generation requires uploading the selected photos. Check the privacy page for the processing and storage details.
- Can an AI film show what really happened between two photos?
- No. A model generates plausible movement between the images. It cannot establish how someone actually moved, smiled or aged during a moment that was never recorded.