Sora image-to-video — the parallax, living photo, and camera move hierarchy

Already have an image? Upload it to Sora and describe only the MOTION to add — pick the right technique for your goal:

TECHNIQUE 1 — THE LIVING PHOTOGRAPH (highest reliability):
Only hair, water, fabric, smoke, or fire moves. Everything else stays frozen. This looks magical and almost never fails.
'Animate this image: [ONLY soft elements move — hair drifts gently, fabric ripples, water flows, steam rises, leaves flutter], everything else remains perfectly still, keep composition and colors consistent with the image, [3-4]s.'
Example: 'Animate this image: her hair drifts gently in the breeze, the curtain behind her ripples softly, everything else remains perfectly still, keep composition and colors consistent with the image, 4s.'

TECHNIQUE 2 — PARALLAX DEPTH (cinematic feel):
Foreground elements move faster than background — creates a 3D depth effect from a 2D image.
'Animate this image with a parallax depth effect: foreground elements [describe what's in front] drift [direction] faster while the background [describe what's behind] moves subtly, [gentle camera move], keep all elements consistent with the image, [4-5]s.'
Example: 'Animate this image with a parallax depth effect: the flowers in the foreground drift slowly to the right while the mountains in the background move subtly left, gentle push-in, keep all elements consistent with the image, 5s.'

TECHNIQUE 3 — FULL SCENE MOTION (most complex):
Multiple elements move with a camera move — use for dynamic scenes.
'Animate this image: [primary motion], [secondary motion], [camera move from the hierarchy below], keep the overall composition and lighting consistent with the image, [4-5]s.'

THE CAMERA MOVE RELIABILITY HIERARCHY (most to least reliable):
1. ✅ SUBTLE PUSH-IN (slow zoom toward subject): Most reliable. Almost never distorts. Use this as your default.
2. ✅ SLOW PAN (left/right or up/down): Very reliable. Reveals more of the scene.
3. ⚠️ PULL-BACK / ZOOM-OUT: Moderately reliable. Sora has to 'invent' what's beyond the frame edges — results vary.
4. ⚠️ TRACKING SHOT (moving alongside): Works if the scene has clear depth layers. Can distort flat scenes.
5. ❌ ORBIT (circling around subject): Hardest. Requires Sora to understand 3D structure of a 2D image. Often distorts faces and architecture. Only use for simple, centered subjects.

DURATION-TO-COMPLEXITY RATIO:
• 3-4 seconds: Best for 1 subtle motion + 1 gentle camera move (living photograph)
• 4-5 seconds: Good for 2 motions + camera move (parallax, moderate scene)
• 5-6 seconds: Maximum for complex motion — beyond this, consistency breaks down
• Rule: More motion = shorter duration. Less motion = can go longer. Never exceed 6s for image-to-video.

Tips: always include 'keep everything else consistent with the image' — without it, Sora will add unwanted changes; describe motions with direction and speed ('drifts slowly to the left,' not just 'moves'); for portraits, the living photograph technique (only hair/clothing moves) is far more reliable than full facial animation; if the result drifts in color or style, add 'maintain the exact color palette and lighting of the original image.'