5 Tips for Capturing the Perfect AR Memory Photo

The difference between a Twin that looks pasted-in and one that looks like it belongs is almost always lighting and scale. Here are five things our team does every time we shoot a Hey Twin memory.

1. Match the light direction

Before you place your Twin, glance at where the light is coming from in your real-world scene — a window, an overhead lamp, late-afternoon sun. Hey Twin auto-adjusts shadow direction, but it works best when your source photo has a clear, single light source too. Flat, evenly-lit source photos give the AI the most to work with.

2. Use a source photo with a similar angle

If your original photo was shot looking slightly upward, your Twin will look most natural in a scene where you’re also holding the camera at a similar angle. You don’t need to match it exactly — just avoid pairing a bird’s-eye source shot with a low, upward AR angle.

3. Anchor to a real surface

Tap to anchor your Twin to a floor, chair, or table rather than leaving them floating mid-air. Hey Twin’s surface detection will lock the scale automatically once anchored, which is the single biggest factor in making a Twin look grounded in the scene.

4. Zoom out before you capture

It’s tempting to fill the frame, but a little breathing room around your Twin sells the illusion better than a tight crop. Wider shots give the eye more real-world context to compare against, which paradoxically makes the composite read as more believable.

5. Re-shoot in different light if it’s not landing

If a placement still looks slightly off, the fastest fix is usually trying a different time of day or room. Soft, indirect light (overcast afternoons, north-facing windows) is the most forgiving for AR placement — harsh direct sunlight creates shadows that are harder to match automatically.

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Want to see these in practice? Browse real examples in our Gallery, or jump straight into the app and try your first scene.