# The Ken Burns effect on any photo, by asking

> In Tella, attach the photo in the Tella Agent chat and ask for a Ken Burns effect in a Tella Motion clip, or as Tella Motion b-roll over your recording. Tella Motion keyframes the photo's scale and position, so it slowly zooms and drifts with easing. Say where the move starts, where it ends and how long it takes.

Page: https://www.tella.com/motion/ken-burns-effect · Part of Tella Motion (https://www.tella.com/help/editing/tella-motion)

## How do I add a Ken Burns effect (a slow pan and zoom) to photos in a video?

In Tella, attach the photo in the [Tella Agent](https://www.tella.com/agent) chat and ask for a Ken Burns effect in a [Tella Motion](https://www.tella.com/help/editing/tella-motion) clip, or as Tella Motion b-roll over your recording. Tella Motion keyframes the photo's scale and position, so it slowly zooms and drifts with easing. Say where the move starts, where it ends and how long it takes.

## Prompt to start from

```text
Show the photo I attached full screen for 6 seconds. Slowly zoom from 100% to 115% while panning toward the top right, easing in and out.
```

## More prompts

### Documentary

```text
Use the attached archive photo of the Fenwick mill. Start close on the clock tower and slowly pull back over 8 seconds to show the whole building, then fade to black.
```

### History lesson

```text
Show each of the 5 portraits I attached for 5 seconds with a slow push in on the face, drifting left on one and right on the next, and crossfade between them.
```

## How to do it in Tella

1. Open your video in the Tella editor and open the Tella Agent chat.
2. Click + → Attach… and add the photo.
3. Say where it goes: a new Tella Motion clip, or b-roll over part of your recording.
4. Describe the move: zoom in or out, which way to pan, and for how long.
5. Play the preview and ask for changes, like "slower" or "end on the left side."

## Good to know

- Available to everyone: through the Tella Agent on a paid plan or the 7-day trial, or through Claude or ChatGPT on any plan.
- To chain several moves on one photo, ask for continuous easing so each move flows into the next without a jolt.

## Questions people ask

### Can the photo show over my recording while I talk?

Yes. Ask for it as Tella Motion b-roll or an overlay, like "show the attached photo full screen with a slow zoom while I talk about our first office." The agent times it to what you say.

### Does it work on video clips too?

Yes. Tella Motion can keyframe the scale and position of a video you place in it, the same way it does for a photo.

### Can Claude or ChatGPT add the effect?

Yes. [Claude](https://claude.ai/directory/tella) or [ChatGPT](https://chatgpt.com/plugins/plugin_asdk_app_6a7026f78434819186579d93d20ab38b?open_in_app) connected to Tella's [MCP server](https://www.tella.com/mcp) can place your photo in Tella Motion and keyframe its zoom and pan with the same commands the Tella Agent uses.

## Related

- [A photo slideshow with transitions and music, made by asking](https://www.tella.com/motion/photo-slideshow-with-music.md): Turn a set of photos into a slideshow with transitions.
- [Photos with soft edges that blend into your video](https://www.tella.com/motion/feather-image-edges.md): Soft-edged photos that blend into your video.
- [Animate graphics by describing the motion](https://www.tella.com/motion/keyframe-animation-with-ai.md): Describe the motion. The AI sets keys and easing.
- [Add motion graphics over your recording](https://www.tella.com/help/editing/tella-motion#add-motion-graphics-over-your-recording)
- [Attach files, videos and playlists](https://www.tella.com/help/editing/edit-with-the-tella-agent#attach-files-videos-and-playlists)
- [All of Tella's AI features](https://www.tella.com/ai.md)