AI WORLD HQ
You've probably scrolled past them: a friend, a cousin, your barista — soft-focus portraits that look torn straight from a 1996 high school yearbook. Big hair, denim jacket, that orange studio glow. Except it wasn't them in 1996. It was AI. The trend kicked off on Epik, a photo app that takes your selfies and dresses them up in 90s style. Here's a real, step-by-step way to make one yourself today.
What you'll need before you start
- A smartphone (iPhone or Android) with a working camera.
- 6 to 10 clear selfies — different angles, good light, no sunglasses, no heavy filters. Plain backgrounds work best.
- An account. Epik, ChatGPT, and Midjourney all want an email login. ChatGPT and Midjourney require paid plans for image generation. Epik's yearbook feature is paid inside the app. Free trials exist for all three.
- About 10 minutes total. Generation usually takes 2-5 minutes once your photos are uploaded.
Step 1 — Pick your route
Open your phone's app store and decide. There are two paths:
- App route (fastest): download Epik or a similar AI photo app. This is what made the trend go viral because it uses your real face.
- Prompt route (most control): use a general image generator (a tool that turns your written description into a picture) like ChatGPT, Midjourney, or Stable Diffusion. You describe the photo in words and the AI invents the face. Useful if you'd rather not upload your own.
💬 Example: "Search 'Epik' in the App Store, or open chatgpt.com and sign in."
You'll know it worked when you have one tool installed and you're logged in.
Step 2 — Prep your selfies
Good input means good output. Take or pick 6-10 photos where your face is clearly visible, lit from the front (no harsh shadows), and not blocked by hair, sunglasses, or hands. A plain wall as a background works best. Mix the angles: one straight-on, one slight left, one slight right, one looking up a little. The AI uses these to learn your face.
💬 Example prompt (for the prompt route, describing your look): "30-year-old woman with shoulder-length brown hair, brown eyes, light skin."
You'll know it worked when you have a folder or album with 6-10 photos that all show your face clearly under similar lighting.
Step 3 — Upload and pick the yearbook style
Open the app you chose. Look for the option to start a new project or upload photos — most AI photo apps put this on the home screen, often behind a big "+" icon. Select your 6-10 selfies. Next, browse the style templates and pick one labeled "90s yearbook," "AI yearbook," or similar. Some apps offer outfit variations like "denim jacket" or "tuxedo" — pick the one that matches the vibe you want.
💬 Example: "In the style picker, tap the option with 'yearbook' in its name."
You'll know it worked when the app confirms your photos are uploaded and the chosen style is selected (usually a highlighted card or checkmark).
Step 4 — Generate and wait
Hit the Generate or Create button. Most apps produce 4-8 variations at once, which takes 2-5 minutes. Don't close the app while it works — the result usually appears as a notification or a new screen when ready. If your first batch misses the mark (wrong decade, weird outfit, off lighting), don't quit. Generate again with the same photos; the AI picks different results each time.
💬 Example: "Generate 6 versions, yearbook style."
You'll know it worked when you see a grid of finished portraits on screen, each clearly styled like a 90s yearbook photo.
Step 5 — Pick your favorite and save
Scroll through the generated images. Look for one where the face looks most like you, the outfit feels era-correct, and the lighting isn't too weird. Tap to view full size, then look for Save, Download, or a share icon (often a square with an arrow, or three dots). Save to your camera roll. If you used a general image generator instead, tap and hold the image to save it.
💬 Example: "Save the third one — it actually looks like me."
You'll know it worked when the photo appears in your phone's Photos or Gallery app and you can share it anywhere.
Common mistakes
- Uploading only one or two selfies. The AI needs variety to learn your face. Six is the bare minimum; more is better.
- Wearing sunglasses or a hat in every photo. The AI can't see your eyes or hairline and produces generic, off results.
- Generating once and giving up. First batches rarely nail the look. Run it two or three times before you judge.
- Skipping the privacy check. Before posting, open the app's settings and look for "Data usage" or "Training opt-out." If your photos might train future AI models, decide whether you're comfortable with that.
A prompt template you can copy
For general image generators, this template works well. Swap the bracketed parts for your details, or leave them generic if you want a stranger's face:
"1990s American high school yearbook photo of a [age]-year-old [man/woman/person] wearing a [denim jacket/plaid shirt/turtleneck], soft studio lighting, plain pastel blue background, soft focus, film grain, head-and-shoulders portrait"
Wrap-up
The 90s yearbook trend is one of the friendliest entry points into AI image generation — low stakes, fast results, and a finished photo you can post today. Pick a route, prep your selfies (or your prompt), generate a couple of batches, and save the one that makes you smile. Your next step right now: gather six clear, well-lit selfies and open the app.