Train a model with your face in 5 minutes for 5 bucks

I've been diving deep into AI image generation lately, and fal.ai has become my go-to platform, it hits the sweet spot of capability and cost. While platforms like MidJourney and RunwayML offer polished consumer experiences, fal.ai takes a different approach. It's built for developers, which means the UI is more utilitarian than beautiful, but it makes up for this with flexible APIs and surprisingly affordable pay-as-you-go pricing. For someone like me who just needs to get the job done without the fancy wrapping, it's perfect.

Why fal.ai?

What caught my attention about fal.ai was its combination of flexibility and simplicity:

1. Developer-First Approach: Clean APIs and developer-friendly tools
2. Pay-Per-Use Pricing: Only pay for what you consume
3. Familiar Interface: Their UI resembles automatic1111, making the transition easy
4. Built-in Comfy Integration: Support for ComfyUI workflows

Training Your Own Model

I recently trained an AI model using my own photos following fal.ai's Flux Style LoRA training guide. Here's my streamlined process:

Step 1: Prepare Your Images

For best results:

• Collect 8-10 high-quality photos
• Ensure consistent lighting and clear face visibility
• Include a mix of expressions and angles
• Aim for high resolution (1024x1024 or larger)

Step 2: Training Setup

1. Visit fal.ai's LoRA training interface
2. Upload your images as a ZIP file
3. Configure the training parameters:
   • Set is_style: false for portrait training
   • Use 1000-1500 steps for initial training
   • Add a unique trigger word (I use my initials)

Step 3: Start Training

The process typically takes about 5 minutes and costs around $5. During training, you'll see:

• Progress updates
• Preview images
• Training statistics

Step 4: Using Your Model

Once training completes, you can:

1. Download the model weights
2. Use them directly in fal.ai's interface
3. Test different prompts with your trigger word

My Results

Most of the images you see on this blog were generated using my trained model through fal.ai. I've found it particularly useful for creating consistent profile images and avatars that maintain my likeness while allowing creative flexibility with different styles and scenes.

Pro Tips

Through my experimentation, I've learned:

1. Prompt Engineering: Include your trigger word early in the prompt
2. Style Mixing: You can combine your model with other LoRAs
3. Iteration: Don't be afraid to retrain with different parameters

Level Up

The ability to quickly train and deploy custom AI models is transformative. For $5 and 5 minutes of your time, you can create a personalized model that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. I'm excited to see how this technology evolves and what creative applications emerge from the community.

Have you tried training your own AI model? I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.