Start with mood and lens language
Use a mood keyword plus a lens or lighting term to guide the look. Think “moody rim light,” “soft bounce light,” or “dramatic key light.”
Example prompt
“Cinematic portrait of a dancer, 85mm lens, shallow depth of field, soft rim light.”
Add a focused subject description
Describe the subject in one or two lines. Keep it specific: age range, attire, and setting are enough to get consistent results.
Subject checklist
- Age range and style.
- Wardrobe color and material.
- Background mood or environment.
Control style with 1–2 references
Add a single style reference like “cinematic portrait” or “film still” so the model stays on track.
Avoid too many style keywords
Too many styles can confuse the output. Pick one dominant direction and refine later.
Great portrait prompts are specific enough to guide the model, but simple enough to leave room for expressive visual surprises.
Refine with small iterations
Adjust one variable at a time. If contrast is too high, add “soft contrast” or “pastel tone.”
Final polish
After you get a strong base image, generate variations with small changes in lighting, color, or expression to find the best result.