The difference between a mediocre AI image and a stunning one is not the tool — it is the prompt. After generating thousands of images across Midjourney, Flux, and Stable Diffusion, we have distilled what actually works into this prompt cheat sheet.
Every effective Midjourney prompt has four components:
[Subject] + [Style/Aesthetic] + [Technical Details] + [Mood/Atmosphere]
Example:
A woman reading a book in a cozy cafe, soft natural lighting, warm color palette, shot on Fujifilm X-T5, 85mm lens, shallow depth of field, intimate and peaceful atmosphere
The more specific you are, the better the result. Vague prompts get vague images.
For portraits that look like real photographs:
Portrait of a [age] [gender] [profession], [expression], [lighting], shot on [camera], [lens], [color grading]
Examples:
Portrait of a 30-year-old Indian woman entrepreneur, confident smile, golden hour lighting, shot on Sony A7IV, 85mm f/1.4, warm cinematic color grading --ar 3:4
Close-up portrait of an elderly craftsman in Rajasthan, weathered hands, dramatic side lighting, shot on Leica M11, rich earth tones, documentary photography style --ar 4:5
Professional headshot of a young tech CEO, modern office background, clean studio lighting, corporate photography, neutral background --ar 1:1
Key parameters:
--ar 3:4 or --ar 4:5 for portrait orientation--s 250 for higher stylization (more artistic)--s 50 for more realistic resultsFor e-commerce and marketing product shots:
[Product] [action/state], [background], [lighting style], product photography, commercial quality
Examples:
Premium wireless headphones floating against a clean white background, soft studio lighting, product photography, minimalist, commercial quality --ar 1:1
Artisan coffee cup with latte art, marble countertop, morning sunlight streaming through window, lifestyle product photography, warm tones --ar 4:5
Handmade leather wallet, flat lay on dark wood surface, dramatic overhead lighting, luxury product photography, rich textures --ar 1:1
Pro tip: Add "commercial photography" and "product photography" as style anchors for cleaner, more professional results.
For Instagram posts, ads, and marketing materials:
[Scene/Concept], [brand aesthetic], [color scheme], social media content, Instagram style, [aspect ratio]
Examples:
Modern coworking space with diverse professionals collaborating, bright and airy, pastel color scheme, lifestyle photography, Instagram aesthetic --ar 4:5
Flat lay workspace with laptop, coffee, notebook, and plants, top-down view, clean minimalist style, warm earth tones, blog header image --ar 16:9
Abstract geometric pattern in coral and gold, luxury brand aesthetic, high-end marketing visual, clean and sophisticated --ar 1:1
Aspect ratios for social media:
--ar 1:1--ar 9:16--ar 16:9--ar 1200:627For Indian wedding, cultural, and business imagery:
[Subject], [Indian aesthetic], [colors], [style], [mood]
Examples:
Elegant Indian wedding mandap decorated with marigolds and roses, golden hour, warm ambient lighting, luxury wedding photography, rich burgundy and gold palette --ar 16:9
Traditional Indian rangoli pattern, intricate geometric design, vibrant colors on cream floor, overhead view, festive Diwali celebration --ar 1:1
Modern Indian startup office, open plan workspace, natural light, green plants, young diverse team, professional lifestyle photography --ar 16:9
South Indian temple architecture, intricate stone carvings, golden morning light, architectural photography, rich textures and details --ar 3:4
For travel blogs, website backgrounds, and editorial content:
[Location/Scene], [time of day], [weather/atmosphere], [photography style], [color mood]
Examples:
Misty mountains in Chhattisgarh at sunrise, golden light breaking through clouds, dramatic landscape photography, cinematic color grading --ar 16:9
Ancient ruins of Sirpur, Chhattisgarh, warm afternoon light, architectural photography, earthy tones, sense of history and mystery --ar 16:9
Lush green rice paddies stretching to the horizon, aerial view, vibrant green palette, drone photography, serene and peaceful --ar 16:9
For website backgrounds, presentations, and creative projects:
[Abstract concept], [colors], [texture/material], [style], [mood]
Examples:
Abstract flowing waves in coral and gold, liquid metal texture, luxury brand aesthetic, 3D render, elegant and sophisticated --ar 16:9
Geometric fractal pattern in deep blue and teal, futuristic tech aesthetic, clean vector style, digital art --ar 1:1
Watercolor splash in warm earth tones, organic shapes, artistic and expressive, white background, hand-painted texture --ar 1:1
| Parameter | What It Does | Example |
|-----------|-------------|---------|
| --ar | Aspect ratio | --ar 16:9 |
| --s | Stylization (0-1000) | --s 250 |
| --c | Chaos/variety (0-100) | --c 30 |
| --q | Quality (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2) | --q 2 |
| --no | Exclude elements | --no text, watermark |
| --style raw | Less stylized, more literal | --style raw |
| --tile | Seamless tileable pattern | --tile |
--ar for your use case. A 16:9 banner needs different composition than a 1:1 social post.--no text, watermark, blurry, deformed to avoid common artifacts.THE AI SERVER creates stunning AI-generated visuals for brands, weddings, and marketing. From product photography to cinematic reels — we handle the creative direction. Book a free consultation →
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