Creating a stunning AI portrait isn't just about typing "beautiful woman" into Midjourney or Stable Diffusion. Anyone can do that. To achieve photorealistic results that look like they were taken by a professional photographer, you need to speak the language of photography.
In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the mechanics of AI portraiture. We will move beyond basic keywords and dive into optical physics, lighting dynamics, and film emulation. By the end of this article, you will be able to craft prompts that control every pixel of your final image.
1 The Secret of Lighting
Lighting is the soul of photography. Without defining the light source in your prompt, the AI will default to a flat, uninteresting look (often resembling a video game render). To fix this, you must specify the type and direction of light.
Rembrandt Lighting
This is a classic technique used in studio photography. It creates a small, inverted triangle of light on the subject's cheek opposite the light source. It adds immediate drama, depth, and a "painterly" quality to your portraits.
Volumetric Lighting
Also known as "God rays," this refers to visible beams of light cutting through dust, fog, or smoke in the air. It is essential for creating atmospheric and cinematic shots.
2 Camera Angles & Lenses
The "lens" you choose in your prompt changes the shape of the face and the relationship between the subject and the background. AI models "know" what different lenses look like.
- 35mm Lens: Wide angle. Shows more of the environment. Great for storytelling portraits where the background matters.
- 85mm Lens: The gold standard for portraits. It compresses facial features (making them more flattering) and creates a beautiful background blur.
- 200mm Lens: Extreme telephoto. Completely isolates the subject with a creamy, melted background.
Use keywords like f/1.8 or bokeh to force the AI to blur the background. This separates your subject and makes the image look like a professional DSLR photo.
3 Adding Texture: Film Stocks
Digital AI images can sometimes look "too clean" or plastic. To add realism, you need to simulate the imperfections of analog film. Adding specific film stock names to your prompts forces the AI to mimic their color science and grain structure.
Top 3 Film Stocks for AI
- Kodak Portra 400: Famous for its warm tones and excellent skin reproduction. Perfect for daylight portraits.
- Cinestill 800T: The king of night photography. It adds a cool blue tone and creates a distinctive "halo" effect around street lights.
- Fujifilm Velvia: Known for high contrast and super saturated colors. Use this for vibrant, punching images.
4 Negative Prompting
Sometimes, what you don't say is as important as what you do say. Negative prompts tell the AI what to avoid. In Stable Diffusion, this is a separate field. In Midjourney, use the --no parameter.
Common negative prompts for portraits:
Ready to Create?
You now have the technical knowledge to create stunning portraits. Don't just read about it — put it into practice.
Use our free Prompt Builder tool to visually construct complex prompts using these techniques.
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