The Best Photorealism Prompts for Midjourney
Midjourney is a truly incredible platform that lets you to generate photorealistic images in seconds — read on to learn how to create perfectly photorealistic images every time. In this guide, you’re going to learn everything you need to know to generate photorealistic cinematic photos, portraits, and landscapes in Midjourney. If you’re interested in learning the fundamentals of writing Midjourney prompts, check out the best guide on the inte [...]
Midjourney is a truly incredible platform that lets you to generate photorealistic images in seconds — read on to learn how to create perfectly photorealistic images every time.
In this guide, you’re going to learn everything you need to know to generate photorealistic cinematic photos, portraits, and landscapes in Midjourney. If you’re interested in learning the fundamentals of writing Midjourney prompts, check out the best guide on the internet here:
It’s no secret that Midjourney has asserted itself as the defacto leader in the generative image and AI art space.
And for good reason — Midjourney features some very advanced capabilities in photorealistic image generation.
Today, we’re going to talk about the specific words that you need in your prompts to nail photorealism.
And for good reason — Midjourney features some very advanced capabilities in photorealistic image generation.
Today, we’re going to talk about the specific words that you need in your prompts to nail photorealism.
The Basics of Photorealism in Midjourney
One of the keys to generating photorealistic images in Midjourney is to actually think like a photographer.
Think about it: AI models like Midjourney are trained on known data from the internet. That means that all of the file names, captions, alt text, and educational resources associated with photos are incorporated into the training data.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to be Peter McKinnon to do this well.
But you do need to understand some of the terminology that photographers would use.
Let’s dive into the most impactful terminology for photorealism in Midjourney.
But you do need to understand some of the terminology that photographers would use.
Let’s dive into the most impactful terminology for photorealism in Midjourney.
“Cinematic” Prompts
As a freelance photographer (like with an actual camera… not just in Midjourney) this is a personal favorite of mine.
The term “Cinematic” communicates to the Midjourney Bot that you’re looking for a few things in your image.
The term “Cinematic” communicates to the Midjourney Bot that you’re looking for a few things in your image.
Key Takeaway: use the word “cinematic” in your prompt to generate photos with a shallow depth of field, interesting composition, action, and color grading
1. SHALLOW DEPTH OF FIELD
You know how portraits look really cool with the subject in crisp focus and the background blurred? These photos have a shallow depth of field.
2. INTERESTING COMPOSITION AND ACTION
Cinematic photos are also known for… not being boring.
Think about Spiderman running through the city in an action shot.
Again we see that cinematic shallow depth of field, but we also see an interesting composition and action.
This Midjourney photo could literally have been a screenshot from one of the movies — all the way down to the motion blur.
This Midjourney photo could literally have been a screenshot from one of the movies — all the way down to the motion blur.
3. COLOR GRADING
Have you ever noticed that the colors in major films just look really… good?
Using the word “cinematic” in your prompts also communicates to the model that you’re looking for cinematic color grading.
Color grading is effectively just fine-tuning your colors to create a desired mood of aesthetic.
It’s highly useful to reference a specific color palette as well (i.e. pastel colors) or even reference a cinematographer or artist that has a specific style. In this case, referencing a Wes Anderson color palette gave the model plenty of direction to nail the photo.
It’s highly useful to reference a specific color palette as well (i.e. pastel colors) or even reference a cinematographer or artist that has a specific style. In this case, referencing a Wes Anderson color palette gave the model plenty of direction to nail the photo.
“Portrait” Prompts
The word portrait in photography denotes a specific type of image. Think of a professional headshot or magazine photo, for example.
Like the “cinematic” prompt from earlier, portraits also often feature a shallow depth of field, specific types of lighting, and a generally common set of compositions or poses.
Like the “cinematic” prompt from earlier, portraits also often feature a shallow depth of field, specific types of lighting, and a generally common set of compositions or poses.
Key Takeaway: use the word “Portrait” in your prompt to generate photorealistic portrait styling to Midjourney.
1. HEADSHOT PORTRAITS
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Using the word “portrait” implies to the model that you’re looking for a single subject, usually with the focus on the head and shoulders, and most often close up.
2. LIFESTYLE PORTRAITS
For those of you looking for Instagram content, get used to this prompt.
Lifestyle portraits have a similar technical style to the previous portraits, but will communicate a far different scene to Midjourney.
Notice that we have some augmentative phrases in the prompt as well — fashion designer and vibrant color palette — that communicate the styling of the photo.
3. ANIMAL PORTRAITS
For all you animal lovers out there, nobody said the portraits need to feature humans only — your favorite animals work too.
Like the “cinematic” prompt from earlier, portraits also often feature a shallow depth of field, specific types of lighting, and generally a common set of compositions or poses.
“Landscape” Prompts
Maybe you’re just not that into photos of people and animals, no matter how photorealistic they are. If so, this one is for you.
Do you like adventure photography? Mountainscapes?
Those are “landscape” images.
Do you like adventure photography? Mountainscapes?
Those are “landscape” images.
Key Takeaway: use the words “landscape photo” in your image to generate photorealistic outdoor scenery
1. LANDSCAPE OF A KNOWN PLACE
I’ve found that with landscape prompts, it’s vital to describe the specifics of what you want in the image.
Is there a specific location that you want to emulate? Name it in the prompt:
Cinematic photos and portraits generally have a central subject in them. In landscape photography, the landscape is the subject.
Without specifics, Midjourney is basically just guessing at what you want.
Without specifics, Midjourney is basically just guessing at what you want.
2. LANDSCAPE FEATURES
Maybe there isn’t a specific place that you want to recreate — you just generally like the scenery.
In that case, you can just describe what you want.
The descriptive words like “scenic foothills” and “early spring” here give Midjourney context clues and hone in on what you want.
You can also describe specific elements of the image that you want — take the Northern Lights for example.
You can also describe specific elements of the image that you want — take the Northern Lights for example.
This one has a few tells that it isn’t 100% real, but it’s still not easily distinguishable from filters and editing that we see on Instagram on a daily basis.
3. COMBINED PROMPT LANDSCAPES
Maybe you want a landscape that’s a little more entertaining.
Where are my adrenaline junkies at?
Remember our “cinematic” prompt from before? Let’s throw that into the mix with the “landscape photo” and see what happens.
As a hiker and mountaineer this terrifies me, but it’s a pretty damn nice photo.
Again, we see the “cinematic” prompt combo adding a more interesting composition and some action to the previous landscape photos. And it does indeed look like it came from a movie.
Again, we see the “cinematic” prompt combo adding a more interesting composition and some action to the previous landscape photos. And it does indeed look like it came from a movie.
PROMPTS TO AVOID
Before we wrap up, let’s talk about what not to do. There are a number of counterintuitive pitfalls that might seem like they’re helping, but they aren’t.
1. OVERUSING QUALITY TERMS
If you’ve perused the noobie channels on Midjourney, you’ve scene this all the time.
/imagine a photo of a dog drinking water. Ultra high quality. 4k. 8k. Ultra high definition. Super good quality. Awesome quality. Best quality ––q 1
Friends, you don’t need to do this. Ever.
Midjourney defaults to the highest quality (–– q 1) and only has one resolution in V5.
/imagine a photo of a dog drinking water. Ultra high quality. 4k. 8k. Ultra high definition. Super good quality. Awesome quality. Best quality ––q 1
Friends, you don’t need to do this. Ever.
Midjourney defaults to the highest quality (–– q 1) and only has one resolution in V5.
No matter how much “8k super ultra high quality” you do, it won’t change the fact that you’re getting a 1024 x 1024 image.
All you’re doing is adding noise to the prompt that will either a) confuse the model or b) be entirely ignored.
Stop. It.
All you’re doing is adding noise to the prompt that will either a) confuse the model or b) be entirely ignored.
Stop. It.
2. PUTTING PHOTOREALISTIC IN YOUR PROMPT
I have admittedly done this many times, and I’ve even told other people to do it.
I was wrong and I am ashamed.
This one is super common though, and I’ve heard some interesting reasons about why it doesn’t work.
Photo’s are photorealistic by default. Because they’re already photos. By prompting Midjourney to make something “photorealstic” it’s trying to emulate something that’s trying to emulate a photo.
It’s like a weird circular reference that generates images that aren’t actually photorealistic.
3. OVER-PROMPTING IN GENERAL
You’ve heard the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words, right?
In Midjourney, a few well placed, specific, descriptive words produce images that speak volumes.
There are a finite amount of words that matter in a Midjourney prompt. You want to front load those words or apply weights to them if they’re really important. Weighting is for another guide though.
For now, just remember this:
Anything over 40 words is probably too much, and the model is likely ignoring parts of your prompt.
Keep your prompts clear, concise, and descriptive.
You’ll thank yourself when you’re generating incredible photorealistic images, every time.
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