LarpGPT · Guides
How to write AI photo prompts that stay readable
A repeatable prompt structure for subject, light, lens language and constraints, with examples that are easier to refine.
In this guide5
Describe one clear subject
Start with the person, object or place that must remain recognisable. Add the action and the visual priority before adding atmosphere; a long list of disconnected nouns gives the model less direction.
Add composition before decoration
Say whether the frame is close, wide, overhead, symmetrical or editorial. Then describe where the subject sits and what negative space is useful. Composition usually matters more than a pile of style adjectives.
Use light as a practical instruction
Replace vague words such as beautiful with information about source, direction and softness: window light from the left, hard noon sun or a large diffused studio source. Mention the mood only after the light is concrete.
Constrain what must not change
If a face, product shape, number of objects or brand colour matters, state it clearly. Keep the avoid list short and specific; contradictory instructions create noise instead of control.
Iterate one variable at a time
Save the prompt and change only one element between versions: framing, lens feeling, background or palette. Comparing controlled variations teaches you more than rewriting every line after each result.
Questions
How long should an AI photo prompt be?
Long enough to specify the subject, composition and constraints, but not so long that priorities conflict. Clarity beats a fixed word count.
Should I name a camera or lens?
Camera language can suggest framing and depth, but it is not a guarantee of a technical result. Use it alongside a concrete composition and light description.
How do I improve a prompt?
Keep the previous version, change one variable and compare the results. This makes the reason for an improvement easier to see.
Guides
How to structure an AI photo prompt from scratch
A repeatable order for writing image prompts, what to put in each part, the common mistakes that flatten a result, and how to iterate so that each attempt teaches you something.
Six worked photo prompt examples, and why each line is there
Complete prompts for an architectural interior, a city moment, an object, a landscape, a food shot and a workspace, each broken down sentence by sentence so you can adapt them.
The anatomy of a photo-realistic image prompt
What each part of a prompt does inside an image generator, why one sentence per decision works better than a wall of adjectives, and how to adapt a prompt without breaking the thing that made it work.
Midjourney photorealistic prompts: a practical method
How to write Midjourney prompts that read as photographs: a camera-first structure, the documented parameters that help, and how to iterate.
ChatGPT image prompts for luxury photos that look real
How to prompt ChatGPT for believable luxury and lifestyle images: materials, light, restraint, worked examples, and care with brands and disclosure.
How to write AI prompts for realistic people
Describe believable people in AI images: posture, clothing, skin, hands and light, plus the consent, likeness and disclosure rules that come with it.
Lighting keywords for AI photos: a practical glossary
Golden hour, blue hour, window light, backlight, low key and more: what each lighting term looks like in a photo and how to write it in an AI prompt.
Negative prompts explained: when to use them, and how
What a negative prompt is, which image tools document one, how Midjourney's --no and Stable Diffusion's negative_prompt work, and why to use them sparingly.
Aspect ratios for AI images: how to choose and set them
Square, 3:2, 16:9 or vertical 9:16: how to pick an aspect ratio for an AI image, how composition changes with it, and how Midjourney and OpenAI set it.
AI image prompt tools, compared
Prompt libraries, prompt builders, in-generator assistants and writing it yourself: what each saves you, what each costs you, and which one teaches you anything.