Cinematic character portrait
A moody portrait that looks like a still from a film and tells a story about the character.
Prompt
Cinematic film still of [character, e.g. a tired night-shift nurse in her 30s] [moment, e.g. taking a quiet break on a hospital rooftop at dawn]. Medium close-up, with the character slightly off-center, looking past the camera. Lit by [light sources, e.g. pale sunrise on one side and a green exit sign on the other], with a strong warm-cool color contrast. Shallow depth of field with soft background bokeh, an anamorphic lens look, subtle film grain and natural skin texture. A quiet, emotional storytelling mood, like a frame from a feature film.
Aspect ratio: 16:9 (landscape).
Avoid: text, watermarks, posed studio look.Variation: Fantasy
Epic fantasy portrait of [character, e.g. an old sea captain who became a storm wizard], wearing [outfit, e.g. a weathered navy coat with brass buttons] and holding [object, e.g. a lantern crackling with lightning]. Three-quarter view from the chest up, against a dark, stormy sky. A dramatic rim light separates the figure from the background, and the glow from what they're holding lights the face from below. Rich textures in fabric, skin and metal, painterly realism and a heroic composition.
Aspect ratio: 2:3 (portrait).
Avoid: text, watermarks, cartoon style.Variation: Sci-fi
Sci-fi film still of [character, e.g. a young cargo pilot with a buzz cut and a scar on one cheek] inside [setting, e.g. a cramped, worn spaceship cockpit]. Close-up, with the face lit by glowing control screens in teal and amber, and small reflections in the eyes and on a scratched helmet visor resting nearby. A practical, lived-in design with real wear and grime, shallow depth of field, anamorphic lens flare and subtle film grain. A tense, focused mood.
Aspect ratio: 16:9 (landscape).
Avoid: text, watermarks, clean plastic look.Fill in the blanks (optional)
A blank left empty is sent as it is, and most tools will then use its example.
Open in
- ChatGPT Text in images(opens with the prompt filled in)
- Gemini Photo edits(copies the prompt, then opens the site)
- Midjourney Artistic style(copies the prompt, then opens the site)
- Ideogram Logos & lettering(copies the prompt, then opens the site)
- Leonardo Anime & game art(copies the prompt, then opens the site)
- Firefly Commercial use(copies the prompt, then opens the site)
- Bing Image Creator Free drafts(opens with the prompt filled in)
- Grok Quick variations(opens with the prompt filled in)
★ is the AI you used last for image prompts.
Why it works
A portrait becomes a story when it has a moment, an emotion and a light source that belongs in the scene. Describing it as a film still (medium close-up, anamorphic lens look, warm-cool contrast, grain) gives the model a strong visual target without naming any film or director. Looking past the camera rather than into it makes it feel like a scene, not a photo shoot.
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