These templates are structural. Each one names a subject, a setting, a framing and a lighting condition, which means you can swap the nouns and keep the quality. That is the point of a template rather than a one-off prompt.
We have deliberately avoided inventing parameter syntax. Add only the flags your current version documents — an aspect ratio, for example — because undocumented parameters change between releases and break prompts.
Key takeaways
- Fifty prompts, eight categories, all copy-ready with a copy button on each box.
- Swap the subject nouns and keep the structural clauses to adapt any template.
- Midjourney rewards compressed evocative language rather than long literal description.
- For a consistent set, reuse an identical style block across every prompt.
- Only use documented parameters; do not copy invented flags from forums.
1. Portraits
portrait of a woman in her forties by a tall window, soft north light, natural skin texture, wool jumper, 85mm, shallow depth of field, muted palette, unposed
close portrait of a carpenter's hands planing oak, sawdust in the air, warm workshop light, 50mm, documentary photography, shallow focus on the blade
environmental portrait of a fisherman on a harbour wall at dawn, oilskins, weathered face, cool blue light with a warm horizon, 35mm, full body in context
studio portrait against a mottled grey backdrop, single softbox from the left, subject in a plain white shirt, calm expression, medium format look, fine detail
candid portrait of a market trader mid-conversation, morning light through canvas awnings, motion in the background, 35mm, natural colour, slightly imperfect framing
low-key portrait, single hard light source from camera right, deep shadow on the opposite cheek, black background, 85mm, high contrast, restrained expression
portrait in late golden light on a grass verge, backlit hair rim, soft lens flare, 100mm, warm palette, summer haze, gentle smile
2. Fashion and editorial
fashion editorial, model in a structured cream coat against a seamless sand backdrop, single large softbox, 85mm, minimal styling, magazine spread aesthetic
street fashion editorial, tailored charcoal suit, brutalist concrete stairwell, overcast light, 35mm, wide stance, cool grey and rust palette
fashion image capturing motion, pleated skirt in mid-turn, studio strobe freezing fabric, dark backdrop, 70mm, sharp fabric detail, dynamic silhouette
editorial fashion on a windswept beach at dusk, linen layers, cold blue tones with a warm horizon, 50mm, sand in the air, natural available light
close-up editorial of a leather handbag on a marble ledge, raking side light, visible grain and stitching, 100mm macro, neutral palette, quiet luxury
bold colour-block fashion image, cobalt suit against a saffron wall, hard midday sun, sharp shadow, 50mm, graphic composition, high saturation
fashion editorial with a documentary feel, backstage at a small atelier, working light, garments on rails, 35mm, film grain, muted neutral tones
3. Product photography
product photograph of a ceramic mug on a pale grey sweep, single soft light from upper left, gentle contact shadow, 85mm at f/8, honest colour, no styling props
close product shot of a brushed aluminium watch case, raking light revealing surface grain, black background, 100mm macro, controlled specular highlights
lifestyle product image, leather notebook and fountain pen on a linen tablecloth, morning window light, 50mm, shallow depth of field, warm neutral palette
product photograph of an amber glass bottle with condensation, backlit on a dark surface, rim light defining the edges, 100mm, crisp droplets, no label
overhead flat lay of stationery arranged on a concrete surface, even diffused light, geometric spacing, 50mm from directly above, restrained three-colour palette
product photograph of a loaf of sourdough on a wooden board, single window light from the side, flour dust, visible crumb structure, 85mm, natural colour
studio product image of a compact camera on a matte black surface, two-light setup with soft fill, 100mm, precise edges, no reflections on the lens glass
4. Architecture and interiors
architectural photograph of a concrete and timber house at dusk, warm interior light spilling out, 24mm tilt-shift, straight verticals, deep blue sky
interior photograph of a minimal living room, large windows, soft overcast daylight, oak floor, linen sofa, 24mm, straight lines, calm neutral palette
architectural detail of board-marked concrete stairs, hard afternoon sun creating diagonal shadow, 50mm, graphic composition, monochrome tendency
interior of an old reading room, tall shelves, brass lamps, dust in the shafts of light, 35mm, warm tungsten and cool window light mixed
interior photograph of a working kitchen, open shelving, ceramics in use, late afternoon side light, 35mm, lived-in rather than staged, warm palette
wide architectural view of a new building meeting an older terrace, overcast even light, 28mm, human figures for scale, honest documentary framing
architectural night photograph, glass facade reflecting street lights, long exposure light trails, 35mm, deep blue hour sky, controlled highlights
5. Landscapes and travel
coastal landscape at first light, long exposure smoothing the sea, dark basalt rocks in the foreground, 24mm, cool palette with a warm horizon line
mountain valley in late afternoon, layered ridgelines fading into haze, a single walking figure for scale, 70mm compression, muted blue-green palette
dense pine forest after rain, mist between trunks, wet needles on the ground, 35mm, diffuse light, deep green and grey palette, quiet atmosphere
narrow country road through olive groves, midday sun, dry stone wall, a distant farmhouse, 50mm, honest colour with no HDR effect
a quiet alley in an old city at dawn, shutters closed, one cyclist passing, warm low sun down the length of the street, 35mm, natural colour
minimal desert landscape, single dune ridge dividing the frame, hard sidelight defining texture, 85mm, warm sand and pale sky, almost abstract
6. Posters and graphic design
minimal poster artwork, strict grid, large area of flat ochre, a single geometric shape offset to the right, generous margins, no text, print aesthetic
two-colour screen print poster artwork, visible ink misregistration and paper grain, bold simplified mountain silhouette, cream and deep green, no text
mid-century travel poster illustration, stylised coastline and lighthouse, flat colour with limited shading, four-colour palette, clean shapes, no text
magazine cover artwork, abstract paper-cut composition suggesting a city skyline, layered depth, soft shadow between layers, warm neutral palette, no text
poster background artwork with a large empty upper third for a headline, soft gradient from clay to cream, one subtle textured shape at the base, no text
risograph-style illustration, two overlapping spot colours, coarse halftone texture, simplified figures walking, slight misalignment, matte paper stock, no text
7. Fantasy and concept art
concept art of a cliffside monastery at dawn, mist below, weathered stone and copper roofs, wide establishing composition, painterly rendering, muted palette
character concept art of an original desert cartographer, layered linen robes, brass instruments, neutral background, three-quarter view, painterly, consistent proportions
creature concept for an original species, plausible anatomy based on wading birds, muted plumage, neutral grey background, side and three-quarter views, study sheet
concept art prop sheet, six weathered nautical instruments arranged on neutral grey, consistent scale and lighting, painterly rendering, clean silhouettes
cinematic key frame, a lone figure crossing a flooded plaza at dusk, reflections in the water, low horizon, painterly atmospheric perspective, restrained colour
8. Social-media visuals
square lifestyle image, hands pouring coffee at a wooden counter, soft morning light, warm neutral palette, generous empty space at the top, no text
bold horizontal background image, single strong subject on the left, high contrast, clean uncluttered right half for a headline, saturated but not garish, no text
vertical image for a story format, a person walking through autumn woodland seen from behind, subject low in the frame, space above for captions, muted palette, no text
simple illustrated background for a carousel slide, flat three-colour palette, one repeating geometric motif at low opacity, large clear centre area, no text
tall vertical lifestyle image, styled desk with plants and notebooks, soft even daylight, calm palette of sage and cream, clear space in the lower third, no text
How to adapt these prompts
Each template has four movable parts: the subject noun, the setting, the framing clause and the lighting clause. Change one at a time and the result stays coherent.
If a prompt produces something close but wrong, do not rewrite it. Adjust the single clause responsible. Wrong mood usually means the lighting clause; wrong emphasis usually means the framing clause.
The full method behind these templates is in the SSCL prompt formula, and the vocabulary is expanded in the prompt modifiers cheat sheet.
| You need | Start at | Change first |
|---|---|---|
| A person for an article | Portraits 01–07 | Subject and setting |
| A brand image | Fashion 08–14 | Palette and styling |
| A shop or catalogue image | Product 15–21 | Object and surface |
| A property or space image | Architecture 22–28 | Material and time of day |
| A header or hero | Landscape 29–34 | Location and weather |
| Print or poster artwork | Posters 35–40 | Palette and motif |
| Game or story visuals | Concept art 41–45 | Subject and rendering |
| Feed and thumbnail images | Social 46–50 | Empty space placement |
Style consistency and references
For a set of images that must look related, write a style block of eight to twelve words — palette, light quality, medium — and paste it identically into every prompt. Consistency comes from repetition, not from cleverness.
Where your version supports style or image references, use them in addition to the style block rather than instead of it. References carry look; words carry intent.
On version-specific parameters
We have not included invented flags or undocumented syntax. Check the current documentation for your version and add only what it lists. Parameters change, and copied nonsense degrades results.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use these prompts in other tools?
Yes, with adaptation. Midjourney prefers compressed evocative phrasing, while FLUX and conversational tools prefer fuller sentences. Keep the content and change the phrasing.
Should I add parameters to these prompts?
Add only the parameters your version documents, such as aspect ratio. We have deliberately not invented parameter syntax, because undocumented flags change between releases.
How do I keep a consistent style across a set?
Write a short style block describing palette, light and medium, and paste it unchanged into every prompt in the set. Use style or image references where your version supports them.
Why do my results differ from the description?
Generation is probabilistic and model versions change. Treat each template as a starting point, then adjust one element at a time until it matches your brief.
Can I use these images commercially?
That depends on your Midjourney plan and current terms. Review the licence for your plan before using any generated image in commercial work.
Return to the pillar guide for the complete method: iteration, model-specific phrasing, negative prompting and realism techniques.
Continue the series
The other chapters in the AI Prompt Engineering guide.