The Difference Between “AI Slop” and Art We’ve all been there. You type “A woman sitting in a cafe” into Midjourney, and the result is… fine. It looks like a cartoon, or worse, a generic stock photo with that weird “plastic” skin texture.
Then you scroll through Twitter or Pinterest, and you see AI images that look so real they could be on the cover of National Geographic or Vogue.
What’s the difference? The Prompt Vocabulary. Midjourney V6 is a beast, but it needs specific instructions. If you speak to it like a 5-year-old, you get crayon drawings. If you speak to it like a photographer, you get art.
You don’t need to be a prompt engineer. You just need this cheat sheet.
The Anatomy of a Perfect Prompt
Before you copy-paste, you need to understand the formula. To get photorealism, you must define three invisible layers:
- The Gear (Camera): Don’t just say “photo.” Say “Shot on Sony A7R IV” or “Kodak Portra 400 film.” This tells the AI how to handle grain and resolution.
- The Lighting: Lighting is everything. “Cinematic lighting” is vague. Try “Soft window light,” “Rembrandt lighting,” or “Bioluminescent glow.”
- The Parameters: The magic sauce at the end.
--style raw: Forces the AI to stop “beautifying” everything and makes it look more candid/real.--stylize 250: Controls how artistic the AI gets.
The Cheat Sheet: 20 Copy-Paste Prompts
Here are my personal “Gold Standard” prompts. I’ve categorized them so you can find what you need fast.
Category 1: Hyper-Realistic Portraits (The “Human” Look)
Goal: Skin texture, imperfections, and soul.
- The Studio Headshot:“A hyper-realistic close-up portrait of an elderly fisherman with weathered skin, intense blue eyes, wearing a yellow raincoat. Shot on Hasselblad X1D, 85mm lens, f/1.8. Dramatic side lighting, dark moody background, sharp focus on eyes, extreme detail in skin pores. –ar 4:5 –style raw –v 6.0”
- The Candid Street Shot:“A candid street photography shot of a woman laughing while holding an umbrella in rainy Tokyo. Neon lights reflecting in puddles. Shot on Leica M10, 35mm lens. High ISO grain, cinematic color grading, bokeh background, motion blur. –ar 16:9 –style raw”
- The Cinematic Film Look:“A cinematic portrait of a mechanic working in a garage, grease on face, sweat. Warm golden hour light streaming through a dusty window. Shot on Kodak Portra 400 film, vintage texture, slight vignette. –ar 16:9 –stylize 250”
- The Editorial Fashion:“High fashion photography, full body shot of a model wearing avant-garde plastic fashion in a white minimalist room. Soft studio lighting, softbox, 8k resolution, incredibly detailed fabric texture. –ar 2:3 –v 6.0”
- The “National Geographic” Style:“A documentary-style photo of a nomad in the Mongolian desert, eagle on arm. Natural morning light, majestic mountains in background. Shot on Canon EOS R5, wide angle, sharp focus, vibrant natural colors. –ar 3:2”
Category 2: Product Photography (Commercial)
Goal: Clean, expensive-looking, ready for ads.
- Luxury Perfume:“A luxury perfume bottle placed on a black obsidian rock, surrounded by splashing water droplets. High-speed photography, crisp focus, studio lighting, rim lighting, 8k resolution. –ar 4:5”
- Tech Gadget:“Minimalist product shot of sleek silver headphones on a white matte surface. Soft shadows, pastel lighting, clean composition, Apple design aesthetic. –ar 1:1”
- Food Photography:“A gourmet burger with melting cheese and steam rising, close up macro shot. Professional food photography, shallow depth of field, bokeh lights in background, vibrant colors, appetizing. –ar 4:5”
- Sneaker Ad:“Dynamic product shot of a futuristic running shoe floating in mid-air, surrounded by colorful smoke. Studio lighting, sharp focus, 8k, advertising quality. –ar 9:16”
- Skincare Cream:“A jar of moisturizer sitting on a natural wooden table, surrounded by fresh green leaves and water ripples. Sunlight filtering through trees (dappled light), natural, organic vibe. –ar 4:5”
Category 3: Architecture & Landscapes
Goal: Atmosphere, scale, and mood.
- Modern Interior:“Interior design photography of a cozy Scandinavian living room, large floor-to-ceiling windows, rainy day outside. Soft ambient light, warm tones, incredibly detailed textures of the rug and sofa. –ar 16:9”
- Cyberpunk City:“A futuristic Tokyo street at night, heavy rain, neon pink and blue signs reflecting on wet pavement. Cyberpunk aesthetic, cinematic lighting, volumetric fog, photorealistic. –ar 16:9 –stylize 700”
- Nature/Landscape:“A majestic shot of the Swiss Alps during sunrise, pink and orange sky. Reflection in a crystal clear lake. Wide angle lens, f/16 for deep depth of field, sharp details, National Geographic style. –ar 3:2”
- Abandoned Places:“An abandoned Victorian mansion overgrown with ivy and moss. Dusty, moody atmosphere, shafts of light coming through broken windows. Urbex photography style. –ar 16:9”
- Tiny Home/Cabin:“A cozy A-frame cabin in a snowy forest at dusk. Warm yellow light glowing from the windows, smoke from chimney. Magical atmosphere, serene, 8k. –ar 4:5”
Category 4: Creative & Abstract (Bonus)
- Double Exposure: “Double exposure of a woman’s profile and a forest.”
- Knolling (Flat Lay): “Knolling photography of vintage camera gear arranged neatly.”
- Macro Eye: “Extreme macro shot of a human iris, exploding with colors.”
- Underwater: “Fashion model floating underwater, fabric flowing, light rays.”
- Miniature World: “Tilt-shift photography of a miniature New York City.”
The “Before & After” Reality Check
Why do these work? Let’s look at the difference.
- The Lazy Prompt: “A cat in a garden.”
- Result: Flat lighting, generic green background, looks like a clip-art.
- The Cheat Sheet Prompt: “A fluffy Maine Coon cat sitting on a stone wall in an English garden, soft morning mist, macro photography, dew drops on whiskers, bokeh background, shot on 50mm lens.”
- Result: You can feel the fur. You can see the moisture in the air. It evokes an emotion.
Final Verdict Midjourney is a mirror. It reflects the effort you put into the prompt. Use this cheat sheet as your base, but don’t be afraid to change the “Subject” to fit your needs.
Now, go create something that makes people ask, “Wait, is that real?”
