Realistic Human Portrait Prompts
Are your Midjourney portraits looking fake, "plasticky," or stuck in the uncanny valley? Creating truly realistic human portraits is one of the biggest challenges in AI art. It's easy to make a cool-looking dragon, but a simple human face can go wrong in dozens of ways.
The problem isn't usually the AI—it's the prompt. A simple prompt like "a portrait of a man" gives Midjourney too much creative control, often resulting in an overly-airbrushed, generic "AI look."
This guide is the solution. We will move beyond basic prompts and dive into the specific keywords, lighting techniques, and settings you need to create stunning, hyper-realistic portraits that will make people ask, "Is this a real photograph?"
(If you're just starting, we recommend reading our foundational guide on the Best AI Image Prompts for Beginners first, then come back here to master portraits.)
What Are Portrait Prompts?
A portrait prompt is a detailed instruction designed to control every key element of a human photograph. It's not just *what* you're shooting, but *how* you're shooting it.
A beginner prompt focuses on the subject. A professional portrait prompt focuses on the *craft*:
- Beginner Prompt:
a man smiling - Professional Prompt:
A professional headshot of a 40-year-old man with a beard, smiling, 85mm lens, soft studio lighting, plain gray background, photorealistic, detailed skin texture.
See the difference? The second prompt gives the AI specific, technical instructions, leaving nothing to chance. That is what we will be doing today.
The Unspoken Secret: Why Lighting is Everything
In photography, lighting isn't just a detail; it's the entire mood. The single fastest way to make your portraits look more professional is to *name* the lighting style you want. If you don't, Midjourney will guess.
Key Lighting Terms to Add to Your Prompts:
- Soft Studio Lighting: This is the classic, clean, e-commerce or corporate look. It's flattering and shadow-free. (Keywords:
softbox light,diffused light,clean studio lighting). - Dramatic / Cinematic Lighting: This creates high contrast and deep shadows. It's perfect for moody, emotional, or powerful shots. (Keywords:
Rembrandt lighting,chiaroscuro,split lighting,cinematic rim light). - Natural Lighting: This uses the sun. It's great for candid, "lifestyle" shots. (Keywords:
golden hour lighting,dappled sunlight,overcast lighting,looking through a window).
25 Realistic Portrait Prompts (Copy & Paste)
Here are 25 copy-paste prompts. Use them as-is or swap out subjects (e.g., "old man" for "young woman") to fit your needs. All prompts are optimized for Midjourney v6 and newer.
Professional & Clean Headshots
A professional corporate headshot of a 35-year-old businesswoman, smiling, soft studio lighting, 85mm lens, plain light gray background, photorealistic, 4K.
A clean, high-detail portrait of a doctor in scrubs, looking confidently at the camera, bright clinical lighting, blurred office background, hyper-realistic skin texture.
A photorealistic headshot of an old man with a white beard and deep wrinkles, kind expression, 100mm macro lens, sharp focus, detailed skin pores.
Candid portrait of a young woman with freckles, laughing, natural window lighting, shallow depth of field, 50mm f/1.8 lens, detailed eyes with catchlights.
A realistic portrait of an athlete, post-workout, visible sweat on face, intense expression, high-contrast gym lighting, 4K, hyper-detailed.
Cinematic & Dramatic Portraits
A cinematic film still of a detective in a fedora, 1940s noir style, face half-shadowed by blinds, smoking, dramatic chiaroscuro lighting, high contrast.
An intense, emotional close-up portrait of a woman crying, tears visible, dramatic side lighting, dark background, 8K, ultra-realistic.
A powerful, moody portrait of a Viking warrior, scarred face, detailed leather armor, cold blue cinematic lighting, blowing snow, shallow depth of field.
A portrait of a pensive man looking out a rain-streaked window, neon city lights reflecting on his face, cinematic, moody, high-detail.
Rembrandt lighting portrait of an elderly woman, strong shadows, pensive expression, detailed wrinkles, dark background, classic painting style, photorealistic.
Black & White Portraits
A high-contrast black and white portrait of a jazz musician playing a trumpet, deep shadows, 35mm film grain, captured moment.
A timeless, soft black and white portrait of a mother holding her baby, gentle expression, diffused lighting, classic photography.
A gritty, high-contrast black and white close-up of a construction worker, sweat and dirt on face, hard hat, intense stare, sharp details.
Full Body & Environmental Portraits
A full-body realistic portrait of a ballerina mid-pose, in a rustic dance studio, beams of light from a window, 35mm lens, photorealistic.
An environmental portrait of a chef in a busy kitchen, stainless steel, motion blur in background, chef in sharp focus, candid, 50mm.
A fashion-style street portrait of a woman in a long red dress, walking in Paris, Eiffel Tower blurred in background, golden hour, cinematic.
H3: Unique Styles & Textures
A close-up portrait with "double exposure" effect, silhouette of a man's head filled with a forest landscape, creative, high-detail.
A photorealistic portrait of a woman with her face painted in intricate, glowing neon patterns, dark background, UV light, cyberpunk style.
A hyper-realistic portrait of a 1920s flapper, vintage clothing, monochrome, authentic film grain, captured in the style of a vintage photograph.
A stunning portrait of a South Asian woman in a traditional vibrant sari, intricate gold jewelry, soft lighting, 8K, hyper-detailed.
Bonus Technical Prompts
A close-up macro portrait shot on a 100mm lens, focusing only on the eye, detailed iris, reflections visible in the pupil, hyper-detailed.
A low-angle, powerful portrait of a basketball player looking down at the camera, stadium lights, wide-angle lens distortion, dynamic.
A candid, over-the-shoulder shot of a woman looking back, street photography style, 35mm film grain, New York City background.
A "shot on Kodak Portra 400" style portrait, warm tones, subtle film grain, a girl in a summer field, nostalgic, analog look.
A studio portrait of a model, but her skin is made of cracked porcelain, surreal, artistic, high-detail, soft lighting.
Common Midjourney Portrait Issues (And How to Fix Them)
Even with great prompts, Midjourney can be strange. Here are the most common problems and the prompt keywords to fix them.
Problem 1: "Plastic" or Blurry Skin
Midjourney loves to airbrush skin, removing all pores and imperfections. This is the #1 cause of the "fake" look.
- Fix: Add these keywords to your prompt:
detailed skin texture,skin pores visible,freckles,imperfect skin,hyper-realistic skin.
Problem 2: "Dead" or Unrealistic Eyes
If the eyes look flat, the portrait fails. The secret is to add a reflection.
- Fix: Add these keywords:
detailed eyes,catchlights in eyes(this is the big one!),expressive eyes,sparkle in eyes.
Problem 3: Mangled Hands
Midjourney (and most AI) is terrible at hands. While it's getting better, hands can still ruin a perfect portrait.
- Fix 1 (Avoid): Use prompts that hide hands.
close-up portrait,headshot,face-only portrait. - Fix 2 (Negative Prompt): Use the "no parameter". Add "no hands, malformed hands, extra fingers" to the end of your prompt.
Problem 4: The Generic "Midjourney Look"
Sometimes, all your images start to look the same that perfect, artistic, slightly-painted Midjourney style. To break this, you need to force it to be more "raw."
- Fix: Use the "style raw" parameter. This tells Midjourney to apply less of its default aesthetic and stick closer to your prompt.
Best Midjourney Settings for Hyper-Realism
A great prompt is only half the battle. Your settings (parameters) are the other half. Here are the best settings to add to the end of your portrait prompts.
version 6.0(or newer): Always use the latest model. It has the best understanding of realism and text.style raw: As mentioned above, this is your most important tool for realism. It strips away the "dreamy" look.Aspect Ratio 2:3/3:4: This stands for "Aspect Ratio." 2:3 or 3:4 ratio is a vertical rectangle, perfect for portraits. Avoid the default 1:1 square.Stylize 100: This is "Stylize." The default is 100. Lowering it 50 can sometimes create a more photorealistic, less "artistic" image. Experiment with this one.
A full prompt with settings might look like this:
A photorealistic portrait of an old fisherman... ,Aspect Ratio 2:3, version 6.0, style raw, Stylize 50.
(If you want to combine these realistic techniques with a specific color palette, like a rich gold and red, check out our advanced guide on AI Baby Video tutorial..)
FAQs
How do you make a portrait hyper-realistic in Midjourney?
Hyper-realism comes from details. Stop using simple prompts. You must specify:Lighting, Lens, Texture, Settings, Always use Style, Aspect Ratio.
How do you improve skin tone in AI?
Midjourney makes skin look like plastic. To fix this:
1. Add Texture: Use keywords imperfect skin, freckles, wrinkles. Real skin isn't perfect.
2. Control Lighting: Use natural lighting or soft diffused light for softer, more even tones. Avoid dramatic lighting if you want a clean look.
3. Use style raw. This single command often fixes 50% of skin tone problems by removing Midjourney's heavy-handed "artistic" filter.
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