How to write AI photo prompts

Lighting is one of the most important parts of a photo prompt. Phrases such as soft daylight, window light, golden hour, clean studio light, or dim evening light can change the feeling of the image. It is useful to treat lighting as a starting point that can be adapted to the scene.

Framing explains how the image should be arranged. Close-up, wide angle, top-down shot, centered composition, negative space, or detail-focused framing can give the AI a clearer visual structure. For social media or blog covers, negative space can also make the image easier to use with a title or short text.

Color and mood complete the visual feeling. Warm tones, pastel colors, natural color palette, calm mood, modern look, or airy composition can make the prompt more aesthetic and consistent. This part explains not only what the image shows, but also how it should feel.

A simple template can be written like this: Create a photo-style visual featuring subject, lit with lighting style, using framing preference, with color and mood, suitable for image purpose. For example: Create a photo-style visual of a ceramic coffee cup, lit with soft window light, using close-up framing and negative space, with warm tones and a calm mood, suitable for an Instagram post.

A user may want to create a coffee-themed visual for an Instagram carousel cover. A clearer prompt could be: Create a photo of a ceramic coffee cup on a wooden table for an Instagram carousel cover. Use soft window light, 4:5 vertical framing, warm natural tones, a simple background, and negative space for a title. The image should look clean, calm, and readable on mobile.

Before using the prompt, review these questions: Is the subject clear? Is the image purpose included? Is the lighting style defined? Does the framing fit the platform or use case? Are color and mood described? Does the main subject stay simple and understandable? Is the visual described as an editable draft?

AI-generated visuals can vary across tools. The same prompt may produce different results in different systems. For this reason, it is better to treat the prompt as an editable starting draft, not a fixed outcome. The final image depends on the tool, use case, and small adjustments made by the user.

The most practical way to write an AI photo prompt is to break the scene into smaller parts. When subject, purpose, lighting, framing, color, and mood are written together, the prompt becomes clearer and easier to use. This structure supports safe and editable starting points for Instagram visuals, blog covers, product photos, and landscape scenes.