Best Midjourney Prompts for Realistic Art

Copy these proven Midjourney prompts to generate ultra-realistic portraits, landscapes, and product shots.

Midjourney v6 can produce images indistinguishable from photography — if you know the right prompt structure. Here's the formula plus 8 ready-to-copy prompts.

The Midjourney realism formula

[Subject] + [composition] + [lighting] + [camera/lens] + [style modifiers] + [aspect ratio + version flags]. Drop any one of these and realism drops with it.

Prompt: Cinematic portrait

ultra-realistic cinematic portrait of a [SUBJECT], soft rim lighting, shot on Sony A7R IV, 85mm f/1.4, shallow depth of field, film grain, professional color grading, 8k –ar 3:4 –v 6 –style raw

Prompt: Golden hour landscape

epic landscape photograph of [LOCATION], golden hour, dramatic clouds, shot on Canon R5, 24mm f/8, sharp foreground rocks, warm tones, National Geographic style –ar 16:9 –v 6

Prompt: Studio product shot

clean studio product photography of [PRODUCT], soft box lighting from left, white seamless backdrop, subtle shadow, 50mm macro lens, hyper-detailed materials, commercial catalog quality –ar 1:1 –v 6 –style raw

Prompt: Cyberpunk street scene

cinematic cyberpunk street at night, neon purple and blue reflections on wet pavement, distant figures with umbrellas, atmospheric fog, anamorphic lens flare, Blade Runner 2049 inspired –ar 21:9 –v 6

Frequently asked questions

Why do my Midjourney images look fake?

Usually the prompt skips lighting or camera details. Adding lens + lighting is the fastest fix.

Can I sell Midjourney art?

Yes, with a paid plan you own commercial rights to the images you generate.

Final thoughts

Realism in Midjourney is a recipe, not a guess. Save these prompt formulas and remix them for any subject.

Related reading: Browse our full Prompt Library or compare the top AI Tools.