Writing good prompts
A prompt is art direction, not a search query. The more specific the direction, the more the result looks intentional instead of random.
A simple recipe
[subject], [setting / background], [lighting], [mood / style], [framing]
“A matte black serum bottle, on wet slate with eucalyptus, soft window light from the left, calm editorial mood, close-up 9:16.”
| Block | Ask yourself | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | What’s the hero? | the product, a model, a dish |
| Setting | Where does it sit? | marble, studio sweep, kitchen, outdoors |
| Lighting | How is it lit? | soft window light, hard flash, golden hour |
| Mood / style | What should it feel like? | editorial, playful, luxe, raw UGC |
| Framing | How is it shot? | close-up, flat-lay, wide, low angle |
Do
- Name concrete things: surfaces, materials, time of day, lens feel.
- Set one clear focal point.
- Pick the aspect ratio for the destination (9:16 reels, 4:5 feed, 1:1 covers).
- Iterate: generate, keep what works, change one thing at a time.
Avoid
- Vague adjectives alone (“nice”, “beautiful”, “professional”).
- Stuffing five ideas into one prompt — split them across a batch.
- Relying on the model for exact on-image text / logos — use a reference for product identity.
Tips
- Keep a few winning prompts as templates and swap the subject.
- For a consistent set, write one style line and reuse it across slides / carousels.