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Midjourney Prompt Guide: From Basics to Pro-Level Images

#midjourney #aiart #prompts

This article was originally published on AI Study Room. For the full version with working code examples and related articles, visit the original post.

Midjourney Prompt Guide: From Basics to Pro-Level Images

Midjourney v7 produces stunning images, but only if you speak its language. This guide covers the prompt structure that consistently produces professional results, plus battle-tested templates you can copy and adapt.

Prompt Structure

A well-formed Midjourney prompt has four parts:

[Subject] + [Style/Medium] + [Lighting/Composition] + [Parameters]


Example:

Portrait of a female cyberpunk character, digital art style by

WLOP and Artgerm, neon lighting with rim light from the side,

cinematic composition --ar 2:3 --stylize 250 --v 7
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The Parameters That Matter

Parameter What It Does Recommendation
--ar <w>:<h> Aspect ratio 2:3 for portraits, 16:9 for landscapes, 1:1 for social media
--stylize <0-1000> Artistic flair vs prompt accuracy 100-250 for realistic, 500-750 for artistic
--chaos <0-100> Variation between the 4 images 0 for consistency, 30-50 for exploration, 80+ for wild ideas
--weird <0-3000> Unconventional/experimental results 0 for normal, 500+ for creative/abstract
--no <element> Negative prompt --no text, watermark, signature, blurry

10 Battle-Tested Prompt Templates

1. Professional Portrait 

Portrait of a [age] [gender] [profession], [setting], soft natural

lighting, shot on 85mm f/1.4, shallow depth of field, professional

headshot style --ar 2:3 --stylize 150
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  1. Product Photography 

[Product] on a [color] backdrop, product photography style, studio
lighting with soft shadows, clean and minimal, shot with macro lens,
commercial photography --ar 1:1 --stylize 100
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  • Logo Design 
    Minimalist logo for [company/type], vector style, flat design,
[specific symbols/elements], [color palette], white background,
suitable for app icon --ar 1:1 --stylize 50
    Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

  • Architectural Visualization 
    [Building type] architecture, [style] design, golden hour lighting,
photorealistic 3D render, wide-angle lens, surrounded by [environment],
architectural photography --ar 16:9 --stylize 200
    Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

  • Food Photography 
    [Dish name], overhead flat lay, natural window lighting, styled with
[props/herbs], shallow depth of field, food photography, appetizing,
vibrant colors --ar 4:5 --stylize 100
    Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

  • Fantasy Landscape 
    Epic fantasy landscape, [specific features], concept art by [artist
reference], atmospheric lighting with god rays, cinematic composition,
8K ultra detailed --ar 16:9 --stylize 500
    Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

  • UI/UX Mockup 
    [App type] mobile app design, clean UI, modern minimal interface,
[color scheme], glassmorphism style, Dribbble featured, dark mode,
figma design --ar 9:16 --stylize 80
    Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

  • Character Design 
    [Character description], character design sheet, multiple views
(front, side, back), [art style], clean linework, flat colors,
concept art, turnaround reference --ar 16:9 --stylize 200
    Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

  • Isometric Illustration 
    Isometric illustration of a [scene/room/building], [color palette],
clean vector style, 3D isometric view, detailed interior, pastel
colors, soft shadows, illustration --ar 1:1 --stylize 150
    Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

  • Cinematic Scene 
    [Scene description], cinematic shot, [lighting description], movie
still from [reference director/film], anamorphic lens, film grain,
color graded --ar 21:9 --stylize 300
    Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

    Pro Tips

    • Use artist references sparingly. One or two references sharpen the style. Three or more create visual chaos.
    • Describe what you want, not what you don't want. Use --no for 1-2 things max. Focus on positive description.
    • Vary one thing at a time. When experimenting, change one parameter at a time so you know what caused the difference.
    • Save your best prompts. Good prompts are assets. Build a personal library organized by category.

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