AI Image Prompt Writing Guide: From Idea to Perfect Image

The Image Prompt Formula

Every effective image prompt follows a similar structure. You do not need every element every time, but knowing the full formula helps you decide what to include and what to leave out.

Here is what a complete prompt looks like when you put all six elements together:

A golden retriever puppy sitting on a weathered wooden porch, looking directly at the camera with tilted head, soft watercolor painting style, warm autumn color palette, close-up shot with shallow depth of field, golden hour side lighting casting long shadows, fallen maple leaves scattered around, cozy nostalgic atmosphere --ar 4:5 --v 6 --stylize 500

Subject and Scene

The subject is the most important part of your prompt. Put it first. Be specific about what you want to see — not what you want to feel or communicate. Image AI generates pixels, not concepts.

The difference between a vague and specific subject is the difference between “a dog” and “a golden retriever puppy sitting on a wooden porch, looking at the camera.” One gives the AI room to guess. The other tells it exactly what to render.

Portrait subject:
A woman in her 30s with short curly hair, wearing a linen blazer, leaning against a brick wall with arms crossed, confident half-smile

Landscape subject:
A narrow cobblestone street in a Mediterranean village, terracotta rooftops, hanging laundry between buildings, a single orange tree in the foreground

Product subject:
A matte black ceramic coffee mug on a marble countertop, steam rising from the cup, a folded newspaper beside it, morning light from a window

Style Keywords That Work

Style keywords tell the AI what the image should look like — the artistic medium, the visual treatment, the overall aesthetic. These are the words that have the biggest impact on the “feel” of your output.

Composition and Camera

Composition keywords control how the scene is framed. They tell the AI where to place the subject, what angle to shoot from, and how much of the scene to show. These terms come from photography and cinematography, and image AI understands them well.

Think of it this way: the subject is what the camera is pointed at, and composition is where the camera is standing.

Same subject, different composition:

Close-up: A weathered fisherman's hands mending a net, extreme close-up, shallow depth of field, natural light, documentary photography

Wide shot: A fisherman mending his net on a wooden dock at dawn, wide establishing shot, fishing boats in the background, morning mist over the water, 35mm lens

Bird's eye: A fisherman's net spread out on a wooden dock, overhead flat lay perspective, geometric rope patterns, morning shadows stretching across the planks

Platform-Specific Tips

Each image generator has its own strengths and quirks. A prompt that works perfectly in Midjourney might need adjustments for DALL-E. Here is what to know about each platform.

Before & After

See the difference between a vague image prompt and one that uses the full formula. The specific prompt gives the AI clear instructions for every visual element.

a sunset over mountains

A dramatic sunset over the Dolomites mountain range, jagged peaks silhouetted against a sky of deep orange and magenta, thin clouds catching the last light, alpine meadow with wildflowers in the foreground, cinematic landscape photography, wide angle 24mm lens, golden hour lighting, rich saturated colors, sense of vast scale and solitude --ar 16:9 --v 6 --stylize 750

Common Prompt Patterns

Here are ready-to-adapt templates for the most common image generation tasks. Replace the bracketed content with your specifics.

[Product/brand item] centered on [surface material], [background style], clean product photography, soft studio lighting, slight reflection on surface, minimalist composition, high-key lighting, commercial quality --ar 1:1

Abstract [theme/concept] illustration, [color palette] color scheme, flowing organic shapes, subtle gradient background, modern editorial style, clean negative space for text overlay, wide format --ar 16:9

[Product type] floating at slight angle on [background color] background, soft drop shadow, 3D product render, studio lighting from top-left, photorealistic materials, [material finish] surface, commercial mockup quality --ar 4:5

[Subject description], [age/appearance details], [expression/pose], portrait photography, 85mm lens f/1.8, [lighting type], [background description], shallow depth of field, natural skin texture --ar 4:5

Abstract [concept] visualization, [color 1] and [color 2] palette, smooth gradient transitions, flowing liquid forms, subtle particle effects, dark background, modern digital art, high contrast, 4K detail --ar 16:9

Common Mistakes

These are the pitfalls that trip up most people when writing image prompts. Avoiding them will save you time and credits.

Quick Reference Cheatsheet

A fast-reference table for common image generation tasks. Find your use case, grab the recommended style and parameters, and adapt the example.

Universal Template - Copy and Customize:

[Subject description with specific details], [art style or photography type], [composition/framing], [lighting description], [color palette or mood], [background details], [technical quality keywords] --ar [ratio] --v 6 --stylize [100-1000]

Next Steps

Writing image prompts is a visual skill that improves with practice. The formula and patterns in this guide give you a strong starting point, but the real learning happens when you start generating and iterating.

If you find yourself staring at a blank prompt field and struggling to describe what you want, that is where AskSmarter.ai helps. Our prompt builder asks you targeted questions about your image — subject, style, mood, composition — and assembles a structured prompt from your answers.