Hey everyone! I've been experimenting with MidJourney recently, trying to generate ultra-realistic portraits that look almost like professional studio photography.
Curious to know — what are your go-to prompts for getting hyper-realistic faces with great lighting, skin texture, and cinematic feel?
Here’s one of mine that's worked well for realistic male portraits:hyper-realistic close-up portrait of a confident male model, sharp jawline, stubble beard, cinematic lighting, dramatic shadows, ultra-detailed skin texture, Sony Alpha bokeh effect, 85mm lens look
Would love to see what prompts or tweaks you all use to push MidJourney's realism to the next level! Any tips for lighting, camera effects, or negative prompts are also welcome.
Hey! Great topic — I’ve been playing around with similar portrait styles. Here's a prompt that gave me insane results recently for hyper-realistic female portraits:
ultra-realistic close-up portrait of a charismatic female model, soft diffused light, detailed skin pores, subtle freckles, DSLR depth of field, cinematic shadows, sharp focus on eyes, 85mm f/1.4 lens effect
Quick Tips I've learned:
✅ Adding specific camera lens types like "85mm" or "DSLR effect" often boosts realism
✅ Mentioning lighting style — "cinematic lighting" or "studio softbox" — makes a big difference
✅ Don’t forget negative prompts like --no cartoon, --no painting, --no blur to avoid unwanted styles
Looking forward to seeing more of everyone's prompts!
🔥 Top Hyper-Realistic Portrait Prompts
1. Classic Studio Portrait
Ultra-realistic portrait of a woman in soft natural lighting, Canon EOS R5 quality, shallow depth of field, 85mm lens, studio backdrop, detailed skin texture, freckles visible, cinematic tone, 8k
✅ Use for editorial, beauty, or fashion shots.
2. Aging with Grace
Hyper-realistic portrait of an old Indian man, wrinkles and age spots visible, silver hair, expressive eyes, soft side lighting, National Geographic photo style, Fujifilm XT4
✅ Best for emotional depth and storytelling in faces.
3. Cyberpunk Realism
Photorealistic portrait of a female cyborg with glowing blue eyes, synthetic skin, futuristic Tokyo background blurred, neon reflections, rain-soaked atmosphere, shot with Sony A7R IV
✅ Combines realism with sci-fi aesthetics.
4. Vintage Hollywood Look
Hyper-realistic portrait of a 1950s Hollywood actress, soft glam lighting, vintage makeup and hairstyle, grainy film look, Kodachrome colors, Leica camera style
✅ Gives a timeless, cinematic glow.
5. Cultural Royalty
Hyper-realistic portrait of a Rajasthani queen, traditional jewelry, royal attire, intricate patterns, high dynamic range, golden hour lighting, DSLR detail, shot with Nikon D850
✅ Captures heritage, richness, and fine detail.
6. Post-Apocalyptic Survivor
Portrait of a rugged man with dust-covered face, scars, worn-out gear, desert background with ruins blurred, sharp focus on face, Mad Max style, 35mm film look, gritty and hyper-real
✅ Great for character design with intense texture.
💡 Tips for Better Results
-
Always include camera model/lens (
Canon EOS R5,85mm,f/1.4) to increase realism. -
Use terms like
shallow depth of field,sharp focus,8K,HDR,film grain,skin texture. -
Add lighting details:
golden hour,softbox,Rembrandt lighting,rim light,natural light. -
Want symmetry? Add:
perfectly symmetrical face,balanced composition.
