10 Best Midjourney Prompts for Realistic Portraits in 2025

Midjourney v6 has revolutionized AI image generation, capable of creating portraits indistinguishable from professional photography. However, achieving that level of realism requires specific prompting techniques.

Here are the 10 best prompts to generate stunning, realistic portraits.

1. The "Cinematic Lighting" Portrait

Prompt:

Hyper-realistic portrait of a young woman with freckles, shot on 35mm Kodak Portra 400, cinematic lighting, golden hour, depth of field, bokeh background, highly detailed skin texture, 8k resolution --ar 4:5 --v 6.0

Why it works: Specifying the film stock (Kodak Portra 400) and lighting conditions gives Midjourney clear instructions on the color grading and mood.

2. The "Studio Headshot"

Prompt:

Professional studio headshot of a middle-aged man in a suit, neutral expression, rembrandt lighting, sharp focus, 85mm lens, f/1.8, solid grey background, high quality, detailed eyes --ar 2:3 --v 6.0 --style raw

Why it works: "Rembrandt lighting" is a classic photography technique that adds depth and drama.

3. The "Street Photography" Style

Prompt:

Candid street photography of an elderly artist in Paris, natural lighting, rainy day, emotional expression, black and white, Leica M6, high contrast, grain, storytelling composition --ar 3:2 --v 6.0

4. The "Cyberpunk Neon" Portrait

Prompt:

Futuristic portrait of a cyborg girl, neon lights reflecting on face, rain-slicked streets background, cyberpunk aesthetic, blue and pink color palette, intricate mechanical details, volumetric lighting --ar 9:16 --v 6.0

5. The "Ethereal Fantasy" Portrait

Prompt:

Ethereal portrait of an elven queen, soft diffused lighting, bioluminescent forest background, magical atmosphere, intricate jewelry, pale skin, flowing hair, dreamlike quality, soft focus --ar 4:5 --v 6.0

6. The "Double Exposure" Art

Prompt:

Double exposure portrait of a man and a mountain landscape, silhouette, nature fusion, surrealism, high contrast, monochrome, artistic composition, detailed texture --ar 2:3 --v 6.0

7. The "Vintage Polaroid"

Prompt:

Vintage polaroid photo of a group of friends at the beach, 1990s aesthetic, flash photography, slightly overexposed, nostalgic feel, film grain, authentic look --ar 1:1 --v 6.0

8. The "Macro Eye" Detail

Prompt:

Extreme close-up macro shot of a blue human eye, reflection of a city in the iris, hyper-detailed, eyelashes in sharp focus, moisture texture, 100mm macro lens, studio lighting --ar 16:9 --v 6.0

9. The "Historical Figure" Reimagined

Prompt:

Portrait of Albert Einstein as a modern hipster, wearing a beanie and denim jacket, coffee shop background, photorealistic, canon 5d mark iv, natural lighting, detailed beard texture --ar 4:5 --v 6.0

10. The "Fashion Editorial"

Prompt:

High fashion editorial shot of a model wearing avant-garde clothing, dramatic pose, abstract architectural background, harsh sunlight, strong shadows, vogue magazine style, 50mm lens --ar 2:3 --v 6.0 --stylize 250

Tips for Better Portraits

1. Camera Gear: Mentioning specific cameras (Leica, Canon) and lenses (85mm, 50mm) influences the "look" of the image.
2. Lighting: Always specify lighting (soft, hard, cinematic, natural).
3. Aspect Ratio: Use --ar to frame your portrait correctly (4:5 for Instagram, 16:9 for cinematic).
4. Style Raw: Use --style raw for less "AI-ified" and more photographic results.

What's your favorite Midjourney prompt? Share your creations with us!

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