A complete guide to AI prompt crafting for photography images

AI art generators are a wonderful tool to create photography-style images. In order to make a fantastic photo using an AI generator, it is helpful to use techniques used in photography in making use of such tools.

The aim is to as closely as possible make photos that look like as taken by the camera.

According to the art director Shaun Harrison who runs a famous AI Art community black AI community universe, we should take AI as taking photos and videos literally. 

The aim of this post is to provide guidelines on how to prompt as a cameraman.

So let’s delve into photography techniques in order to adopt the skills of prompt crafting in creating AI images. 

In photography, the following terms are essential to take photos professionally.

1. Camera shots and angle
2. Camera settings and lenses
3. Lighting
4. Photography types
5. Fashion photo styles

Camera shots and angles

Types of Camera shots

Extreme close-up: An extreme-close-up shot is a type of camera shot in which the camera is positioned very close to the subject, typically filling the entire frame with a single part of the subject. This type of shot is often used to focus attention on a specific detail or to create a sense of intimacy with the subject. Extreme close-up shots can be used in a variety of contexts, including in movies, television shows, and commercials, as well as in still photography. This type of shot enables a tight close-up of a specific part of the subject, such as their face, hands, or an object they are holding. 

Close-up: A close-up camera shot is a shot that is taken from a close distance to the subject, typically showing only a small portion of the subject’s body or face. This shot is often used to emphasize specific details or emotions and can be used to create intimacy or drama in a scene. This type of shot is used to focus on the subject’s face or expressions.

Medium shot: A medium camera shot is taken from a distance that falls between a close-up and a long shot. It typically captures the subject from the waist or mid-torso up, and is often used to show the subject’s facial expression and body language or gestures in more detail. This shot is often used to establish a character or setting or to show a character interacting with their surroundings. The framing of the subject includes their head and torso.

Long shot:  A long shot is used in order to establish the object in relation to the space or environment around it. The framing can be used to create a sense of scope and scale in a scene. Long camera video shots are also known as “tracking shots” or “dolly shots” and are often used to follow a character or object as it moves through a space or environment. This shot is a framing of the subject that includes their entire body, from head to toe. This shot can be used to show the subject in their environment or to establish the location.

Extreme long shot: An extreme long shot is a camera shot that is taken from a very far distance, often showing a wide landscape or a large area. This type of shot is often used to establish the setting or location of a scene or to give a sense of the scale or grandeur of a place. Extreme long shots are also used to show a character’s relationship to their surroundings or to depict a character as small and insignificant in comparison to the vastness of the environment. In this type of shot, the framing includes the entire body of the subject and the surrounding environment. This shot can be used to establish the location and give a sense of the subject’s surroundings.

Wide shot: A wide camera shot is a type of shot that shows a wide area or scene. It is typically taken from a distance, with a wide-angle lens, and includes a lot of the surroundings in the frame. Wide camera shots are often used to establish the setting or location of a scene or to show the overall layout of a space. They can also be used to convey a sense of scale or grandeur. This shot is a framing of the subject that includes their entire body and a significant amount of the surrounding environment. This shot can be used to show the subject in relation to their environment or to establish the location.

Establishing shot: This shot is a wide shot that is used at the beginning of a scene to establish the location and provide context for the action that will follow.

Cutaway: This is a type of shot that temporarily cuts away the focus from the main action to show a different scene or angle. This shot is often used to provide more information or context to the main action or to show the reaction of a character to the main action. Cutaway shots can also be used to provide a break in the action and give the viewer a chance to take a breath before the next scene.

Types of Camera angles

There are different camera angles that can be used in photography and film, coupled with a camera shot guides the camera in relation to the angle of the shot, the distance of the shot, and the speed of the shot.

Eye level: An eye-level camera angle is a shot taken from the perspective of a person standing at the same height as the camera. This type of shot is often used in films and television to create a sense of realism and intimacy with the characters, as it allows the viewer to feel as if they are looking at the scene from their own perspective. Eye-level camera angles are often used in dialogue scenes, allowing the viewer to connect more closely with the characters and understand their emotions and motivations. This is a neutral angle that is often used to capture a scene as it would be seen by an average-sized person standing at ground level.

High angle: This is a type of camera angle where the camera is positioned above the subject’s eye level, looking down at the subject. This angle can create a sense of power or vulnerability for the subject, depending on how the shot is framed and composed. This angle is achieved by positioning the camera above the subject, and looking down on them. This can make the subject appear small, vulnerable, or powerless.

Low angle: This is a camera shot taken from a low angle, typically around the waist or hip level, with the camera pointed upwards towards the subject’s face. This angle can create a sense of power or dominance for the subject and can make them appear larger or more imposing. It is often used to convey a sense of tension or conflict. This angle is the opposite of a high angle and is achieved by positioning the camera below the subject, and looking up at them. This can make the subject appear larger than life, powerful, or imposing.

Bird’s eye view/Drone Shot/overhead view: The bird’s eye view camera angle is a perspective shot that is taken from directly above the subject, as if the viewer was looking down on the scene from a high vantage point, like a bird flying overhead. This angle provides a wide view of the entire scene and gives the viewer a sense of being removed from the action as if they are observing it from a distance. It is often used to show the layout of a location or to highlight the spatial relationships between objects or characters within a scene. This angle is achieved by positioning the camera directly above the subject, looking straight down on them. This can create a sense of detachment or objectivity.

Dutch angle: The Dutch camera angle is a term used to describe a shot that is angled slightly upwards from the ground, typically at about a 45-degree angle. It is called “Dutch” because it is believed to have originated in the Netherlands, where it was used extensively in painting and photography. The Dutch camera angle is often used to convey a sense of power or dominance, as it positions the subject of the shot above the viewer. It can also be used to create a sense of disorientation or unease, as the angle can be disorienting or unsettling to the viewer. This angle is achieved by tilting the camera to one side, creating a sense of unease, tension, or disorientation.

Over-the-shoulder: An over-the-shoulder camera angle is a shot that shows a character from behind and over their shoulder as if the camera is positioned behind and slightly above them. This angle is commonly used in dialogue scenes to show the interaction between two characters and can be used to convey a sense of intimacy or tension between them. It is often used in combination with other camera angles to create a more dynamic and engaging visual experience. This angle is achieved by positioning the camera behind one of the subjects in a scene, looking over their shoulder at the other subject. This can create a sense of intimacy or connection between the two subjects.

Point-of-view (POV): A point-of-view (POV) camera shot is a type of shot that shows the perspective of a specific character. It is executed from the character’s perspective and allows the audience to see what the character sees. This type of shot is often used to create a more immersive and immersive experience for the viewer and to give them a sense of being present in the scene or as if they are seeing by their eyes. It is also often used to convey the emotions and thoughts of the character, as the camera follows their gaze and captures their reactions. 

The point of view camera angle refers to the perspective from which a scene is filmed or photographed. It determines how the audience experiences and interprets the events of a story. There are several different points of view camera angles that can be used, including:

1. First-person: This angle is shot from the perspective of one of the characters in the scene as if the audience is seeing through their eyes.
2. Second-person: This angle is shot from the perspective of the character being addressed or spoken to in the scene.
3. Third-person: This angle is shot from a distance, with the camera positioned outside of the character’s perspective. This angle is often used to show the character’s surroundings and provide a wider view of the scene.
4. Over-the-shoulder: This angle is shot from behind one character, looking over their shoulder toward another character. It is often used to show conversations or interactions between two characters.

The choice of point of view camera angle can have a significant impact on the way a scene is perceived by the audience and can be used to create different emotional responses or to emphasize certain aspects of the story.

 Tilt frame: A tilt frame camera shot is a type of shot where the camera is mounted on a tripod or other stationary support and the angle of the shot is changed by tilting the camera up or down. This shot is often used to create a sense of movement or to change the perspective of the subject. It is commonly used in to create dynamic and visually interesting shots, as well as to convey emotion or atmosphere.

Camera Settings and Lenses

The camera settings include shutter speed and blur.

Fast shutter speed:

 A fast shutter speed is a setting on a camera that allows for a very brief amount of time for the camera’s sensor to be exposed to light. This is typically used to freeze fast-moving subjects or to reduce the amount of blur in an image.

Slow shutter speed:

 A slow shutter speed is a setting on a camera that allows for a longer amount of time for the camera’s sensor to be exposed to light. This is typically used to capture motion or to create a sense of movement in an image.

Bokeh: 

Bokeh is the term used to describe the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus areas of a photograph. It is often used to draw attention to the subject of the photograph by creating a blurry background.

Tilt-shift photography: 

Tilt-shift photography is a technique in which the lens of the camera is tilted or shifted to achieve a specific effect in the photograph. This can be used to manipulate the perspective of the photograph or to create the illusion of a miniature scene.

Motion blur: 

Motion blur is a visual effect that occurs when a camera’s shutter is open for an extended period of time, causing the image to appear blurry or smeared. This is typically used to create a sense of movement in an image or to depict fast-moving subjects.

Types of Camera Lenses

Telephoto lens: 

A lens that allows for greater magnification and a longer focal length, resulting in a narrow field of view.

Macro lens: 

A lens specifically designed for close-up photography, allowing for detailed and magnified shots of small subjects.

Wide angle lens:

 A lens with a short focal length, resulting in a wide field of view and the ability to capture more of a scene in the frame.

Fish-eye lens: 

A lens with an extremely wide angle of view, resulting in a distorted and curved image.

Deep depth of field: 

A term used to describe a photograph where both the foreground and background are in focus, resulting in a larger area of the image being in focus.

Lightings

You can bring multiple varieties of indoor, outdoor, and artificial lighting in DALL.E 2 and other AI art generators.

Natural Lightings

Sun

Moon

Blue hour

Overcast

Shadow and silhouette 

Fire/Flame

Artificial lighting

Tungsten light

Fluorescent light

LED light

HMI light

Kino Flo

Redhead light

Dedo light

Fresnel light

Tungsten

Fluorescent

LED

Type of lights(applicable to indoor or outdoor lighting)

Warm Lighting

Cold Lighting

Flash Lighting

Colorful Lighting

High-key and Low-key Lighting

Ambient light

Continuous light

Flashlight

Natural light

Reflective light

Soft light

Hard light

Front light

Backlight

Rim light

Fill light

Key light

Top light

Sidelight

Split light

Rembrandt lighting

Butterfly lighting

Loop lighting

Paramount lighting

Neon lights

Laser lights

Candlelight

Fill lighting

Backlighting

Rim lighting

Silhouette lighting

Split lighting

Clamshell lighting

Side lighting

Grid lighting

Indoor lighting styles

Continuous lighting

Ring light

Grid spot lighting

Softbox lighting

Umbrella lighting

Ring lighting

Grid lighting

Gelled lighting

Spotlighting

Reflector lighting

Backlighting

Side lighting

Top lighting

Silhouette lighting

Key lighting

Fill lighting

Contour lighting

Background lighting

Chimera light

Softbox light

Snoot light

Ring light

Strip light

Gobo light

Ziplight

Grid spotlight

Par light

Rifa light

Point source light

Chimera lantern

Spotlights

Outdoor lighting styles

Daylight

Sunset/Golden Hour

Overcast

Stormy/Cloudy

Moonlight

Streetlights

Floodlights

Reflected light (such as off of water or buildings)

Christmas lights

Fireworks

Chinese lantern lighting

Paper lantern lighting

String lighting

Floodlighting

Outdoor Background or environmental conditions

Landscapes

Wilderness

Beach

Mountains

Desert

Forest

Waterfalls

Ice and snow

Tropical rainforests

Savannahs

Urban environments

Cityscapes

Street photography

Nature reserves

National parks

Wildflower fields

Farmland

Lakes and rivers

Sunsets

Sunrise/sunrise landscapes

Flowers

animals

Indoor decoration styles

Modern

Traditional

Minimalist

Rustic

Industrial

Eclectic

Art Deco

Mid-century modern

Hollywood glam

Coastal/beach themed

Boho chic

Farmhouse

Victorian

Art nouveau

Scandinavian

Photography Types

28 types of photography: Styles and genres – Adobe

Photography film types

Kodachrome: Kodachrome is a type of color film that was popular in the 20th century. It was known for its vibrant colors and high-quality images.

Autochrome: Autochrome is an early color photography process that was invented in the late 19th century. It used glass plates coated with microscopic grains of potato starch to capture color images.

Lomography: Lomography is a style of photography that emphasizes spontaneous, creative, and unpredictable images. It is often associated with the use of toy cameras and unusual film stocks.

Polaroid: Polaroid is a brand of instant film and cameras that allows users to print their photographs immediately after taking them.

CCTV: CCTV (closed-circuit television) is a type of video surveillance that is used for security purposes. It typically involves the use of cameras and monitors to record and view the footage.

Disposable camera: A disposable camera is a type of film camera that is meant to be used only once. After the film is developed, the camera is discarded.

Daguerreotype: A daguerreotype is an early form of photography that was invented in the 19th century. It used a polished silver plate to create a single, permanent image.

Camera obscura: A camera obscura is a device that uses a pinhole to project an image onto a screen or surface. It is an early precursor to the modern camera.

Double exposure: Double exposure is a technique in which two images are superimposed on top of each other to create a single photograph. It can be achieved through multiple exposures on a film camera or through digital editing.

Cyanotype: Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that uses a solution of ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide to create blueprints.

Black and white: Black and white photography is a type of photography that uses only shades of black, white, and gray. It is often used for artistic or documentary purposes.

Redscale photography: This type of photography involves manipulating the film in a camera to expose the red layer of the film, resulting in a unique, red-toned image.

Infrared photography: This type of photography involves using a special camera or filter to capture the light spectrum beyond what is visible to the human eye, resulting in images with a surreal, ethereal quality.

Bleach bypass: This technique involves skipping the bleaching step in the film development process, resulting in a high-contrast, monochromatic image with deep blacks and bright whites.

Instagram styles: This popular photo-sharing platform allows users to apply various filters and edits to their images, creating a wide range of stylized looks.

Contact sheet: A contact sheet is a print or digital document that shows all the images from a single film or digital card, arranged in a grid format.

Color Splash: This technique involves selectively desaturating parts of an image, leaving a single color or area in full color for emphasis.

Solarised: This technique involves overexposing and underexposing an image, resulting in high contrast, and a surreal look with exaggerated shadows and highlights.

Anaglyph: This technique involves creating a 3D image by superimposing two differently colored images, which can be viewed with special glasses to create the illusion of depth.

Fashion photography styles

Forbes

Chanel

Gucci

Louis Vuitton

Prada

Dior

Saint Laurent

Balenciaga

Celine

Hermes

Alexander McQueen

Fendi

Givenchy

Valentino

Versace

Burberry

Ralph Lauren

Marc Jacobs

Calvin Klein

Tom Ford

Michael Kors

Easy hack Tip: You can also use “Film still of…” or “TV series” to get your favorite photography and other styles of interest 

You can be creative using films and TV series scenes, actors, actions, cars, and others.

A good film directory that can be used is 

Film Genres – Filmsite.org

https://www.filmsite.org

How to craft AI prompts for photography-style images and examples of prompts

The way of crafting prompts for all types of AI images is basically the same. However, to create AI photography-style images, the prompts need to include all descriptions of the images we desire. 

After deciding the type of photography, for instance, portrait photography, the prompt can be crafted in the same way as in our detailed post.

NB: The prompts are given in the texts with a light grey background

An example: A portrait of a woman close-up shot, flowers, and leaves background 

If you want a full body image, do not mix up adjectives like close up with full body. This will result in half body prompt.

A full body portrait of a woman close-up shot, flowers, and leaves background – -ar 2:3

A full body prompt can be:

A full body portrait of a woman , flowers, and leaves background

A full body shot of a man in suit standing before a waterfall.