Scene Descriptors for Midjourney Photography Midjourney 4 is older, more trained and therefore more robust. So, it manages to create more detailed photos with less input. However, Midjourney 5 creates more photorealistic images, so you will need to intentionally add more descriptive keywords in your prompt. wildlife portrait, three toed sloth in an urban environment, in Atlanta, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 1/400sec at f/2.8, ISO 200, 200mm f/2.8 — ar 3:2 — s 250 (v4 left, v5 right) Portrait Time-lapse Motion capture High-speed photograph Stop motion Glamor shot Establishing shot Full body shot Headshot Action scene Bokeh Gesture Film grain Light painting Satellite imagery Drone photography Wildlife photography Underwater photography Product photography Lighting Descriptors for Midjourney Photographers know that time of day and lighting is crucial to capture stunning results. Natural light Natural light is the most versatile type of light, and it can be used to create a variety of different looks. It is important to understand the direction of the light and how it will affect your subject. For example, if you are shooting a portrait in the afternoon, the light will be coming from the west and will create strong shadows on your subject’s face. You can either use this to your advantage or try to find a way to diffuse the light. Golden Hour High Noon Afternoon Mid-Morning Blue Hour Sunset Sunrise Nighttime Flash Flash is a great way to add brightness to your photos, especially in low-light situations. It can also be used to create a more dramatic look. For example, you can use flash to create a rim light around your subject’s hair at night. This will make them stand out from the background. On camera flash External flash Studio lights Studio lights are the most powerful type of light, and they can be used to create a variety of different lighting effects. Cinematic Dramatic Cinematic haze Lightbox Monolight Speedlight Ringlight Pro Tip: Adding weather descriptions like sunny, overcast, rain, snowy, or foggy can create the atmosphere you are looking for. Lens Descriptors for Midjourney Photography Color-gel Photographic-filter Diffusion-filter Dichroic-filter UV-filter Polarizer Infrared-filter Neutral density filter Graduated neutral filter GND-filter Astronomical-filter Coin-filter Film and Camera Types for Midjourney Photography There is a lot to know about photography. I’m not going to teach it here, but UK photographer Robert Bishop created a really easy infographic—which I can’t improve on much. So I’m sharing his work as a primer. Robert Bishop Photography, Landscape, People and Wildlife Camera Types There are a wide variety of camera types, purpose made for various photo types. Table of camera types, along with their best uses and example makes and models Some other camera descriptors that can be fun to play with: Night Vision Drone photography Hyperspectal Imaging Multispectal Imaging Schlieren Polaroid Instax Lomo Pinhole Photography VistaVision Technirama Techniscope Panavision Ambrotype Film Types (filmlifestyle.com) Ultra high definition 8K, 4K, 1440p, 1080p, 720p, 480p 70mm, 35mm, 22mm, 16mm, cinerama Camera Settings for Midjourney Photography Now, let’s adjust the camera setting ( focus, exposure, aperture, film size, white balance) Focus Unfocused Defocused Soft-focus Deep focus Shallow focus Rack focus Tilted plane focus Exposure Short exposure Long exposure Double exposure Advanced tips and tricks Here are some advanced tips and tricks for using Midjourney prompts for photography: Be specific. The more specific you are in your prompt, the more likely Midjourney is to create an image that matches your description. For example, instead of saying “a portrait of a woman,” say “a portrait of a woman with long brown hair and blue eyes.” Use keywords. Midjourney can understand keywords, so using them in your prompts can help you get the results you want. For example, if you want to create a surreal landscape, you could use keywords like “surreal,” “dreamlike,” or “abstract.” Use modifiers. Modifiers can be used to change the appearance of an image. For example, you could use modifiers like “realistic,” “colorful,” or “black and white.” Use examples. If you are not sure how to write a prompt, you can use examples. For example, you could look at images that you like and use the prompts that were used to create them. Use multiple prompts. You can use multiple prompts to create more complex images. For example, you could use a prompt for a portrait and a prompt for a landscape to create an image of a person in a landscape. Use negative prompts. Negative prompts can be used to exclude certain elements from an image. For example, you could use a negative prompt to exclude people from an image. Use random prompts. If you are not sure what kind of image you want to create, you can use a random prompt. This will give you a random image that Midjourney thinks you might like. Use the “–testp” command. The “–testp” command can be used to put Midjourney into photorealism mode. This will create images that look more like real photographs. Use the latest AI model. Midjourney v5 creates more photorealistic images than its predecessors. Use a long lens, such as an 85mm, 100mm or 200mm, to isolate portrait subjects and create a shallow depth of field. For example, create a portrait of a person with a blurred background, making the subject stand out and appear more prominent with 100mm lens. Use specific camera models to create high-quality images with realistic colors and details. For example, create a portrait of a person with a Sony α7 III camera, capturing their features and expressions with precision. Use keywords such as “candid” “personal”, 4k, 8k to recreate a natural and authentic look in high quality. For example, create an image of a person laughing with their friends in candid 8k form, capturing a genuine moment of joy and happiness. Use a wide aperture setting, such as F 1.2, to create a bokeh blurry background and make the subject stand out. For example, create a portrait of a person with a blurred background of a cornfield, giving the image a dreamy and romantic feel. Add blurry backdrop hints, such as an abandoned church or a street photo at night, to create a sense of mood and atmosphere. For example, create a portrait of a person with a blurred background of a city street at night, creating a sense of mystery and intrigue. Use dreamlike lighting or dramatic lighting to create a sense of depth and contrast in the image. For example, create a portrait of a person with dramatic lighting, casting strong shadows and highlights on their face. Create ultra-detailed images with sharp lines and textures, capturing every detail with precision. For example, create a portrait of a person with a detailed texture of their skin, making the image appear more realistic. Create personal portraits that capture the essence of the person’s character and personality. For example, create a portrait of a person in their natural environment, showcasing their interests and passions. Use an aspect ratio of 9:16. This resolution is commonly used for portrait images on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Experiment with Vermeer lighting or Rembrandt lighting, two famous oil paint artists who used atmospheric light for creative advantage. For example, create a portrait of a person with Vermeer lighting, creating a soft and warm glow that illuminates their face. Top Photographers for Midjourney Ansel Adams Ansel Adams. American photographer who specialized in landscape photography. He is best known for his black-and-white photographs of the American West, which are characterized by their dramatic lighting and composition. Henri Cartier-Bresson. French photographer who is considered one of the pioneers of street photography. He is known for his candid photographs of everyday life, which are often captured in a single moment. Robert Capa Robert Capa. Hungarian-American photographer who is considered one of the most important war photographers of all time. He is known for his photographs of the Spanish Civil War, World War II, and the D-Day landings. Dorothea Lange. American photographer who is best known for her photographs of the Great Depression. Her photographs, which often depict the hardships of the poor and working class, helped to raise awareness of the plight of these groups. Edward Weston. American photographer who is considered one of the pioneers of modern photography. He is known for his close-up photographs of everyday objects, which are often characterized by their geometric shapes and bold compositions. Man Ray. American artist who worked in a variety of media, including photography, painting, and sculpture. He is best known for his surrealist photographs, which often feature distorted or abstracted images. Alfred Stieglitz Alfred Stieglitz. American photographer and gallery owner who is considered one of the founders of modern photography. He is known for his photographs of New York City, which often depict the city’s skyscrapers and urban landscapes. Walker Evans. American photographer who is best known for his photographs of the American South. His photographs, which often depict the poverty and rural life of the region, helped to raise awareness of these issues. Eugène Atget. French photographer who is considered one of the pioneers of documentary photography. He is known for his photographs of Paris, which often depict the city’s streets, buildings, and people. Andre Kertesz. Hungarian-American photographer who is considered one of the pioneers of modern photography. He is known for his photographs of everyday life, which are often characterized by their humor and wit. Steve McCurry Steve McCurry. American photojournalist who is best known for his photograph of the “Afghan Girl,” which was featured on the cover of National Geographic in 1985. Weegee Weegee. American photographer who is known for his photographs of crime scenes and other urban happenings. Irving Penn. American fashion and portrait photographer who is known for his elegant and timeless images. Robert Mapplethorpe. American photographer who is known for his provocative and controversial photographs of the nude male form. Diane Arbus. American photographer who is known for her photographs of people on the fringes of society, such as circus performers, transvestites, and people with disabilities. Annie Leibovitz Annie Leibovitz. Annie Leibovitz is an American photographer who is known for her portraits of celebrities, politicians, and other notable figures. William Eggleston. American photographer who is known for his color photographs of everyday life in the American South. Joel Meyerowitz. American photographer who is known for his color photographs of New York City. Garry Winogrand. American photographer who is known for his candid photographs of everyday life in New York City. Midjourney Photo Examples and Prompts Zombie attack in nightvision, if photographed by Robert Capa night vision, young boy being attacked by gaunt zombies, by Robert Capa, at dusk, wide exposure — ar 16:9 — v 5 — s 250 Photorealistic boxers, using a Canon 5D Mark IV A photorealistic image of an action shot, boxers in a boxing ring punching each other with spit in the air, in color, Canon 5D Mark IV, with a wide dynamic range and a high shutter speed — ar 16:9 — v 5 — s 250 Double exposure of lion and mountains portrait, lion and mountains with birds and sky, double exposure — ar 16:9 — v 5 — s 250 Detailed product photography of juicy fruit Commercial photography, a powerful explosion of water under slices of grapefruit, with studio light, high resolution photography, hyper-detailed, on bright orange isolated gradient, professional color grading, white lighting, 8k, octane rendering, fine luster — ar 16:9 — v 5 — s 250 Cinematic still of a hero in a local market cinematic movie still, teenage superhero in a colorful local food and clothing market, in Turkey, golden hour, wide angle — ar 16:9 — v 5 — s 250 Street photography of refugees street photography, refugees, green eyes, barb wire background, high contrast, contour light, depth of field, ultra detail, dark tone, bokeh — ar 16:9 — v 5 — s 250 Corporate headshot with Vermeer lighting headshot portrait, female executive, vermeer lighting, DLSR, 85mm lens, f 1.2 aperture — ar 16:9 — v 5 — s 250 Glossary of Photography Terms for Midjourney Aperture priority is a shooting mode where you set the aperture and the camera automatically sets the shutter speed. This is a good mode to use when you want to control the depth of field. Shutter priority is a shooting mode where you set the shutter speed and the camera automatically sets the aperture. This is a good mode to use when you want to control the motion blur. Manual mode is a shooting mode where you set both the aperture and the shutter speed. This is a good mode to use when you want to have complete control over the exposure of your photos. Program mode is a shooting mode where the camera automatically sets both the aperture and the shutter speed. This is a good mode to use when you want to let the camera make the decisions. Scene modes are pre-programmed shooting modes that are designed for specific types of photography. For example, there are scene modes for portraits, landscapes, and sports. White balance is a setting that controls the color temperature of your photos. The correct white balance will make your photos look natural. ISO is a setting that controls the sensitivity of your camera’s sensor to light. A higher ISO will make your photos brighter, but it will also introduce more noise. Focus is the process of making sure that the part of your photo that you want to be sharp is in focus. There are different ways to focus your camera, such as using the autofocus feature or manually focusing. Composition is the arrangement of elements in your photo. A good composition will make your photo look more visually appealing. Exposure is the overall brightness of your photo. A good exposure will make your photo look well-lit and balanced. Contrast is the difference between the lightest and darkest parts of your photo. A good contrast will make your photo look more dynamic. Saturation is the intensity of the colors in your photo. A good saturation will make your photo look more vibrant. Sharpness is the clarity of your photo. A sharp photo will have clear details. Noise is unwanted graininess in your photo. Noise can be caused by a high ISO or a long exposure. Color grading is the process of adjusting the colors in your photo. Color grading can be used to create a specific mood or atmosphere in your photo. Black and white photography is a type of photography that uses only black and white colors. Black and white photography can be used to create a more dramatic or artistic look. HDR photography is a type of photography that combines multiple photos with different exposures to create a photo with a wider range of tones. HDR photography can be used to create photos with more detail and contrast. Panoramic photography is a type of photography that combines multiple photos to create a wide-angle image. Panoramic photography can be used to capture landscapes or other large scenes. Macro photography is a type of photography that focuses on small objects. Macro photography can be used to capture the beauty of small things, such as insects or flowers. Night photography is a type of photography that is taken at night. Night photography can be challenging, but it can also be very rewarding. Abstract photography is a type of photography that does not conform to traditional rules of composition or subject matter. Abstract photography can be used to express the photographer’s creativity and imagination. That’s all for now — hope you enjoyed it!