📸 The Secret to “Un-AI” Your AI: 5 Prompts for Photorealistic Images
We’ve all seen it: the over-saturated colors, the weirdly smooth skin, and the “plastic” look that screams AI. But what if you could prompt your way back to reality?
The trick isn’t just asking for “realism”—it’s about describing the imperfections of a camera lens and the raw honesty of natural light. To help you level up your creative game, I’m sharing 5 of my go-to prompts designed to create images that look like they were captured on film, not calculated by a GPU.
Why These Prompts Work:
- Embrace the Grain: Digital perfection is a giveaway. These prompts focus on texture and film stock.
- Natural Lighting: We’re ditching the “studio glow” for candid, atmospheric light.
- Human Detail: No more airbrushed faces. We’re aiming for real skin textures and candid expressions.
Whether you’re a designer, a marketer, or just an AI enthusiast, these prompts will help you bridge the gap between “generated” and “genuine.”
PROMPT 1:
HD face clarity even withstrong grain CAMERA &ANGLE· Low-angle POV (camera slightly below face level)· Medium close-up· Subject sitting cross-legged on bed,hands resting loosely on knees· Camera angled upward slightly·Casual handheld feel
SUBJECT &EXPRESSION· Young South Asian woman· Direct but gentle gaze· Calm, intimate, slightly introspective expression· Natural, unforced posture
OUTFIT &ACCESSORIES Soft pastel ethnic kurti or blouse·Subtle sequin or shimmer details·Jhumkas Minimal bangles·Hair naturally untied, slightly tangled
FLASH& LIGHTING·Strong direct flashfrom camera· Face illuminated brightly· Background drops into darkness· Harsh shadows on bedding· Strong vignette around edges
BACKGROUND &ROOM DETAILS· Bedroom setting Layered pillows and fabrics Plain wall or headboard behind·Dark corners due to flash falloff
LO-FI/NOSTALGIC AESTHETIC Heavy digital grain·CCD sensor texture· Slight blur on edges· Warmnostalgic color cast MEMORY DETAILS·Orange digital date stampon frame·Timestamp slightly misaligned·Old personal photo feeling MOOD Intimate ·Quiet· Nostalgic· Emotional but calm
STRICT DO-NOT RULES Do NOT alter face·DO NOT smooth skin·Do NOT remove grain· DO NOT modernize lighting·DO NOT stylize like cinema.
PROMPT 2:-
HD face clarity even with heavy grain CAMERA & ANGLE· Low-to-mid angle POV Medium close-up·Subject sitting on bed withknees drawn up, arms loosely wrapped around legs Camera positioned slightly below eye level·Casual handheld framing
SUBJECT & EXPRESSION Young Asian woman· Direct but soft gaze into camera·Calm, vulnerable, introspective expression Natural, unforced body language
OUTFIT & ACCESSORIES·Soft pastel ethnic top with subtle embroidery· Matching dupatta loosely draped· Jhumkas·Minimal bangles· Hair slightly tangled, natural bedroom look FLASH& LIGHTING· Strong direct flashfrom camera· Face brightly illuminated Background falls into darkness·Harsh shadows on bedding and wall Heavy vignette
BACKGROUND & SET· Bedroom interior·Textured bedsheets and cushions· Plain wall or fabric backdrop·Corners darkened naturally by flash
LO-FI/NOSTALGIC AESTHETIC· Strong filmgrain CCD digital camera texture·Slight blur at edges·Warm tone bias Imperfect realism NOSTALGIC DETAILS.Orange digital date stamp· Timestamp
slightly off-center Old memory photo feeling MOOD· Quiet·Emotional·Nostalgic· Late-night solitude STRICT DO-NOT RULES:- DO NOT alter face· Do NOT smooth skin· DO NOT remove grain· DO NOT modernize lighting DO NOT change pose concept.
PROMPT #3
Face must remain 100% identical to referenceimage· No reshaping, no smoothing, no Al face·Natural skin texture preserved·Real human imperfections allowed·HD face clarity despite grain CAMERA & ANGLE Slight high-angle POV·Medium close-up·Subject reclining on back, proppe dupon one elbow· Camera tilted slightly off-center (imperfect framing)·Casual, handheld feel
SUBJECT& EXPRESSION Young Asian woman·Direct but softaze into camera·Calm, intimate, slightly vulnerable expression· Natural, unposed body language
OUTFIT &ACCESSORIES· Pastel lavender or soft pink sequined ethnic outfit· Traditional jhumkas· Thin bangles on wrist·Hair loose, messy, natural
LIGHTINGSTYLE· Strong direct flash from camera Face brightly lit, background drops into darkness
·Harsh flash shadows under chin and jawline·Deep
vignette around frame edges
BACKGROUND & ROOM DETAILS Bedroom with mixed fabrics and pillows Beige or cream lamp softly visible· Wooden textures or plain wall behind Blackened corners fromflashfalloff
TEXTURE &LO-FILOOK Heavy filmgrain Low-resolution CCD texture· Slight blur atedges·Warm color cast·Imperfectexposure
NOSTALGIC ELEMENTS· Orange digital date stamp on frame ·Slight timestampglow · Early digital camera memory feel
MOOD Nostalgic Intimate· Quiet Personal diary energy ·Late-night lo-fimemory
STRICT DO-NOT RULES· Do NOT alter face, DO NOT smooth skin· Do NOT remove grain, Do
NOT stylize like cinematic film
PROMPT #4
Create a nostalgic lo-fi flash portrait witharaw CCD-camera vibe,
captured insideaquiet bedroom atnight. FACE & IDENTITY (ABSOLUTE LOCK)·Face must match the reference 100% exactly· Preserve original facial proportions,eyes, nose, lips,jawline· Natural skin texture, pores, fine details visible· No cartoon face· No Al-generated facial style·HD face clarity-face must be sharp even with grain
CAMERA & ANGLE High-angle POV Medium close-up framing·Subject lying sideways on the bed, head resting slightly on pillow· Camera positioned above, looking down diagonally Intimate, personal framing
SUBJECT & EXPRESSION· Young South Asian woman·Soft, calm, intimate gaze toward camera Relaxed lips, emotionally present expression·No exaggerated posing
OUTFIT & STYLING Pastel peach or blush chiffon ethnic wear· Subtle gold zari or sequin detailing· Traditional jhumkas and thin bangles·Hair long, slightly messy, naturally spread on bedding
LIGHTING Hard on-camera flash· Flash directly illuminating face and upper body· Harsh shadows
fall naturally behind subject Deep vignette around edges·
Background remains dark BACKGROUND & SET Bedroom environment·Floral bedsheet and layered textiles· Wooden or fabric headboard partially visible· Warm beige or brown lampin background (dim, not bright)
TEXTURE & AESTHETIC Heavy lo-fi grain·CCD/early digitalcamera texture· Slight color noise· Warmnostalgic tones·Imperfect, raw, emotional realism EXTRA DETAILS·Orange digital date stampin one corner (early 2000s style)·Slight lens falloff ·Nomodern cinematic polish MOOD·
Intimate ·Nostalgic Quiet ·Personal Late-night memory feel STRICT DO-NOT RULES DO NOT change face·
Do NOT beautify skin.
DO NOT remove grain·
DO NOT brighten background
DO NOT add modern cinematic lighting
What do you think? Do these look like the real deal to you, or can you still spot the bot? Let me know in the comments!