Realistic portraits fail in two reliable ways: plastic AI skin and dead eyes. Both come from the same root — the prompt never specifies lens, lighting, skin texture, and gaze, so the model falls back on its smoothed-out average face. Below are 10 gender-neutral templates plus the 7-layer structure that produces magazine-grade output on the three models worth using in June 2026: Midjourney V8.1, Flux 2 Pro, and Nano Banana 2.
TL;DR
- Write four layers every time: subject, skin texture, lighting direction, and lens + f-stop. These four kill most of the AI look on their own.
natural skin texture with visible poresplus a named light direction (Rembrandt, loop, split) removes the bulk of “plastic skin.”- Pick by model: Flux 2 Pro for the most accurate skin and hands, Midjourney V8.1 for editorial atmosphere, Nano Banana 2 when you need the same face across several shots.
- The 10 templates below are copy-ready. Swap the bracketed subject details and keep the technical layers intact.
What a high-quality prompt should contain
A stable realistic-portrait prompt has seven layers. The first four are non-negotiable:
- Subject: age, expression, pose — replace vague adjectives with concrete cues
- Skin texture:
natural skin texture with visible pores— removes most of the AI look - Lighting: Rembrandt / loop / butterfly / split — name the direction the light comes from
- Lens: 50mm / 85mm / 35mm plus an f-stop — controls depth of field and facial compression
- Background:
plain neutral grey/north-facing window/studio seamless— specifics beat “nice background” - Film / grade:
Kodak Portra 400/Tri-X/Fuji 400H— a real film stock reads better than “vintage” - Aspect:
--ar 4:5portraits,--ar 21:9cinema,--ar 1:1social
Which model for realistic portraits (June 2026)
Three models lead for human faces right now. They behave differently, so the same prompt will not land identically on each.
| Model | Strongest at | Entry price (June 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flux 2 Pro (Black Forest Labs) | Skin pores, hands, anatomy, fabric draping | API / per-image (no fixed plan) | Most literal; renders in ~15–30s; best technical realism |
| Midjourney V8.1 | Cinematic atmosphere, lighting wrap, “looks-finished” output | Basic $10/mo ($8 annual) | Default version since June 2026; add --v 8.1 --style raw --s 50 for photoreal |
| Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) | Character consistency across runs, up to 4K | API / per-image, scaled by resolution (higher at 4K) | Released Feb 2026; accepts multiple reference images to lock a face |
Practical rule: roll the Flux 2 Pro and Midjourney V8.1 versions of the same prompt and pick the better frame. Use Nano Banana 2 with a reference image when you need one person to appear in multiple shots without their face drifting.
The --ar and --style flags in the templates below are Midjourney syntax. On Flux 2 Pro and Nano Banana 2, drop the flags and set aspect ratio in the interface instead — the descriptive layers carry over verbatim.
10 copy-ready prompt templates
1. Professional headshot base
Best for: LinkedIn headshot, brand bio
A 30-year-old person, calm confident expression, natural skin texture with visible pores, soft Rembrandt key light from camera-left, plain neutral grey backdrop, 85mm portrait, f/2.8, sharp eyes, half body, --ar 4:52. Cinematic portrait
Best for: Editorial, personal-brand visual
A 35-year-old person looking off-frame, brooding expression, anamorphic 35mm cinematic look, dim practical streetlight from behind, magenta neon reflection on cheekbone, shallow depth of field, --ar 21:93. Natural-light lifestyle
Best for: Lifestyle brand, blog hero
A person sitting by a north-facing window, soft overcast daylight, slight three-quarter angle, gentle smile, 50mm f/1.8, shot on Kodak Portra 400, warm muted palette, --ar 4:54. Genuine laugh close-up
Best for: Ad campaigns, family portraits
Close-up portrait of a person mid-laugh, eyes crinkled, natural light from a soft overcast sky, 85mm f/1.4, ultra-shallow depth of field, slight catchlight in eyes, --ar 1:15. B&W editorial
Best for: Magazine cover, fine-art portfolio
Editorial black-and-white portrait of a person, single hard key light from above, deep shadows under jaw, neutral expression, smoke haze in air, 85mm f/2.8, --ar 4:56. Golden-hour backlight
Best for: Wedding, romantic shoots
Outdoor backlit portrait of a person, golden hour sun haloing the hair, soft fill from a white bounce, slight lens flare, 85mm f/1.8, warm golden palette, --ar 4:57. Documentary portrait
Best for: Feature stories, character studies
Documentary-style portrait of a tradesperson in their workspace, wearing work clothes, focused expression, natural workshop light with single soft window, 35mm f/2, slight film grain, --ar 3:28. High-key beauty
Best for: Cosmetic ad, brand endorsement
High-key beauty portrait of a person, plain white seamless background, soft beauty dish above and a reflector below, ultra-clean skin texture, sharp eyelashes, 100mm macro, f/8, --ar 4:59. Environmental (library)
Best for: Author / academic profile
Environmental portrait of a person standing in a vintage library, warm tungsten lamp light, dust motes in air, three-quarter pose, calm expression, 35mm f/2.8, --ar 4:510. Studio fashion
Best for: Brand campaign, comp card
Studio fashion portrait of a person against a deep teal painted backdrop, large softbox key from camera-right, hair-light from behind, sharp jaw shadow, 85mm f/4, --ar 4:5Common mistakes
- Vague adjectives (
beautiful,gorgeous) — the model can’t translate them into lighting or pose - No lighting direction — output looks flat, plastic, and lit from nowhere
- Skipping focal length — the default ~50mm enlarges the nose at portrait distance
- Buzzword spam (
8k, ultra-realistic, photorealistic) — adds noise, not detail; on Midjourney V8.1 it often fights--style raw - Stacking multiple film stocks — the palettes fight each other
How to push results further
- For crisp pupils: add
sharp eyes, catchlight in eyes - For magazine vibe: add
editorial portrait, magazine cover quality - For consistent skin: in-paint the face separately (Flux 2 Pro inpainting) instead of re-rolling from scratch
- For a “real person” look: negative-prompt
plastic skin, doll-like, airbrushed - To keep hair detail: add
flyaway hair, individual hair strands - On Midjourney V8.1: append
--v 8.1 --style raw --s 50to suppress its built-in stylization and stay literal
FAQ
Q: Why does AI skin look so plastic?
A: The prompt didn’t ask for texture, so the model smooths everything. Add natural skin texture with visible pores, avoid smooth skin, and negative-prompt airbrushed, plastic skin. Flux 2 Pro renders pores most realistically of the three current models.
Q: Why do the eyes always look off?
A: Usually no gaze direction. Add looking directly at camera, looking off-frame to the left, or looking down, plus catchlight in eyes so the pupils read as alive rather than glassy.
Q: Midjourney V8.1, Flux 2 Pro, or Nano Banana 2 for real people?
A: As of June 2026, Flux 2 Pro leads on skin pores, hands, and anatomy; Midjourney V8.1 wins on cinematic atmosphere and “finished” feel; Nano Banana 2 is the one to use when you need the same face across several images, since it can lock a subject from several reference photos. Roll the first two and pick the stronger frame.
Q: How do I avoid the “Instagram face” default?
A: Combine skeletal cues (high cheekbones, soft jawline) with real-person imperfections (subtle freckles, slight asymmetry). Imperfection reads as real; flawless symmetry reads as AI.
Q: Do the --ar flags work on Flux 2 Pro and Nano Banana 2?
A: No. --ar and --style are Midjourney syntax. On Flux 2 Pro and Nano Banana 2, delete the flags and set the aspect ratio in the interface; everything before the flags transfers unchanged.
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- Environmental Portrait Prompts: Backgrounds That Tell a Story
- Professional Headshot Prompts
- Realistic Portrait Lighting Prompts: Window Light & Rembrandt Templates
- Lighting cheat sheet — Rembrandt / Loop / Split
- Fixing distorted AI faces
- Back to Prompt Library