Start with the job
A useful image prompt starts with the intended output, not with decorative adjectives.
- Name the image type: product photo, poster, avatar, cover, interior scene.
- Add where it will be used: ecommerce listing, social post, campaign hero, profile picture.
- Keep one primary subject per generation when precision matters.
Add visual constraints
Constraints make the image easier to steer and easier to improve after the first generation.
- Describe composition, camera angle, lighting, material, color palette, and background.
- Mention aspect ratio and crop when the output has a known placement.
- Use style references as modifiers, not as the whole prompt.
Iterate like a designer
After one output, adjust the prompt with specific deltas instead of rewriting everything.
- Change one layer at a time: lighting, crop, mood, or background.
- Keep working parts of the prompt stable.
- Save strong prompt patterns as reusable examples.