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Best Prompts for Image Generation ChatGPT — Portraits Using Lighting Techniques
12 copy-ready, practical prompts for generating high-quality portrait images that demonstrate specific lighting techniques. Each entry includes a concise explanation, a realistic example, and recommended AIs for best results.
Claude Opus 4
Gemini 2.5 Pro
GPT-5
Claude Sonnet 4
Gemini 2.5 Flash
You've probably spent hours tweaking AI prompts, only to get portraits that look flat, poorly lit, or just plain amateur. The lighting looks off, the shadows fall in all the wrong places, and you're left wondering why your generated images don't have that professional polish you see everywhere else. It's frustrating when you know exactly what you want but can't seem to communicate it to the AI.
These 12 expertly crafted prompts give you the exact lighting terminology and technical details that AI image generators understand best. Each prompt targets a specific professional lighting technique, from classic Rembrandt lighting to cinematic low-key setups, complete with angle specifications and style descriptions that produce consistently stunning results. Instead of generic portraits, you'll generate images with intentional lighting that rivals professional photography studios.
1
Rembrandt Lighting — Classic Painterly Portrait
Rembrandt lighting portrait of a dignified 60-year-old South Asian woman, subtle smile, textured dark wool cardigan, soft skin detail, key light at 45° above right creating Rembrandt triangle on left cheek, small silver reflector on left for gentle fill, dark mottled studio background, 85mm lens, f/1.8, ISO 100, 1/160s, natural color tones, film-emulation, 3:4 aspect, ultra-detailed skin texture, cinematic shadow separation
Use a single key light at ~45° above and to the side to create the Rembrandt triangle and soft shadow modeling for a classic, painterly look.
2
Butterfly (Paramount) Lighting — Glamour Headshot
Butterfly lighting glamour portrait of a 28-year-old East Asian woman, softbox directly above and slightly in front of camera, beauty dish hair light, minimal fill, flawless makeup, glossy lips, smooth skin retouch style, 50mm lens, f/1.4, ISO 100, 1/200s, high-key white background, soft specular highlights, 4:5 aspect, fashion editorial quality
Center-high key light above camera creates butterfly shadow under the nose for classic glamour and smooth facial contours.
3
Split Lighting — Intense, Dramatic Portrait
Split lighting portrait of a 35-year-old White male actor, hard light positioned 90° to camera, one side fully lit, opposite side in deep shadow, matte black background, strong jaw emphasis, 50mm lens, f/2.8, ISO 200, 1/200s, low-key contrast, deep blacks, gritty film texture, 3:4 aspect, intense moody expression
Place the key light at 90° to split the face into light and shadow for strong, dramatic character portraits.
4
Loop Lighting with Soft Window Light — Natural Portrait
Loop lighting portrait of a 22-year-old mixed-race woman seated by a large north-facing window, soft diffused daylight at 35° creating a small loop shadow under nose, white reflector at chin level for fill, cozy living-room background slightly out of focus, 35mm lens, f/2.0, ISO 200, 1/160s, warm but natural color grading, 3:4 aspect, candid relaxed pose
Use a large window as key at a 30–45° angle to create loop lighting with soft shadows and natural, flattering tones.
5
Rim Backlight — Hair and Edge Separation
Rim-lit portrait of a 30-year-old Black woman with natural afro, strong warm backlight behind subject creating bright hair rim, soft front fill for facial visibility, black seamless background, 135mm lens, f/2.0, ISO 100, 1/200s, shallow depth of field, high-detail hair texture, editorial look, 3:4 aspect
Place a strong back/rim light to outline the subject and create separation from the background; ideal for hair detail and dramatic silhouettes.
6
Three-Point Studio Lighting — Clean Professional Headshot
Three-point studio-lit headshot of a 33-year-old Hispanic woman, soft key at 45°, subtle fill at camera axis, hair light from above behind to separate from background, neutral mid-gray backdrop, 105mm lens, f/2.8, ISO 100, 1/160s, natural skin tones, crisp eyes, minimal retouch, 4:5 aspect, confident expression
Classic headshot setup with key, fill, and hair light for even, professional results. Good for corporate or actor headshots.
7
Chiaroscuro — Painterly Dramatic Portrait
Chiaroscuro portrait inspired by Baroque painting of a 48-year-old White woman, single hard key from upper left, near-black background, strong falloff to deep shadow, warm highlights, oil-paint texture emulation, 50mm lens, f/1.8, ISO 100, 1/200s, high dynamic contrast, 3:4 aspect, contemplative expression
High-contrast, directional lighting with deep shadows and bright highlights to produce a dramatic, painterly effect reminiscent of Old Masters.
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