# How to Use Sora Prompts: Complete Beginner Guide 2026

**TL;DR:** Using Sora prompts effectively requires understanding prompt structure (subject + action + setting + style), being specific about visual details, using cinematography terminology, and iterating based on results. Start simple, add detail gradually, and use this guide's proven templates for professional AI video generation from your first attempt.

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## What is Sora and How Does It Work?

### Sora Basics

**What Sora Does**

Text-to-video AI. Converts written descriptions into video clips. Up to 20 seconds currently. Understands physics, movement, lighting. Creates professional-quality output.

**How It Understands Prompts**

Natural language processing. Interprets descriptions. Recognizes objects, actions, styles. Understands cinematography terms. Generates based on training data. Learning continuously.

**What Makes Good Prompts**

Specific details. Clear descriptions. Visual language. Cinematography terms. Style references. Appropriate length. Logical structure.

**Common Misconceptions**

Not magic - needs good prompts. Can't read minds. Specificity matters. Technical terms help. Iteration often needed. Learning curve exists.

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## Step 1: Understanding Prompt Structure

### The Essential Formula

**Subject + Action + Setting + Style + Technical Details**

**Subject (Who/What)**

Main focus of video. Person, animal, object. Character description. Age, appearance, clothing. Identity clear.

**Action (What's Happening)**

Movement or activity. Verb-driven. Dynamic description. Change over time. Story element. Energy level.

**Setting (Where)**

Location and environment. Indoor/outdoor. Specific place. Time of day. Weather conditions. Background details.

**Style (How It Looks)**

Visual aesthetic. Film reference. Art style. Mood and tone. Color palette. Lighting quality.

**Technical Details (Camera/Quality)**

Camera angles. Movement type. Lens choice. Depth of field. Frame rate. Resolution hints.

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## Step 2: Writing Your First Prompt

### Beginner Template

**Basic Structure:**

"[Subject description] [doing action] in [setting], [style reference], [camera detail]"

**Example 1 - Simple:**

"A golden retriever puppy playing in snow, cinematic 35mm film, shallow depth of field"

**Example 2 - More Detail:**

"A young woman walking down Tokyo street filled with neon signs, wearing black leather jacket and red dress, night time, cinematic style, handheld camera following"

**Example 3 - Full Detail:**

"An elderly man in his 60s sitting at Parisian café, deep in thought, wearing wool coat and beret, golden afternoon light, people walking in background, cinematic 35mm film, depth of field"

### Start Simple, Add Detail

**First Attempt - Minimal:**

"Cat playing with yarn"

**Second Attempt - Better:**

"Tabby cat playing with red yarn ball on wooden floor"

**Third Attempt - Professional:**

"Curious tabby cat with green eyes batting at red yarn ball on warm wooden floor, afternoon sunlight streaming through window, close-up shot, shallow depth of field"

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## Step 3: Essential Elements to Include

### Subject Description

**For People:**

- Age range ("young woman," "elderly man," "child")

- Appearance ("blonde hair," "beard," "tall")

- Clothing ("wearing red dress," "business suit," "casual jeans")

- Expression ("smiling," "contemplative," "excited")

- Action ("walking," "sitting," "running")

**For Animals:**

- Species and breed ("golden retriever," "tabby cat")

- Size and age ("puppy," "kitten," "large dog")

- Color/markings ("white with brown spots")

- Behavior ("playing," "sleeping," "hunting")

**For Objects:**

- Specific type ("vintage car," "modern building")

- Material ("wooden," "glass," "metal")

- Condition ("new," "weathered," "pristine")

- Size and scale ("massive," "tiny," "towering")

### Action and Movement

**Dynamic Verbs:**

- Walking, running, jumping, flying

- Sitting, standing, leaning, resting

- Playing, working, creating, building

- Looking, watching, observing, staring

**Movement Description:**

- Speed ("slowly," "quickly," "gracefully")

- Direction ("toward camera," "away," "left to right")

- Style ("confident stride," "nervous pacing")

- Energy ("energetic," "calm," "frantic")

### Setting and Environment

**Location Specifics:**

- Exact place ("Tokyo street," "Paris café," "New York subway")

- Environment type ("urban," "rural," "natural")

- Interior/exterior ("inside cozy cabin," "outdoor meadow")

- Scale ("vast landscape," "intimate room")

**Environmental Details:**

- Time of day ("golden hour," "midnight," "dawn")

- Weather ("rainy," "sunny," "snowing")

- Season ("autumn leaves," "spring flowers")

- Atmosphere ("misty," "clear," "hazy")

### Style References

**Film Styles:**

- "Cinematic 35mm film"

- "Documentary style"

- "Film noir aesthetic"

- "Wes Anderson symmetry"

- "Christopher Nolan realism"

**Art Styles:**

- "Studio Ghibli animation"

- "Pixar 3D style"

- "Vintage photograph"

- "Oil painting aesthetic"

- "Cyberpunk neon"

**Mood and Tone:**

- "Dreamy and ethereal"

- "Dark and moody"

- "Bright and cheerful"

- "Dramatic and intense"

- "Peaceful and calm"

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## Step 4: Technical Cinematography Terms

### Camera Angles

**Common Angles:**

- Eye-level (neutral, natural perspective)

- Low angle (looking up, powerful subject)

- High angle (looking down, vulnerable subject)

- Dutch angle (tilted, unstable feeling)

- Bird's eye (directly overhead)

**How to Use:**

"Shot from low angle looking up at skyscraper"

"High angle view of city streets below"

"Eye-level close-up of person's face"

### Camera Movements

**Movement Types:**

- Static (no movement, stable shot)

- Pan (horizontal rotation)

- Tilt (vertical rotation)

- Dolly (moving toward/away)

- Tracking (following subject)

- Crane (vertical movement)

- Handheld (shaky, documentary feel)

**How to Specify:**

"Camera slowly pushing in on subject"

"Tracking shot following person walking"

"Crane shot rising above landscape"

"Handheld camera for documentary feel"

### Lens and Focus

**Lens Types:**

- Wide angle (expansive view)

- Telephoto (compressed, zoomed)

- 35mm (cinematic standard)

- 50mm (natural perspective)

- Macro (extreme close-up)

**Depth of Field:**

- Shallow (blurred background, subject sharp)

- Deep (everything in focus)

- Rack focus (focus shift during shot)

**How to Use:**

"35mm lens with shallow depth of field"

"Wide angle showing entire scene"

"Macro close-up revealing detail"

### Lighting Terms

**Lighting Conditions:**

- Golden hour (warm sunset/sunrise)

- Blue hour (twilight cool tones)

- Harsh midday (strong shadows)

- Overcast (soft diffused light)

- Dramatic lighting (high contrast)

- Natural window light (soft interior)

**Lighting Setups:**

- Backlit (light behind subject)

- Rim lighting (edge highlight)

- Three-point lighting (professional)

- Chiaroscuro (dramatic light/dark)

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## Step 5: Common Mistakes to Avoid

### Too Vague

**Bad:** "Person doing something"

**Good:** "Young woman dancing energetically in rain-soaked street"

**Bad:** "Nice scenery"

**Good:** "Rolling green hills with wildflowers under golden sunset"

### Too Complicated

**Bad:** "Person walking while simultaneously juggling three flaming torches and riding a unicycle backwards through crowded marketplace during thunderstorm at midnight"

**Good:** "Street performer juggling flaming torches in evening marketplace, crowd watching"

### Contradictory Instructions

**Bad:** "Bright sunny day with heavy rain and snow"

**Good:** "Overcast day with light rain" OR "Bright sunny winter day with snow"

**Bad:** "Close-up shot showing entire landscape"

**Good:** "Wide shot of landscape" OR "Close-up of flower with landscape background"

### Missing Key Elements

**Incomplete:** "Dog"

**Better:** "Golden retriever"

**Best:** "Playful golden retriever puppy running through autumn leaves"

### Unrealistic Expectations

**Difficult:** "Person's thoughts visualized as floating abstract shapes"

**Realistic:** "Person looking thoughtful with slight smile"

**Difficult:** "Invisible ghost moving objects"

**Realistic:** "Objects mysteriously moving in empty room"

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## Step 6: Prompt Templates by Category

### Portrait/People

**Template:**

"[Age/appearance] [person] [action], wearing [clothing], [expression], [setting], [lighting], [camera angle], [style reference]"

**Example:**

"Young woman in her 20s reading book by window, wearing cozy sweater, peaceful expression, afternoon sunlight, close-up shot, cinematic 35mm film"

### Nature/Landscape

**Template:**

"[Environment type] with [specific features], [time of day], [weather], [camera movement], [visual style]"

**Example:**

"Mountain valley with flowing stream, golden hour lighting, light mist, slow drone shot rising, nature documentary style"

### Action/Sports

**Template:**

"[Athlete] [performing action], [clothing/gear], [setting], [dynamic camera], [lighting], [slow motion/normal speed]"

**Example:**

"Basketball player dunking, wearing team jersey, indoor arena, camera following action, dramatic spotlighting, slow motion"

### Animals

**Template:**

"[Specific animal] [behavior], [environment], [time of day], [camera angle], [visual style]"

**Example:**

"Curious fox exploring snowy forest, winter morning, low angle following, nature documentary cinematography"

### Urban/City

**Template:**

"[City location] with [specific details], [time], [weather], [camera movement], [style]"

**Example:**

"Tokyo street intersection with neon signs, night time, light rain, handheld camera walking through crowd, cyberpunk aesthetic"

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## Step 7: Iteration and Refinement

### Testing Process

**First Generation:**

Generate with basic prompt. Evaluate results. Note what works. Identify improvements needed.

**Second Generation:**

Add missing details. Clarify ambiguous elements. Specify technical aspects. Refine style references.

**Third Generation:**

Fine-tune specifics. Adjust emphasis. Perfect technical details. Achieve desired result.

### What to Adjust

**If Too Dark:**

Add "well-lit," "bright lighting," "golden hour," "natural light"

**If Too Static:**

Add movement: "walking," "wind blowing," "camera moving"

**If Wrong Mood:**

Adjust lighting and style: "warm tones," "cold blue," "dramatic," "peaceful"

**If Poor Composition:**

Specify camera: "centered," "rule of thirds," "symmetrical," "wide shot"

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## Step 8: Advanced Techniques

### Combining Multiple Elements

**Layered Description:**

"Subject: Elderly craftsman

Action: Carving intricate wooden sculpture

Setting: Sunlit workshop with tools hanging

Style: Documentary realism

Technical: Shallow depth of field, warm lighting, close-up hands then face"

### Style Mixing

**Acceptable Mixing:**

"Cinematic 35mm with Studio Ghibli color palette"

"Documentary style with dramatic noir lighting"

**Avoid Conflicting:**

"Realistic photographic with cartoon animation" (contradictory)

### Cultural and Period Accuracy

**Period-Specific:**

"1920s flapper dancing in speakeasy, art deco interior, period-accurate clothing, sepia tone"

**Cultural Details:**

"Traditional Japanese tea ceremony, authentic kimono, tatami mat room, respectful framing"

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## Frequently Asked Questions

**How long should prompts be?**

2-4 sentences ideal. Enough detail for clarity. Not overwhelming. Most successful prompts 30-80 words. Quality over quantity.

**Do I need cinematography knowledge?**

Helpful but not required. Basic terms improve results. Learn as you go. This guide provides essentials. Practice teaches more.

**Can I use famous people's names?**

Better to describe appearance without names. "Woman resembling classic Hollywood actress" rather than specific name. Ethical considerations.

**How specific about colors?**

Very specific helps. "Deep crimson red" better than "red." "Pale blue" better than "blue." Color precision improves accuracy.

**Should I mention frame rate?**

Optional. "Slow motion" or "time-lapse" sufficient. Sora handles technical specs. Focus on visual description.

**What if results aren't what I wanted?**

Iterate. Add specificity. Clarify ambiguous terms. Try different style references. Refine based on what Sora generated.

**Can I reference other Sora videos?**

Yes, learn from successful prompts. Adapt don't copy. Understand what made them work. Apply principles to your needs.

**How do I make videos more cinematic?**

Add "cinematic 35mm film," specify camera movements, use cinematography terms, reference film styles, describe lighting carefully.

**Is there a character limit?**

Platform dependent. Generally aim for concise. Most effective prompts under 100 words. Clarity over length.

**Can I edit prompts after generating?**

Learn from results. Note what works. Refine for next generation. Iterative process improves skills.

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## Conclusion

Using Sora prompts effectively requires understanding structure (subject + action + setting + style), being specific with visual details, using cinematography terminology, and iterating based on results. Start with simple templates, gradually add detail, and refine through testing.

Success comes from clear communication with AI, learning technical vocabulary, understanding what makes good visual storytelling, and practicing consistently. Every prompt teaches something. Every generation improves understanding.

The formula for Sora success: Specific Description + Cinematography Terms + Style References + Iteration = Professional Results. Master these fundamentals and your first videos will impress. Continue practicing and you'll create professional-quality content consistently.

**Continue your Sora learning:**

- Best Sora Prompts - 100+ tested examples for inspiration

- Sora Cinematic Prompts - Professional camera techniques

- Sora Prompt Guide - Advanced optimization strategies