TL;DR: Make Good Images Fast

Start here: Describe what you see in your head + one style reference Common mistake: Writing novels. Keep prompts short and clear. Reality: First attempts won't be perfect. That's normal. Adjust and try again. Time to first good image:10-15 minutes if you follow this guide

Most image prompt guides are overwhelming. They throw technical terms and complicated examples at beginners.

You don't need that yet. You need to make one decent image. Then another. Then you'll figure out the rest.

Here's how to go from zero to your first 10 usable images.

Your Very First Prompt

The formula: [What you want] in [style reference]

Example: "Professional headshot in Peter Hurley style"

That's it. Type that into Midjourney or Nano Banana and hit generate.

You'll get something decent. Not perfect, but decent.

Why this works: Describes the subject + gives a style reference the AI understands.

Understanding What You Get

Your first image will probably:

• Be close to what you wanted

• Have some weird thing you didn't expect

• Need adjustments

That's normal. Nobody gets perfect images first try.

Next step: Look at what's wrong and fix it in the next prompt.

10 Beginner Prompts (Copy These)

1. Professional Headshot

For Nano Banana:

What to expect: Clean professional photo good for LinkedIn or company website

If it's wrong: Too formal? Add "approachable and relaxed" Too casual? Add "corporate professional"

2. Product Photo

For Midjourney:

What to expect: Clean product shot you could use for e-commerce

If it's wrong: Shadows too harsh? Add "soft diffused lighting" Angle weird? Add "straight-on view" or "45-degree angle"

3. Social Media Profile Pic

For Nano Banana:

What to expect: Approachable social media photo

If it's wrong: Too dark? Add "bright natural light" Too serious? Add "genuine warm smile"

4. Dating Profile Photo

For Nano Banana:

What to expect: Approachable photo good for dating apps

Nano Banana tip: This is what it's designed for. Usually works well first try.

5. Simple Illustration

For Midjourney:

What to expect: Clean simple illustration for blog post or presentation

If it's wrong: Too complex? Add "very simple, minimal detail" Wrong colors? Add "pastel colors" or "muted tones"

6. Social Media Post Image

For Midjourney:

What to expect: Background image you can add text to

Important: Add "room for text" or "negative space" so you have space to add words

7. Blog Header Image

For Midjourney:

What to expect: Wide header image for blog post

Aspect ratio note: 16:9 is wide format good for headers

8. Team Photo Placeholder

For Nano Banana:

What to expect: Professional photo for team page

Multiple people: Generate individually, not group shots (AI struggles with multiple faces)

9. Book Cover Background

For Midjourney:

What to expect: Background you can add text on top of

Color control: Add "blue tones" or "warm colors" to control palette

10. YouTube Thumbnail

For Midjourney:

What to expect: Bold background for thumbnail

Thumbnail needs: High contrast, bright, simple (won't add your face or text, just background)

Making Your Prompt Better

If your first try isn't right:

Add More Details

Basic: "Portrait of woman" Better: "Portrait of woman, 30s, confident expression, business casual, office background"

Each detail helps: Age range, expression, clothing, setting

Specify The Style

Basic: "Product photo" Better: "Product photo in Apple commercial style, minimalist, lots of white space"

Style references that work:

• "Apple commercial style" (clean minimal)

• "Magazine photography" (professional polished)

• "Instagrammable" (bright, aesthetic)

• "Professional stock photo" (clean, neutral)

Control The Lighting

Basic: "Portrait" Better: "Portrait, soft natural window light from left, warm afternoon feel"

Lighting terms:

• "Soft natural light" (flattering, no harsh shadows)

• "Bright even lighting" (clear and well-lit)

• "Warm golden hour light" (sunset vibe)

• "Studio lighting" (controlled professional)

Set The Background

Basic: "Headshot" Better: "Headshot, neutral gray background, slightly blurred, subject sharp"

Background options:

• "White background" (clean product photos)

• "Blurred office background" (professional context)

• "Neutral gray" (won't distract)

• "Natural outdoor setting" (casual relaxed)

Common Beginner Mistakes

Mistake 1: Prompt Too Long

Doesn't work: "I need a professional corporate headshot of a confident business professional in their 30s wearing a dark blue suit with a white shirt and subtle tie looking directly at camera with a genuine smile not too big not too small in an office setting with modern decor and natural lighting coming from the left side with a slightly blurred background that's not distracting..."

Problem: AI gets confused with too much detail. Picks random parts to focus on.

Fix: "Professional headshot, 30s, dark suit, genuine smile, modern office background slightly blurred"

Rule: Under 30 words for beginners. Add more later when you know what you're doing.

Mistake 2: No Style Reference

Doesn't work: "Photo of person"

Problem: AI doesn't know what kind of photo. Stock photo? Artistic? Casual? Corporate?

Fix: Add one style descriptor: "Professional headshot" or "Casual portrait" or "Editorial fashion photo"

Mistake 3: Expecting Perfection First Try

Reality: You'll generate 3-5 versions before getting what you want.

First try: Usually 60-70% right Second try: Fix the main problem, 80% right Third try: Close enough to use or keep refining

This is normal. Even experienced users iterate.

Mistake 4: Wrong Tool

Midjourney better for:

• Product photos

• Illustrations

• Backgrounds

• Artistic images

• Anything not portrait-focused

Nano Banana better for:

• Headshots

• Dating photos

• LinkedIn pictures

• Any photo where face is main subject

Using wrong tool: You'll fight it and get mediocre results

Adjusting Your Images

What to change based on results:

If too dark: Add "bright lighting" or "well-lit" If too light/washed out: Add "rich colors" or "good contrast" If background distracts: Add "blurred background" or "simple background" If too busy: Add "simple" or "minimal" or "clean" If boring: Add style reference like "editorial style" or "artistic" If wrong angle: Add "straight on" or "side view" or "overhead view"

Platform-Specific Tips

Midjourney

Typing your prompt: In Discord, type /imagine then your prompt

Aspect ratio: Add --ar 16:9 for wide, --ar 1:1 for square, --ar 9:16 for vertical

Example: /imagine professional product photo --ar 1:1

Getting variations: Click the V buttons under image you like to get variations of that style

Nano Banana

Focus: Best for portraits. Don't fight it with non-portrait prompts.

Default: Automatically makes portraits look good. Less manual control needed.

Speed: Usually faster than Midjourney for headshots

Your First Session Checklist

Before you start:

• [ ] Picked which tool (Midjourney for products/illustrations, Nano Banana for portraits)

• [ ] Wrote simple prompt (under 30 words)

• [ ] Included style reference

• [ ] Ready to try 3-5 times

After first image:

• [ ] Identify what's wrong (lighting, background, style, angle)

• [ ] Adjust prompt with one specific fix

• [ ] Try again

Getting better:

• [ ] Save prompts that work

• [ ] Note what changes made it better

• [ ] Build up your prompt library

What To Learn Next

After your first 10 good images:

1. Lighting control: Learn specific lighting terms

2. Aspect ratios: Master different image sizes

3. Style mixing: Combine multiple style references

4. Advanced parameters: Tool-specific settings

5. Negative prompts: Telling AI what NOT to include

But not yet. Get comfortable with basics first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long until I make good images?

With this guide: First decent image in 10-15 minutes. Consistently good images after making 20-30 total.

Do I need to know technical terms?

Not yet. "Soft lighting" and "blurred background" are enough to start.

Why don't my images look like examples I see online?

Those people made 50 versions and showed you the best one. You're comparing your first try to their best result.

Can I use these images commercially?

Check each tool's terms. Generally yes for Midjourney. Nano Banana varies by plan.

What if I hate everything I generate?

Either: (1) Your prompt isn't specific enough, (2) You're using wrong tool for the task, or (3) Your idea is too complex for your current skill. Try simpler prompts first.

Should I take a course?

No. Make 50 images following this guide. You'll learn more by doing than by watching tutorials.

How do I make images look more realistic?

Add "photorealistic" or "looks like real photo" to prompt. Some tools better at this than others.

Can I edit the images after?

Yes. Use regular photo editing tools. AI makes the base, you can edit like any photo.

Related Reading

More Advanced:

• Midjourney & DALL-E Image Prompts 2026: From Concept to Perfect Visual Output

Fixing Problems:

• Image Generation Prompt Mistakes 2026: Why Your Midjourney & Nano Banana Prompts Fail

Tool Choice:

• Midjourney vs Nano Banana 2026: Which Image AI Is Better?

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