21 Gemini Prompts to Turn Your Ordinary Photo into Stunning Portrait
Portrait photography has always been special to me. There’s something magical about capturing the essence of a person in a single frame. But what if I told you that your everyday photos could become incredible portraits with just the right prompt?
Google’s new nano banana image model in Gemini has changed the game completely. This model is surprisingly good at photo editing, and I’ve been testing it extensively. The results genuinely impressed me.
Getting started is simple. Head over to gemini.google.com, start a new chat, upload your photo, and try any of these prompts I’ve tested. Each one creates a different mood and style.
Following is the photo I used here as reference. As you see, the photo is just an ordinary one.
Professional Portraits
1. Classic Corporate Headshot
Prompt: Transform this photo into a professional headshot with right pose. The subject should be wearing a sharp, dark-colored blazer against a softly blurred, neutral-toned office background. The lighting should be bright and flattering, creating a confident and approachable look.
Perfect for LinkedIn profiles and business websites. This prompt creates that polished, executive look everyone needs.
2. Modern Business Portrait
Prompt: Recreate this image as a corporate-style portrait with right pose and facing straight to the camera. The individual should be in modern business attire, standing in a well-lit, contemporary architectural setting. The overall mood should be professional and forward-thinking.
Great for company websites and professional marketing materials. The contemporary setting adds a fresh, modern touch.
3. Warm Author Headshot
Prompt: Turn this picture into a warm and inviting author’s headshot. The person should be in a cozy, book-lined study, wearing a comfortable knit sweater. The lighting should be soft and natural, as if coming from a nearby window.
This works beautifully for writers, academics, or anyone wanting a more approachable professional image.
4. Sophisticated Executive Portrait
Prompt: Generate a powerful and sophisticated portrait with the person in a stylish, tailored suit. The setting should be a minimalist, upscale interior with clean lines. The lighting should be studio-quality, creating a polished and refined look.
When you need to project authority and success, this prompt delivers that high-end executive vibe.
Creative Portraits
5. Cinematic Street Portrait
Prompt: Transform this photo into a cinematic portrait with right pose and attire. The subject should be facing the camera. The setting should be a moody, rain-slicked city street at night, with neon lights reflecting in the background. The individual’s expression should be contemplative.
This creates that film noir aesthetic that’s incredibly striking. Perfect for artistic projects or personal branding with edge.
6. Vintage 1970s Style
Prompt: Reimagine this image with a vintage, 1970s film photography aesthetic. The person should be dressed in retro-inspired clothing. The colors should be warm and slightly faded, with a soft grain effect.
The nostalgic feel of this prompt is addictive. It brings back that classic film photography look we all love.
7. Cyberpunk Future Portrait
Prompt: Create a futuristic, cyberpunk-themed portrait. The subject should have subtle cybernetic enhancements and be set against a backdrop of a neon-drenched, technologically advanced cityscape. The subject should be facing the camera with right clothes and pose.
For those who want something completely different. This prompt creates stunning sci-fi imagery.
8. Fine Art Painterly Portrait
Prompt: Generate a fine art portrait with a painterly quality. The background should be an abstract texture of deep blues and golds, and the lighting should be soft and diffused, creating a timeless and artistic feel.
This turns your photo into something you’d see hanging in an art gallery. The results are good.
Outdoor Portraits
9. Forest Sanctuary Portrait
Prompt: Recreate this photo as a portrait taken in a lush, green forest. The individual should be dressed in earthy tones, and the sunlight should be filtering through the trees, creating a serene and natural atmosphere.
Nature photography at its finest. This prompt creates peaceful, grounding images.
10. Golden Hour Coastline
Prompt: Generate a portrait of the person on a dramatic, windswept coastline at golden hour. The lighting should be warm and golden, and their hair and clothing should appear to be gently blowing in the breeze.
The dynamic movement and golden light make these portraits absolutely stunning.
11. Blooming Garden Portrait
Prompt: Transform this into a portrait set in a vibrant, blooming garden. The person should be surrounded by colorful flowers, and the lighting should be bright and cheerful, evoking a sense of joy.
Perfect for spring themes or anyone wanting bright, cheerful imagery.
12. Autumn Countryside Portrait
Prompt: Create a portrait of the individual in a rustic, countryside setting during autumn. They should be wearing warm, layered clothing, and the background should be filled with the rich colors of fall foliage.
The warm autumn colors create incredibly cozy, inviting portraits.
13. Desert Minimalism
Prompt: Reimagine this photo as if it were taken in a tranquil, minimalist desert landscape at dusk with right clothes and pose. The colors should be soft and muted, and the overall mood should be one of quiet contemplation.
For those who appreciate minimalist aesthetics. The desert setting creates powerful, contemplative images.
Lifestyle Portraits
14. Urban Café Moment
Prompt: Generate a candid-style portrait of the person enjoying a coffee in a chic, urban café. The focus should be on their relaxed expression, with the bustling café softly blurred in the background.
This creates authentic, lifestyle-focused images perfect for personal branding or social media.
15. Street Style Fashion
Prompt: Recreate this as a vibrant, street-style portrait in a bustling city. The person should be wearing fashionable, contemporary clothing and walking confidently down the street, with the dynamic energy of the city captured around them.
Great for fashion portfolios or anyone wanting that cool, urban photographer look.
16. Artist in Studio
Prompt: Turn this into a portrait of an artist in their creative studio. The background should be filled with canvases, paint, and brushes, and the individual should be dressed in comfortable, practical clothing with a few paint splatters.
Perfect for creative professionals who want to show their artistic side.
17. Wanderlust Explorer
Prompt: Transform this photo into a portrait of a traveler exploring an old, European city. The background should feature charming, historic architecture, and the person’s expression should convey a sense of wonder and adventure.
This prompt creates beautiful travel-themed portraits with that wanderlust feeling.
Fantasy Portraits
18. Fantasy Novel Character
Prompt: Reimagine this person as a character from a fantasy novel, with elegant, fantasy-inspired attire, set against a backdrop of an enchanted forest or ancient ruins.
For anyone who loves fantasy themes. These portraits look like they belong on book covers.
19. Magical Ethereal Portrait
Prompt: Create a whimsical portrait of the individual surrounded by glowing, magical particles in a dreamlike, ethereal setting. The colors should be soft and pastel.
The magical elements add an otherworldly quality that’s absolutely enchanting.
20. Steampunk Victorian
Prompt: Turn this into a portrait with a steampunk aesthetic. The individual should be wearing Victorian-era clothing with imaginative, steam-powered mechanical accessories, set in a workshop filled with gears and inventions.
This unique style combines historical and futuristic elements in fascinating ways.
21. Space Explorer Portrait
Prompt: Generate a portrait of the person as a futuristic space explorer, looking out at a stunning, star-filled galaxy from the cockpit of a spaceship.
The final prompt takes you to the stars. Perfect for sci-fi enthusiasts or anyone wanting something truly out of this world.
Each prompt works differently depending on your original photo. I’ve found that clear, well-lit photos give the best results. Don’t be afraid to try the same prompt multiple times – Gemini often produces different variations that are equally stunning.
The nano banana image model continues to surprise me with its creative interpretations. What started as simple photo editing has become a tool for artistic expression.
Try these prompts with your photos and see which styles resonate with you. You might find yourself creating portraits you never thought possible.
