gemini prompts for black and white photos

15 Gemini Prompts for Stunning Black and White Photos

ByMohammed Rashid Posted on

Black and white photography has this timeless quality that color sometimes can’t match. There’s something about stripping away color that forces you to focus on light, shadow, texture, and emotion. A good black and white photo feels more intimate, more honest.

I’ve been testing Google Gemini’s new nano banana image model, and honestly, it’s solid for photo editing. The AI understands composition, lighting, and mood in ways that actually make sense.

If you want to try this yourself, it’s straightforward. Head over to gemini.google.com, start a new chat, upload your photo, and paste any of these prompts. I’ve tested all 15 of them, and they each produce distinct styles and moods.

1. Studio Elegance with Geometric Light

Create a monochrome portrait of a woman standing against a minimalist backdrop where a sharp triangular beam of light cuts across the wall. She has long wavy hair that falls over one shoulder and she lifts one hand to her head in a relaxed, confident gesture. Her expression is calm with a soft gaze toward the viewer. The lighting is bright and directional, creating strong contrasts and smooth gradients on her skin. She wears a light-colored wrap-style blouse with gentle folds that catch the highlights. The overall atmosphere feels elegant and modern with a clean studio aesthetic and crisp shadows.

Create a monochrome portrait of a woman standing against a minimalist backdrop where a sharp triangular beam of light cuts across the wall. She has long wavy hair that falls over one shoulder and she lifts one hand to her head in a relaxed, confident gesture. Her expression is calm with a soft gaze toward the viewer. The lighting is bright and directional, creating strong contrasts and smooth gradients on her skin. She wears a light-colored wrap-style blouse with gentle folds that catch the highlights. The overall atmosphere feels elegant and modern with a clean studio aesthetic and crisp shadows.

2. Window Light Drama

Create a monochrome portrait of a man seated indoors near a window with blinds that cast dramatic horizontal light stripes across his face, arm, and clothing. He sits with one knee raised and leans slightly forward, resting one hand on his head in a thoughtful pose. His expression is intense with a focused gaze toward the camera. He has a well-groomed beard and textured hair that catches the highlights from the window light. He wears a dark button-down shirt that contrasts sharply with the bright streaks of sunlight. The background is dim, allowing the patterned illumination to stand out with strong contrast. The overall mood is moody and cinematic with an emphasis on shadow play and directional natural light.

Create a monochrome portrait of a man seated indoors near a window with blinds that cast dramatic horizontal light stripes across his face, arm, and clothing. He sits with one knee raised and leans slightly forward, resting one hand on his head in a thoughtful pose. His expression is intense with a focused gaze toward the camera. He has a well-groomed beard and textured hair that catches the highlights from the window light. He wears a dark button-down shirt that contrasts sharply with the bright streaks of sunlight. The background is dim, allowing the patterned illumination to stand out with strong contrast. The overall mood is moody and cinematic with an emphasis on shadow play and directional natural light.

3. Wet Hair Intimacy

Create a close-up monochrome portrait of a young woman with wet hair clinging softly to her face and neck. Water droplets glisten on her skin, creating natural highlights against the dark background. She rests her chin on her hand in a contemplative pose, her expression calm and introspective. Her eyes are softly lit with subtle reflections that add depth. The lighting is gentle and focused, emphasizing the texture of her damp skin and the strands of hair that frame her face. She wears a simple bracelet on her wrist that subtly catches the light. The atmosphere is intimate and moody, with an emphasis on detail, contrast, and emotional stillness.

Create a close-up monochrome portrait of a young woman with wet hair clinging softly to her face and neck. Water droplets glisten on her skin, creating natural highlights against the dark background. She rests her chin on her hand in a contemplative pose, her expression calm and introspective. Her eyes are softly lit with subtle reflections that add depth. The lighting is gentle and focused, emphasizing the texture of her damp skin and the strands of hair that frame her face. She wears a simple bracelet on her wrist that subtly catches the light. The atmosphere is intimate and moody, with an emphasis on detail, contrast, and emotional stillness.

4. Side Profile Contemplation

Create a monochrome portrait of a young man posed against a dark, minimal background. His head is tilted slightly as he gazes off to the side with a calm and introspective expression. Soft directional lighting highlights one side of his face and neck, creating smooth gradients and gentle shadows. He has wavy, tousled hair that adds movement and texture to the composition, along with a short beard that catches subtle highlights. He wears a loose dark shirt with a relaxed open collar, the fabric showing fine texture under the light. The overall mood is quiet, atmospheric, and refined with an emphasis on shape, contrast, and soft cinematic lighting.

Create a monochrome portrait of a young man posed against a dark, minimal background. His head is tilted slightly as he gazes off to the side with a calm and introspective expression. Soft directional lighting highlights one side of his face and neck, creating smooth gradients and gentle shadows. He has wavy, tousled hair that adds movement and texture to the composition, along with a short beard that catches subtle highlights. He wears a loose dark shirt with a relaxed open collar, the fabric showing fine texture under the light. The overall mood is quiet, atmospheric, and refined with an emphasis on shape, contrast, and soft cinematic lighting.

5. Shadow Profile

Create a soft monochrome portrait of a young woman standing against a smooth wall where a distinct shadow of her profile falls to one side. She gazes toward the camera with a calm and slightly enigmatic expression. Her long hair flows in gentle waves over her shoulders, catching subtle highlights. The lighting is focused and directional, illuminating one side of her face while leaving the other side in gentle shadow, creating a classic studio look with a vintage mood. She wears a simple strapless top that keeps attention on her face and hair. The atmosphere feels quiet and elegant with smooth contrasts, delicate textures, and a timeless portrait style.

Create a soft monochrome portrait of a young woman standing against a smooth wall where a distinct shadow of her profile falls to one side. She gazes toward the camera with a calm and slightly enigmatic expression. Her long hair flows in gentle waves over her shoulders, catching subtle highlights. The lighting is focused and directional, illuminating one side of her face while leaving the other side in gentle shadow, creating a classic studio look with a vintage mood. She wears a simple strapless top that keeps attention on her face and hair. The atmosphere feels quiet and elegant with smooth contrasts, delicate textures, and a timeless portrait style.

6. Intellectual Motion

Create a monochrome portrait of a man standing in a cluttered study filled with towering stacks of books and scattered papers. He faces sideways with his head tilted back slightly, eyes closed behind thin glasses, giving a sense of introspection and quiet exhaustion. He wears a loose light-colored shirt with soft folds that catch the ambient light. A subtle motion blur trails behind him, creating a ghostlike second silhouette that suggests movement, memory, or inner turmoil. The background is dense with shelves packed tightly with books, forming a textured wall of vertical and horizontal lines. The overall atmosphere feels intellectual and moody with a blend of stillness and motion, rich in contrast and layered with narrative depth.

Create a monochrome portrait of a man standing in a cluttered study filled with towering stacks of books and scattered papers. He faces sideways with his head tilted back slightly, eyes closed behind thin glasses, giving a sense of introspection and quiet exhaustion. He wears a loose light-colored shirt with soft folds that catch the ambient light. A subtle motion blur trails behind him, creating a ghostlike second silhouette that suggests movement, memory, or inner turmoil. The background is dense with shelves packed tightly with books, forming a textured wall of vertical and horizontal lines. The overall atmosphere feels intellectual and moody with a blend of stillness and motion, rich in contrast and layered with narrative depth.

7. Rose in Grayscale

Create a dramatic portrait of a young woman captured in a muted monochrome palette with selective color. She looks downward with a pensive expression as soft strands of hair fall across her face. Her long dark hair flows over her shoulders, blending into the subdued background of blurred stone textures. Her makeup is defined with bold eyeliner that enhances the melancholic mood. In her hand she holds a single vivid red rose that stands out sharply against the grayscale surroundings, adding emotional contrast and symbolic depth. The lighting is soft and moody, shaping her features with gentle shadows while keeping the rose richly saturated. The overall atmosphere feels introspective, cinematic, and poetic with a focus on emotion, contrast, and storytelling.

Create a dramatic portrait of a young woman captured in a muted monochrome palette with selective color. She looks downward with a pensive expression as soft strands of hair fall across her face. Her long dark hair flows over her shoulders, blending into the subdued background of blurred stone textures. Her makeup is defined with bold eyeliner that enhances the melancholic mood. In her hand she holds a single vivid red rose that stands out sharply against the grayscale surroundings, adding emotional contrast and symbolic depth. The lighting is soft and moody, shaping her features with gentle shadows while keeping the rose richly saturated. The overall atmosphere feels introspective, cinematic, and poetic with a focus on emotion, contrast, and storytelling.

8. Blinds Shadow Close-Up

Create a stark monochrome close-up portrait of a man’s face, framed tightly so that his eyes, nose, and beard dominate the composition. Dramatic slashes of light fall across his features in diagonal lines, as if coming through blinds, creating strong highlights that cut through the deep shadows around him. The texture of his skin and beard is sharply detailed, giving a tactile, realistic feel. His expression is intense and direct, with a steady gaze that meets the viewer. The background remains fully dark, allowing the illuminated streaks to shape the mood. The overall atmosphere is moody and intimate with high contrast, crisp textures, and a cinematic sense of tension.

Create a stark monochrome close-up portrait of a man's face, framed tightly so that his eyes, nose, and beard dominate the composition. Dramatic slashes of light fall across his features in diagonal lines, as if coming through blinds, creating strong highlights that cut through the deep shadows around him. The texture of his skin and beard is sharply detailed, giving a tactile, realistic feel. His expression is intense and direct, with a steady gaze that meets the viewer. The background remains fully dark, allowing the illuminated streaks to shape the mood. The overall atmosphere is moody and intimate with high contrast, crisp textures, and a cinematic sense of tension.

9. Geometric Window Shadows

Create a refined monochrome portrait of a poised woman standing against a softly lit backdrop where large geometric window shadows fall across the wall. She looks to the side with a calm, confident expression. Her hair is styled in a sleek low bun that reflects the light smoothly. She wears a fitted black turtleneck and high-waisted trousers with a subtle grid pattern, creating a clean and modern silhouette. The lighting is bright and directional, illuminating her face with gentle highlights that emphasize her smooth skin and defined features. The overall atmosphere feels elegant, minimal, and contemporary with strong shapes, crisp contrast, and a polished studio aesthetic.

Create a refined monochrome portrait of a poised woman standing against a softly lit backdrop where large geometric window shadows fall across the wall. She looks to the side with a calm, confident expression. Her hair is styled in a sleek low bun that reflects the light smoothly. She wears a fitted black turtleneck and high-waisted trousers with a subtle grid pattern, creating a clean and modern silhouette. The lighting is bright and directional, illuminating her face with gentle highlights that emphasize her smooth skin and defined features. The overall atmosphere feels elegant, minimal, and contemporary with strong shapes, crisp contrast, and a polished studio aesthetic.

10. Urban Floor Pose

Create a monochrome portrait of a man seated casually on the floor near a wall illuminated by strong geometric shadows cast from a large window. He wears a textured dark overcoat layered over a light shirt, paired with light jeans and white sneakers. His pose is relaxed yet thoughtful with one knee raised and one hand resting near his chin. He wears clear-framed glasses that catch subtle highlights. The lighting is directional and dramatic, creating crisp shadow patterns behind him and soft contrast across his face. The overall mood is modern and introspective with a refined balance of light, shadow, and texture.

Create a monochrome portrait of a man seated casually on the floor near a wall illuminated by strong geometric shadows cast from a large window. He wears a textured dark overcoat layered over a light shirt, paired with light jeans and white sneakers. His pose is relaxed yet thoughtful with one knee raised and one hand resting near his chin. He wears clear-framed glasses that catch subtle highlights. The lighting is directional and dramatic, creating crisp shadow patterns behind him and soft contrast across his face. The overall mood is modern and introspective with a refined balance of light, shadow, and texture.

11. Nighttime Street Glow

Create a monochrome portrait of a young woman standing outdoors at night beneath soft, diffused street lighting. She looks back over her shoulder with a quiet, introspective expression. She wears oversized round glasses that catch subtle highlights, framing her eyes with a gentle reflection. Her medium-length hair has soft waves and full bangs that fall naturally across her forehead. She is dressed in an oversized hoodie that adds a casual, contemporary feel. The background is softly blurred with faint glowing lights that hint at an urban setting, creating depth without distracting from her face. The overall mood is calm, cinematic, and slightly nostalgic with smooth tonal transitions, soft shadows, and a quiet nighttime atmosphere.

Create a monochrome portrait of a young woman standing outdoors at night beneath soft, diffused street lighting. She looks back over her shoulder with a quiet, introspective expression. She wears oversized round glasses that catch subtle highlights, framing her eyes with a gentle reflection. Her medium-length hair has soft waves and full bangs that fall naturally across her forehead. She is dressed in an oversized hoodie that adds a casual, contemporary feel. The background is softly blurred with faint glowing lights that hint at an urban setting, creating depth without distracting from her face. The overall mood is calm, cinematic, and slightly nostalgic with smooth tonal transitions, soft shadows, and a quiet nighttime atmosphere.

12. Face Mystery

Create a close-up monochrome portrait of a woman captured in an intimate, moody style. Only half of her face is fully visible, creating a sense of mystery. Her long dark hair falls loosely across her face with delicate strands partially covering one eye. Her skin has subtle water droplets that catch soft highlights, adding texture and emotional depth. She wears a small bindi at the center of her forehead, enhancing the cultural nuance of the portrait. Her expression is calm with slightly parted lips and reflective eyes that look directly toward the viewer. The lighting is gentle and shadowed, sculpting her features while keeping much of the frame in soft darkness. The overall mood is atmospheric, delicate, and evocative with a strong focus on eyes, texture, and quiet emotion.

Create a close-up monochrome portrait of a woman captured in an intimate, moody style. Only half of her face is fully visible, creating a sense of mystery. Her long dark hair falls loosely across her face with delicate strands partially covering one eye. Her skin has subtle water droplets that catch soft highlights, adding texture and emotional depth. She wears a small bindi at the center of her forehead, enhancing the cultural nuance of the portrait. Her expression is calm with slightly parted lips and reflective eyes that look directly toward the viewer. The lighting is gentle and shadowed, sculpting her features while keeping much of the frame in soft darkness. The overall mood is atmospheric, delicate, and evocative with a strong focus on eyes, texture, and quiet emotion.

13. Couple Intimacy

Create a clean monochrome studio portrait of a couple sitting closely together on the floor against a seamless light background. They pose in a relaxed, natural manner with genuine smiles. The man sits cross-legged, wearing a simple white T-shirt and dark pants, his arms resting comfortably on his knees. The woman sits beside him, leaning her head gently on his shoulder while her hands rest lightly on his arm. She wears a long-sleeved dark top paired with light pants, creating soft tonal contrast. Both are barefoot, adding to the casual and intimate feel. The lighting is soft and even, highlighting their expressions and creating a warm, affectionate atmosphere with a minimalist aesthetic.

Create a clean monochrome studio portrait of a couple sitting closely together on the floor against a seamless light background. They pose in a relaxed, natural manner with genuine smiles. The man sits cross-legged, wearing a simple white T-shirt and dark pants, his arms resting comfortably on his knees. The woman sits beside him, leaning her head gently on his shoulder while her hands rest lightly on his arm. She wears a long-sleeved dark top paired with light pants, creating soft tonal contrast. Both are barefoot, adding to the casual and intimate feel. The lighting is soft and even, highlighting their expressions and creating a warm, affectionate atmosphere with a minimalist aesthetic.

14. Thoughtful Glasses

Create a monochrome studio portrait of a young woman standing against a seamless dark background. She wears round glasses that catch subtle highlights and has softly curled shoulder-length hair that frames her face. Her expression is thoughtful and composed as she rests her fingertips lightly near her lips. One arm is folded across her torso, giving her pose a calm, introspective elegance. She wears a fitted black T-shirt paired with high-waisted dark jeans, creating a clean, minimalist silhouette. The lighting is soft and directional, sculpting gentle shadows along her features and emphasizing the smooth contrast between skin, fabric, and background. The atmosphere is modern, refined, and quietly expressive with a focus on mood, posture, and simplicity.

Create a monochrome studio portrait of a young woman standing against a seamless dark background. She wears round glasses that catch subtle highlights and has softly curled shoulder-length hair that frames her face. Her expression is thoughtful and composed as she rests her fingertips lightly near her lips. One arm is folded across her torso, giving her pose a calm, introspective elegance. She wears a fitted black T-shirt paired with high-waisted dark jeans, creating a clean, minimalist silhouette. The lighting is soft and directional, sculpting gentle shadows along her features and emphasizing the smooth contrast between skin, fabric, and background. The atmosphere is modern, refined, and quietly expressive with a focus on mood, posture, and simplicity.

15. Levitating Books Dream

A dramatic monochrome scene set in a dim, cluttered study room filled with stacks of books and scattered pages. At the center stands a young man wearing a plaid shirt and headphones, his eyes closed as if lost in deep focus or imagination. All around him, numerous open books float in midair with pages turning, creating a sense of motion and surreal energy. Papers on the table in the foreground are slightly blurred, enhancing depth and atmosphere. Soft, directional lighting highlights the figure and the levitating books while leaving the background in gentle shadow. The mood is dreamlike, introspective, and a touch magical, blending realism with fantasy through suspended objects, subtle motion effects, and textured grayscale tones.

A dramatic monochrome scene set in a dim, cluttered study room filled with stacks of books and scattered pages. At the center stands a young man wearing a plaid shirt and headphones, his eyes closed as if lost in deep focus or imagination. All around him, numerous open books float in midair with pages turning, creating a sense of motion and surreal energy. Papers on the table in the foreground are slightly blurred, enhancing depth and atmosphere. Soft, directional lighting highlights the figure and the levitating books while leaving the background in gentle shadow. The mood is dreamlike, introspective, and a touch magical, blending realism with fantasy through suspended objects, subtle motion effects, and textured grayscale tones.

These prompts work well because they describe not just what to photograph, but how the light should behave, where the emotion sits, and what details matter. Black and white photography is about intention, and these prompts give Gemini the clarity it needs to understand what you’re after.

The results you get will depend on your starting photo, but I’ve found that the AI does best when you give it reference images that already have decent lighting and composition.

Start with one that matches your current photo’s vibe, or experiment with a few different prompts on the same image to see the range of possibilities.

I'm Rashid, an avid AI and tech enthusiast with a newfound passion for AI artistry. Through Imagine with Rashid, I explore the burgeoning world of digital creativity, sharing my adventures and insights at the intersection of technology and art.

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