15 Gemini Prompts for Moody Film Noir Photography

Film noir has one of the most recognizable visual styles in photography. Heavy shadows, sharp contrasts, mysterious subjects, and that signature black-and-white tension that makes every frame feel like it belongs in a 1940s detective story.

With Google Gemini’s Nano Banana Pro model, you can generate film noir style images that look like they were pulled straight from a classic Hollywood crime thriller. The model handles dramatic lighting and shadow work surprisingly well, which is exactly what you need for this genre.

To use these prompts, head over to gemini.google.com or open the Gemini app. Start a new conversation, select Pro from the model options, and paste in any of the prompts below. You can also upload a reference photo to match a specific face or look.

Here are 15 detailed prompts you can copy and use right away. Each one is built with specific lighting, posture, wardrobe, and camera details to give you the best possible noir results.

1. Woman with a Cigarette by a Rain-Streaked Window

This one captures the classic femme fatale energy with dramatic window light cutting through darkness.

Create a black-and-white film noir portrait of a woman in her early 30s standing beside a rain-streaked window at night, her body angled slightly toward the glass with one hand raised near her lips holding a thin cigarette. She is wearing a fitted black satin blouse tucked into a high-waisted pencil skirt with sheer black stockings and pointed heels. Her hair is styled in soft finger waves pinned to one side. Her expression is distant and guarded, eyes looking through the window. The camera is positioned at chest height, shooting from a three-quarter angle. Harsh light from a single source outside the window casts sharp diagonal shadows of venetian blinds across her face and body. The background is a dark, barely visible room with the faint outline of a desk and a glass of whiskey. High contrast black-and-white with deep blacks and blown-out highlights. Shot with an 85mm lens, shallow depth of field. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

2. Detective Leaning Against a Brick Wall in an Alley

A classic noir detective scene with fog, low light, and plenty of atmosphere.

Create a black-and-white film noir photo of a man in his 40s leaning against a wet brick wall in a narrow city alley at night. He is wearing a dark double-breasted overcoat with the collar turned up, a fedora hat tilted slightly forward to shadow his eyes, and dark leather gloves. One foot is flat against the wall behind him, and he has a folded newspaper tucked under one arm. His jaw is tight and his expression is serious, eyes looking down the alley. The camera is at waist height, tilted slightly upward. A single overhead streetlamp casts harsh top-down light, creating deep shadows under his hat brim and coat collar. Fog drifts through the alley and wet cobblestones reflect the light. High contrast monochrome with rich blacks and silvery highlights. Shot with a 35mm lens, cinematic grain. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

3. Woman Sitting Alone at a Dimly Lit Bar

There is something about a lone figure at a bar that screams film noir. This prompt nails that lonely, mysterious mood.

Create a black-and-white film noir photo of a woman sitting alone at the end of a dimly lit cocktail bar, her body turned slightly away from the camera with one elbow resting on the polished wooden bar top and a martini glass in her other hand. She is wearing a long-sleeved black velvet dress with a deep V neckline and a pearl choker necklace. Her dark hair falls in smooth, glossy waves past her shoulders. Her lips are dark and her expression is cool and unreadable, eyes glancing sideways toward the camera. The camera is positioned at bar height, shooting from a few seats away to create a voyeuristic perspective. Bottles and glasses on the back shelf catch faint reflections. High contrast black-and-white with a film grain texture. Shot with a 50mm lens. Use aspect ratio 16:9.

4. Man in a Trench Coat Under a Streetlamp

This is one of the most iconic noir compositions. A lone man standing under a single cone of light, surrounded by darkness.

Create a black-and-white film noir photo of a man standing directly under a streetlamp on a deserted city sidewalk late at night. He is wearing a long tan trench coat with a belt tied at the waist, a dark suit and tie underneath, and a wide-brimmed fedora. His hands are buried deep in his coat pockets and his shoulders are slightly hunched. He is looking straight ahead with a tense, watchful expression. The camera is positioned across the street at eye level, capturing the full figure framed by the cone of light from the lamp above. Beyond the light, the sidewalk disappears into pure black. Wet pavement reflects the lamplight in soft streaks. Deep, moody high-contrast monochrome with crushed blacks and minimal midtones. Shot with a 50mm lens, medium depth of field. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

5. Close-Up of a Woman’s Face with Venetian Blind Shadows

Venetian blind shadows across a face is one of the most copied techniques in noir photography. This prompt focuses on that exact look.

Create a dramatic black-and-white close-up portrait of a woman’s face with horizontal shadow lines from venetian blinds falling across her skin. She has dark red lipstick, defined eyebrows, and her eyes are half-closed with a seductive yet dangerous expression. Her hair is pulled back in a sleek low bun. The camera is extremely close, framing from just above her forehead to her chin. The light source is coming from the left side through the blinds, casting perfectly parallel lines of light and shadow across her cheekbones, nose, and lips. The background is completely black. Ultra high contrast black-and-white with sharp detail in the lit areas and pure black in the shadows. Shot with a 100mm macro lens, razor-thin depth of field. Use aspect ratio 1:1.

6. Man Smoking on a Fire Escape at Night

Fire escapes and cigarettes are a natural pairing for noir visuals. This one has that quiet, brooding energy.

Create a black-and-white film noir photo of a man sitting on a metal fire escape railing outside an old apartment building at night. He is wearing a white undershirt with suspenders hanging down at his sides and dark trousers with leather shoes. He is holding a cigarette between two fingers, smoke curling up past his face. His hair is slicked back and his expression is tired and contemplative, staring out into the distance. The camera is positioned slightly below him, shooting upward from the alley to capture the metal stairs, brick wall, and a sliver of dark sky above. A bare bulb near the apartment door casts a harsh yellow-white light on his face while the rest of the scene falls into layered shadows. Gritty, textured black-and-white with heavy grain and deep contrast. Shot with a 35mm lens. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

7. Femme Fatale Stepping Out of a Classic Car

The classic entrance scene. A glamorous woman stepping out of a dark vintage car with all the drama of a movie still.

Create a black-and-white film noir photo of a woman stepping out of the back seat of a 1940s black sedan parked on a wet city street at night. One leg is extended out of the open car door, wearing a black stiletto heel, while her gloved hand grips the top of the door frame. She is wearing a fur-collared black coat over a form-fitting dark dress, with her hair tucked under a small angled hat with netting over her eyes. Her red lips are the only suggested color in the monochrome palette. The camera is at a low angle near the ground, looking up at her from beside the front tire. The car’s chrome bumper reflects the streetlight, and puddles on the road mirror the scene above. Strong contrast with deep blacks, silver highlights on the car, and soft diffused light on her face. Shot with a 28mm wide-angle lens. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

8. Man and Woman Facing Each Other in a Dark Hallway

This captures that classic noir tension between two characters. The tight framing and low light make it feel secretive and dangerous.

Create a black-and-white film noir photo of a man and woman standing face to face in a narrow, dimly lit hallway of an old hotel. The man is wearing a dark pinstripe suit with a loosened tie and his hat in one hand at his side. The woman is in a fitted black dress with a fur stole draped over one shoulder, holding a small clutch purse against her chest. They are standing close, almost touching, both looking intensely into each other’s eyes. The camera is positioned at the far end of the hallway, shooting straight down the corridor to frame them symmetrically between the walls. A single overhead light creates a harsh pool of light between them while the hallway stretches into darkness in both directions. Worn wallpaper and old door frames line the walls. High contrast monochrome with a classic Hollywood noir aesthetic. Shot with a 50mm lens. Use aspect ratio 9:16.

9. Overhead Shot of a Man Lying on a Rain-Soaked Street

A more unusual noir composition. The bird’s eye view gives it a crime scene quality that feels unsettling and cinematic.

Create a black-and-white film noir photo taken from directly overhead of a man lying face-up on a rain-soaked city street at night. He is wearing a rumpled dark suit with the jacket open, a loosened tie, and one arm stretched out to the side with his fedora resting just beyond his fingertips. His eyes are closed and his face is calm. The wet asphalt reflects neon signage and a distant streetlamp, creating streaks and pools of light around his body. A single playing card and a few scattered coins lie near his other hand. The camera is positioned directly above, looking straight down. Stark, dramatic lighting with heavy blacks, silvery reflections on the wet ground, and deep film grain. Shot with a 24mm lens, flat overhead perspective. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

10. Woman Looking Into a Mirror in a Dressing Room

Mirrors are a powerful tool in noir storytelling. This prompt uses the reflection to create depth and a sense of duality.

Create a black-and-white film noir photo of a woman sitting at a vintage vanity table in a small, dark dressing room, looking at her own reflection in a round mirror lined with small exposed bulbs. She is wearing a silk robe loosely tied at the waist with her hair pinned up in a messy updo and dark lipstick. One hand is holding an open compact powder case and the other rests on the table near scattered perfume bottles and a pearl bracelet. Her reflected expression in the mirror is pensive and slightly melancholic. The camera is behind her right shoulder, capturing both the back of her head and her face in the mirror. The bulbs around the mirror provide the only light, casting warm highlights on her skin while the rest of the room dissolves into shadow. Soft, moody black-and-white with rich tonal range and gentle grain. Shot with a 50mm lens, shallow depth of field focusing on the mirror reflection. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

11. Silhouette of a Man in a Doorway

Sometimes less is more. A pure silhouette with no facial detail can be more dramatic than a fully lit portrait.

Create a black-and-white film noir photo of a man’s full silhouette standing in an open doorway, backlit by a bright light source coming from the room behind him. He is wearing a long overcoat and a fedora, and his posture is stiff and imposing with his arms at his sides. No facial features are visible, only the dark outline of his figure against the white rectangle of the doorway. The foreground room is entirely dark except for a thin strip of light falling on the floor at his feet. The camera is inside the dark room at eye level, shooting straight toward the doorway. Extreme high contrast with no midtones, only pure black and bright white. Minimal grain, clean and graphic. Shot with a 35mm lens. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

12. Woman Walking Down a Foggy Staircase

Staircases create natural leading lines and when you add fog and harsh light, the result is pure noir cinema.

Create a black-and-white film noir photo of a woman descending a wide concrete staircase outdoors at night, captured from below at the base of the stairs looking up. She is wearing a long black coat with a belted waist, dark gloves, and pointed-toe heels clicking on the steps. Her hair is hidden under a wide-brimmed hat and her face is partially obscured by shadow. One hand trails along the metal railing while she looks straight ahead with a determined expression. Thick fog rolls in around the base of the stairs. A single bright light at the top of the staircase behind her creates a strong backlight effect, outlining her figure with a rim of white light while her front remains mostly in shadow. Dramatic noir lighting with deep contrast and atmospheric haze. Shot with a 28mm lens, slight wide-angle distortion. Use aspect ratio 9:16.

13. Man at a Desk with a Single Desk Lamp

The private investigator at his desk is one of the most recognizable noir setups. This prompt recreates that feeling with careful attention to props and light.

Create a black-and-white film noir photo of a man in his late 40s sitting behind a cluttered wooden desk in a small, dark office at night. He is wearing a rumpled white dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves, a loosened dark tie, and suspenders. He is leaning forward with both elbows on the desk, rubbing his temples with one hand while the other holds a lit cigarette over an ashtray. On the desk are stacked manila folders, a rotary phone, an empty glass, and a bottle of bourbon. The background shows a frosted glass door with reversed lettering barely visible. Rich, moody black-and-white with warm undertones and cold blacks in the surrounding shadows. Shot with a 50mm lens at eye level across the desk. Use aspect ratio 16:9.

14. Woman on a Balcony Overlooking the City at Night

This one blends noir mood with a dramatic urban backdrop. The isolation of the figure against the vast city works beautifully.

Create a black-and-white film noir photo of a woman standing on a wrought iron balcony of an old apartment building, looking out over a city skyline at night. She is wearing a long black silk nightgown with thin straps and a sheer dark robe draped over her shoulders, one hand resting on the iron railing and the other holding a cigarette at her side. Her hair is loose and slightly messy from wind. Her profile is captured in a side view, expression distant and lost in thought. The camera is inside the apartment looking out through the open balcony doors, framing her between dark curtains that billow slightly in the breeze. The city behind her is a sea of tiny lights with a few neon signs glowing in the distance. Soft moonlight illuminates her profile while the rest of the scene sits in shadow. Elegant, melancholic noir atmosphere with fine grain and deep tonal range. Shot with an 85mm lens, shallow depth of field. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

15. Two Men Meeting Under a Bridge at Night

A clandestine meeting scene with hard shadows and the raw texture of concrete and water. It feels tense and secretive.

Create a black-and-white film noir photo of two men meeting under a low concrete bridge beside a dark canal at night. One man is wearing a long dark coat and fedora, standing with his arms folded and his back against a concrete pillar. The other man faces him in a leather jacket with his collar up, one hand extended as if passing something. Their faces are partially hidden by shadow and hat brims. The camera is positioned at a distance, at ground level, capturing both figures framed between the bridge supports with the dark water of the canal visible in the foreground reflecting faint light. A single industrial light mounted on the bridge underside casts a harsh downward beam between them, creating long shadows on the ground. Cold, gritty, high-contrast black-and-white with heavy grain and a surveillance-style composition. Shot with a 35mm lens, deep depth of field. Use aspect ratio 16:9.

These prompts are built specifically for the Nano Banana Pro model in Gemini. For the best output, make sure you select the Pro model before pasting in the prompt. The model handles black-and-white contrast and dramatic lighting really well, so you should get strong results on the first try.

If you want to personalize any of these, try uploading a reference photo of yourself. Gemini can match the face and still apply the full noir styling from the prompt.