gemini prompts for 90s style photos

How to Create 90s Style Portraits Using Google Gemini

ByMohammed Rashid Posted on

Remember those grainy photos from disposable cameras? The ones with harsh flash, red-eye, and that unmistakable 90s vibe? You can recreate that aesthetic now using Google Gemini, and it’s surprisingly easy.

There’s something special about 90s photography. The film grain, the washed-out highlights, the way the flash would blow out someone’s face while the background stayed dark. These weren’t professional shots. They were real moments captured at house parties, diners at 2 AM, or just hanging out in someone’s bedroom.

That’s exactly what makes them feel so authentic.

Get Started with Gemini

I’ve been using Gemini’s Nano Banana Pro model for this, and it works really well. It creates realistic photos and can edit existing ones too.

Here’s what you do:

  • Go to gemini.google.com or open the Gemini app
  • Start a new conversation
  • Pick ‘Pro’ from the model selector
  • Upload a photo of yourself (this helps the AI keep your face accurate)
  • Use one of the prompts below

The Main Prompt I Use

This is my go-to prompt for that classic 90s bedroom portrait:

Create a portrait of this person with their original face unchanged, captured using a vintage 1990s disposable camera aesthetic with direct front flash. The subject has tousled, slightly messy hair styled casually, with a relaxed and effortlessly cool expression that feels candid and authentic. They are wearing an oversized vintage band t-shirt layered under an open flannel shirt in muted plaid tones. The setting is a lived-in bedroom with walls decorated in torn magazine cutouts, concert ticket stubs, polaroid snapshots, and band posters, creating a nostalgic and personal atmosphere. The lighting is dim and moody with the harsh pop of the camera flash illuminating the subject’s face, producing slight red-eye effect and washed-out highlights typical of point-and-shoot photography from that era. The image has visible film grain, subtle light leaks at the edges, slightly muted and warm color tones with a soft focus quality. The overall mood evokes late-night hangouts, youth culture, and the raw, unpolished charm of amateur film photography from the grunge and alternative era. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

Create a portrait of this person with their original face unchanged, captured using a vintage 1990s disposable camera aesthetic with direct front flash. The subject has tousled, slightly messy hair styled casually, with a relaxed and effortlessly cool expression that feels candid and authentic. They are wearing an oversized vintage band t-shirt layered under an open flannel shirt in muted plaid tones. The setting is a lived-in bedroom with walls decorated in torn magazine cutouts, concert ticket stubs, polaroid snapshots, and band posters, creating a nostalgic and personal atmosphere. The lighting is dim and moody with the harsh pop of the camera flash illuminating the subject's face, producing slight red-eye effect and washed-out highlights typical of point-and-shoot photography from that era. The image has visible film grain, subtle light leaks at the edges, slightly muted and warm color tones with a soft focus quality. The overall mood evokes late-night hangouts, youth culture, and the raw, unpolished charm of amateur film photography from the grunge and alternative era. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

Five More Variations to Try

Want different vibes? Here are five other prompts that capture different 90s moments.

1. House Party Energy

Create a portrait of this person with their original face unchanged, captured using a vintage 1990s disposable camera aesthetic with direct front flash. The subject has tousled, slightly messy hair and a carefree, mid-laugh expression that feels spontaneous and genuine. They are wearing a baggy graphic tee tucked loosely into high-waisted jeans with a chunky belt. The setting is a crowded house party with blurred figures in the background, red solo cups visible on surfaces, and string lights casting a warm ambient glow. The harsh camera flash creates overexposed highlights on the subject’s face while the background falls into moody shadows. The image has visible film grain, slight motion blur, warm color cast, and the chaotic energy of a late-night gathering. The overall mood evokes youthful recklessness and the raw, unfiltered documentation of 90s social life. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

Create a portrait of this person with their original face unchanged, captured using a vintage 1990s disposable camera aesthetic with direct front flash. The subject has tousled, slightly messy hair and a carefree, mid-laugh expression that feels spontaneous and genuine. They are wearing a baggy graphic tee tucked loosely into high-waisted jeans with a chunky belt. The setting is a crowded house party with blurred figures in the background, red solo cups visible on surfaces, and string lights casting a warm ambient glow. The harsh camera flash creates overexposed highlights on the subject's face while the background falls into moody shadows. The image has visible film grain, slight motion blur, warm color cast, and the chaotic energy of a late-night gathering. The overall mood evokes youthful recklessness and the raw, unfiltered documentation of 90s social life. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

2. Late Night Diner

Create a portrait of this person with their original face unchanged, captured using a vintage 1990s disposable camera aesthetic with direct front flash. The subject has casually styled hair and a relaxed, slightly smirking expression while leaning back against a vinyl booth seat. They are wearing an oversized denim jacket over a simple crew neck sweater. The setting is a late-night diner or fast food restaurant with fluorescent lighting, laminate tabletops, ketchup bottles, and napkin dispensers visible. A half-eaten meal and a milkshake sit on the table. The flash bounces harshly off the shiny surfaces, creating reflections and washed-out spots typical of amateur flash photography. The image has noticeable film grain, slightly greenish tint from mixed lighting, and a voyeuristic candid quality. The overall mood evokes post-midnight hangouts and the unglamorous charm of 90s everyday moments. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

Create a portrait of this person with their original face unchanged, captured using a vintage 1990s disposable camera aesthetic with direct front flash. The subject has casually styled hair and a relaxed, slightly smirking expression while leaning back against a vinyl booth seat. They are wearing an oversized denim jacket over a simple crew neck sweater. The setting is a late-night diner or fast food restaurant with fluorescent lighting, laminate tabletops, ketchup bottles, and napkin dispensers visible. A half-eaten meal and a milkshake sit on the table. The flash bounces harshly off the shiny surfaces, creating reflections and washed-out spots typical of amateur flash photography. The image has noticeable film grain, slightly greenish tint from mixed lighting, and a voyeuristic candid quality. The overall mood evokes post-midnight hangouts and the unglamorous charm of 90s everyday moments. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

3. Suburban Summer Night

Create a portrait of this person with their original face unchanged, captured using a vintage 1990s disposable camera aesthetic with direct front flash. The subject has windswept hair and a contemplative, soft expression while sitting on weathered patio furniture. They are wearing a zip-up hoodie over a concert tee with loose-fitting cargo pants. The setting is a suburban backyard at night with a chain-link fence, overgrown grass, plastic lawn chairs, and distant porch lights from neighboring houses creating faint bokeh. The harsh flash illuminates the subject against the pitch-black night sky, producing the stark contrast typical of nighttime disposable camera shots. The image has heavy film grain, cool undertones, slight red-eye, and an intimate snapshot quality. The overall mood evokes quiet summer nights, teenage solitude, and the melancholic beauty of 90s suburban life. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

Create a portrait of this person with their original face unchanged, captured using a vintage 1990s disposable camera aesthetic with direct front flash. The subject has windswept hair and a contemplative, soft expression while sitting on weathered patio furniture. They are wearing a zip-up hoodie over a concert tee with loose-fitting cargo pants. The setting is a suburban backyard at night with a chain-link fence, overgrown grass, plastic lawn chairs, and distant porch lights from neighboring houses creating faint bokeh. The harsh flash illuminates the subject against the pitch-black night sky, producing the stark contrast typical of nighttime disposable camera shots. The image has heavy film grain, cool undertones, slight red-eye, and an intimate snapshot quality. The overall mood evokes quiet summer nights, teenage solitude, and the melancholic beauty of 90s suburban life. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

4. Record Store Browsing

Create a portrait of this person with their original face unchanged, captured using a vintage 1990s disposable camera aesthetic with direct front flash. The subject has messy, unstyled hair and a curious, engaged expression while flipping through vinyl records or VHS tapes. They are wearing a thrifted cardigan over a band shirt with corduroy pants. The setting is a cluttered independent record store or video rental shop with overflowing shelves, handwritten price tags, music posters on the walls, and a worn carpet floor. Fluorescent tube lighting mixes with the harsh camera flash, creating uneven illumination and plastic reflections. The image has prominent film grain, slightly faded colors, and the busy visual texture of a maximalist retail space. The overall mood evokes weekend browsing, music discovery, and the tactile culture of 90s media consumption. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

Create a portrait of this person with their original face unchanged, captured using a vintage 1990s disposable camera aesthetic with direct front flash. The subject has messy, unstyled hair and a curious, engaged expression while flipping through vinyl records or VHS tapes. They are wearing a thrifted cardigan over a band shirt with corduroy pants. The setting is a cluttered independent record store or video rental shop with overflowing shelves, handwritten price tags, music posters on the walls, and a worn carpet floor. Fluorescent tube lighting mixes with the harsh camera flash, creating uneven illumination and plastic reflections. The image has prominent film grain, slightly faded colors, and the busy visual texture of a maximalist retail space. The overall mood evokes weekend browsing, music discovery, and the tactile culture of 90s media consumption. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

5. High School Hallway

Create a portrait of this person with their original face unchanged, captured using a vintage 1990s disposable camera aesthetic with direct front flash. The subject has a bored, too-cool expression while leaning against a row of metal lockers. They are wearing a oversized plaid flannel shirt left unbuttoned over a plain white tee with baggy jeans and chunky sneakers. The setting is an empty high school hallway with institutional beige walls, fluorescent ceiling lights, trophy cases, and bulletin boards covered in flyers and announcements. The flash reflects sharply off the locker metal and polished linoleum floors. The image has visible film grain, flat institutional lighting mixed with flash harshness, and a snapshot yearbook quality. The overall mood evokes between-class moments, adolescent ennui, and the mundane nostalgia of 90s school life. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

Create a portrait of this person with their original face unchanged, captured using a vintage 1990s disposable camera aesthetic with direct front flash. The subject has a bored, too-cool expression while leaning against a row of metal lockers. They are wearing a oversized plaid flannel shirt left unbuttoned over a plain white tee with baggy jeans and chunky sneakers. The setting is an empty high school hallway with institutional beige walls, fluorescent ceiling lights, trophy cases, and bulletin boards covered in flyers and announcements. The flash reflects sharply off the locker metal and polished linoleum floors. The image has visible film grain, flat institutional lighting mixed with flash harshness, and a snapshot yearbook quality. The overall mood evokes between-class moments, adolescent ennui, and the mundane nostalgia of 90s school life. Use aspect ratio 4:5.

The key is in the details. Notice how each prompt specifies things like film grain, flash behavior, and color tones. These details help Gemini nail that authentic disposable camera look.

Also, uploading your own photo helps keep your face consistent across different scenes. Without it, the AI might change your features too much.

Try different prompts and see which vibe fits you best. Maybe you’re more of a diner person than a house party person. That’s what makes this fun.

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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