How to Create Amateur and Realistic Photos using Google Gemini

Most AI image generators produce polished, professional-looking images that scream artificial. But sometimes you need something that looks like it was captured by an everyday person in an everyday moment. That’s where Gemini shines.

There’s something authentic about amateur photography that professional shots can’t replicate. These photos have soul. They show real life with all its beautiful imperfections.

When you need images for a blog post about real people or want to create content that feels genuine, amateur-style photos work much better than slick studio shots.

The Template Prompt

After countless experiments, I developed a template prompt that consistently produces amazing amateur-style photos. Here’s what I use:

Create a realistic amateur photograph of [subject description], captured with a low-quality or cheap smartphone camera. The subject is [pose or action], appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in [location], with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows [background distractions or details], giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from [light source], with small flaws like grain, digital noise, lens flare, or slight motion blur, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

This template works because it hits all the key elements that make photos feel genuinely amateur.

Let me walk you through each part of this template and why it matters:

• “Create a realistic amateur photograph of [subject description]” – This sets the tone immediately. You’re not asking for a professional headshot or studio portrait. You want something that looks like it was taken by a regular person.
• “captured with a low-quality or cheap smartphone camera” – This is crucial. It tells Gemini to add those telltale signs of budget camera hardware: slightly soft focus, limited dynamic range, and color processing that isn’t quite perfect.
• “The subject is [pose or action], appearing casual and unposed” – Professional photos have perfect poses. Amateur photos catch people being themselves. Maybe they’re mid-conversation or adjusting their clothes. These natural moments feel real.
• “The photo takes place in [location], with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center” – Perfect composition is a dead giveaway that a photo was taken by a professional. Amateur photographers don’t always nail the rule of thirds. Sometimes the subject is too far to one side or slightly cut off.
• “The background shows [background distractions or details], giving it an everyday feel” – Real life is messy. There are plastic bags, parked bikes, random people walking by. These details make photos feel lived-in.
• “Lighting is natural, from [light source], with small flaws like grain, digital noise, lens flare, or slight motion blur” – This is where the magic happens. These flaws are what make amateur photos feel authentic. Professional photographers spend thousands on equipment to avoid these issues. Amateur photographers just live with them.

20 Prompt Examples for Amateur Photos

Here are 20 prompts I’ve used successfully, each creating incredibly realistic amateur photos:

1. Bus Stop Wait

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a man in his 30s wearing a wrinkled shirt, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is waiting at a bus stop, leaning slightly against the pole, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a busy city street, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows parked bikes and passing cars, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from the afternoon sun, with small flaws like digital noise and slight motion blur, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

2. Tea Shop Reading

Create a realistic amateur photograph of an elderly man wearing glasses, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is reading a newspaper with one leg crossed, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a roadside tea shop, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows plastic chairs and a dusty wall calendar, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from daylight seeping through the shop entrance, with small flaws like digital noise and uneven focus, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

3. School Boy Laughing

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a teenage boy in a school uniform, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is laughing with his backpack slung over one shoulder, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a neighborhood street, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows rickety bicycles and stray dogs wandering, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from the morning sun, with small flaws like grain and motion blur, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

4. Marketplace Rush

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a middle-aged woman holding grocery bags, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is walking quickly, slightly off-balance, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a crowded marketplace, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows vegetable stalls and people haggling, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from overhead sunlight, with small flaws like lens flare and noise, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

5. Park Bench Phone Time

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a man wearing a hoodie, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is sitting on a park bench, scrolling on his phone, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a small public park, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows children playing and a cyclist passing by, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from filtered sunlight through trees, with small flaws like grain and slight blur, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

6. Pre-Workout Prep

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a young woman in workout clothes, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is tying her shoelaces on the pavement, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a residential street, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows parked scooters and a garbage bin, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from the late afternoon sun, with small flaws like digital noise and uneven focus, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

7. Father and Child Walk

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a man carrying a toddler on his shoulders, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is walking toward the camera, smiling, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a shopping street, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows billboards, street vendors, and traffic lights, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from cloudy daylight, with small flaws like grain and slight blur, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

8. Bus Stand Refreshment

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a teenage girl with headphones around her neck, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is sipping from a soda can, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a bus stand, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows graffiti and cracked pavement, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from side sunlight, with small flaws like lens flare and digital noise, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

9. Temple Pigeon Feeding

Create a realistic amateur photograph of an old woman in a sari, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is feeding pigeons on the ground, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a temple courtyard, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows stone pillars and scattered flower petals, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from soft daylight, with small flaws like motion blur and grain, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

10. Living Room Mother

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a woman holding a sleeping baby, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is sitting on a wooden chair, slightly slouched, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a modest living room, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows a half-open cupboard and toys on the floor, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from the window curtains, with small flaws like digital noise and soft blur, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

11. Town Square Rest

Create a realistic amateur photograph of an old man with a walking stick, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is resting on a roadside bench, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a busy town square, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows fruit carts and motorbikes passing, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from cloudy daylight, with small flaws like grain and uneven focus, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

12. Kite Flying Fun

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a young boy flying a kite, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is looking upward with his hands raised, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in an open field, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows friends laughing and paper scraps on the ground, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from bright afternoon sunlight, with small flaws like digital noise and slight blur, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

13. Rainy Day Wait

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a man wearing a raincoat, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is holding an umbrella while waiting near a bus stop, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a wet street, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows puddles, parked cars, and blurred pedestrians, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from the cloudy sky, with small flaws like grain, reflections, and motion blur, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

14. Morning Coffee Stop

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a woman holding a paper cup of coffee, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is standing outside a small café, brushing hair from her face, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a city sidewalk, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows bicycles chained to poles and people rushing by, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from the morning sun, with small flaws like lens flare and slight noise, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

15. After Work Unwind

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a man wearing office clothes with sleeves rolled up, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is loosening his tie while sitting on a step, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a metro station exit, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows commuters with bags and faint graffiti on the wall, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from the evening light filtering in, with small flaws like grain and uneven exposure, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

16. Crosswalk Phone Check

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a young woman with a backpack, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is checking her phone while waiting at a crosswalk, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a busy intersection, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows traffic lights, blurred cars, and people crossing, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from fading daylight, with small flaws like motion blur and noise, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

17. Roadside Tea Break

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a man drinking tea from a roadside stall, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is standing with his back slightly hunched, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a dusty roadside corner, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows plastic stools, kettles, and a small signboard, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from the mid-morning sun, with small flaws like grain and uneven focus, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

18. Friends Sharing Content

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a group of teenagers laughing together, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subjects are huddled around one phone screen, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a public park bench, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows snack wrappers and pigeons nearby, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from bright sunlight, with small flaws like motion blur and digital noise, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

19. Indoor Conversation

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a man wearing sunglasses indoors, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is talking animatedly with one hand raised, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a small restaurant, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows plastic bottles on shelves and dim walls, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from a nearby window, with small flaws like grain and lens flare, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

20. Platform Wait

Create a realistic amateur photograph of a young man with earphones, captured with a low-quality smartphone camera. The subject is waiting for a train with one hand in his pocket, appearing casual and unposed. The photo takes place in a railway platform, with framing that feels a bit imperfect or off-center. The background shows faded posters and scattered passengers, giving it an everyday feel. Lighting is natural, from skylight above the tracks, with small flaws like grain and slight blur, adding to the authenticity of an unpolished snapshot.

Creating amateur-style photos with Gemini has become one of my favorite creative exercises. Each prompt generates something unique, yet consistently authentic-looking.

Remember that amateur doesn’t mean bad. It means real. It means human. These photos tell stories in a way that polished professional shots sometimes can’t.

Start with the template I shared and adjust it for your needs. Change the subject, location, or lighting conditions. Add your own background details. Make it yours.