Midjourney Prompt for Realistic Photo
Photorealistic [subject or scene, described with specific concrete detail], shot on [lens type, e.g. "85mm"], [lighting quality, described specifically], shallow depth of field, visible natural texture, unretouched look --style raw --s 50 --ar [aspect ratio, e.g. "4:5"] -- the parameters, not just the wording, are what push toward genuine realism.
Getting genuinely photorealistic output from Midjourney means working with its own parameters, not just photographic language — –style raw and a lowered –stylize value push against Midjourney’s default painterly bias in a way that camera terminology alone doesn’t fully override.
What this produces
An image rendered with reduced Midjourney stylization — more literal, photographic interpretation of your subject — using the tool’s own parameters alongside real camera and lighting terminology.
Variations
Two ready-to-copy versions for different subjects.
Photorealistic portrait of [subject, described specifically], shot on 85mm lens, natural window light, shallow depth of field, visible skin texture, unretouched –style raw –s 50 –ar 4:5
Photorealistic photo of [scene, described with concrete detail], natural lighting, DSLR quality, realistic textures and shadows –style raw –s 50 –ar 3:2. The –style raw parameter is what keeps Midjourney from defaulting to its more stylized, artistic look, which matters for genuinely photorealistic results.
If this is useful, you may also want Best Negative Prompts for Stable Diffusion or ChatGPT Prompts for Pictures of Yourself.
FAQ
What does –style raw actually do?
It reduces Midjourney’s default artistic bias, pushing the model toward a more literal interpretation of your prompt rather than its signature stylized aesthetic.
What –stylize value should I use?
Lower values (around 0-100) reduce artistic embellishment further; the default is much higher, so an explicit low value alongside –style raw produces the most realistic results.
Does this work in older Midjourney versions?
Parameter availability and defaults have changed across versions — check current Midjourney documentation to confirm –style raw is supported in your version.
