📸 How to Create Hyper-Realistic Humans in Midjourney

She is ai Magazine

May 15 (edited) • AI Art Video & Creativity

Want your AI humans to look cinematic, lifelike, and emotionally real — not robotic or over-stylized?

Here’s your go-to guide for realism + wow factor using Midjourney.

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🔍 Realism Starts with the Prompt

Use this structure for high-fidelity human portraits:

[Subject] + [Scene/Setting] + [Mood/Lighting] + [Lens Type] + [Camera Style] + [Detail Level] + [Aspect Ratio]

Example:

“A confident South Asian woman standing in golden-hour sunlight on a rooftop, cinematic depth of field, natural skin texture, Canon EOS R5, 85mm lens, f/1.2, ultra-realistic, soft color grading, editorial-style, --ar 3:4”

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✅ Key Prompting Tips for Realistic Results

1. Use Specific Camera Settings & Gear

Mentioning lenses and cameras (like 85mm, f/1.2, Canon EOS R5) adds realism and depth of field.

2. Prioritize Skin Texture & Imperfection

Use terms like:

“natural skin texture”

“freckles, pores, soft shadows”

“no beauty filter”

This helps avoid overly airbrushed or plastic results.

3. Choose Lighting Styles Wisely

For realism, try:

“soft directional light”

“studio lighting with reflectors”

“golden hour glow”

“overcast daylight for even skin tones”

4. Say NO to Unrealistic Artifacts

Avoid “digital painting” or “illustration” unless intentional. You can add “photo, NOT painting” or “photo-realistic, NOT CGI” to steer results.

5. Use Fashion or Editorial Descriptors

For storytelling and aesthetic impact:

“editorial-style portrait for Vogue”

“Moody cinematic still, 1990s film grain”

“street-style, NYC fashion week atmosphere

TOP TIP: I always add keywords into prompts like photorealistic, stunning detail, photoshoot, vogue, magazine photoshoot, realistic, photo, portrait, personal brand photoshoot, and similar words.

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🧠 Sample Prompt Bank

Professional Headshot:

“30-year-old Black woman in a tailored blazer, warm smile, shallow depth of field, studio lighting, Canon EOS R5, professional business portrait, soft shadows, detailed skin texture, --ar 3:4”

Cinematic Mood:

“East Asian woman in a city at night, neon reflections, thoughtful expression, cinematic bokeh, ambient lighting, ultra-HD, 50mm lens, film still --ar 16:9”

Editorial Style:

“Curly-haired Latinx teen in natural light, freckles, minimal makeup, candid fashion editorial, muted color palette, Leica camera realism --ar 2:3”

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💬 Pro Tip: Use Vibe Prompts, Too

Try adding emotional tone to humanize your image:

“a quiet strength in her eyes”

“radiates peace and confidence”

“a moment of bold vulnerability”

Midjourney can’t ‘feel’ — but it can respond to feeling-language.

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📣 Final Thought

Creating realistic humans is an art + algorithm. The more detail, specificity, and subtle emotion you layer in — the better your results.