Scrolling through the same old selfies can get boring pretty fast. Sometimes, you want something different that still feels like you but bold, artsy, or even a little magical. Fortunately, MidJourney now provides you with a way to make that wish come to life. With just the right words, you can turn regular pictures into stunning AI portraits of all kinds.
Today, we'd share how to write better MidJourney AI portrait prompts, and also provide you with creative examples to help you bring your vision to life in a few easy steps.

In this article
Part 1: How to Write Powerful Portrait Prompts for MidJourney
We'd be getting straight to it. Below are guidelines on how to create midjourney prompts for portraits that will give you the results you want:
- Be Concise
- Use Descriptive Language
- Utilize Creative Tags
- Add Camera & Lens Terms
- Mention Little Details
- Use Aspect Ratio and Focus Parameters
- Consider Using a Prompt Generator
When drafting your prompt, you need to keep it short and to the point. This is because using too many words can confuse the AI. So, use fewer but clearer words, and you will get the best result.
Also, it's important to use words that paint a picture. For example, instead of just saying "portrait," try "soft lighting with a gentle smile." This way, your image feels more alive and emotional.
To add more style to a Midjourney self portrait prompts, throw in creative tags like "ultra-detailed," "editorial look," or "cinematic lighting." These little touches guide the AI toward a specific mood, and as a result, your portrait stands out more.

If you want a professional feel, mention "50mm lens" or "DSLR shot." Doing this helps the AI frame the image like a real photographer would.
Furthermore, don't forget the small stuff. Details like "freckles," "wind in hair," or "neon background" can change the mood. These little extras often bring the whole portrait to life.
Add things like --ar 2:3 for a portrait shape or --v 5 for quality. These simple codes help control the size, shape, and clarity of your image
If you're feeling stuck or unsure what to type, a prompt generator can help. It gives you fresh ideas and, more importantly, saves time while keeping your creativity flowing.
Part 2: 30+ Powerful MidJourney Prompts for Portraits (With Examples)
To make things easier for you, we've compiled a list of the best Midjourney prompts for portraits. Below, you'll find prompts grouped by style, and each one is crafted to help MidJourney understand your vibe and create images that truly fit what you need.
Realistic & Cinematic Portraits
- Close-up portrait of a man with stubble, soft natural light, 85mm lens, bokeh background, cinematic tones --ar 2:3 --v 5
- Woman laughing in the rain, wet hair, candid moment, high-detail photo, golden hour, shot on DSLR --ar 3:1
- Moody portrait of an old man with deep wrinkles, backlight glow, hyper-realistic, color-graded photo --v 5
- Young girl with freckles and curly hair, sunlight through window, film-style photo, shallow depth of field --ar 2:3
- Teenager sitting in a dim room, overhead light casting shadows, realistic texture, shot on 50mm lens --v 5
- Man in a hoodie under streetlight, foggy night, cinematic lighting, urban photo style --ar 2:3 --v 5


Editorial & Fashion-Inspired Portraits
- High-fashion model with slick hair, dramatic lighting, Vogue-style editorial, shot on 105mm lens --ar 2:3
- Man in designer coat, city background, sharp focus, fashion week aesthetic, studio lighting --v 5
- Woman in wide-brim hat, minimalist backdrop, soft light, glossy skin tone, modern fashion editorial
- Street-style portrait, neon jacket, urban vibes, vibrant colors, DSLR photo, fashion-forward mood
- Close-up of a model wearing gold jewelry, soft glam makeup, perfect skin texture, magazine cover shot --v 5
- Retro fashion shoot, 80s outfit, big curls, flash photography, confident expression --ar 2:3
- Portrait of a fashion blogger, Paris street, natural lighting, Instagram style, full body crop --v 5


Creative & Artistic Styles
- Abstract portrait of a woman made of flowers, soft pastel colors, dreamy mood, surreal art style --v 5
- Paint-splatter effect portrait, black and white face with colorful paint strokes, creative shot --ar 2:3
- Double exposure of a man's face and a forest, foggy atmosphere, artistic fusion, moody tones
- Portrait of a girl with butterflies in her hair, magical glow, dreamy lighting, soft focus --v 5
- Digital painting of an old woman with a cracked porcelain skin effect, artistic concept, and moody shadows


Fantasy and Vintage Looks
- Portrait of an elven warrior, glowing eyes, forest background, fantasy armor, mystical lighting --ar 2:3
- Steampunk woman with gears and goggles, dramatic shadows, brass tones, cinematic style --v 5
- Wizard with long white beard, spellbook in hand, fire-lit face, detailed fantasy art
- Portrait of a 1920s flapper girl, vintage hairstyle, sepia tones, old Hollywood glamour --ar 2:3
- Vampire queen in a red cloak, moonlight glow, gothic fashion, pale skin, intense eyes --v 5
- Knight in battle-worn armor, emotional stare, foggy battlefield behind, epic mood
- Fairy sitting on a mushroom, sparkles, soft pastels, enchanted forest background
- Vintage sailor in black and white, weathered face, high contrast, nautical nostalgia


Self-Portrait Prompts
- Self-portrait of a young man in streetwear, urban setting, relaxed vibe, natural light, high detail --v 5
- Artistic self-portrait, side profile, sunlight on face, moody tones, DSLR photo style --ar 2:3
- Fun selfie with neon lights, glowing colors, creative frame, playful expression
- Self-portrait in vintage clothing, mirror reflection, warm tones, nostalgic mood
- Dreamy portrait of a woman lying in a field, flowers in hair, natural glow, soft lighting --v 5
- Black and white self-portrait, strong shadows, serious mood, artistic focus
- Stylized self-portrait with floating elements, cosmic background, fantasy touch --ar 2:3
- Casual selfie with freckles and messy bun, sunlight through window, peaceful tone


Part 3: How to Create a MidJourney Portrait
Moving on to the practical part, below is a comprehensive guide on how to create a portrait using the right midjourney prompts for self portraitsy:
Step1Open MidJourney and Create an Account
- Go to the MidJourney website and click "Create Account" to begin.
- Sign up by connecting your Discord account.

Step2Join the MidJourney Discord Server
- Scroll down to the bottom-left and click "Account Options."
- Then, click "Go to Discord" and accept the invite to join the MidJourney server.

Step3Join a Newbie Group
- After opening Discord, click "Find a Conversation."
- Use the search bar to type "#newbie" and pick any newbie channel from the list.

Step4Create and Save Your Portrait
- In the message box, type /imagine and hit the space bar.
- Now type your prompt and press Enter to start the image.

Generated Image:

Part 4: Easier Alternative to Creating Portraits with MidJourney
Now, going through the complexities how navigating from Midjourney to Discord while creating a portrait might be very stressful for you. Fortunately, there is an easier alternative to that. With the Wondershare Filmora, you can create and edit Midjourney portraits, all in the app.

Filmora is a very popular video and video creation/editing software with several tools to help content creators create quality content easily. When it comes to generating quality portraits, the software has an "AI Image" tool that is packed with lots of features that give it an advantage over other portrait generating tools.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can create a Portrait with Filmora's AI Image tool:
Step1Open Filmora and Input Prompt
- Launch Filmora and click "AI Image" on the homescreen or in the toolbox section.
- Type in your detailed portrait prompt, click "Generate", and wait for the AI to create your image.

Step2Customize Image
- Drag the generated image to the timeline.
- Make edits by adding text, tweaking the color,

Step3Export Your Portrait
- After editing is complete, click "Export" at the top-right corner of the screen.
- Select your preferred file format (we recommend saving in JPG or PNG)
- Click "Export" again, and your portraits will be saved to your device.

Conclusion
We hope we've shown you that creating the right AI portraits using Midjourney portrait prompts doesn't have to be complicated. With just a few clear prompts, MidJourney can turn simple ideas into stunning works of art. However, if you prefer a more beginner-friendly tool, Filmora's AI Image feature gives you everything you need in one place. Try it out today and experience image creation at its finest.