A template is a prompt with the specific words pulled out and turned into [BRACKETS] you fill in. The structure — the part that actually steers Midjourney v8 (released March 17, 2026) — stays fixed, so you get the same reliable composition every time and only change the subject. Copy a skeleton, swap the brackets, generate.

Every template below follows one universal skeleton: Subject + Description + Style + Composition + Parameters. You name the thing, describe its details, set an art style or medium, choose the shot and lighting, then append the --flags that fine-tune it. Here is that skeleton in bracket form:

[SHOT TYPE] of [SUBJECT], [KEY DETAILS], [ART STYLE / MEDIUM], [LIGHTING], [CAMERA / LENS] --ar [RATIO] --style raw --s [0-100]

How the brackets work: each label tells you what to substitute. Replace [SUBJECT] with a red fox or a matte black bottle, [LIGHTING] with golden hour or softbox lighting, [RATIO] with 4:5 or 16:9 — and delete the brackets as you go so only your words remain. Keep the commas and the trailing parameters exactly where they are. For the full parameter reference, see the Midjourney prompt cheat sheet.

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Portraits & people

Portraits live and die on lens language and light. Keep --style raw and a low --s so v8 stays literal to your description instead of prettifying faces.

1. Photorealistic portrait

[SHOT TYPE] portrait of [PERSON + AGE + DISTINCT FEATURE], [EXPRESSION], natural skin texture, [LIGHTING], shot on [LENS] --ar 4:5 --style raw --s 50

Fill: [SHOT TYPE] = close-up, [PERSON…] = a weathered fisherman in his 60s with a grey beard, [LENS] = 85mm f/1.4.

Filled example:

close-up portrait of a weathered fisherman in his 60s with a grey beard, calm candid expression, natural skin texture, soft overcast light, shot on 85mm f/1.4 --ar 4:5 --style raw --s 50

2. Editorial fashion portrait

full-body editorial photo of [MODEL] wearing [OUTFIT], [POSE], [BACKDROP], [COLOR PALETTE], high-fashion magazine styling, [LIGHTING] --ar 4:5 --style raw --s 120

Fill: [OUTFIT] = an oversized emerald wool coat, [BACKDROP] = a seamless grey studio wall, [LIGHTING] = dramatic rim light.

3. Corporate headshot

professional headshot of [PERSON] in [ATTIRE], confident friendly expression, [BACKGROUND], soft three-point studio lighting, shot on 50mm --ar 1:1 --style raw --s 40 --no harsh shadows

Best for: LinkedIn and team pages. Drop --s to 20 for the most literal, retouch-free look.

Product & commercial

Commercial shots need a clean surface, controlled light, and a negative prompt to strip clutter. These three cover the shots most stores need. For a deeper set see Midjourney prompts for product photography.

4. Product hero shot

[PRODUCT] on [SURFACE], [PROP / TEXTURE DETAIL], studio softbox lighting, [BACKGROUND] seamless background, commercial product photography --ar 4:5 --style raw --s 100 --no clutter, text

Fill: [PRODUCT] = a matte black skincare bottle, [SURFACE] = a wet stone slab, [BACKGROUND] = beige.

Filled example:

a matte black skincare bottle on a wet stone slab, scattered water droplets, studio softbox lighting, beige seamless background, commercial product photography --ar 4:5 --style raw --s 100 --no clutter, text

5. Flat-lay product arrangement

top-down flat lay of [PRODUCT + RELATED ITEMS], arranged on [SURFACE], [COLOR PALETTE], even soft daylight, minimalist styling --ar 1:1 --style raw --s 80 --no shadows, clutter

Best for: social grids and packaging mockups. Keep the palette to two or three colors for a clean grid.

6. Lifestyle product-in-use

[PERSON] using [PRODUCT] in [REAL-WORLD SETTING], candid natural moment, [TIME OF DAY] light, shallow depth of field, lifestyle photography --ar 3:2 --style raw --s 90

Fill: [SETTING] = a sunlit kitchen, [TIME OF DAY] = late morning, keep the product sharp and the background softly blurred.

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Logos & branding

Logo work is all about restraint: flat shapes, a single color, and a long --no list. More concepts in Midjourney prompts for logo design.

7. Minimalist vector logo

minimalist [SUBJECT] logo, simple flat vector, [SHAPE STYLE], [SINGLE COLOR] on solid white background, centered --style raw --s 50 --no gradient, shadow, 3d, photo, text --ar 1:1

Fill: [SUBJECT] = a mountain, [SHAPE STYLE] = bold geometric shapes, [SINGLE COLOR] = deep navy.

8. Emblem / badge logo

vintage emblem logo for [BRAND TYPE], circular badge, [CENTRAL ICON], [ACCENT MOTIF], two-color [PALETTE], flat vector, symmetrical --style raw --s 60 --no gradient, photo, 3d --ar 1:1

Best for: coffee, outdoor, and craft brands. Keep it to two colors so it prints clean.

9. Lettermark monogram

monogram logo of the letters "[INITIALS]", [STYLE: geometric / serif / interlocking], flat vector, [SINGLE COLOR] on white, balanced negative space --style raw --s 50 --no gradient, shadow, photo --ar 1:1

Fill: [INITIALS] = MK, [STYLE] = interlocking geometric. v8 handles quoted letters far better than older models.

Characters & concept art

For recurring characters, add --seed with a fixed number so the face and outfit stay consistent across variations. See the pack in Midjourney prompts for characters.

10. Character concept sheet

character concept sheet of [CHARACTER], [KEY TRAITS + OUTFIT], multiple views front and side, neutral background, [ART STYLE], clean line work --ar 16:9 --s 200 --seed 1234

Fill: [CHARACTER] = a young airship engineer, [ART STYLE] = semi-realistic digital painting. Reuse --seed 1234 for matching poses.

11. Fantasy character portrait

portrait of [CHARACTER + ROLE], [DISTINCT GEAR / ARMOR], [MOOD], [ENVIRONMENT HINT], dramatic cinematic lighting, [ART STYLE] --ar 2:3 --s 300

Fill: [CHARACTER + ROLE] = a battle-worn elven ranger, [ART STYLE] = painterly fantasy illustration.

12. Stylized mascot

cute mascot of [ANIMAL / OBJECT] for [BRAND], [PERSONALITY], bold flat colors, thick clean outlines, simple background, sticker-style [MEDIUM] --ar 1:1 --s 250 --no realistic, gritty

Best for: app icons and brand mascots. Add --seed to lock the mascot across poses.

Interiors & architecture

Rooms and buildings need a stated style, a light direction, and a wide ratio. More rooms in Midjourney prompts for interior design.

13. Interior room render

[ROOM TYPE] in [DESIGN STYLE], [KEY FURNITURE], [MATERIAL / COLOR PALETTE], [TIME OF DAY] light through [WINDOW], wide interior shot, architectural photography --ar 16:9 --style raw --s 90

Fill: [ROOM TYPE] = a cozy reading nook, [DESIGN STYLE] = warm Japandi, [WINDOW] = a large arched window.

Filled example:

a cozy reading nook in warm Japandi style, low oak bench and linen cushions, muted earth-tone palette, soft morning light through a large arched window, wide interior shot, architectural photography --ar 16:9 --style raw --s 90

14. Architectural exterior

exterior of [BUILDING TYPE] in [ARCHITECTURAL STYLE], [MATERIALS], [SURROUNDINGS], [TIME OF DAY], [WEATHER], architectural photography, [LENS] --ar 3:2 --style raw --s 80

Fill: [BUILDING TYPE] = a hillside villa, [ARCHITECTURAL STYLE] = brutalist concrete, [LENS] = wide-angle 24mm.

Environments & landscapes

Landscapes reward atmosphere words — fog, god rays, golden hour — and a cinematic ratio. Bump --s up when you want mood over literalism.

15. Cinematic landscape

[LANDSCAPE] at [TIME OF DAY], [WEATHER / ATMOSPHERE], [FOREGROUND ELEMENT], volumetric light, cinematic wide shot, film still --ar 21:9 --s 250

Fill: [LANDSCAPE] = a misty pine valley, [ATMOSPHERE] = low drifting fog, [FOREGROUND ELEMENT] = a winding river.

16. Aerial / drone landscape

aerial drone view of [LANDSCAPE], [DEFINING FEATURE], [COLOR PALETTE], [LIGHTING], top-down perspective, high detail --ar 16:9 --style raw --s 100

Best for: banners and hero images. Swap to --ar 21:9 for ultra-wide headers.

Illustration & patterns

Illustration wants a higher --s; patterns need --tile to repeat seamlessly. Both are quick to adapt to any brand palette.

17. Editorial illustration

editorial illustration of [CONCEPT / SCENE], [ART STYLE], [LIMITED PALETTE], [MOOD], flat shapes, subtle texture --ar 3:2 --s 350 --no photo, 3d

Fill: [CONCEPT] = a person balancing work and rest, [ART STYLE] = flat gouache, [PALETTE] = warm terracotta and cream.

18. Seamless pattern / texture

seamless pattern of [MOTIF], [ILLUSTRATION STYLE], [LIMITED PALETTE], evenly spaced, flat --tile --ar 1:1 --s 200

Best for: fabric, wallpaper, and packaging. --tile makes the motif repeat with no visible seams.

Once you have a template working, note the --sref of a result you like and add --sref [URL] --sw 100 to future prompts to carry the same look across a whole set. Ready for finished, ranked examples instead of skeletons? Start with our 40 best Midjourney prompts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use a Midjourney prompt template?

Copy the template, replace every word in [BRACKETS] with your own subject and details, leave the structure and the parameters at the end intact, then paste it into Discord or the Midjourney web app and generate.

What do the brackets in these templates mean?

Each [BRACKET] is a fill-in-the-blank slot. The label inside tells you what kind of word to swap in, for example [SUBJECT], [LIGHTING], or [RATIO]. Delete the brackets when you replace them so only your words remain.

Can I stack multiple parameters in one template?

Yes. Every parameter goes at the very end, each starting with a double dash and separated by a space, for example --ar 4:5 --style raw --s 50 --no text. Order among the flags does not matter as long as they all sit after your descriptive text.

How do I keep results consistent with --seed?

Add --seed followed by a fixed number, for example --seed 1234, and reuse that same number across prompts. It fixes the starting noise so a template produces closely matching compositions, which is useful for variations of one product or character.

Where do the parameters go in a template?

Always at the very end, after all the descriptive text and after every filled bracket. Parameters like --ar, --style raw, and --s never belong in the middle of the sentence.

How do I adapt a template to a different art style?

Change only the [ART STYLE / MEDIUM] slot and, if needed, the --s value. Raise --s toward 300 or higher for illustration and drop it to 0-100 with --style raw for photorealism. The rest of the skeleton stays the same.

Do these templates work in Midjourney v8?

Yes. Every template uses only valid Midjourney v8 parameters (--ar, --style raw, --s, --c, --no, --tile, --sref, --sw, --seed). Add --v 8 explicitly if your account still defaults to an older model.

Can I combine two templates into one prompt?

You can borrow clauses, but keep it simple. Pick one skeleton as the base, add one or two descriptive phrases from another, and avoid stacking conflicting styles. In v8, precise and short beats a long word salad.

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