Nano Banana Pro: Advanced Prompting Techniques
50+ expert-level prompts for photorealism, era-specific photography, character consistency, and complex compositions.
This guide goes beyond basics. You'll learn the prompting techniques used by professional creators to get consistent, production-ready results from Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image). Sourced from the most successful prompts shared across X/Twitter, Reddit, and the AI art community.
In This Guide
Structured Prompt Architecture
The most reliable way to get consistent results is using a structured format. This tells the model exactly what you want across multiple dimensions.
The 6-Part Formula
[Subject] + [Clothing/Appearance] + [Action/Pose] + [Environment] + [Photography Style] + [Mood/Atmosphere]
// Full structured prompt example
A confident female CEO in her 40s, wearing a tailored charcoal blazer and minimalist gold jewellery, sitting at the head of a glass conference table with hands clasped, modern corner office with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a city skyline at golden hour, shot on Sony A7IV with 85mm f/1.4 lens, shallow depth of field, warm natural light mixed with soft interior lighting, professional corporate portrait style, powerful yet approachable mood.
JSON-Style Structured Prompts
For complex requests, some creators use a structured format that the model interprets remarkably well:
Subject: Young Japanese woman, early 20s, natural makeup Clothing: Vintage denim jacket over white t-shirt, silver necklace Pose: Looking over shoulder, slight smile, wind in hair Location: Tokyo street at night, neon signs reflected on wet pavement Camera: Fujifilm X-T5, 35mm f/1.4, shot from slightly below Lighting: Neon pink and blue from signs, soft rain mist Style: Japanese street photography, Daido Moriyama influence Mood: Urban romance, nostalgia, cinematic
Photorealism Techniques
The key to photorealism is specificity. Generic prompts get generic results. These techniques produce images indistinguishable from real photographs.
Camera & Lens Specifications
Including real camera equipment dramatically improves realism:
| Use Case | Camera Spec to Include |
|---|---|
| Portraits | Sony A7III, 85mm f/1.4, shallow depth of field |
| Street photography | Fujifilm X100V, 23mm f/2, natural grain |
| Fashion | Canon EOS R5, 50mm f/1.2, studio strobe lighting |
| Product shots | Phase One IQ4, 120mm macro, focus stacked |
| Landscapes | Nikon Z8, 24-70mm f/2.8, deep focus, golden hour |
| Documentary | Leica Q2, 28mm, available light, candid moment |
// Professional headshot
Corporate headshot of a middle-aged Black man with greying temples, confident warm smile, wearing a navy suit with subtle pinstripe and burgundy tie. Shot on Canon EOS R5 with 85mm f/1.4 lens at f/2.0. Three-point studio lighting with soft key light from camera left, fill from right, hair light from behind. Clean grey gradient backdrop. Sharp focus on eyes, natural skin texture visible, no retouching look. Professional LinkedIn style.
Lighting Terminology
Professional lighting terms the model understands:
Natural Light
- Golden hour, magic hour
- Overcast diffused light
- Harsh midday sun with hard shadows
- Blue hour, twilight
- Window light, north-facing
- Dappled light through trees
Studio Light
- Three-point lighting setup
- Rembrandt lighting
- Butterfly/Paramount lighting
- Split lighting, dramatic
- Ring light, beauty style
- Softbox diffused, even
Era-Specific Photography
One of Nano Banana Pro's strengths is recreating the look of specific photographic eras. These prompts capture the authentic aesthetic of each period.
1970s Film Photography
A young couple at a backyard barbecue in suburban America, 1974. The woman wears a mustard yellow halter top and high-waisted jeans, the man has long sideburns and a brown leather vest. Shot on Kodachrome 64, characteristic warm orange-red colour shift, slight colour fringing, authentic 1970s amateur photography look. Faded whites, visible film grain, slightly soft focus typical of consumer cameras of the era.
1980s Flash Photography
Office Christmas party, 1986. Group of coworkers in ugly sweaters gathered around a decorated cubicle, holding red Solo cups. Direct on-camera flash creating harsh shadows on the wall behind them, red-eye effect on some subjects. Shot on Fuji Superia 400, oversaturated reds and greens, slight motion blur on the edges. Authentic amateur snapshot aesthetic, someone caught mid-blink.
1990s Disposable Camera
Teenagers at a house party, 1997. Girl in a slip dress and platform sandals, guy in an oversized band t-shirt and baggy jeans. Harsh built-in flash, washed out highlights, strong vignetting in corners. Kodak FunSaver disposable camera look - low contrast, muddy shadows, slight green colour cast. Authentic candid moment, imperfect framing, finger slightly in frame.
2000s Digital Camera
Bathroom mirror selfie, 2006. Young woman holding a silver digital camera (visible in reflection), wearing low-rise jeans and a graphic tee. Early digital camera quality - slightly oversharpened, visible noise in shadows, limited dynamic range. Fluorescent bathroom lighting, flash reflecting in mirror. MySpace era aesthetic, peace sign pose.
Film Stock Emulation
| Film Stock | Characteristics to Include |
|---|---|
| Kodak Portra 400 | Warm skin tones, pastel highlights, fine grain, soft contrast |
| Kodak Portra 800 | Slightly more grain, excellent low light, warm tones |
| Fuji Pro 400H | Cool shadows, soft greens, creamy skin tones |
| Kodak Ektar 100 | Vivid saturated colours, fine grain, high contrast |
| CineStill 800T | Tungsten balanced, halation around lights, cinematic |
| Ilford HP5 | Classic B&W, medium grain, wide tonal range |
| Kodak Tri-X 400 | Contrasty B&W, visible grain, documentary style |
// Kodak Portra portrait
Portrait of a bride getting ready, natural window light illuminating her face as she looks in an antique mirror. Shot on Kodak Portra 400, 35mm film. Characteristic warm skin tones, lifted shadows with slight orange cast, creamy highlights, fine organic grain visible at 100%. Soft romantic mood, timeless wedding photography aesthetic.
Character Consistency Across Images
One of the hardest challenges in AI image generation is maintaining the same character across multiple images. These techniques help.
Facial Preservation Phrases
Include these phrases to maintain facial features:
"Keep facial features exactly consistent with the reference""Preserve the exact face structure, do not alter""Maintain identical facial proportions and features""Same person, same face, different pose/setting""Character consistency: exact facial match required"
Detailed Character Description
The more specific your character description, the more consistent results across generations:
// Detailed character definition
Character: Maya, 28-year-old South Asian woman. Oval face shape, warm brown skin tone (Fitzpatrick IV), high cheekbones, slightly upturned nose, full lips, dark brown almond-shaped eyes with thick natural eyebrows. Long straight black hair reaching mid-back, centre-parted. Small beauty mark above left lip. Athletic build, 5'7" height. Distinguishing features: dimples when smiling, slight widow's peak hairline.
Multi-Reference Workflow
Use multiple reference images for best consistency:
Step 1: Generate base character
Create your initial character image with all defining features clearly visible.
Step 2: Generate angle variants
Use the first image as reference to generate 3/4 view and profile views of the same character.
Step 3: Use all variants as references
Upload all angle variants when generating new scenes. The model uses multiple references for better accuracy.
// Multi-reference prompt
Using all provided reference images of Maya, generate a new image: Maya walking through a busy Tokyo street at night, wearing a black leather jacket and jeans. Maintain her exact facial features, skin tone, hair colour and style from the references. Different pose and setting, same person. Neon signs reflected on wet pavement, cinematic night photography.
Creative Effects & Techniques
Droste Effect (Recursive Images)
A woman sitting at a cafe table, holding a magazine. On the magazine cover is the same image - a woman at a cafe holding a magazine with the same image, creating an infinite recursive loop. The Droste effect, clean execution, each nested layer clearly visible and progressively smaller. Warm cafe lighting, shallow depth of field on the main subject.
Temporal Aging Sequence
A 4-panel horizontal image showing the same woman aging through decades. Panel 1: Age 20, 1960s style hair and fashion. Panel 2: Age 40, 1980s corporate look. Panel 3: Age 60, 2000s casual elegance. Panel 4: Age 80, present day, silver hair, warm smile. Same facial bone structure maintained throughout, natural aging progression. Each panel photographed in the style of that era. Consistent eye colour and facial proportions across all panels.
Dense Crowd Composition
A "Where's Waldo" style crowd scene at a music festival. Hundreds of distinct individuals, each with unique clothing, poses, and expressions. Include hidden visual jokes and Easter eggs throughout - someone dressed as a dinosaur, a person reading a newspaper upside down, twins wearing opposite colours. Bird's eye view, high detail, every face distinct and characterful. Find-the-hidden-object illustration style with photorealistic rendering.
Conceptual Perception
A 3-panel image showing how different groups perceive "success". Panel 1 labeled "Corporate": A corner office with city views, luxury watch, tailored suit. Panel 2 labeled "Artist": A messy studio filled with paintings, natural light, paint-stained hands holding a brush. Panel 3 labeled "Minimalist": A simple room with a single plant, person meditating, empty calendar. Same professional photographic style across all panels, clean typography for labels.
E-commerce & Product Photography
Virtual Model Try-On
Using the provided product image of the blue silk blouse, show it worn by a professional model. Preserve exact fabric texture, colour (#2E5984), button placement, and collar style from the product photo. Model: East Asian woman, 25-30, natural makeup, hair pulled back to show neckline. Clean white studio background, soft even lighting that shows fabric drape and sheen. E-commerce product photography style, full garment visible.
Lifestyle Product Placement
Using the provided image of the ceramic mug, place it in a lifestyle setting: Morning scene, the mug on a wooden kitchen counter with steam rising, soft morning light streaming through a window. A blurred figure in pyjamas reaching for it in the background. Preserve exact mug design, proportions, and glaze finish. Warm, inviting atmosphere. Shot on full-frame camera with 50mm lens, shallow depth of field focusing on the mug.
Product on Transparent Background
Product photography of running shoes, isolated on pure white background (RGB 255,255,255). Three-quarter angle showing both the side profile and toe box. Professional product lighting - main light from top-right creating soft shadow underneath, fill light eliminating harsh shadows. Crisp focus throughout, no background shadows or gradients. Clean e-commerce isolation style ready for background removal.
Infographics & Data Visualisation
Educational Infographic
Create a vertical infographic explaining photosynthesis for high school students. Title at top: "How Plants Make Food". Include these exact sections with headers: "1. Light Absorption" with a sun icon, "2. Water Uptake" with roots illustration, "3. Carbon Dioxide" with leaf stomata diagram, "4. Glucose Production" with molecular representation. Use a nature-inspired colour palette (greens, soft yellows, earth tones). Clean vector illustration style, educational but visually engaging. All text must be perfectly legible.
Process Flowchart
Convert this whiteboard sketch into a professional McKinsey-style flowchart. Process: Customer Inquiry → Qualification → Proposal → Negotiation → Close. Use clean rectangular boxes with rounded corners, connected by arrows. Include decision diamonds for "Qualified? Yes/No" and "Accepted? Yes/No". Corporate blue colour scheme (#1E3A5F primary, #4A90D9 secondary). White background, professional business consulting aesthetic. All text crisp and perfectly readable.
Comparison Chart
Create a comparison infographic: "Remote Work vs Office Work". Two-column layout with icons. Left column (Remote): Flexible hours, No commute, Home comfort, Self-discipline needed. Right column (Office): Set schedule, Commute time, Social interaction, Structured environment. Use contrasting colours - teal for Remote, orange for Office. Modern flat design icons, clean sans-serif typography. Professional infographic ready for blog or presentation.
Social Media Graphics
YouTube Thumbnail
YouTube thumbnail, 16:9 aspect ratio. A person with an exaggerated shocked expression, mouth open, hands on cheeks. Bold yellow text with black outline reading "I TRIED THIS FOR 30 DAYS" in the upper portion. Red arrow pointing to dramatic before/after comparison on the right side. High saturation, high contrast, eye-catching colours. Professional YouTuber thumbnail style that compels clicks. Face takes up 40% of frame.
Instagram Quote Card
Square Instagram post (1:1 ratio). Quote text in elegant white serif font: "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs. Dark gradient background transitioning from deep navy (#0A1628) at top to charcoal (#1C2833) at bottom. Subtle geometric line art decoration in corners. Clean, minimal, inspirational. Text perfectly centred and legible on all devices.
LinkedIn Carousel Slide
LinkedIn carousel slide (4:5 ratio). Header: "5 Habits of Successful Leaders". Large number "3" in bold accent colour. Main text: "They Listen More Than They Speak". Supporting text below in smaller font: "Great leaders understand that every conversation is an opportunity to learn." Professional corporate design, clean white background with navy (#1E3A8A) and gold (#D4AF37) accents. Include subtle geometric shapes as design elements. Slide 3 of 7 indicator at bottom.
Event Poster
Event poster for a tech conference. Title: "FUTURE FORWARD 2025" in bold geometric sans-serif. Subtitle: "Where Innovation Meets Opportunity". Date: "March 15-17, 2025" and Location: "Dubai World Trade Centre". Abstract futuristic background with gradient mesh in electric blue and purple tones. Include abstract tech elements - circuit patterns, nodes, flowing data streams. QR code placeholder in bottom corner. All text perfectly legible against background.
Quick Reference: Power Words
Words and phrases that consistently improve results:
Quality Boosters
- Photorealistic
- Hyper-detailed
- 8K resolution
- Award-winning photography
- Professional quality
- Magazine editorial
Lighting Terms
- Volumetric lighting
- Rim light
- Chiaroscuro
- Soft diffused
- Dramatic shadows
- Natural available light
Composition Terms
- Rule of thirds
- Leading lines
- Negative space
- Symmetrical framing
- Dutch angle
- Point of view shot
Summary
| Technique | When to Use |
|---|---|
| 6-part structured prompts | Any complex generation, ensures completeness |
| Camera specifications | Photorealism, portraits, products |
| Film stock emulation | Nostalgic, editorial, artistic looks |
| Era-specific prompts | Period pieces, vintage aesthetics |
| Character consistency | Series, storytelling, brand mascots |
| Multi-reference workflow | Maintaining identity across scenes |
Put these techniques to work
Try Nano Banana Pro with advanced prompting in ChilledSites.
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