How to Write Midjourney Prompts: Subject, Light, Style and Parameters
Updated · SuperPrompts
Short answer
A strong Midjourney prompt describes, in order: the subject with concrete details, the setting, the lighting (source and direction), the composition or camera angle, the style and colour palette, then parameters such as --ar 16:9. Concrete nouns beat vague words like "beautiful".
What order should a Midjourney prompt follow?
Lead with the subject, because image models weight early words most. Then the setting, lighting, composition and style, and parameters last. "A rustic wooden cabin, snowy pine forest at night, warm window light against cool moonlight, wide shot, digital painting, muted blue palette --ar 16:9" follows that order.
Which words improve image quality?
Specific ones: materials (weathered oak, brushed steel), light sources (neon signs, golden-hour sun from the left), lenses (35mm, shallow depth of field) and named styles (watercolour, cinematic photograph). Words like "stunning" or "high quality" add little because they do not describe anything.
Which Midjourney parameters matter most?
Aspect ratio is the big one: --ar 16:9 for scenes and banners, --ar 1:1 for logos and avatars, --ar 9:16 for phone wallpapers. Add the version flag (for example --v 6) if you want consistent results.
Step by step
- 1Describe the subject concretely. Materials, colours and one or two small details.
- 2Set the scene and lighting. Where, when, and where the light comes from.
- 3Choose composition and style. Camera angle or shot type, medium and palette.
- 4Add parameters. --ar for shape, plus the version flag if needed.
Real example: before and after
Produced by SuperPrompts from the one-line request below.
Before
a cozy coffee shop on a rainy evening, image
After
A warm, inviting coffee shop interior glowing softly under amber pendant lights on a rainy evening, rain streaks gently sliding down large fogged windows revealing blurred city lights outside. Inside, rich wooden tables and plush leather chairs create an intimate atmosphere, with steam rising from freshly brewed cups of coffee, casting a cozy haze in the air. The scene is captured from a slightly elevated angle, emphasizing the contrast between the cold, wet exterior and the snug, comforting warmth within, rendered in a photorealistic style with soft, diffused lighting and a shallow depth of field to blur the rainy backdrop. --ar 16:9 --v 6
FAQ
Does this work for DALL·E, Flux and Stable Diffusion?+
Yes. The same subject → setting → light → style order works across image models; only the parameters at the end are Midjourney-specific.
Can SuperPrompts write Midjourney prompts?+
Yes. Describe your idea and choose "For: Midjourney" to get a single prompt line with parameters. If your idea could be an image or a piece of writing, SuperPrompts asks which one you mean.
Try it on your own prompt
Free, no credit card. Works for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Midjourney.
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