Getting a perfect AI portrait can be tricky. If your results look plastic, proportions are off, or the subject seems pasted on, don't worry. This guide will show you how to talk to GenYou for stunning, realistic portraits. Let's dive in!
1. Getting the basics right: your source photo & initial prompts
The foundation of a great AI generation starts with your original photo and how you instruct the AI. The key is to use clear, descriptive language that the model can easily understand.
Keep prompts concise and descriptive:
Tip: The AI can sometimes get confused by too much detail. Think "less is more" when you start. Think in terms of short, comma-separated phrases. To better convey your concept, use synonyms, adjectives, and participles to add specific details—for example, "shy, modest girl in an old, antique library" or "happy man sitting on the beach, smiling". Remember to check your spelling.
Avoid: Trying to chat with the AI or using complex punctuation and commands. The model does not understand brackets, parentheses, or quotation marks. For instance, do not use a prompt like: "Please generate (a 'noir-style' detective) who is [tall and mysterious], wearing a trench coat and (fedora hat). He should be standing on a "rainy, dark street" looking intently at a clue".
Try instead: "A detective in a trench coat and fedora, film noir style, standing on a dark rainy street, looking at a clue". This approach uses simple, descriptive terms and only commas and periods, which the model can process effectively.
Framing, pose, and expression:
Problem:
The generated image shows an oversized head, awkward body, bad framing, or the wrong facial expression. This usually happens if the source photo is an angled selfie, an extreme close-up, or has an expression that doesn’t match what you want.Tips:
Upload a high-quality photo framed to your chest, facing the camera directly, with the expression you want (e.g., smiling for a cheerful look, neutral for something more serious).
Use clear prompts to control framing. Try phrases like “waist-up portrait”, “full-body photo”, “close-up”, “mid shot”, “knee-up”, or “full-body view”.
Add actions or items to guide composition. For example: “walking”, “on a trail”, or “shoes” often produces a full-body shot, while “t-shirt” or “holding a coffee cup” tends to give a half-body image.
Specify body type for better proportions:
Slim: “slender figure”, “thin build”, “lean body”
Athletic: “athletic build”, “toned physique”, “fit body”
Curvy: “curvy figure”, “full-figured”, “voluptuous”
Pro Tip:
The AI mirrors the emotion in your source photo. Upload up to 4 photos and switch between them for different results.
2. Mastering facial realism & expression
Is your AI face looking a bit "pasted on", "soapy", or just not quite right? Let's refine it!
Play with face resemblance:
Tip: GenYou offers 4 degrees of "face resemblance" to control how much the AI preserves your identity versus adding stylized elements. Experiment with these!
Complete Resemblance / Similar: Fully preserves identity from photos.
Partial Resemblance / Balanced: Preserves identity but adds stylistic elements.
Minimal Resemblance / Creative: Preserves identity with strong stylization.
Artistic Interpretation / Stylized: Completely stylizes the face.
For ultra-realism:
Prompts: "sharp face skin details", "realistic skin texture", "detailed pores", "subtle freckles".
Bonus: If your original face looks a bit artificial, trying a "profile view" or "shot from aside" can sometimes make the generated face look more natural, as the AI has to "re-imagine" it slightly.
Examples: "profile view, sharp skin details", "side look, realistic skin texture".
Guiding gaze & expression:
Problem: Eyes looking in weird directions? AI looking blank?
Tip: Use specific prompts to direct the gaze and expression.
Prompts:
"facing/looking at viewer" (for direct eye contact)
"relaxed pose", "serene expression"
"dreamy look" (especially good with "profile view" for a thoughtful, gazing-into-the-distance feel)
"romantic pose", "romantic shot" (often works well for feminine poses, making them less stiff)
"creative posing" (can help male characters strike more interesting, less "passport photo" stances)
Don't forget footwear! Even in mid-shots, describing shoes can help the AI generate more natural full-body poses, like sitting casually on grass or a rug.
Examples: "dreamy look, profile view, soft smile", "romantic pose, looking at viewer, sitting on a velvet couch, elegant heels visible".
Adding text (simple words only!):
Tip: If you want text, keep it simple.
Prompts: "holding a sign with 'HELLO' written on it", "in a t-shirt with the word 'AI' on it".
Glasses - make them clear!
Problem: If your original photo has glasses, the AI might struggle.
Tip: Describe your glasses in the prompt.
Example: If you wear big black glasses in your original photos, add "big black glasses" to your prompt.
Hands – a universal AI challenge:
Problem: AI-generated hands can be... tricky.
Tip: Try prompts like "five-fingered hand" or "hand behind back" (works about 50/50). "Gloves" or "hands in pockets" can also help hide or simplify them.
Examples: "figure with hand behind back", "person wearing elegant black gloves".
3. Crafting your look: appearance & style
Help the AI understand your desired aesthetic from head to toe.
Defining features:
Tip: Be specific about key features.
Prompts: "blue eyes", "blonde wavy hair", "dark skin", "visible scar on cheek", "subtle freckles".
Hair: Your original photo's hairstyle is usually maintained, so only specify if you want something different.
Clothing: Describe the style and texture.
Examples: "elegant navy suit", "rugged leather jacket", "bohemian maxi dress", "futuristic metallic top".
The "Oversized" rule for modern clothing:
Problem: AI-generated clothes can sometimes look stiff or like they're from an old catalog.
Tip: Add "oversized", "chunky", or "loose-fitted" to your clothing descriptions for a more contemporary, natural look.
Examples: "oversized knit sweater", "chunky denim jacket", "loose-fitted linen shirt".
Embrace textures:
Tip: Realistic clothing textures add life to your photos. Knitted items work particularly well.
Prompts: "knitted sweater", "wool cardigan", "cashmere turtleneck", "textured denim".
Bold & bright colors:
Tip: Even if some minor details aren't perfect, vibrant colors can make the image instantly more appealing. Don't be shy!
Prompts: "electric blue jacket", "neon pink hoodie", "vibrant yellow raincoat".
Color placement is key:
Problem: If you say "sheer pink boho dress", the AI might make her hair or background pink too.
Tip: Always place the color directly before the item you want it to apply to.
Avoid: "sheer pink boho layered dress with flared sleeves"
Try instead: "sheer pink boho layered dress with flared sleeves"
4. Setting the scene: backgrounds & environment
A great background grounds your character and adds depth.
Blur it out!
Problem: A sharp background can make your character look like they were poorly Photoshopped onto a scene.
Tip: Always add "blurry background" to create a sense of depth and focus on your subject.
Examples: "blurry city street background", "blurry forest path behind".
Trendy indoor spaces:
Tip: For indoor settings, adding terms like "hip" or "trendy" to descriptions of coffee shops, libraries, or stores can make both the background and the overall vibe of the person feel more modern.
Examples: "trendy coffee shop background", "hip minimalist library", "vintage record store".
Activity-driven backgrounds (even if the person isn't doing It):
Tip: Describing an activity for the background can make the scene more detailed and cohesive with the character, even if the person isn't explicitly performing the action.
Example: For a "hip bookstore background", you could add "person choosing a book" (even if the person isn't literally choosing one, it helps flesh out the scene).
Atmospheric backgrounds:
Tip: Use evocative, vivid descriptions.
Prompts: "sunny beach background", "snowy forest background", "cozy fairytale village", "ancient city in fog", "wet asphalt".
5. The magic of light & effects
Lighting can make or break the realism of your AI generation.
Adding realism through light:
Problem: A flat image can lack life and make the person look "pasted".
Tip: Experiment with lighting prompts to add depth, shadows, and atmosphere.
Indoor lighting: "indoor midday lighting", "soft light from the window", "cozy lamp glow".
Outdoor lighting: "outdoor lighting", "golden hour", "morning sun rays", "sunset sun rays". (These often work best with a slightly turned face, allowing light to hit from the side for a more realistic look).
Shadows: "soft shadows", "long shadows" (adds volume to clothing and face).
Sun effects: For outdoor shots, always mention the sun! "sunny weather", "sun glare on the skin".
Specific lighting types: "natural light", "neon reflections", "moody cinematic lighting", "high-contrast shadows", "rim lighting".
Atmospheric & cinematic effects:
Blur & focus: "blurred background", "bokeh", "depth of field".
Film & vintage: "film grain", "soft focus", "vignette", "90s VHS filter", "CRT screen distortion".
Dynamic effects: "motion blur", "flying debris", "dust clouds", "ambient glow".
Cartoonish & stylized looks:
Prompts: "cartoonish style", "high-quality stylized art", "big round eyes", "visible brushstrokes", "halftone shading", "thick ink outlines", "3D cel-shading comic book style".
6. Enhancing overall quality
Want that crisp, professional look? These prompts help!
High-quality details:
Prompts: "sharp high-quality portrait", "high-quality detailed portrait for a profile picture on social media", "sharp details", "close-up portrait", "iPhone camera quality", "Photorealistic style", "8K resolution".
7. Fine-tuning your best generations
You got a nearly perfect image, but one tiny thing is off?
Small tweaks, big impact:
Tip: If you have a good result and just need to change a minor detail, turn off the "Randomize scene" toggle and slightly modify only the part of the prompt you want to change. This tells the AI to make a small adjustment rather than a whole new image.
Important note: The "Randomize scene" option turns off for only one subsequent generation, then it defaults back to "Randomize". So, remember to uncheck it each time you want to make a minor tweak!
Important "Don'ts" to remember
Avoid overly specific demographics: Do not mention sex or race in your prompts. The model will automatically match these with the model's defaults based on your source image and current settings.
No negative commands: Avoid using "no", "don't", or similar negative words in your prompts. The AI usually understands what you want, not what you don't want. Focus on positive instructions.
Keep experimenting, have fun, and don't hesitate to share your amazing creations!