Getting a good AI portrait isn’t always easy. Sometimes faces look plastic, proportions are off, or the person seems “pasted on.” Don’t worry, this guide will show you how to get natural, realistic results with GenYou.
1. Start with the right photo and a simple prompt
A great result begins with a good photo and clear instructions.
Use short, descriptive prompts.
Less is more — the AI works best with simple phrases separated by commas. To make your idea clearer, use descriptive words (like adjectives and synonyms) and remember to check your spelling.
✔️ “A shy girl in an old, antique library”
✔️ “Happy man sitting on the beach, smiling cheerfully”
Avoid long sentences, commands, or symbols like brackets and quotes.
❌ “Please generate (a ‘noir-style’ detective) who is [tall and mysterious], wearing a trench coat and (fedora hat).”
✔️ “Detective in a trench coat and fedora, film noir style, standing on a dark rainy street.”
Framing and expression matter.
Use a clear, front-facing photo from chest level, with the expression you want (smiling, neutral, etc.). Avoid angled selfies and extreme close-ups. Try these prompts to control framing:
“waist-up portrait”
“full-body view”
“close-up”
“knee-up”
Add actions or items to guide composition:
“walking”, “on a trail”, or “shoes” often produces a full-body shot
“T-shirt” or “holding a coffee cup” tends to give a half-body image
Specify body type for better proportions:
Slim: “slender figure”, “lean build”, “thin build”, “frail”
Athletic: “fit body”, “toned physique”, “muscular”
Plus-size: “curvy figure”, “full-figured”, “voluptuous,” “plump body”, “softly built”, “plus-size model”, “chubby”
💡 Tip: The AI mirrors your expression — upload up to 4 photos and switch between them to vary results.
2. Make faces look real
If faces look weird or fake, adjust resemblance and details. GenYou has 4 face resemblance levels to play with:
Complete Resemblance: Keeps your exact look.
Partial Resemblance: Keeps likeness with some style.
Minimal Resemblance: Looser, artistic version.
Artistic Interpretation: Mostly artistic, minimal likeness.
For realistic skin, use prompts like “realistic skin texture,” “sharp details,” “subtle freckles.”
💡 Tip: If the face looks artificial, try "profile view" or "shot from aside" — sometimes a side angle looks more natural.
Eyes looking the wrong way or blank stare? Add these to your prompt to direct the gaze and expression:
“looking at viewer” (for direct eye contact)
“relaxed pose,” ”serene expression”
“dreamy look, profile view” (for a thoughtful, gazing-into-the-distance feel)
"romantic pose", "romantic shot" (good for softer, less stiff poses)
"creative posing" (helps male characters look less rigid)
💡 Tip: Mention footwear even in waist-up shots — it helps the AI create more natural poses. If you wear glasses in your photo, describe them in your prompt for better results:
"big sunglasses," "aviator sunglasses," "cat-eye sunglasses"
"vintage round spectacles," "thick-framed glasses," "black-rimmed glasses"
AI often struggles with hands. Here's how to work around it:
”five-fingered hand”
”hand behind back”
”wearing gloves”
”hands in pockets”
These work about half the time, but they help.
3. Define the look and style
Tell the AI what you want your character to look like describing its key features: “dark curly hair,” “blue eyes,” “visible scar on cheek.”
💡 Tip: The AI usually keeps your original hairstyle — only mention hair if you want something different.
For clothing prompts, mention both style and texture:
“elegant navy suit,” “bohemian maxi dress,” “rugged leather jacket,” ”futuristic metallic top,” “high-fashion leather costume,” ”voluminous flowing chiffon dress,” ”haute couture”
If clothes look stiff, add “oversized,” “loose-fitted,” or “chunky” for a natural feel.
Make images come alive using realistic textures:
“knitted sweater,” “linen shirt,” “wool cardigan,” "cashmere turtleneck,” "textured denim."
Put colors right before the item you're describing:
❌ "pink sheer boho dress" (might make hair or background pink)
✔️ "sheer pink boho dress"
💡 Tip: Bright colors make images pop. Try "electric blue jacket," "neon pink hoodie," "vibrant yellow raincoat."
4. Choose the right background
A good background adds depth and realism. Blur it out!
Add “blurry background,” “blurry city street background,” or “blurry forest path behind” to create a sense of depth and focus on your subject.
For modern indoor vibes add "trendy" or "hip" to indoor locations for a contemporary feel:
"trendy coffee shop background"
"hip minimalist library"
"vintage record store"
Mentioning an activity makes the scene more detailed, even if your character isn't actually doing it:
"person choosing a book in a hip bookstore"
"browsing records in a vintage music store"
💡 Tip: Use vivid descriptions to create atmospheric settings:
"morning sunlight streaming through the window"
"sunny beach/snowy forest background"
"moonlit forest"
"cozy fairytale village"
"ancient city in fog"
"wet asphalt under neon streetlights"
5. Light makes the magic
Lighting is what makes AI images look real instead of flat and fake.
For indoor scenes, try:
"indoor midday lighting"
"soft light from the window"
"cozy lamp/candle glow"
For outdoor shots, don't forget shadows and sun effects:
"outdoor lighting"
"golden hour"
"sunny weather" or "sun glare on the skin"
"morning/sunset sun rays"
"soft shadows" or "long shadows" to give volume to clothing and faces.
💡 Tip: You can also control the direction and mood of light. Use:
"soft rim lighting" for a gentle glow
"harsh studio lighting" for drama
"dramatic chiaroscuro" for high contrast
"deep shadows" for moodiness
“film grain,” “bokeh,” “depth of field,” “motion blur” for cinematic effects
6. Boost quality
For sharper, professional-looking results, use:
“high-quality portrait,” “sharp details,” "professional photoshoot," "hyperdetailed," "award-winning photography," “photorealistic style,” “8K resolution.”
7. Fix small details
If one thing looks off, don’t redo everything.
Turn off the 'Randomize scene' toggle, change just the word you want to adjust, and generate again. GenYou will reset 'Randomize' after one use, so uncheck it each time you tweak.
8. A few don’ts
❌ Don’t mention race or gender — the AI handles it automatically.
❌ Don’t use “no,” “don’t,” or negative phrasing — focus on what you want, not what you don’t want.
Keep experimenting, stay curious, and have fun creating portraits that look like real photos, not plastic copies!