How to Generate Realistic Photos
A practical workflow for photorealistic output—camera language, lighting, materials, and iteration strategy.
Start with a camera stack
Photorealism usually needs lens personality and depth cues:
- “85mm look, shallow depth of field, natural bokeh”
- “35mm documentary framing, slight perspective exaggeration”
Avoid contradictory lens words (“telephoto wide angle”).
Light like a photographer
Pick direction, quality, and color temperature:
“Soft window key from camera left, gentle fill, subtle rim on hair, neutral white balance.”
If shadows look plastic, add bounce or ambient fill language.
Materials beat nouns
Swap generic nouns for surface detail:
- “brushed aluminum with micro-scratches” instead of “metal”
- “linen weave visible at close range” instead of “fabric”
Keep one variable per iteration
When a result is close, change only:
- lighting, or
- wardrobe, or
- background separation
Big rewrites reset everything.
Common fixes
| Issue | Try |
|---|---|
| Oversharpened HDR | “natural micro-contrast, not oversharpened” + consider Raw mode |
| Waxy skin | “real skin texture, visible pores in midtones” |
| Flat product | “tight gradient on seamless, crisp edge falloff” |