Style keywords and examples

Style keywords dramatically influence the aesthetic, mood, and quality of your AI-generated content. This guide covers the most effective keywords and how to use them.

Photography styles

Professional photography

Keywords that create polished, high-quality results:

• professional photography
• boudoir photography
• fashion photography
• portrait photography
• editorial photography

Example: "Woman in black dress, professional boudoir photography, soft lighting, intimate"

Cinematic

Film and movie-inspired aesthetics:

• cinematic
• cinematic lighting
• film still
• movie scene
• 35mm film

Example: "Couple in bedroom, cinematic lighting, warm tones, film still, atmospheric"

Artistic styles

• oil painting style
• watercolor
• digital art
• anime style
• illustration

Lighting keywords

Lighting dramatically changes mood and quality:

Soft and romantic

• soft lighting
• diffused light
• gentle light
• window light
• natural light

Effect: Creates flattering, smooth skin tones and gentle shadows

Dramatic and moody

• dramatic lighting
• side lighting
• rim lighting
• spotlight
• chiaroscuro

Effect: Strong contrast, bold shadows, high impact

Warm and inviting

• golden hour
• warm lighting
• sunset light
• candlelight
• fireplace glow

Effect: Orange/golden tones, cozy atmosphere

Cool and modern

• blue hour
• cool lighting
• neon lighting
• fluorescent
• moonlight

Effect: Blue/cyan tones, modern or edgy feel

Quality enhancers

Keywords that improve output quality:

• 4K
• 8K
• high resolution
• detailed
• sharp focus
• professional quality
• studio quality

Note: These don't change resolution but guide the AI toward higher-quality aesthetic choices.

Mood and atmosphere

Sensual and intimate

• sensual
• intimate
• seductive
• alluring
• provocative

Playful and fun

• playful
• flirty
• teasing
• mischievous
• fun

Intense and passionate

• intense
• passionate
• sultry
• smoldering
• fierce

Soft and romantic

• romantic
• gentle
• soft
• tender
• dreamy

Composition keywords

Control framing and perspective:

• close-up
• portrait
• full body
• wide shot
• POV (point of view)
• from above
• from below
• side view

Environment and setting

Interior

• bedroom
• bathroom
• living room
• hotel room
• luxury suite
• cabin

Ambiance

• dimly lit
• well-lit
• cozy
• luxurious
• minimal
• ornate

Combining keywords

Layer multiple style elements for precise control:

Example 1: Soft and romantic

"Portrait of woman in white lingerie, bedroom, soft window light, gentle morning glow, romantic atmosphere, professional boudoir photography, warm tones, intimate"

Example 2: Dramatic and edgy

"Woman in black leather, urban loft, dramatic side lighting, film noir aesthetic, high contrast, cinematic, moody atmosphere, 4K quality"

Example 3: Playful and bright

"Smiling woman in colorful bikini, poolside, bright natural lighting, sunny day, playful mood, fashion photography, vibrant colors, cheerful"

Keywords to avoid

Some terms can produce inconsistent results:

• Overly abstract concepts
• Contradictory styles ("dark and bright")
• Extremely specific brand names
• Technical jargon without context

Testing and experimentation

Build a keyword library

Keep track of combinations that work:

1. Generate with a baseline prompt
2. Add one style keyword
3. Compare results
4. Note effective keywords
5. Build your personal reference list

A/B testing approach

Test keywords systematically:

• Control: "Woman in red dress, bedroom"
• Test A: Add "soft lighting"
• Test B: Add "dramatic lighting"
• Test C: Add "cinematic"
• Compare: Which achieved your goal?

Platform-specific notes

For video generation

Style keywords work, but:

• Keep it simple (fewer keywords)
• Focus on lighting and mood over complex styles
• Consistent lighting works better than dynamic changes

For image generation

• More keywords generally work well
• Layer up to 5-8 style descriptors
• Mix photography, lighting, and mood keywords

Advanced combinations

Once comfortable with basics:

• professional boudoir photography, soft window light, intimate atmosphere, warm tones, 4K
• cinematic film still, dramatic side lighting, film noir aesthetic, high contrast, moody
• artistic portrait, painterly style, soft focus, romantic lighting, dreamy atmosphere

Related guides

• Prompt writing basics
• Troubleshooting generations
• Building a moodboard