The 5-part formula
Good edit prompts answer five questions in order: 1) What must stay the same (face, expression, body)? 2) What is the subject wearing? 3) Where are they? 4) What is the light? 5) What camera and format? Example: "Keep my face and expression exactly the same. Dress me in a black chiffon saree with silver jhumkas. Place me on a Mumbai rooftop at dusk. Soft golden-hour backlight with warm rim light. Shot on an 85mm lens, shallow depth of field, 4:5."
Face-lock phrases that work
"Keep the face 100% identical to the uploaded photo", "do not alter facial features, skin tone or expression", "maintain exact identity". Put this at the start of the prompt — models weigh early instructions more.
Lighting words that change everything
Golden hour, blue hour, direct on-camera flash, window light, rim light, neon backlight, overcast soft light. Pick one main light source; mixing several produces flat images.
Camera words for realism
Lens (35mm, 50mm, 85mm), depth of field (shallow, f/1.8), film stock (Kodak Portra 400), device (iPhone, disposable camera) and grain. These cues push the model away from the glossy "AI look".






