Magic Hour AI Image Generator Prompting Guide

Introduction

Magic Hour's AI Image Generator creates studio-quality images up to 4K, giving you unprecedented control over style and visual fidelity. Whether you're generating social media content, marketing materials, or creative assets, this guide covers best practices and keyword strategies to help you produce stunning results.

Quick tips for better results: Simple prompts work well, but detailed descriptions yield more stylistic control. Use complete sentences and positive phrasing for the best outcomes.

Article highlights

Detailed prompts deliver more stylistic control than simple ones
Use full sentences with natural language to fine-tune specific elements
Focus on what you want to see, not what to avoid
Combine keywords from different categories for unique results

Prompting Basics

Magic Hour's AI Image Generator supports a wide variety of prompt structures, keywords, and styles. You can prompt for the following elements:

Subject – What or who is in the image
Scene – The environment or setting
Composition – How elements are arranged
Lighting – How the image is lit
Color – Color palette and tones
Style – Artistic or photographic aesthetic
Focus – What stands out in the image
Angle – Camera perspective
Mood – The emotional atmosphere

Detailed prompting provides fine-tuned control, but simple prompts also yield visually stunning results. You don't need to follow a specific structure—just describe what you want to see.

Approach	Example Prompt
Simple	A cozy coffee shop on a rainy morning with warm lighting and people reading.
Detailed	A warm, cozy coffee shop interior on a rainy morning. Rain streams down floor-to-ceiling windows. Soft amber lighting from vintage Edison bulbs illuminates wooden tables and cream-colored chairs. A diverse group of people sit scattered throughout, reading books and working on laptops. Steam rises from ceramic mugs. The aesthetic is intimate, peaceful, and inviting. Film grain, soft focus, muted warm color palette with deep browns and golds. Shot with a 50mm lens, shallow depth of field. Cinematic, editorial photography style.

Best practices for prompting

Use visual, descriptive language

Magic Hour's AI thrives on visual detail. Focus on what you can see, feel, and experience in the image.

Avoid conversational phrasing:

❌ Can you please make a professional headshot of a woman?

✅ Professional headshot photography of a woman with warm, flattering lighting and a clean white background.

Use positive phrasing

Describe what you want to appear in the image, not what to avoid. Focusing on positive elements yields better results.

Positive vs. negative framing:

❌ A person without visible tattoos

✅ A person with clear, unmarked skin

Include specific details

The more specific your description, the more control you have over the output. Mention lighting, composition, color palette, and mood.

Pro tip: Combine style keywords with subject descriptions to achieve unique, polished results that stand out on social media or in marketing campaigns.

Prompt Keywords

This section provides keyword collections across different categories to inspire your prompts. Edit these examples to match your vision for best results.

Aesthetic Styles

Style	Keyword Collection	Example Prompt
Minimalist	Clean lines, simple shapes, minimal color palette, uncluttered, negative space, geometric, flat design	Minimalist product photography of a sleek ceramic mug. Clean white background, soft natural light, simple geometric shapes, cool color palette with white and soft gray tones. Maximum negative space.
Vibrant Pop Art	Bold colors, high contrast, comic book style, bright hues, graphic, eye-catching, energetic	Pop art style portrait of a young woman. Bold, bright colors—hot pink, electric blue, lime green. High contrast, graphic illustration style. Comic book aesthetic with thick black outlines. Energetic and eye-catching.
Moody Atmospheric	Cinematic, moody, fog, mist, dramatic shadows, desaturated, dark tones, atmospheric, mysterious	Moody atmospheric photography of an abandoned warehouse at dusk. Dramatic shadows, heavy fog, desaturated cool color palette with deep blues and grays. Dim light filtering through broken windows. Cinematic and mysterious.
Cottagecore	Pastoral, rustic, vintage, wildflowers, sunlight, warm tones, nostalgic, peaceful, handcrafted	Cottagecore scene of a woman in a sunlit meadow surrounded by wildflowers. Warm golden hour sunlight, soft focus, pastel color palette with warm creams and sage greens. Vintage, peaceful, nostalgic aesthetic. Handcrafted quality.
Cyberpunk	Neon, digital, futuristic, saturated colors, electric, high-tech, dystopian, glowing elements, chrome	Cyberpunk character portrait with neon lighting. Futuristic outfit, saturated colors—electric purple and cyan neon accents. Digital glowing elements, chrome textures, dystopian atmosphere. High-contrast, cinematic.

Art Styles

Style	Keyword Collection	Example Prompt
Watercolor	Watercolor painting, soft edges, translucent, fluid, artistic, painterly, washes of color, delicate	Watercolor painting of a coastal landscape. Soft watercolor washes, translucent layers, delicate edges melting into the paper. Fluid brushstrokes with blues, warm sand tones, and soft greens. Artistic and serene.
Oil Painting	Oil painting, textured, impasto, rich color, classical, brushstrokes visible, fine art, museum quality	Classical oil painting of a bowl of fresh fruit. Rich, saturated colors, visible brushstrokes, textured impasto technique. Museum-quality fine art with warm, natural light illuminating the composition.
Digital Illustration	Digital illustration, vector style, clean lines, bold shapes, graphic design, illustrated, vibrant	Digital illustration of a diverse group of professionals collaborating. Vector style with clean lines, bold geometric shapes, vibrant color palette. Modern graphic design aesthetic.
3D Render	3D render, CGI, polished, glossy, reflective surfaces, lighting effects, high detail, hyper-realistic	3D render of a luxury watch on a marble surface. Polished metal with glossy reflective surfaces, perfect lighting and shadows, hyper-realistic detail. Professional product visualization.
Sketch	Pencil sketch, ink drawing, line art, detailed linework, black and white, artistic, unfinished quality	Detailed pencil sketch of a vintage bicycle. Fine line art with cross-hatching for depth and shadow. Black and white with artistic, skillful linework. Semi-finished, gallery-quality sketch.

Photography Styles

Style	Keyword Collection	Example Prompt
Product Photography	Product photography, studio lighting, clean background, professional, minimalist, polished, well-lit, sharp focus	Professional product photography of a luxury skincare bottle. Studio lighting, clean white background, polished reflective surfaces, sharp focus, minimalist composition. Retail-ready image.
Portrait Photography	Portrait photography, professional headshot, flattering lighting, soft focus background, editorial, fashion	Professional portrait photography of a confident business executive. Warm flattering lighting, soft-focus neutral background, sharp focus on face, editorial quality. Corporate headshot style.
Lifestyle Photography	Lifestyle photography, candid, authentic, warm tones, natural light, relatable, editorial, narrative	Lifestyle photograph of a young family playing in a sunlit living room. Natural golden hour light, warm tones, candid authentic moments, editorial quality. Relatable and joyful narrative.
Street Photography	Street photography, documentary style, candid, urban, gritty, authentic, real-world moment, natural light	Street photography of a bustling urban market. Documentary style, candid real-world moments, gritty authentic atmosphere, natural light, diverse subjects. Photojournalistic quality.
Fashion Photography	Fashion photography, editorial, high-fashion, magazine-style, model, pose, styling, professional lighting	High-fashion editorial photograph of a model wearing a flowing evening gown. Magazine-style composition, professional studio lighting, dramatic posing, luxury styling. Runway-ready aesthetic.

Composition Techniques

Technique	Keyword Collection	Example Prompt
Rule of Thirds	Rule of thirds, balanced composition, strategic placement, visual interest, dynamic framing	Landscape photograph using rule of thirds composition. Horizon line placed in the upper third, focal point off-center. Balanced visual composition with mountains and sunset sky.
Centered Subject	Centered composition, symmetrical, direct gaze, formal, frontal, balanced, focal point center frame	Formal portrait with the subject centered in frame. Symmetrical composition, direct gaze to camera, balanced lighting, stark background. Professional and direct presentation.
Layered Depth	Depth of field, foreground and background, layered, dimensional, multiple planes, immersive	Landscape with layered depth. Sharp focus on foreground flowers, blurred middle ground trees, distant mountains in soft focus. Dimensional and immersive composition.
Frame Within Frame	Frame within frame, layered framing, nested composition, architectural, perspective, depth	Photograph of a person framed by an ornate doorway. Architectural framing creates nested composition with sharp focus on subject and soft-focused background. Dimensional perspective.

Lighting Styles

Lighting	Keyword Collection	Example Prompt
Golden Hour	Golden hour, sunset light, warm glow, soft shadows, flattering light, magical hour, diffused	Portrait taken during golden hour. Warm amber light, soft shadows on face, glowing skin tones, dreamy atmosphere. Diffused sunlight creates flattering, magical illumination.
Studio Lighting	Studio lighting, three-point lighting, key light, fill light, professional, balanced, controlled	Product photograph with professional studio lighting. Three-point lighting setup creates perfect shadows and highlights. Balanced, controlled illumination. Sharp focus and rich color.
Backlighting	Backlighting, rim light, silhouette, glowing edges, dramatic, ethereal, glowing halo effect	Portrait with backlighting. Warm light behind subject creates glowing rim light and halo effect. Silhouetted subject with bright glowing edges. Dramatic and ethereal.
Low Key Lighting	Low key lighting, dramatic shadows, high contrast, moody, dark, mysterious, cinematic	Character portrait with low key lighting. High contrast with dramatic shadows. Dark moody atmosphere, mysterious ambiance. Cinematic and dramatic.

Color Palettes

Palette	Keyword Collection	Example Prompt
Warm Tones	Warm color palette, golden, amber, rust, warm neutrals, earthy, cozy, inviting	Interior design photograph of a cozy living room. Warm color palette with golden yellows, rust tones, warm wood tones, earthy textiles. Inviting and comfortable atmosphere.
Cool Tones	Cool color palette, blues, teals, purples, cool grays, calm, serene, professional	Minimalist workspace photograph. Cool color palette with soft blues, teals, and cool grays. Calm professional atmosphere. Serene and focused environment.
Pastels	Pastel color palette, soft colors, muted tones, dreamy, delicate, feminine, whimsical	Styled food photography with pastel color palette. Soft pink, lavender, mint green, cream tones. Delicate and whimsical aesthetic. Dreamy and feminine composition.
Monochromatic	Monochromatic, single color family, tonal variations, sophisticated, minimalist, elegant	Monochromatic photograph in shades of gray. Sophisticated use of single color family with varied tones. Minimalist and elegant aesthetic. Black and white with rich gray gradations.

Camera Angles

Angle	Keyword Collection	Example Prompt
Wide Shot	Wide shot, establishing shot, full scene, expansive, environmental, context, overview	Wide shot of a film production set. Expansive view showing full environment, multiple crew members, equipment setup. Establishing shot that provides complete context.
Close-Up	Close-up, macro, detail shot, intimate, focused, magnified, textural	Macro close-up photograph of fresh morning dew on flower petals. Intimate detail shot with magnified textures. Sharp focus on delicate water droplets reflecting light.
Overhead Shot	Overhead shot, bird's-eye view, flat lay, top-down, aerial perspective, knolling	Flat lay overhead shot of a styled workspace. Bird's-eye view showing perfectly arranged desk items, notebook, coffee cup, plants. Knolling style organization.
Low Angle	Low angle, worm's-eye view, looking up, powerful, dramatic, perspective, imposing	Low angle photograph looking up at a tall modern skyscraper. Dramatic perspective, imposing architecture, looking upward creates powerful composition.

Mood & Atmosphere

Mood	Keyword Collection	Example Prompt
Peaceful & Serene	Peaceful, serene, calm, tranquil, meditative, quiet, relaxing, zen	Serene yoga studio with natural light streaming through windows. Peaceful atmosphere, calm neutral tones, minimal clutter. Meditative and tranquil environment for relaxation.
Energetic & Dynamic	Energetic, dynamic, vibrant, lively, movement, action, excitement, fast-paced	Dynamic photograph of athletes in motion during a competitive sports match. Energetic action, vibrant colors, sense of fast-paced excitement. Captured mid-movement.
Romantic & Dreamy	Romantic, dreamy, ethereal, soft, delicate, intimate, whimsical, enchanting	Romantic couple's photograph in a flower garden. Ethereal soft focus, dreamy golden light, delicate composition. Intimate and enchanting atmosphere.
Professional & Corporate	Professional, corporate, business, formal, polished, trustworthy, authoritative, clean	Professional corporate team photograph in modern office. Polished, well-lit, formal composition. Trustworthy and authoritative atmosphere. Clean, minimalist background.

Ready to create? Start with a simple subject + one style keyword, then layer in additional descriptive elements as needed. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for your vision.

Tips for Different Use Cases

Social Media Content

For Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms, include keywords like "social media post," "trending aesthetic," or "viral content style." Mention optimal aspect ratios (square for Instagram, vertical for Stories/Reels). Use bright, eye-catching colors and compelling compositions that stop the scroll.

Example: "Trending TikTok aesthetic video thumbnail. Vertical composition, bright vibrant colors, eye-catching typography overlay. Viral-worthy design with modern aesthetic."

Marketing & Advertising

For marketing materials, focus on professional photography styles, clean compositions, and brand-aligned colors. Include details like "product showcase," "brand aesthetic," or "marketing campaign."

Creative Projects

For artistic work, experiment with art styles, unusual compositions, and mood-heavy descriptions. Try combining unexpected aesthetic keywords for unique results.

Remember: Magic Hour's AI Image Generator can create images up to 4K resolution.

Take advantage of this high quality for print materials, large displays, and professional use cases. Your generated images include commercial use rights on all paid plans (Creator and above).

Getting Help

Not getting the results you want? Try these troubleshooting steps:

Add more detail: Include specific lighting, colors, composition, and mood keywords
Use positive language: Describe what you want, not what to avoid
Experiment with styles: Layer multiple art or photography styles for unique results
Refine iteratively: Generate variations and refine your prompt based on results
Check credit usage: Each image generation uses credits based on resolution and quantity

For additional support, visit our Help Center or contact our support team with details about what you're trying to create.