1. Write a visual brief
Separate subject, environment, composition, light, material and intended use. A useful starter brief is: ‘editorial product photograph of a translucent running shoe, low camera angle, wet basalt surface, cold rim light, generous copy space on the left, 16:9.’
- Name the deliverable and aspect ratio
- Describe composition before decorative adjectives
- Avoid stuffing contradictory styles into one prompt
2. Generate a controlled batch
Keep the core brief fixed while changing only one variable—camera, palette or material. Record which change produced the improvement. This makes iteration learnable instead of random.
3. Refine and quality-check
Use reference or editing tools for the chosen direction, then zoom in on edges, text-like marks, anatomy, reflections and repeated objects. Export only after checking the intended display size.
- Compare at 100% zoom
- Save prompt and seed details where available
- Confirm rights and disclosure requirements for the intended channel