Images · Problem: My AI images look fake
How do I make AI-generated images look less fake?
Describe the image like a photographer, not a customer. Name the lighting, the camera angle, the lens and the setting, and add small imperfections such as texture, wear or natural shadows. AI images look fake when every surface is perfect, the light comes from nowhere and nothing tells the model how the photo was taken.
When to use this
Your images look glossy and plastic, skin looks airbrushed, or everything is too clean and too colourful.
Copy this prompt
Build my own versionCreate a photo of [subject] in [real setting]. Camera: shot on a full-frame camera, [35mm / 50mm / 85mm] lens, eye level, shallow depth of field. Lighting: [soft window light from the left / overcast daylight / warm late afternoon sun]. Natural shadows. Realism details: visible texture, small everyday imperfections, natural skin with pores, slight film grain, true-to-life colours. Composition: [subject position], with some empty space for text. Aspect ratio: [4:5 / 16:9 / 1:1]. Avoid: plastic skin, over-smoothing, oversaturated colours, perfect symmetry, glowing edges, extra fingers, garbled text.
Replace each [bracket] with your own details. Works in ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot and Meta AI.
Example
What you type in
Subject: a mechanic checking a car engine. Setting: a small workshop in Shah Alam.
What you can expect back (shortened)
A realistic workshop photo with oil marks on the floor, a slightly worn uniform, fluorescent light mixed with daylight from the open shutter, and the mechanic's hands in natural focus.
Common mistake
Adding words like "ultra realistic, 8K, masterpiece". They add nothing. Real detail about light and texture does.
Better follow-up prompt
Keep the same scene but change the time of day to early morning, with cooler light.
Related problems
Want your team to work like this?
This prompt is one piece of a workflow Han Yong teaches in full. See Creative AI training.