How to Craft MidJourney Prompts for Product Photography

Luxury watch product photo with clean white background

Pictures sell faster than words.

If someone sees a clean photo of a product, they usually trust the brand more. I’ve noticed that even a plain product looks expensive if the picture is done right. But here’s the issue—good photography is not cheap. You need lighting setups, cameras, maybe even a studio, and if you hire someone professional… the bill goes up quick.

That’s why a lot of people turn to MidJourney now. This AI tool can actually make product photos that look like you hired a pro. The only thing is, the results depend on how you write the prompt. If your prompt is weak, the image will look off. If the prompt is sharp, the results can fool anyone.

So let’s talk about how to write MidJourney prompts that make product images look real and professional.

Why even bother with MidJourney for product shots?

Couple reasons:

• Cheaper than a studio. You don’t need to rent cameras or lights.

• Fast. You can spin up multiple versions of a photo in seconds.

• Freedom to test. Change the background, the lighting, the angle—without limits.

• Looks consistent. If you’re building a catalog, you can keep every photo in the same style.

Basically, you save money and time, and still get results that can go right into an online store.

What makes a MidJourney prompt work?

A prompt is just words you type. But the trick is knowing what words matter. Think of it like you’re giving instructions to a photographer.

Good prompts usually have these parts:

• The product name (watch, bottle, shoes, laptop).

• The camera style/angle (flat lay, close-up, macro, isometric).

• The lighting setup (soft studio light, daylight, dramatic shadows).

• The background (plain white, wooden table, marble, lifestyle setting).

• The style of photography (minimalist, editorial, luxury, e-commerce style).

The extra parameters (--ar, --q, --v, --s).

Here’s an example:
Minimalist product photo of black leather watch, studio soft light, white backdrop, close up detail, --ar 1:1 --q 2 --v 5.2

Picking aspect ratio (the frame size)

MidJourney lets you control the shape of the image using --ar. This is important for where the image will be used.

• 1:1 square → best for e-commerce, Instagram posts.

• 4:5 vertical → works good on ads, Pinterest, mobile-friendly layouts.

• 16:9 horizontal → perfect for website banners or slides.

Most product photos are square, but you don’t have to stick with it. Make multiple versions so you can reuse them across platforms.

Lighting = the biggest detail

Without good lighting, product shots fall flat. Even AI-generated ones. Lighting tells the story of the product.

Here’s a few types:

• Soft studio light → clean, perfect for Amazon-style listings.

• Natural light → makes it look casual, lifestyle-friendly.

• Dramatic shadows → gives luxury vibes, like high-end brands.

• Backlit glow → especially nice for glass bottles, perfumes, drinks.

Prompt example:
Perfume bottle with glowing backlight, cinematic shadows, reflective surface, studio shot --ar 4:5 --q 2

Flat lay skincare product photography on marble surface

Background choices

Background changes the whole feel of a photo. Some work better for certain products:

• Plain white → works for Shopify, Amazon, catalogs.

• Gradient or soft abstract → adds depth without being distracting.

• Lifestyle scene → product being used, like a coffee cup on a desk.

• Luxury setting → marble, velvet, or metallic texture under the product.

Prompt example:
Wireless earbuds on white seamless background, studio lighting, sharp shadows, --ar 1:1

Camera angles that matter

Same product, different angle, totally different vibe.

• Flat lay → bird’s-eye shot, great for food, cosmetics, accessories.

• Macro → close up, focus on details like textures, fabric, gems.

• Front-facing → classic catalog view.

• Isometric → slightly 3D, looks modern, often used for tech items.

Prompt example:
Macro shot of diamond ring, soft reflection, clear studio light, white background --ar 1:1

Photography styles you can mimic

The goal is to make the image feel like a pro snapped it. MidJourney can imitate styles:

• E-commerce photography → sharp, clear, nothing in background.

• Editorial/lifestyle → product shown in use, like in a magazine.

• Luxury branding → dramatic lighting, glossy, high-contrast shadows.

• Minimalist → just the product, nothing else distracting.

Prompt example:
Leather handbag on marble, editorial photo, dramatic studio lighting, contrast shadows, --ar 4:5

MidJourney parameters that boost quality

Couple of commands make your photo sharper:

• --q = quality. Higher number makes more detail. I use --q 2.

• --v = version of MidJourney. Always pick the latest for realism.

• --ar = aspect ratio (framing).

• --s = stylize. Lower number keeps it realistic.

• --upbeta or --hd = upscale to higher resolution.

Example:
Product photo of matte black headphones, clean shadows, white background, ultra detail --ar 1:1 --q 2 --s 100 --v 5.2

Prompt examples you can copy

Cosmetics
Flat lay of skincare bottles, natural soft light, white background, glass reflections --ar 1:1 --q 2

Shoes
White sneakers, side view, floating in air, clean shadows, minimalist style, --ar 4:5 --q 2

Jewelry
Macro shot of gold necklace, glowing reflections, velvet background, luxury photo style --ar 1:1 --q 2 --s 150

Tech gadgets
Sleek smartphone on marble, isometric angle, futuristic lighting --ar 16:9 --q 2

Drinks
Iced coffee with condensation, outdoor sunlight, wooden table, lifestyle shot --ar 4:5 --q 2

Mistakes people make with prompts

• Writing too much detail. Shorter is better.

• Cranking stylize too high. It stops looking real.

• Picking wrong background that doesn’t match product.

• Forgetting to keep the same style across a product line.

SEO tips for product photos

If you plan to upload these images to websites or online stores, don’t forget SEO basics:

• Add alt text with keywords (like “black leather watch product photo”).

• Rename the file to match keywords (not IMG123.jpg, instead black-watch-photo.jpg).

• Compress before uploading so site loads faster.

• Make different sizes for Instagram, ads, web banners.

This boosts how well your images rank in Google Images and also improves your store’s speed.

Testing is the only way to learn

Don’t expect first try to be perfect. I had to test maybe 10 times before I liked the results. Try different:

• Angles.

• Lights.

• Backgrounds.

• Styles.

Keep the best, discard the rest. After a while you’ll know what type of prompts work for your niche.

Minimalist wireless earbuds product photo floating with soft glow

Final thoughts

Writing MidJourney prompts for product photography feels weird at first, but it’s really just practice. You’re acting as the photographer and the art director, but only with words.

Start with basics: product name + angle + lighting + background. Then layer parameters.

The more you practice, the more natural it gets. Soon you’ll be making images that could sit on Amazon, Shopify, or in an ad campaign—and no one will know they came from AI.