Sora 2 Realistic Portrait Prompts: Master Human Videos
Master the art of creating realistic, believable portrait videos with detailed prompting techniques and professional lighting.
Creating realistic human portraits is one of AI video generation's greatest challenges. This guide provides proven techniques, detailed prompt formulas, and professional tips for generating authentic, believable portrait videos with Sora 2.
The Challenge of Realistic Portraits
Humans are exceptionally good at detecting "something off" about faces. The uncanny valley effect makes portrait generation particularly difficult. Success requires understanding facial anatomy, expressions, lighting, and careful prompting.
Current Sora 2 Limitations
- Extreme close-ups of faces may show artifacts
- Complex hand gestures remain challenging
- Rapid facial expressions can blur or distort
- Multiple people interacting increases difficulty
- Direct eye contact with camera needs careful prompting
Essential Portrait Prompt Structure
Use this formula for consistently better results:
Portrait Prompt Formula:
[Shot Type] of [Age/Gender] [Ethnicity] with [Facial Features] [Expression] [Action] [Clothing] [Setting] [Lighting] [Style] "photorealistic"
Example: "Medium close-up of 30-year-old woman, East Asian, almond eyes, gentle smile, looking slightly off-camera, professional business attire, modern office setting, soft window lighting from left, shallow depth of field, photorealistic cinematography"
Describing Facial Features
Age and Demographics
Age Descriptors
- Young child (5-10 years)
- Teenager (15-18 years)
- Young adult (20s)
- Middle-aged (40s-50s)
- Elderly (70+ years)
Ethnicity
- East Asian, South Asian
- African, African American
- Caucasian, European
- Hispanic, Latino
- Middle Eastern
Facial Structure
- Face Shape: "oval face", "angular jawline", "round features", "strong cheekbones"
- Eyes: "almond-shaped eyes", "deep-set eyes", "expressive brown eyes", "bright blue eyes"
- Nose: "straight nose", "prominent nose", "small refined nose"
- Mouth: "full lips", "subtle smile", "neutral expression"
- Hair: "long dark hair", "short cropped hair", "shoulder-length blonde hair", "natural curly hair"
- Skin: "fair complexion", "warm skin tone", "deep brown skin", "weathered skin"
Mastering Expressions
Expressions bring portraits to life. Be specific about emotion and intensity.
| Emotion | Subtle Version | Strong Version |
|---|---|---|
| Happy | "gentle smile", "subtle contentment" | "bright laugh", "beaming joy" |
| Sad | "thoughtful melancholy", "slight frown" | "tears forming", "deep sorrow" |
| Serious | "neutral expression", "calm composure" | "intense focus", "stern gaze" |
| Surprised | "raised eyebrows", "mild surprise" | "eyes wide", "shocked expression" |
| Confident | "assured demeanor", "slight smirk" | "powerful presence", "commanding gaze" |
Eye Direction and Gaze
Where the subject looks dramatically affects connection and mood.
Looking Off-Camera
Safer, more natural. Reduces uncanny valley.
- "looking slightly to the left"
- "gazing into distance"
- "eyes downcast, thoughtful"
- "looking over shoulder"
Looking at Camera
Direct connection, but riskier for artifacts.
- "direct eye contact with camera"
- "looking directly at viewer"
- "engaging eye contact"
- "confident gaze at camera"
Pro Tip
For best results, specify "looking slightly off-camera" or "gazing past camera" rather than direct eye contact. This reduces potential eye artifacts while maintaining engagement.
Portrait Lighting Setups
Natural Window Light
"natural window light from left creating soft directional illumination, gentle shadows defining facial features, warm afternoon light, photorealistic portrait photography"
Rembrandt Portrait Lighting
"Rembrandt lighting creating triangle of light on shadowed cheek, dramatic 45-degree key light, classic portrait technique, professional studio lighting"
Golden Hour Outdoor
"golden hour magic hour lighting, warm sunset glow on face, soft directional backlight creating rim light, natural outdoor portrait photography"
Cinematic Low-Key
"low-key dramatic lighting, strong shadows on half of face, film noir aesthetic, moody atmospheric portrait, high contrast cinematography"
Shot Types for Portraits
Extreme Close-Up (ECU)
Risk Level: High - Shows eyes or specific features. Most challenging.
"extreme close-up of eyes, capturing emotional depth, shallow depth of field"
Close-Up (CU)
Risk Level: Medium - Face fills frame. Good balance of detail and safety.
"close-up portrait of face, subtle expression, professional headshot style"
Medium Close-Up (MCU)
Risk Level: Low - Head and shoulders. Most reliable for quality.
"medium close-up from shoulders up, professional portrait, engaging composition"
Medium Shot (MS)
Risk Level: Very Low - Waist up. Context with person.
"medium shot from waist up, character in environment, lifestyle portrait"
Clothing and Styling
Clothing helps establish character, era, and context.
Professional
"tailored business suit", "professional attire", "corporate dress", "business casual"
Casual
"comfortable sweater", "casual t-shirt", "denim jacket", "relaxed clothing"
Formal
"elegant evening gown", "black tie attire", "formal wear", "sophisticated dress"
Background and Context
Background should complement subject without distraction.
- Shallow DOF: "shallow depth of field with blurred background, subject isolated"
- Studio: "seamless neutral gray background, studio portrait setting"
- Environmental: "modern office setting, natural context, professional environment"
- Outdoor: "natural outdoor setting, forest background softly out of focus"
- Urban: "city street background with bokeh lights, urban environment"
Complete Portrait Prompt Examples
Professional Headshot
"Medium close-up professional headshot of confident 35-year-old businessman, Caucasian, salt-and-pepper hair, warm smile, looking slightly off-camera, navy business suit with subtle pattern, modern office background softly blurred, natural window lighting from left creating soft shadows, shallow depth of field, photorealistic photography, LinkedIn profile aesthetic"
Cinematic Portrait
"Close-up cinematic portrait of thoughtful 25-year-old woman, South Asian, expressive brown eyes looking into distance, natural wavy black hair, subtle melancholy expression, wearing simple gray sweater, golden hour lighting creating warm glow, film grain texture, shallow depth of field with dreamy bokeh, anamorphic lens aesthetic, moody atmospheric cinematography"
Character Portrait
"Medium shot of weathered 60-year-old fisherman, Scandinavian, deeply lined face telling stories, piercing blue eyes, rugged features, gray beard, gentle knowing smile, heavy wool sweater, coastal harbor background, overcast natural lighting, documentary photography style, authentic character study, photorealistic portrait"
Fashion Portrait
"Medium close-up fashion portrait of elegant 28-year-old model, African descent, flawless dark skin, strong cheekbones, intense gaze directly at camera, natural afro hairstyle, minimalist black turtleneck, white seamless background, high-key studio lighting, sharp focus, editorial fashion photography, Vogue aesthetic, photorealistic beauty"
Movement in Portraits
Subtle movement adds life without risking quality.
Safe Movements
- "hair gently moving in breeze"
- "subtle head turn toward light"
- "eyes slowly shifting gaze"
- "gentle breathing movement"
Avoid These
- Rapid facial expressions
- Quick head movements
- Complex hand gestures near face
- Extreme expressions changing
Avoiding Common Portrait Mistakes
❌ Too Many Details
"Woman with green eyes, freckles, dimples, scar on left cheek, mole near nose"
✓ Focus on Key Features
"Woman with expressive green eyes, natural freckles, warm smile"
❌ Celebrity References
"Person who looks like Brad Pitt"
✓ Original Descriptions
"Handsome man with strong jawline, blonde hair, blue eyes"
Technical Quality Keywords
Always include these for maximum realism:
- "photorealistic" - Essential for realism over stylized
- "professional photography" - Elevates technical quality
- "shallow depth of field" - Creates cinematic bokeh
- "natural skin texture" - Avoids over-smoothing
- "authentic expression" - Encourages genuine emotion
- "professional lighting" - Ensures quality illumination
Diversity and Representation
Create diverse, representative portraits by being specific and thoughtful:
Best Practices:
- Be specific about ethnicity and features rather than vague
- Avoid stereotypical associations (occupation, clothing, setting)
- Represent various ages, not just young adults
- Include different body types and features
- Use respectful, accurate demographic descriptors
Next Steps
Continue improving your portrait skills:
- Lighting Techniques - Master portrait lighting setups
- Cinematic Techniques - Professional camera work
- Beginner's Guide - Fundamentals of Sora 2
- Portrait Prompt Generator - Create optimized portrait prompts
Key Takeaways
- Use medium close-up shots for most reliable facial quality
- Specify "looking slightly off-camera" to avoid direct gaze artifacts
- Include age, ethnicity, specific features, and expression in every prompt
- Always add "photorealistic" and "professional photography" for quality
- Describe lighting setup specifically: window light, Rembrandt, golden hour
- Use shallow depth of field to blur backgrounds and emphasize subject
- Avoid extreme close-ups of faces and complex hand gestures
- Keep movements subtle: gentle head turns, hair in breeze, shifting gaze
- Focus on 2-3 key facial features rather than exhaustive detail lists
- Never reference celebrities - describe features originally and specifically