The Age of Figurines is Over! NanoBanana’s Portrait Photography is the Real Masterpiece

NanoBanana has been continuously trending, from figurines to stickers, and even hippocampus photography. I’ve shared all of these, but many friends still feel unsatisfied because they want a set of sophisticated portrait photos. After some exploration, I’ve prepared a set of prompt words for you. You can simply copy and paste them to get started. Let’s first look at the results:

Example of NanoBanana AI Portrait Photography

Through NanoBanana, you can generate high-end portrait photos like the one below. These images have a certain texture to them, and just hanging them on the wall feels like you’re at an art exhibition.

AI-generated high-end portrait with NanoBanana prompts

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Create AI Portraits with NanoBanana

  1. Prepare a Source Image:
    You need to start with a basic photo, like a common lifestyle photo where the face is visible. I’ve used one as an example below.

    Example of source photo before AI portrait transformation

  2. Login to Google Gemini:
    Go to gemini.google.com, choose the little banana icon, and upload your source image.

    Google Gemini interface showing NanoBanana AI portrait upload

  3. Apply the Prompt Words:
    Once the image is uploaded, simply copy and paste the following prompt words into the Gemini tool. Here’s the prompt:

Convert the image into a top-tier half-body portrait in a photography studio style. The subject wears urban casual attire, with natural and relaxed body language. Focus the camera on the face in a close-up shot. The background should have a soft gradient, with clear layering, highlighting the separation between the subject and the background. The atmosphere is serene and gentle, with a delicate film grain texture. Soft, directional lighting gently caresses the face, leaving a catchlight in the eyes, evoking the classic high-end black-and-white photography vibe. Maintain a lot of negative space in the composition for a simple and breathing feel, with an off-center layout.

Result Example:

NanoBanana AI portrait generated with casual outfit prompt

Customize Your NanoBanana Portrait Photography Style

You can experiment with different styles by changing the clothing or the look. For example, you can try adding a vintage touch, like a qipao or a floral shirt, to the subject’s attire:

Convert the image into a top-tier half-body portrait in a photography studio style. The subject wears a vintage outfit, such as a qipao or a floral shirt, with a cultural atmosphere. The composition follows the same guidelines as above.

Vintage Style Result:

AI portrait in vintage qipao style generated by NanoBanana

Enhance AI Portraits with Gobo Lighting (Light & Shadow Effects)

One of my favorite additions is incorporating strong light and shadow effects, known as gobo lighting. To do this, simply modify the prompt by adding a request for gobo lighting:

Convert the image into a top-tier half-body portrait in a photography studio style. The subject wears urban casual attire, with a natural and relaxed body posture. Focus the camera on the face in a close-up shot. The background has a soft gradient with clear layering to emphasize the separation between subject and background, and incorporate gobo lighting to create geometric or window-like shadows. The atmosphere remains serene, with a delicate film grain texture. Soft, directional lighting caresses the face, leaving a catchlight in the eyes, evoking the high-end black-and-white photography feel. Keep a lot of negative space, with a minimalist and breathing composition, using an off-center layout.

Gobo Lighting Effect:

NanoBanana AI portrait with dramatic gobo lighting shadow effect

How to Generate Color Portrait Photography with NanoBanana

If you’d prefer a color version of the portrait, just replace the words “black and white photography” in the prompt with “portrait photography”. The result will still be highly sophisticated.

Color Portrait Example:

AI-generated color portrait photo with NanoBanana

Creating Close-Up AI Portraits with NanoBanana

If you’re looking for a close-up facial shot instead of a half-body one, simply modify the prompt by changing “half-body portrait” to “super close-up face shot” and adjust the composition accordingly.

Close-Up Face Portrait:

Close-up AI face portrait created with NanoBanana

I’ve shared many techniques and tips for using NanoBanana, and if you have any questions or want to see more, feel free to leave a comment. If you found these tips helpful, don’t forget to like, share, and spread the word. Your support means a lot!

👉 Want more AI photography tricks? Check out my NanoBanana AI series for tutorials on figurines, stickers, and creative effects.

Stay tuned for more exciting AI tool experiences!