AI Video Prompts: 20+ Examples That Actually Work

Staring at a blank prompt box wondering what to write? You're not alone. Prompt engineering is the skill that separates mediocre AI video results from jaw-dropping ones. But mastering it doesn't require months of practice—you just need to see what works.

In this guide, I'm sharing 20+ proven AI video prompts that consistently generate impressive results. Use these as templates, modify them for your needs, or get inspired to create your own. By the end, you'll understand exactly what makes effective prompts work.

Portrait & People Prompts

These prompts work beautifully with portrait photos, creating professional, cinematic results:

1. Cinematic Portrait Reveal:

"Slow dolly-in shot on subject making eye contact with camera, professional studio lighting with soft shadows, warm color grading, shallow depth of field, film grain texture, cinematic 35mm aesthetic"

2. Fashion Editorial:

"Elegant pan left with subject in confident pose, high-fashion photography lighting, dramatic rim light, muted color palette with pops of color, professional model photoshoot aesthetic, smooth motion"

3. Dreamy Glow:

"Gentle zoom in with ethereal glow effects, soft focus, golden hour lighting, warm peachy tones, magical atmosphere, sun flare in background, romantic mood"

4. Professional Headshot:

"Subtle dolly-in, corporate professional lighting, crisp sharp focus, neutral gray background blur, confident expression, business casual aesthetic, clean modern style"

Landscape & Nature Prompts

Make landscape photos come alive with movement and atmosphere:

5. Epic Mountain Vista:

"Crane shot rising to reveal mountain range, dramatic clouds moving across sky, golden sunset lighting, moody atmospheric haze, wide cinematic aspect ratio, inspiring epic mood"

6. Ocean Serenity:

"Slow pan right along coastline, gentle waves in motion, pastel dawn colors, peaceful tranquil atmosphere, soft natural lighting, meditation and calm vibes"

7. Forest Wonderland:

"Dolly through misty forest path, morning fog effects, dappled sunlight through trees, green and gold color palette, mystical fairytale atmosphere, gentle floating motion"

8. Urban Sunset:

"Dolly-out reveal of city skyline at dusk, neon lights beginning to glow, orange and purple sunset sky, modern urban aesthetic, time-lapse feel, dynamic energy"

Product & Commercial Prompts

Perfect for e-commerce, marketing, and product showcases:

9. Luxury Product Reveal:

"Slow bullet-time orbit around product on pedestal, premium studio lighting with rim light accents, sleek black background, reflective surface beneath, high-end commercial aesthetic"

10. Tech Product Showcase:

"Dolly-in on detail, modern tech product with LED elements, clean white background, professional product photography lighting, crisp sharp focus, minimalist Apple-style aesthetic"

11. Food Photography:

"Overhead dolly-in on beautifully plated dish, natural window lighting, shallow depth of field, warm inviting colors, steam rising subtly, appetizing restaurant-quality presentation"

12. Fashion Product:

"Slow pan across clothing item with fabric textures visible, soft natural lighting, neutral background, editorial magazine photography style, emphasis on material quality and details"

Creative & Artistic Prompts

For creators who want unique, eye-catching results:

13. Neon Cyberpunk:

"Dynamic camera movement through neon-lit scene, vibrant pink and blue color scheme, reflective wet surfaces, futuristic cyberpunk aesthetic, moody atmospheric lighting, Blade Runner vibes"

14. Vintage Film:

"Handheld camera with subtle shake, 1970s film grain texture, faded color palette with yellow-orange tones, nostalgic retro aesthetic, home movie feel"

15. Artistic Blur:

"Dolly movement with intentional motion blur effects, impressionist painting aesthetic, soft dreamy colors, abstract artistic interpretation, creative contemporary style"

16. Comic Book:

"Dynamic zoom in, bold primary colors, halftone dot pattern overlay, comic book panel aesthetic, dramatic high-contrast lighting, pop art style, action lines"

Action & Movement Prompts

Add energy and dynamism to photos with implied or actual motion:

17. Sports Action:

"Fast pan following subject in motion, motion blur on background, freeze-frame on subject, dramatic sports photography lighting, high energy, dynamic composition"

18. Dance Movement:

"Smooth dolly around dancer mid-motion, theatrical stage lighting with colored gels, dramatic shadows, artistic performance aesthetic, flowing movement captured"

19. Adventure Scene:

"Handheld follow shot, outdoor adventure photography, natural lighting with sun flare, vibrant saturated colors, GoPro-style wide angle, sense of movement and exploration"

20. Celebration:

"Dolly-out reveal, joyful celebration scene, warm golden lighting, bokeh light effects in background, festive happy atmosphere, soft glowing highlights"

Atmospheric & Mood Prompts

Create specific emotions and feelings through lighting and atmosphere:

21. Moody Mystery:

"Slow dolly-in through shadows, film noir lighting with hard contrasts, black and white aesthetic, mysterious dramatic mood, cinematic thriller vibes, high-key shadows"

22. Peaceful Morning:

"Gentle pan, soft diffused morning light, pastel color palette, calm serene atmosphere, misty atmosphere, peaceful meditation mood, gentle warm glow"

23. Dramatic Tension:

"Slow zoom in building intensity, dark moody lighting, cool blue-gray color tones, suspenseful atmosphere, cinematic thriller aesthetic, anticipation and tension"

24. Magical Wonder:

"Floating dolly movement, sparkling light particles, rainbow color accents, enchanting fantasy atmosphere, dreamy soft focus, whimsical fairy-tale mood"

What Makes These Prompts Work

Notice patterns in these effective prompts? They all share key elements that guide the AI to better results:

• •Start with camera movement: Tells AI exactly how the frame should move
• •Specific lighting description: "Studio lighting" vs vague "good lighting"
• •Color palette guidance: Specific tones create cohesive aesthetics
• •Mood and atmosphere words: "Cinematic," "dreamy," "dramatic" trigger style associations
• •Technical photography terms: "Shallow depth of field," "bokeh," "film grain"
• •Reference familiar aesthetics: "Apple-style," "Blade Runner," "editorial magazine"

Each element builds on the others, creating a complete vision the AI model can execute. Vague prompts leave too much to chance—specific prompts get specific results.

Customizing Prompts for Your Needs

Use these examples as starting templates, then modify them:

• •Swap camera movements: Try "pan right" instead of "dolly-in" for different energy
• •Change lighting: "Golden hour" vs "neon" completely transforms mood
• •Adjust color palette: "Warm tones" vs "cool blues" affects emotional response
• •Mix aesthetics: Combine "vintage" with "neon" for unique results
• •Add or remove details: More specific usually means better results, but don't overload

Build your own prompt library of combinations that work for your style. Save successful prompts and iterate on them for consistent results across your content.

Start Creating With These Prompts

You now have 24 proven prompts that generate professional results. Don't just read them—copy them, try them, modify them. The fastest way to learn prompt engineering is hands-on experimentation.

Start with prompts that match your content type (portrait, landscape, product, etc.). Generate a few videos, see what works, then start customizing. Within days, you'll develop intuition for what phrases create which effects.