15 AI Prompts to Instantly Create Scroll-Stopping Blog Visuals [2026]

Last month I watched a founder spend three hours trying to get Midjourney to create a product shot. The prompts were all wrong. "Beautiful product photography, professional lighting, elegant" - generic garbage that produces generic garbage.

The problem with most AI prompt guides is they read like they were written by someone who's never actually shipped an ad. "Use descriptive language!" Thanks, very helpful.

This is different. These are the exact prompts I use to create marketing visuals that convert. Each one has been tested across hundreds of ad campaigns. I'll show you the prompt, explain why it works, and give you variations for different use cases.

The goal: Stop guessing. Start generating visuals that actually work.

Quick Reference: All 15 Prompts

Before the deep dives, here's the complete list. Bookmark this section.

The Framework: Why Most AI Prompts Fail

Before the prompts, you need to understand why they work. Most people write prompts like this:

"Create a beautiful product image for my skincare brand"

This is useless. "Beautiful" means nothing to an AI. You're asking it to make a creative decision it's not equipped to make. The result: generic stock photo vibes.

Better prompts follow a structure:

1. Subject - What's in the frame
2. Setting - Where it takes place
3. Style - Visual treatment (lighting, color, mood)
4. Technical - Camera angle, format, aspect ratio
5. Context - What story is being told

Every prompt below uses this structure. You don't need to include all five elements every time, but you need at least three to get consistent results.

Product Visuals (Prompts 1-2)

Prompt 1: Hero Product Shot with Lifestyle Context

The hero shot is your money shot. It's the image that appears in your ads, your landing page above the fold, your Amazon listing. Get this wrong and everything downstream suffers.

The Prompt:

"[PRODUCT] centered on a [SURFACE] in a [SETTING], soft natural lighting from the left, shallow depth of field, lifestyle photography style, 4:5 aspect ratio for Instagram feed"

Example filled in: "Matte black protein powder container centered on a marble kitchen counter in a modern minimalist apartment, soft natural lighting from the left, shallow depth of field, lifestyle photography style, 4:5 aspect ratio for Instagram feed"

Why it works: You're giving the AI five specific decisions - subject, surface, setting, lighting direction, and output format. "Soft natural lighting from the left" is infinitely more useful than "good lighting." The shallow depth of field creates that professional look where the background blurs slightly, drawing focus to your product.

Variations:

- For e-commerce: Add "white background, product photography studio lighting, front-facing"
- For luxury: Add "dramatic shadows, dark background, single spotlight from above"
- For natural/organic: Add "wooden surface, plants in background, warm golden hour lighting"

Prompt 2: Before/After Transformation

Before/after visuals are advertising gold. They show the transformation your product delivers without saying a word. Skincare, fitness, home improvement, organization products - this format converts.

The Prompt:

"Split image, left side showing [BEFORE STATE], right side showing [AFTER STATE], same camera angle and lighting on both sides, clean dividing line down the middle, realistic photography style"

Example: "Split image, left side showing cluttered messy desk with papers and cables, right side showing same desk organized with cable management and minimal items, same camera angle and lighting on both sides, clean dividing line down the middle, realistic photography style"

Why it works: The key is "same camera angle and lighting on both sides." Without this, AI will generate two completely different scenes that don't look like a transformation - they look like two unrelated photos. The specificity forces consistency.

UGC-Style Visuals (Prompts 3-4)

UGC (user-generated content) style is the aesthetic that says "real person, not ad." It's slightly imperfect, shot on a phone, in a real environment. This style outperforms polished ads on social media because it doesn't trigger ad blindness.

Prompt 3: Authentic Testimonial Scene

The Prompt:

"[PERSON DESCRIPTION] holding [PRODUCT] in their [LOCATION], looking at camera with genuine smile, smartphone selfie style, natural indoor lighting, slightly imperfect framing, 9:16 vertical format"

Example: "Woman in her 30s with natural makeup holding a jade facial roller in her bathroom, looking at camera with genuine smile, smartphone selfie style, natural indoor lighting, slightly imperfect framing, 9:16 vertical format"

Why it works: "Smartphone selfie style" and "slightly imperfect framing" are the key modifiers. They tell the AI not to create a perfect studio shot. You want the image that looks like someone actually took it in their bathroom to share with friends.

Pro tip: For AI video generation with tools like EzUGC, you can use this same prompt structure to set up your AI avatar scene. The image becomes your reference frame for the video.

Prompt 4: Unboxing Reaction Moment

The Prompt:

"Hands opening a [PRODUCT PACKAGING] on a [SURFACE], product partially visible, excited energy, overhead camera angle, ring light reflection visible, TikTok unboxing style, 9:16 vertical"

Why it works: "Ring light reflection visible" is a subtle detail that screams "content creator." It's the little authenticity markers that make AI-generated images feel like real UGC. The overhead angle is classic unboxing - it's how creators actually film these shots.

Social Media Visuals (Prompts 5-6)

Prompt 5: Instagram Carousel Cover

The carousel cover needs to stop the scroll AND promise value. It's doing two jobs. Most carousel covers fail because they try to be too clever instead of clear.

The Prompt:

"Bold text saying '[HOOK TEXT]' on a [COLOR] gradient background, clean sans-serif font, high contrast, space at bottom for Instagram UI, 4:5 aspect ratio, minimalist design"

Example: "Bold text saying '5 Pricing Mistakes Killing Your Conversions' on a deep purple to blue gradient background, clean sans-serif font, high contrast, space at bottom for Instagram UI, 4:5 aspect ratio, minimalist design"

Why it works: "Space at bottom for Instagram UI" is crucial. Instagram overlays the like/comment buttons on the bottom of images. If your text goes there, it's unreadable. This prompt accounts for platform-specific constraints.

Prompt 6: TikTok Thumbnail Hook

The Prompt:

"[PERSON] with exaggerated surprised expression, pointing at [OBJECT/TEXT], bright colorful background, YouTube thumbnail style, high saturation, 16:9 aspect ratio"

Why it works: I know - the "surprised face pointing" thumbnail is a cliché. But clichés become clichés because they work. The exaggerated expression cuts through the noise. High saturation pops on mobile screens. If you want clicks, this format delivers.

Ad Creatives (Prompts 7-8)

Prompt 7: Facebook Feed Ad Visual

The Prompt:

"[PRODUCT] in use by [PERSON DESCRIPTION] in [EVERYDAY SETTING], candid moment captured, warm color grading, native content feel, no text overlays, 1:1 square format for Facebook feed"

Example: "Wireless earbuds in use by young professional on morning commute, candid moment captured looking out train window, warm color grading, native content feel, no text overlays, 1:1 square format for Facebook feed"

Why it works: "Native content feel" tells the AI to create something that looks like organic content, not an ad. Facebook's algorithm and users both respond better to ads that don't look like ads. "No text overlays" keeps it clean - you'll add copy in the ad platform.

Prompt 8: Story/Reel Vertical Format

The Prompt:

"Full body shot of [PERSON] using [PRODUCT] in [LOCATION], vertical composition with subject centered, space at top and bottom for text safe zones, motion blur suggesting action, 9:16 aspect ratio"

Why it works: "Space at top and bottom for text safe zones" is essential for Stories and Reels. Both platforms put UI elements (username at top, CTA at bottom) that can cover your content. Plan for this in the image generation.

Brand Visuals (Prompts 9-10)

Prompt 9: Founder/Team Headshot Style

The Prompt:

"Professional headshot of [PERSON DESCRIPTION], [BRAND COLORS] background, confident approachable expression, soft studio lighting, shoulders up framing, slight smile, high-end corporate photography style"

Why it works: "Confident approachable expression" and "slight smile" give specific emotional direction. Without this, you'll get either blank stares or over-the-top grins. The brand colors in the background create visual consistency across your team page.

Prompt 10: Behind-the-Scenes Aesthetic

The Prompt:

"Candid shot of [ACTIVITY] in progress at [WORKSPACE TYPE], natural lighting, documentary photography style, slight grain, authentic working environment, no posed elements"

Example: "Candid shot of team brainstorming session in progress at modern co-working space, natural lighting, documentary photography style, slight grain, authentic working environment, no posed elements"

Why it works: "Documentary photography style" and "no posed elements" push the AI toward authenticity. "Slight grain" adds that film quality that makes photos feel real, not rendered. BTS content builds trust - it shows the human side of your brand.

Data Visuals (Prompts 11-12)

Prompt 11: Stats Visualization

The Prompt:

"Clean infographic showing [STAT] with large bold number, simple icon representation, [BRAND COLORS] color scheme, minimal design, white background, no 3D effects, flat design style"

Why it works: "No 3D effects, flat design style" prevents the AI from adding cheesy gradients and shadows that look dated. The best data visuals are simple. One stat, one icon, one takeaway.

Prompt 12: Comparison Chart

The Prompt:

"Side-by-side comparison graphic, left column labeled [OPTION A], right column labeled [OPTION B], checkmarks and X marks for features, clean grid layout, [BRAND COLOR] for positive highlights, gray for negative, professional business presentation style"

Why it works: Comparison visuals are decision-making tools. By specifying "checkmarks and X marks" you're using universal visual language. The color coding (brand color for wins, gray for losses) guides the eye to your advantage.

CTA Visuals (Prompts 13-14)

Prompt 13: Email Banner

The Prompt:

"Email header banner, [WIDTH]x[HEIGHT] pixels, [OFFER TEXT] in bold, [BRAND COLORS] gradient background, CTA button shape on right side, clean modern design, optimized for email clients"

Example: "Email header banner, 600x200 pixels, '50% Off - Today Only' in bold white text, blue to purple gradient background, CTA button shape on right side, clean modern design, optimized for email clients"

Why it works: Specifying exact pixel dimensions ensures the output fits your email template. "CTA button shape on right side" creates visual hierarchy - the eye moves left to right, ending on the action you want them to take.

Prompt 14: Landing Page Hero

The Prompt:

"Landing page hero image, [PRODUCT/SERVICE] concept visualization, abstract [BRAND COLORS] shapes flowing left to right, space on left side for headline text, gradient fade to white on right edge, modern SaaS aesthetic, 16:9 aspect ratio"

Why it works: "Space on left side for headline text" accounts for typical landing page layouts where copy sits on the left. "Gradient fade to white on right edge" creates a seamless blend with the page background. You're designing for integration, not isolation.

Video Scene Setup (Prompt 15)

Prompt 15: AI Avatar Scene Setup

This is specifically for AI video tools where you need to set up a scene for an AI avatar to speak in. The image becomes the reference frame that the AI animates.

The Prompt:

"[PERSON DESCRIPTION] facing camera in [SETTING], neutral expression ready to speak, head and shoulders framing, good separation from background, soft even lighting on face, 9:16 vertical for social video"

Example: "Young woman with brown hair facing camera in modern home office, neutral expression ready to speak, head and shoulders framing, good separation from background with blurred bookshelf, soft even lighting on face, 9:16 vertical for social video"

Why it works: "Neutral expression ready to speak" is crucial for AI video. You want a starting frame that can transition naturally into speech. "Good separation from background" helps the AI model distinguish the speaker from the environment, resulting in cleaner animations.

This prompt works directly with EzUGC and similar AI video platforms. Upload the generated image as your avatar reference, add your script, and the AI handles the animation.

Advanced Prompt Engineering Tips

Stack modifiers in order of importance. AI models weight the beginning of prompts more heavily than the end. Put your most important requirements first. "Vertical 9:16 format" should come before "slight vignette effect" if the format is non-negotiable.

Use negative prompts. Most AI image tools support negative prompts - things you don't want. "No text, no watermarks, no borders, no 3D effects" can save you from common AI mistakes.

Reference specific photography styles. "Shot on iPhone," "VSCO filter," "film photography grain," "editorial Vogue style" - these references tap into the AI's training data from real photographs with those characteristics.

Iterate systematically. When a prompt doesn't work, change one variable at a time. If the lighting is wrong, adjust only the lighting description. Changing multiple things at once makes it impossible to learn what actually made the difference.

Save your winners. Build a prompt library. When you find a prompt that works, document it with the exact wording and the settings you used. Your best prompts become templates for future projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which AI tool should I use for these prompts?

These prompts work across major AI image generators - Midjourney, DALL-E 3, Stable Diffusion, Ideogram, and the image generation built into tools like EzUGC. The structure is universal. You might need to adjust specific syntax (Midjourney uses :: for weighting, for example), but the content of the prompts transfers.

How specific should I be with person descriptions?

Specific enough to match your target audience, vague enough to get usable results. "Woman in her 30s with professional attire" works. Hyper-specific descriptions often result in uncanny outputs. For UGC-style content, aim for relatable, not remarkable. The person should look like someone your customer knows, not a model.

Can I use AI-generated images in paid ads?

Yes, with caveats. Most AI image tools grant commercial rights to outputs generated on paid plans. Check your specific tool's terms. The bigger consideration is platform policies - Meta and Google don't prohibit AI images, but they do require accurate representations. An AI-generated "customer testimonial" with a fake person crosses ethical and potentially legal lines. Product shots, abstract visuals, and stylized graphics are generally safe. When in doubt, disclose.

How do I maintain brand consistency across AI-generated images?

Create a prompt template with your brand constants baked in. Start with: "[BRAND NAME] brand style, [HEX COLORS], [FONT STYLE] typography, [OVERALL AESTHETIC] feel." Use this as a prefix for all your prompts. Some tools also let you upload style references - use your existing brand assets to guide the AI toward consistency.

What about AI-generated video? Do these prompts apply?

Partially. Video AI models like Sora, Veo, Kling, and PixVerse use similar prompt structures but add motion considerations. "Camera slowly zooms in," "subject walks from left to right," "smooth pan across scene." The image prompts in this article work great as first-frame references for image-to-video generation. Tools like EzUGC combine these approaches - you set up the visual with image prompts, then add a script for the AI to animate.

The Bottom Line

AI image generation isn't magic. It's translation. You're translating business requirements into a language the AI can execute.

The prompts in this article work because they're specific where it matters (composition, lighting, format) and flexible where it doesn't (exact pixel-level details). They account for platform constraints, design principles, and marketing psychology.

Start with these templates. Modify them for your brand. Build your own library of winners. The goal isn't to become an AI prompt expert - it's to create visuals that convert, faster than you could before.

The best prompt is the one that gets you the image you need on the first try. These are that.