Still life photography might sound old-school, but trust me — when you mix it with the creativity of Google Gemini AI Prompts, it turns into a whole new level of visual magic. Gemini doesn’t just spit out images; it helps you build tiny storytelling worlds where every object, shadow, and texture feels intentional. Whether you’re playing with fruit, vintage props, glassware, or dramatic lighting, these 20 prompts will help you craft still life photos that look straight out of an art gallery.
Think about those classic paintings — moody candles, soft fabric folds, reflective bottles catching a slice of light. Now imagine recreating that vibe with AI, but with your own twist. Maybe it’s a bold, neon-lit fruit bowl or a rustic coffee setup that feels like a cozy Sunday morning. Gemini is basically your digital studio assistant, ready to shape whatever style you’re dreaming up.
Still life is all about vibes — composition, shadows, storytelling, and that subtle emotional kick when the scene “clicks.” These prompts will help you explore all that: dark and dramatic scenes, clean minimal setups, vintage atmospheres, pastel palettes, textured backgrounds, and experimental lighting. The best part? You don’t need a giant studio or a fancy camera. Just the right prompt, a little creative spark, and Gemini will do the heavy lifting.
So whether you’re using AI for inspiration, content creation, portfolio building, or just to let your imagination go wild, these prompts will help you craft still life images that look polished, artistic, and totally scroll-stopping.
Get ready — your still life game is about to glow up.
#1
Prompt: “Create a dramatic vanitas still life inspired by 17th-century Dutch paintings. Use aged fruit (grapes, figs, pomegranate), a cracked skull, tarnished silverware, melted candles, and dusty books on a distressed wooden table. Use a matte charcoal backdrop. Light the scene with one soft directional window light from the left, creating long, defined shadows and subtle rim highlights. Focus sharply on the central objects, with background elements falling into soft blur. Add faint atmospheric haze. Color palette: deep burgundy, gold, black, muted green. Post-processing: painterly matte finish, low saturation, warm highlights, deep contrast.”
#2
Prompt: “Create a luxury skincare product still life with pastel backdrops (peach to beige gradient), clean acrylic surfaces, and reflective highlights. Use transparent blocks to elevate the products. Lighting: soft diffused top light with a gentle fill from the left. Shadow edges must be soft and controlled. Keep details razor-sharp across entire frame. Add subtle water droplets for freshness. Color palette: warm neutrals and soft pastels. Post-processing: editorial glossy finish, crisp whites, subtle bloom, and refined clarity.”
#3
Prompt: “Photograph a rustic food setup: crusty bread, cheese, figs, wooden boards, herbs, and ceramic bowls. Use a textured linen cloth and earthy tones. Light from a window on the right, diffused with thin curtains, creating soft shadows. Capture faint steam rising from warm food. Composition: organic, layered, storytelling style. Focus: sharp foreground with gentle depth falloff. Post-processing: warm tones, matte shadows, film-style grain, natural colors.”
#4
Prompt: “Arrange geometric shapes (cubes, spheres, cones) with matte surfaces in monochrome tones. Use a single strong spotlight from the top-right to create long, sharp-edged shadows. Composition: bold and minimal with negative space. Keep the primary object in sharp focus with subtle blur in distant elements. Post-processing: high contrast, cool tones, crisp edges, minimal grain.”
#5
Prompt: “Create a floral arrangement using roses, dahlias, and ranunculus in deep jewel tones. Place in a vintage vase on a wooden table with scattered petals. Use soft directional light from the left for gentle shadows. Backdrop: dark, mottled canvas. Focus: shallow depth of field with sharpness on front petals and gradual blur. Post-processing: painterly matte finish, desaturated shadows, warm highlights, soft texture overlays.”
#6
Prompt: “Photograph everyday items (keys, buttons, fabric, leaves) in extreme macro detail. Use a neutral matte background and diffused overhead lighting to reveal textures. Focus on one tiny element with ultra-shallow depth of field. Color palette: muted earthy tones. Post-processing: micro-contrast enhancement, subtle clarity, natural tones.”
#7
Prompt: “Create a cheerful, clean lifestyle still life with vibrant props (citrus fruits, notebooks, pastel cups). Use high-key lighting with full white backdrop. Shadows should be soft and minimal. Composition: balanced but casual, with pops of color. Keep everything sharply focused. Post-processing: bright whites, color vibrance, smooth tones, minimal shadows.”
#8
Prompt: “Use a dark room with a single narrow beam of light illuminating objects like old tools, pottery, or fruit. Backdrop: matte black. Lighting: dramatic spotlight from above-left with deep shadows. Focus: subject in center with soft blur around edges. Post-processing: deep blacks, cool shadows, cinematic contrast.”
#9
Prompt: “Compose a warm interior still life using ceramic mugs, books, plants, and fabrics. Window light from the left with soft diffusion. Backdrop: neutral wall tones. Shadows: soft and elongated. Focus: sharp on center objects with slight foreground blur. Post-processing: warm tones, matte finish, subtle grain, gentle vignetting.”
#10
Prompt: “Design a still life using complementary colors (orange/blue or teal/red). Use smooth backdrops and minimal props. Lighting: diffused side light for soft shadows. Composition: symmetrical or rule-of-thirds centered. Focus: sharp throughout. Post-processing: clean, vibrant color separation, soft gradients.”
#11
Prompt: “Create an artistic still life using subtle motion blur: fabrics drifting, leaves falling, or water splashing. Use a steady main object with sharp focus and moving elements blurred slightly. Lighting: soft and directional. Backdrop: matte neutral. Post-processing: enhanced motion trails, cool shadows, soft clarity.”
#12
Prompt: “Photograph luxury tech or jewelry on glossy black acrylic. Use hard rim lighting to create crisp reflections and glowing edges. Shadows should be tight and sharp. Focus: ultra-sharp. Post-processing: deep blacks, high contrast, metallic highlights, mirror reflections.”
#13
Prompt: “Create a moody food scene: cocoa, berries, dark chocolate, spices. Use directional top-left light with deep shadows. Props: dark ceramics, textured fabrics. Focus: shallow depth on key food item. Post-processing: warm highlights, matte blacks, soft fade, rich color depth.”
#14
Prompt: “Use old letters, dried flowers, candles, ink bottles, and vintage keys. Backdrop: parchment or textured wall. Lighting: soft warm window light from left. Focus: sharp foreground, blurred background. Post-processing: sepia tint, matte look, paper texture overlay, warm glow.”
#15
Prompt: “Create a top-down flat lay with perfect symmetry: stationery, fruits, tools, or fashion items. Use a smooth colored backdrop. Lighting: soft diffused overhead light. Keep sharp focus across entire frame. Post-processing: crisp edges, boosted colors, clean gradients.”
#16
Prompt: “Arrange pastel-toned flowers (peonies, tulips) on a smooth light background. Lighting: diffused and shadowless. Composition: airy and spacious. Focus: sharp with slight edge blur. Post-processing: high brightness, pastel enhancement, soft glow.”
#17
Prompt: “Use a dark background and rim-light the subject from both sides to create glowing edges. Props: glass, metal, sculptural objects. Shadows should fall behind the subject. Focus: crisp. Post-processing: metallic highlights, deep blacks, cinematic cool tones.”
#18
Prompt: “Create a cozy natural still life with earthy props: fruits, woven baskets, clay pots, wood textures. Lighting: warm and soft. Focus: selective with gentle blur around edges. Post-processing: matte browns, warm highlights, natural textures.”
#19
Prompt: “Photograph a cold beverage with backlighting to create a glowing liquid effect. Add condensation droplets on the glass. Use a dark-to-light gradient backdrop. Shadows: sharp and directional. Post-processing: crisp clarity, enhanced glow, high contrast.”
#20
Prompt: “Use rough fabrics, stone slabs, aged wood, or raw metal as backgrounds. Place high-texture objects (rope, clay, seeds, leaves). Lighting: angled side light to emphasize texture. Depth: sharp-to-blur transitions. Post-processing: gritty matte look, enhanced micro-texture, muted color tones.”
