Prompting for AI Video Generation: Realistic Woman Animation & Multi-Shot Reels

Here's a no-fluff, field-tested guide to writing prompts for AI Video Generation that animate a single photo of a woman as realistically as possible — with minimal artefacts — and a practical playbook for building multi-shot Reels.

Golden rules (before you type a word)

• Pick the right model:
  • Kling 2.1 → most realistic skin, motion and shading (use when quality matters).
  • Kling 1.6 → fastest clean results and longer batches.
  • WAN → looser, more stylized motion; use when you want "edgier" looks. Start with Kling 2.1 (5s), then scale to 10s once you like the look.
• Start from a clean reference. Sharp face, even light, simple background, no mirrors/glass, no hair crossing eyes, minimal jewelry. Crop to your final aspect ratio first.
• Keep motion small and believable. Micro-motions (breathing, blink, subtle head turn 5–10°) > big gestures (hand to face, hair flips). The smaller the motion, the fewer artefacts.
• One idea per clip. Don't pile on moves. If you want multiple motions, render separate clips and stitch them — results will be cleaner.

Prompt structure that works

Think: motion → camera → hair/cloth physics → light/grade → mood. Keep it under 25–35 words.

Template (copy-paste and customize): gentle breathing and natural eye blink, slow 3% dolly-in, tiny head turn 5°, hair barely moving from soft breeze, subtle top-softbox light, neutral film grade, calm confident mood

Motion verbs (pick 1–2)

breathe softly · micro smile · tiny head turn · hold eye contact · glance down then back · shoulders sway slightly · subtle weight shift · hair flutter gently

Camera verbs (pick 1)

slow dolly-in (2–5%) · very mild parallax · locked-off with micro jitter (handheld feel) · slight tilt up · tiny push-out

Physics hints (optional)

cloth ripple minimally · earrings sway subtly · lashes flutter · lip moisture specular subtle · depth-of-field shallow

Lighting & grade (1–2)

soft window light · beauty dish key + rim · warm golden tone · neutral cinematic grade · gentle film grain

Negatives that actually prevent artefacts

Use a tight negative and only add specifics you really need.

Starter negative (paste as-is): flicker, ghosting, warping, plastic skin, over-smooth, heavy sharpening, aliasing, bad hands, deformed fingers, extra limbs, hair across eyes, lens reflections, watermark, text, logo

If you see issues, add: wide-angle distortion, extreme motion, overexposed highlights, heavy blur, jittery camera, clothing clipping

Model-specific prompt tweaks

• Kling 2.1 (most realistic): Keep moves subtle; mention skin texture and neutral grade if skin looks plastic. Example add-ons: "realistic skin texture, natural pores", "no over-retouch".
• Kling 1.6 (fast & reliable): Great for simple push-ins and parallax. If textures look flat on 10s clips, say "preserve micro-texture".
• WAN (looser/stylized): Stay extra clear about limits: "no extreme motion, no hair over eyes". Use when you want bold looks; expect to curate more.

Shot recipes (ready to copy)

Headshot hero (safe & clean) – Kling 2.1, 5s

gentle breathing, soft eye blink, slow 3% dolly-in, hair barely moving, soft window light, neutral cinematic grade, calm mood

Negative: (starter negative)

3/4 beauty portrait (with tiny parallax) – Kling 2.1, 5s

tiny head turn 5°, subtle shoulder sway, mild parallax, hair wisp movement minimal, beauty dish key + rim, soft film look, confident smile

Negative: (starter negative)

Lifestyle mid-shot (hand in frame is risky, keep still) – Kling 1.6, 5s

hold relaxed pose, tiny breathing only, minimal camera handheld micro-jitter, warm golden hour grade.

Negative: bad hands, finger warp, clothing clipping, flicker, ghosting

Edgier stylized loop – WAN, 5s

slow dolly-in, moody cinematic grade, subtle breeze on hair only, eyes stay forward.

Negative: extreme motion, hair across eyes, heavy blur, plastic skin, flicker

How to build a multi-shot Reel (the clean way)

1. Pick a theme (e.g., "morning routine", neutral grade).
2. Create stills from a single session (PhotoShoot or Carousel) so outfit/hair/light stay consistent.
3. Generate 5–8 clips (each 5s) with one motion idea per clip using the templates above. Use the same model (Kling 2.1 or 1.6) and similar wording.
4. Trim each clip to 1.5–2.5s beats (during publishing or with a simple editor).
5. Sequence: opener push-in → mid-shot micro turn → detail crop (neckline/hair) → over-shoulder glance → full-body subtle sway → headshot wink/blink → logo/CTA.
6. Polish: pick a single grade, consistent music BPM, and match cut on motion (start each next clip on a similar movement).

Tip: produce two variants of each shot (A/B): "dolly-in" vs "parallax", or "blink" vs "micro-smile". Mix the best.

Troubleshooting (symptom → fix)

• Flicker / ghosting → reduce motion verbs, remove "parallax", add flicker, ghosting to negative, switch to Kling 2.1.
• Plastic skin → add "realistic skin texture, natural pores, no over-retouch"; avoid "beauty skin" prompts; try Kling 2.1.
• Hair warping across eyes → explicitly ban "hair across eyes"; choose references with clear face; tie hair back.
• Hand/earring glitches → avoid hand motion; keep jewelry minimal; crop tighter to shoulders/head.
• Over-sharpened edges → add heavy sharpening to the negative; drop "ultra sharp/8k" language.
• 10s looks mushy → render 5s and trim, or on 10s ask for "preserve micro-texture"; consider Kling 1.6 only if you need speed.

Ready-to-use prompt packs

Ultra-safe headshot (use anywhere): Prompt: gentle breathing, soft eye blink, slow 3% dolly-in, hair barely moving, soft window light, neutral film grade, calm mood. Negative: flicker, ghosting, plastic skin, over-smooth, heavy sharpening, hair across eyes, bad hands, watermark, text

Beauty editorial (touch more drama): Prompt: tiny head turn 5°, subtle shoulder sway, soft rim light, cinematic contrast, shallow depth-of-field. Negative: flicker, ghosting, plastic skin, extreme motion, heavy blur, overexposed highlights

Lifestyle vertical: Prompt: slow handheld feel (very mild), small breath, micro smile, warm golden grade, subtle hair wisp movement. Negative: jittery camera, wide-angle distortion, plastic skin, flicker, warp

Workflow checklist (so you never fight the model)

1. Choose model (Kling 2.1 to start).
2. Clean reference (sharp face, simple background, correct crop).
3. Prompt (25–35 words, one motion idea).
4. Negative (starter set + 1–2 specifics).
5. Duration (5s first).
6. Render → review (pick winners).
7. Assemble Reel (trim to 1.5–2.5s beats, match grade & music).
8. Publish.