ai-video-prompting

How to write effective prompts for AI video generation models (Veo, Runway, Kling, Pika).

AI Video Prompting Guide

How to write effective prompts for AI video generation models (Veo, Runway, Kling, Pika).

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Prompt Structure

A strong video prompt follows this formula:

[Subject] + [Action] + [Camera movement] + [Visual style] + [Lighting/mood] + [Technical specs]

Example Prompts by Use Case

Product hero shot:

A sleek laptop on a minimal white desk, screen glowing with a dashboard UI,
camera slowly orbits 180 degrees around the desk,
soft volumetric lighting from the left, shallow depth of field,
cinematic commercial aesthetic, 4K

Lifestyle B-roll:

A woman in a modern co-working space smiling while looking at her phone,
natural window light, candid documentary feel,
camera handheld with subtle movement, warm color grading

Abstract/brand:

Flowing liquid gold particles forming the shape of a network graph,
dark background, particles catch light as they move,
slow-motion macro photography style, dramatic rim lighting

SaaS explainer scene:

An overhead shot of a team around a conference table pointing at charts,
camera slowly pushes in, bright modern office,
clean corporate style, even lighting, 1080p

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Camera Movement Vocabulary

Use these terms — video models understand them:

| Term | Effect | |------|--------| | Static | Locked camera, no movement | | Pan left/right | Camera rotates horizontally | | Tilt up/down | Camera rotates vertically | | Dolly in/out | Camera moves toward/away from subject | | Orbit | Camera circles around subject | | Tracking shot | Camera follows moving subject | | Crane/aerial | Camera rises or descends | | Handheld | Subtle shake, documentary feel | | Zoom | Lens zoom (different from dolly) | | Slow push | Gradual dolly in — builds tension/focus |

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Style Keywords

Cinematic

• "cinematic color grading"
• "anamorphic lens flare"
• "shallow depth of field"
• "film grain"
• "35mm film"

Commercial/Corporate

• "clean commercial lighting"
• "bright and airy"
• "professional corporate aesthetic"
• "even, diffused lighting"

Documentary

• "handheld documentary style"
• "natural lighting"
• "candid, unposed"
• "observational camera"

Social/Trendy

• "vertical 9:16"
• "fast-paced cuts"
• "bold text overlays"
• "high contrast, saturated colors"

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Model-Specific Tips

Veo (Google)

• Excels at photorealism and complex scenes
• Supports audio generation synced to video
• Best with detailed, descriptive prompts
• Specify "high resolution" or "1080p" for best quality
• Can handle multiple subjects and scene transitions

Runway Gen-4

• Strong motion control — specify camera movements precisely
• Best temporal consistency (subjects stay consistent across frames)
• Use motion brush for specific area animation
• Image-to-video works well — provide a reference frame
• Keep prompts under 100 words for best results

Kling

• Can generate up to 2 minutes (much longer than others)
• Good for longer narrative sequences
• More affordable for bulk generation
• Quality drops slightly at longer durations
• Best with simpler scenes and fewer subjects

Pika

• Fastest generation time (under 2 minutes)
• Good for quick iterations and experimentation
• Effects mode adds motion to still images
• Best for short clips (5-15 seconds)
• Less control over camera movement

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Common Prompt Mistakes

| Mistake | Why It Fails | Fix | |---------|-------------|-----| | "A person using our app" | Too vague, no visual detail | Describe the person, setting, lighting, camera | | Including text/logos | AI can't render readable text | Add text in post via Hyperframes/CapCut | | "Make it viral" | Not a visual instruction | Describe the visual style you want | | Extremely long prompts (200+ words) | Models lose focus | Keep to 50-100 words, be specific | | No camera direction | Random/static camera | Always specify movement or "static" | | "Realistic" alone | Not specific enough | "Photorealistic, natural lighting, shot on RED camera" |

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Prompting Workflow

1. Reference first — find a real video that looks like what you want
2. Describe it — break down: subject, action, camera, style, mood
3. Generate 3-4 variations — same concept, different angles or styles
4. Iterate on the best — refine the prompt based on results
5. Composite — combine AI footage with programmatic text/overlays

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Aspect Ratios

Always specify in your prompt or generation settings:

| Platform | Ratio | Resolution | |----------|-------|-----------| | YouTube | 16:9 | 1920x1080 or 3840x2160 | | TikTok/Reels/Shorts | 9:16 | 1080x1920 | | Instagram Feed | 1:1 or 4:5 | 1080x1080 or 1080x1350 | | Website hero | 16:9 | 1920x1080 | | LinkedIn | 16:9 or 1:1 | 1920x1080 |

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Cost Optimization

• Iterate at low resolution — upscale only the final version
• Use Kling for drafts — cheapest per second, switch to Veo/Runway for finals
• Image-to-video — providing a reference frame saves generation credits and gives better results
• Batch similar prompts — models often offer volume discounts
• Cache and reuse — B-roll clips can be reused across multiple videos