Nano Banana Prompts: The Complete Guide to AI Image & Video Generation

Nano banana prompts are the natural-language instructions you write to generate AI images and videos on BrandGene (the platform also known as Nano Banana). A well-crafted prompt is the single most important factor in getting professional, brand-consistent results — and this guide teaches you exactly how to write them. Whether you're creating product photography, brand ads, or Veo 3 video clips, this reference covers everything from beginner basics to advanced brand DNA injection.

What Are Nano Banana Prompts?

A nano banana prompt is a text description that tells BrandGene's AI what to create. Unlike a Google search query, a good prompt is structured and layered — it specifies not just what to show, but how it should look, feel, and be lit.

BrandGene uses Google Gemini models (gemini-2.5-flash-image for speed, gemini-3-pro-image-preview for quality) and Anthropic Claude Sonnet for its conversational Image Agent. Each model interprets prompts slightly differently, but the core principles below apply universally.

Key insight: The difference between a mediocre and a stunning AI image is almost always the prompt, not the model. A 10-word prompt will produce generic output. A 50–80 word layered prompt produces images that look like they came from a professional creative agency.

Prompt Structure: The 5-Layer Formula

Every great nanobanana prompt follows a predictable architecture. Think of it as five concentric layers, each adding detail and direction.

Layer 1: Subject

Be precise. Instead of "a woman," write "a 30-something South Asian woman in a tailored blazer, mid-shot, direct gaze." Specify quantity, position, and any brand-relevant props.

Weak: a product on a table Strong: a sleek matte-black glass skincare serum bottle, centered on a white marble surface, slight condensation

Layer 2: Style

Name a visual genre, art movement, or medium. BrandGene's models respond well to compound style descriptors.

Examples: Fujifilm X100V film photography, Bauhaus poster design, hyperrealistic 3D render, flat-lay editorial, low-poly illustration, watercolor with ink outlines

Layer 3: Lighting

Lighting is the fastest way to elevate a prompt. Be specific about source, direction, and quality.

Examples: Rembrandt lighting, neon-lit cyberpunk glow, overcast diffused daylight, single key light, hard shadows, candlelit warm ambiance

Layer 4: Background

The background anchors the subject in a world. Keep it intentional.

Examples: seamless white infinity curve, Tokyo street at dusk, abstract gradient in brand colors #FF6B35 and #1A1A2E, lush tropical foliage, depth of field blur

Layer 5: Emotion / Mood

Add one or two emotional keywords at the end. These influence color grading, composition tilt, and overall feel.

Examples: joyful and energetic, melancholic nostalgia, bold and confident, ethereal and dreamy

Putting It All Together

A 30-something South Asian woman in a tailored white blazer holding a matte-black coffee cup, cinematic editorial photography style, golden hour rim light from the left, blurred modern café background, confident and aspirational mood — 4K, ultra-detailed

20+ Ready-to-Use Prompt Examples

Copy and paste these directly into BrandGene's Image Agent or Playground. Customize the bracketed elements for your brand.

Portrait Prompts

1. Confident mid-30s professional woman, direct eye contact, natural makeup, Fujifilm film grain, overcast window light, cream linen background, warm and approachable mood

2. Young male entrepreneur, casual blazer over white tee, laptop in frame, shallow depth of field, warm side lighting from left, coworking space background, focused and driven

3. Diverse group of three colleagues laughing, candid shot, Leica documentary style, soft natural daylight, open office background, genuine and collaborative

4. Close-up portrait of a 50-year-old man with grey temples, weathered features, black-and-white Ansel Adams style, dramatic Rembrandt lighting, dark neutral background, wise and distinguished

Product Prompts

1. Minimalist skincare serum bottle, amber glass with gold dropper, flat-lay on white marble with dried eucalyptus sprigs, overhead shot, diffused studio light, clean and premium

2. Athletic sneaker floating mid-air, dynamic angle, product hero shot, pure white background, sharp shadows below, high-key lighting, bold and energetic

3. Artisan coffee bag, kraft paper texture with a hand-drawn label, placed on a wooden café counter with a steaming espresso cup, warm morning light, rustic and authentic

4. Luxury wristwatch on a black velvet surface, 45-degree angle, macro lens detail shot, single spotlight from above, deep shadows, exclusive and sophisticated

Brand Ad Prompts

1. Full-bleed billboard ad composition, [Brand Name] logo bottom right, hero image of a woman using a mobile app on sunny street, bold headline space at top, vibrant and modern

2. Instagram square ad, product center stage, gradient background in brand colors [#COLOR1] to [#COLOR2], clean sans-serif text area at bottom, social-media-native feel

3. Facebook carousel card, e-commerce product photography style, pure white background, three-quarter view, consistent lighting for multi-image set, professional and trustworthy

4. YouTube thumbnail composition, high contrast, bold face with surprised expression, text overlay space on left third, red and black palette, clickable and high-energy

Scene & Lifestyle Prompts

1. Cozy living room at dusk, warm lamp light, couple watching TV with branded throw blanket in foreground, wide-angle lifestyle shot, family-friendly and warm

2. Rooftop terrace at golden hour, friends toasting with drinks, out-of-focus city skyline, Kodak Portra film aesthetic, social and celebratory

3. Morning kitchen scene, hands pouring branded cereal into bowl, milk splash captured mid-action, high-speed flash photography, natural window light, fresh and energetic

4. Home office setup, [Product] on desk, soft Scandinavian aesthetic, fiddle-leaf fig plant in corner, minimal décor, calm and productive

Anime & Illustration Prompts

1. Studio Ghibli inspired illustration, young girl running through a sunflower field, soft watercolor style, warm afternoon light, whimsical and nostalgic

2. Cyberpunk anime character, neon-purple hair, holographic visor, Tokyo alley background, cel-shaded style, rain-soaked streets reflection, intense and futuristic

3. Chibi character mascot for [Brand], holding product, pastel color palette, clean line art, white background, friendly and approachable

4. Lofi anime girl studying at a coffee shop, lo-fi aesthetic, warm amber lighting, rain on window behind her, cozy and relaxed

Advanced: Injecting Brand DNA into Prompts

BrandGene's Brand DNA feature automatically extracts your brand's colors, typography style, aesthetic values, and tone of voice from your website or uploaded assets. When you enable Brand DNA in the Image Agent, it prepends a structured style block to every prompt you write.

But you can also inject Brand DNA manually:

Manual Brand DNA Injection

1. Color palette: Always name your exact hex codes. warm coral #FF6B35, deep navy #1A2744, cream white #FAF8F2
2. Aesthetic keywords: Pull 3–5 words from your brand guide. artisanal, warm, approachable, premium, sustainable
3. Composition style: Define a repeatable layout. always rule-of-thirds, product left, negative space right, horizontal format
4. Texture and material references: matte surfaces, organic textures, linen and wood accents

Example Brand-Injected Prompt

[Brand DNA: warm coral #FF6B35 + cream #FAF8F2, artisanal and sustainable aesthetic, soft natural light, linen textures]

Handmade ceramic mug with [Brand] logo, steam rising, placed on linen cloth, fresh lavender sprig beside it, soft morning window light, warm and artisanal, Instagram-ready square composition

Use the Image Agent to let BrandGene handle this automatically — it reads your saved brand profile and injects the DNA on every generation.

Video Prompts for Veo 3

BrandGene supports Veo 3.1 video generation for creating 5–8 second branded video clips. Video prompts follow the same 5-layer formula but add two additional elements: motion and duration/pacing.

Veo 3 Prompt Formula

[Subject + action] + [style] + [lighting] + [background] + [camera movement] + [mood] + [duration hint]

Veo 3 Prompt Examples

Video-Specific Tips

• Always specify aspect ratio: 16:9 for YouTube, 9:16 for Stories/Reels, 1:1 for feed
• Name the camera movement: slow push-in, static shot, gentle parallax, orbital rotation
• Mention pacing: slow and cinematic, fast cut energy, smooth and fluid
• Keep subjects simple: Complex scenes with multiple people are harder for Veo 3 to handle consistently

Access video generation through the Image Agent with the video mode toggle, or via Brand Video Studio.

5 Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Mistake 1: Too Short and Vague

Bad: a cat on a chair Fix: A fluffy orange tabby cat sitting upright on a mid-century modern teal armchair, afternoon sunlight from the right, cozy living room background, warm and contented mood

Mistake 2: Contradictory Style Signals

Bad: hyperrealistic 3D render, watercolor illustration, anime style Fix: Pick one primary style. Use secondary descriptors that complement it. hyperrealistic 3D product render, studio lighting, photorealistic materials

Mistake 3: Missing Lighting Information

Lighting is the #1 factor pros add that beginners skip. Always include at least one lighting descriptor.

Add any of these: golden hour, studio softbox, neon ambient, overcast diffused, harsh midday sun, candlelit

Mistake 4: Ignoring Composition

Composition shapes what the model emphasizes and where.

Add: rule of thirds, centered symmetrical, overhead flat-lay, extreme close-up macro, wide establishing shot, Dutch angle

Mistake 5: No Mood or Emotion

Without an emotional anchor, the AI picks one for you — often neutral to a fault.

Add: joyful and vibrant, melancholic and introspective, bold and energetic, serene and minimal, dramatic and intense

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

Start Generating Now

The best way to learn nano banana prompt writing is by doing. Start with one of the templates above and iterate — change one element at a time and observe the difference. BrandGene's Image Agent remembers your brand profile, so you can have a natural conversation about what you want to create rather than engineering every prompt from scratch.

Try the Image Agent → Open the Playground →

Generate AI images with BrandGene — free credits included, no credit card required.

Related Resources

• Nano Banana Free Plan Guide
• Nano Banana Examples & Resources
• Best AI Image Generators 2026
• AI Image Agent
• Try the Playground