If you’re using ChatGPT for business, whether it’s sales, content creation, or team training, you should absolutely be tapping into the image generation capabilities built into GPT-4o. But here’s the truth: great visuals don’t come from generic prompts. They are created once you add your vision, some clarity, and a few simple queues that make all the difference. In this post, I’ll break down exactly how I work with my AI Assistant (Alex) to create high-quality images. Whether I’m creating blog graphics, imagery for video, sales visuals, social content, or internal training content, this is the process I follow.
The Five Rules I Follow for Prompting Visuals
These are the foundational principles I’ve tested, tweaked, and now use every day to get high-impact images using ChatGPT.
- Be Clear And Direct: Don’t waste time with overly complex prompts. Just describe exactly what you want to see. This one is simple. Example: “Cartoon-style image of a sales rep showing a homeowner a product on an iPad, outdoors, daytime.”
- Define Your Visual Style: ChatGPT defaults to photorealism unless told otherwise. Want a Pixar look? Say so. Want a vintage print ad? Describe it.
Here is a dozen common go-to styles I have used.
- Flat vector illustration
- Digital technology
- 35-mm photography / Photo realistic
- Corporate Cartoon
- Futuristic Office
- Pixar-style 3D
- Cartoon / illustrated
- Futuristic tech UI
- Cinematic / HDR lighting
- Minimalist vector
- High contrast street photography
- 1950s illustrated poster
- You can even say: “Make it look like a high-end tech advertisement you’d see in Wired magazine.”
- Iterate. Don’t Expect Perfection on The First Try: I rarely love the first image that ChatGPT creates, although sometimes if my prompt is pretty good, I will nail it perfectly (about 33% of the time). Iteration is part of the creative process. Typically, I tweak a few details I want to change and try it again, usually by the second or third version, it looks good. And sometimes… I try an entirely new prompt with new keywords. With the image you see at the top of this article, it took me three times to create an image I liked. Usually, after I see the first image my prompt becomes much cleaner, more specific and on-point. Yours will too.
- Add More Detail — And Then Some: Don’t stop at “a sales rep in an office.” That will give you garbage. Add the mood, the lighting, the perspective, the background, the scene. You can even mention weather, facial expressions, clothing color, hair and skin color, number of people in the image, ethnicity, add props. Even energy. AI eats this stuff up. The key here is, be specific like you are explaining every detail that matters. TIP: You can also upload a reference image for ChatGPT to go on (read on).
- Upload a Reference Image: If I want the image to match a previous post, brand style, or real product, I’ll upload a screenshot or reference photo. This is one of the most underused (but most powerful) features in image generation. ChatGPT won’t copy it perfectly, but it will do an amazing job of creating its own rendition without violating copyright laws. Try playing with this, and you’ll see how awesome it really is.
Advanced Prompting Tips
If the 5 previous steps weren’t enough for you, try baking in a few more that will elevate your images to the next level. Once I got the basics down, I layered in some advanced techniques that consistently elevate the results. These work especially well when you need specificity.
Set the scene:
- Who: is in the image? / Who is the primary audience?
- What: are they doing? / what’s the emotion or story?
- When: day, night, season, decade?
- Where: is the image happening? / Location?
- Why: The purpose behind the image
Add Camera Terms: The visual changes dramatically if I give it size details like: “Create a 16×9 image” or “Create a square image”. But it gets better. How about, “Close-up shot, over-the-shoulder, soft focus, studio lighting.” Other favorites I like to use are: “Wide-angle shot, cinematic style, aerial view, natural light, spotlight effect”—and don’t forget to add your details.
Use Emotion and Color: ChatGPT can feel tone when you say: “Warm, relaxed lighting” or “high-energy environment with bold neon colors.” I also prompt color palettes like: “pastel tones,” “cool technology blues,” or “Miami art deco palette.” Choose your emotion and color to provide the feeling you want.
Reference Cultural Visual Anchors
This One’s Big: If I say… “Make it look like… (add your description) or ”use a video game look and feel”,” or “Create a vintage Rolls Royce advertisement,” or “Create a head shot for a Forbes magazine cover,” when you provide some context, the image direction is immediately more closely aligned.
Prompt In Series: If I’m writing a multi-part blog, I prompt for 3–4 related visuals as a set. This keeps everything consistent, and it saves a lot of time during content creation. Even if you only need 1 or 2 images, ask for at least 3. You will thank me later.
Choosing the Right AI Tool for Visual Work: Here’s a quick breakdown of when I use what:
ChatGPT with GPT-4o (Built-in DALL·E)
- My go-to for everyday content work
- Fast, editable, and conversational
- Works great for back-and-forth revisions: “Zoom out
- “Change color,” “Make it vertical”
- I can even voice in my ideas
DALL·E Standalone (labs.openai.com or Bing Image Creator)
- Simple interface, fast results
- Best for high-volume brainstorming or quick concepting
- No chat or iteration, just “prompt and go”
Final Thought
Creating visuals with AI isn’t about being a designer. It’s about learning how to communicate what your vision is, clearly, creatively, and with purpose. With the right prompt, a little patience, and a few tips from above, you’ll get image results that look like they came from an agency. And you can even do this on your smartphone.
The image magic starts now. Have fun!
Scott MacFarland | YourBrandExposed
#AIprompting #ChatGPT #YourBrandExposed #AlexandScottAI
Sources:
- Image generated using OpenAI’s DALL·E.
- Alex – AI Assistant
