How to Write Perfect AI Video Prompts: 10 Tips for Stunning Results

Why Prompts Matter

The text prompt is the most important factor in AI video generation. A well-written prompt can produce cinematic, professional-looking videos, while a vague prompt leads to generic, disappointing results.

After generating thousands of AI videos, we've distilled the key principles into 10 actionable tips that will immediately improve your results with Seedance 2.0 or any AI video generator.

Tip 1: Start with the Subject

Always begin your prompt with the main subject. The AI pays the most attention to the first part of your prompt.

Bad: "Beautiful sunset with a woman standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean"

Good: "A woman in a flowing white dress stands on a cliff edge, overlooking a vast ocean during golden hour sunset"

The good version puts the woman first, making her the clear focus of the video.

Tip 2: Describe Motion Explicitly

AI video generators need to know what should move and how. Don't just describe a static scene - tell the AI what happens.

Static: "A cat sitting on a windowsill"

Dynamic: "A fluffy orange cat stretches lazily on a sunlit windowsill, then turns its head to watch birds flying outside the window"

Include action verbs: walks, runs, turns, reaches, falls, rises, spins, floats, dances, transforms.

Tip 3: Specify Camera Movement

Camera movement adds cinematic quality. Be explicit about how the virtual camera should behave.

Camera movement keywords:

• Dolly in/out - Camera moves toward or away from the subject
• Pan left/right - Camera rotates horizontally
• Tilt up/down - Camera rotates vertically
• Tracking shot - Camera follows the subject's movement
• Crane shot - Camera rises or descends vertically
• Aerial/drone shot - High-angle bird's eye view
• Close-up - Tight framing on the subject
• Wide shot - Shows the full environment
• Static/fixed camera - No camera movement

Example: "Slow dolly in towards a pianist's hands playing a grand piano in a dimly lit concert hall, shallow depth of field"

Tip 4: Set the Lighting

Lighting dramatically changes the mood and quality of the generated video.

Lighting keywords:

• Golden hour - Warm, soft sunlight during sunrise/sunset
• Blue hour - Cool, moody light just before sunrise or after sunset
• Dramatic side lighting - Strong light from one side, creating shadows
• Soft diffused light - Even, gentle lighting (overcast day)
• Neon lighting - Colorful artificial lights
• Candlelight - Warm, flickering, intimate light
• Backlit/silhouette - Subject lit from behind
• Studio lighting - Clean, professional three-point lighting

Example: "A street musician playing violin under warm golden streetlamp light, rain reflecting neon signs on the wet pavement, cinematic night scene"

Tip 5: Define the Style and Mood

Tell the AI what aesthetic you're going for. This is one of the most impactful yet overlooked aspects of prompt writing.

Style keywords:

• Cinematic - Film-quality look with depth of field
• Documentary style - Naturalistic, observational
• Anime/animation - Japanese animation style
• Photorealistic - Indistinguishable from real footage
• Vintage/retro - Old film aesthetics, grain, muted colors
• Cyberpunk - Futuristic, neon, dark urban
• Fantasy - Magical, ethereal, otherworldly
• Minimalist - Clean, simple, lots of negative space

Mood keywords: dramatic, peaceful, energetic, mysterious, romantic, eerie, joyful, melancholic, epic, intimate

Tip 6: Include Environmental Details

The environment sets the context. Be specific about where the action takes place.

Vague: "A man running"

Detailed: "A man in athletic wear sprints through a misty bamboo forest at dawn, morning dew glistening on the leaves, volumetric light rays piercing through the canopy"

Key environmental elements to describe:

• Location - Forest, city, beach, studio, space
• Time of day - Dawn, noon, dusk, midnight
• Weather - Sunny, rainy, snowy, foggy, stormy
• Season - Spring blossoms, summer heat, autumn leaves, winter snow
• Atmosphere - Particles, fog, smoke, dust, sparkles

Tip 7: Use Aspect Ratio to Your Advantage

Different aspect ratios serve different purposes. Match your aspect ratio to the content type:

• 16:9 - Standard widescreen, best for YouTube, presentations, cinematic content
• 9:16 - Vertical video for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts
• 1:1 - Square format for Instagram feed posts
• 4:3 - Classic TV look, good for vintage aesthetics
• 21:9 - Ultra-wide cinematic, dramatic landscapes

When shooting vertical (9:16), adjust your prompt to describe vertically-oriented scenes: "A woman looking up at a towering waterfall" works better than "A panoramic landscape" in vertical format.

Tip 8: Control the Pace

The pace of your video should match the content. Use words that imply speed or slowness:

Slow and contemplative: "A single cherry blossom petal slowly drifts down through still air, landing gently on the surface of a calm pond, creating tiny ripples, slow motion"

Fast and energetic: "Rapid montage of a bustling Tokyo street crossing, people rushing in all directions, neon signs flashing, dynamic camera movement"

Speed keywords: slow motion, time-lapse, real-time, fast-paced, gradual, sudden, explosive

Tip 9: Layer Your Prompt

Structure your prompt in layers, from most important to least:

1. Subject - Who or what is the focus
2. Action - What they're doing
3. Environment - Where it's happening
4. Camera - How we're viewing it
5. Style - The overall aesthetic
6. Details - Supporting elements

Layered example: "[Subject] A young samurai warrior [Action] unsheathes his katana in one fluid motion, [Environment] standing in a rain-soaked temple courtyard at night, [Camera] slow-motion close-up tracking the blade, [Style] cinematic with dramatic lighting, [Details] rain droplets suspended in the air, cherry blossom petals caught in the wind"

Tip 10: Iterate and Refine

Your first prompt rarely produces the perfect video. Use an iterative approach:

1. Start simple - Generate a basic version to see what the AI creates
2. Identify what's wrong - Too static? Wrong mood? Missing details?
3. Add specificity - Refine the areas that need improvement
4. Experiment with variations - Try different camera angles, lighting, or styles
5. Save winning prompts - Build a library of prompts that work well

Prompt Templates

Here are ready-to-use templates you can customize:

Cinematic Landscape

Breathtaking aerial drone shot of [LOCATION], during [TIME OF DAY],
[WEATHER CONDITIONS], cinematic color grading, slow camera movement,
volumetric lighting, 4K quality

Product Showcase

Elegant close-up of [PRODUCT] rotating slowly on a [SURFACE],
[LIGHTING TYPE] lighting, shallow depth of field, clean studio
background, commercial quality, smooth camera orbit

Character Portrait

[PERSON DESCRIPTION] [ACTION], [LOCATION], [CAMERA MOVEMENT],
[LIGHTING], cinematic depth of field, professional quality,
[MOOD/STYLE]

Social Media Short

Dynamic [ACTION/SCENE] in [STYLE] style, vibrant colors,
energetic camera movement, 9:16 vertical format, trending
aesthetic, [SPECIFIC DETAILS]

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Being too vague - "A nice video" gives the AI nothing to work with
2. Contradicting yourself - "A calm, explosive scene" confuses the model
3. Overloading the prompt - Focus on key elements, not every tiny detail
4. Ignoring camera - No camera instruction often means a static, boring shot
5. Forgetting motion - Describe what moves, not just what exists
6. Wrong aspect ratio - Horizontal prompts in vertical format look awkward

Start Creating

The best way to learn is by doing. Open Seedance AI's video playground and start experimenting with these techniques. Every generation teaches you something new about how the AI interprets your words.

Remember: AI video generation is a creative skill. The more you practice, the better your results will become.