AI Video Prompting Guide
How to write effective prompts for AI video generation models (Veo, Runway, Kling, Pika).
Prompt Structure
A strong video prompt follows this formula:
B0
Example Prompts by Use Case
Product hero shot:
B1
Lifestyle B-roll:
B2
Abstract/brand:
B3
SaaS explainer scene:
B4
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 |
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"
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
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" |
Prompting Workflow
- Reference first — find a real video that looks like what you want
- Describe it — break down: subject, action, camera, style, mood
- Generate 3-4 variations — same concept, different angles or styles
- Iterate on the best — refine the prompt based on results
- Composite — combine AI footage with programmatic text/overlays
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 |
| 16:9 or 1:1 | 1920x1080 |
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