How to Generate Amateur Looking Photo in Perplexity AI

Key takeaways:

• Use Flux model in Perplexity with short, simple prompts
• Set the style as a random smartphone filename (like IMG_1234.jpeg)
• Results look more authentic and less like stock photos

Ever tried making AI photos that don’t scream “stock image”? I’ve been there. Most AI tools crank out pics that look way too polished—like they belong in a catalog, not your camera roll. But if you want something that feels real, like a quick selfie or a casual shot, Perplexity AI can do it. I’ll show you exactly how to prompt it for those amateur vibes, even if you don’t have access to every fancy model or training tweak.

Why Most AI Images Look Too Professional and How to Break the Mold

So, here’s the deal: most AI image models are trained on stock photos—super clean, perfect lighting, pro cameras. That’s why the results look so staged. Even with new models like Flux and training tricks like LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation), you usually get images that look like a pro shot them. That’s cool if you want a magazine cover, but not if you want something that feels like you snapped it on your phone at a party.

The Flux model, especially when paired with LoRA, can make things look more natural. But in Perplexity, you only get access to Flux—no LoRA. Still, with the right prompt, you can fake that real-life, amateur look.

The Secret Sauce: Prompting for Amateur Style in Perplexity AI

Here’s what I found works best:

• Keep your prompt super short. Like, less than 10 words. Even less than 5 if you can.
• Don’t worry about grammar. Just list the subject and setting.
• For the style, use a filename that looks like it came from a smartphone or cheap camera. Stuff like IMG_6519.jpeg, selfie.jpg, or IMG_1234.CR2.

Why? Because the Flux model was trained on tons of real-world images, and these filenames nudge the AI to pick up on that casual, everyday style.

Example Prompts That Actually Work

Let’s say you want a selfie at a carnival. Instead of writing a long, detailed prompt, just type:

woman selfie carnival

For style, put:

IMG_6519.jpeg

Or try something like:

college party

And for style:

selfie.jpeg

You can mix it up with different file formats too—.CR2, .HEIC, whatever feels like a real camera file.

Step-by-Step: How I Generate Amateur Photos in Perplexity AI

1. Go Pro: You need Perplexity Pro for image generation. If you’re not subscribed, you’ll need to sign up.
2. Start a New Thread: Open a new thread and don’t type anything—just hit the “generate image” button.
3. Custom Prompt: Click on “custom prompt.” Delete any default text.
4. Write Your Prompt: Keep it short and to the point. Example: woman selfie restaurant.
5. Set the Style: Use a filename as your style. Example: IMG_1234.CR2 or selfie.jpeg.
6. Submit and Wait: Hit submit and let Perplexity do its thing.

Sometimes, the first try looks too clean. If that happens, change the style filename or tweak the subject. It’s a bit of a lottery, but when it works, you get a photo that looks like a real person snapped it on their phone.

Why Short Prompts and Casual Filenames Matter

Long prompts and detailed descriptions make the AI go back to its comfort zone—stock photo land. By keeping things short and using casual filenames, you trick the model into thinking it’s making a real, everyday photo. The lighting might be off, the focus a bit soft, maybe even some weird artifacts. That’s exactly what you want for that amateur feel.

If you want to tweak your AI images after downloading, check out how to fix fisheye distortion or how to resize pictures on PC.

What to Expect: Results Can Vary, But That’s Part of the Fun

Not every image comes out perfect—or imperfect, in this case. Sometimes you’ll get something that still looks too polished. Other times, you’ll get a photo that’s gritty, has bad lighting, or just feels like a quick snap from someone’s phone. That’s a win.

You can keep trying with different subjects, backgrounds, or style filenames. Try stuff like:

• IMG_20240420.HEIC
• breakfast selfie.jpg
• woman smile selfie holding paper not real IMG_1234.CR2

Mix and match until you get the vibe you want.

Quick Table: Prompts vs. Results

Prompt	Style Filename	Result Vibe
woman selfie carnival	IMG_6519.jpeg	Casual, party shot
college party	selfie.jpeg	Group, low-light
woman smile holding paper not real	IMG_1234.CR2	Gritty, candid
breakfast selfie	IMG_20240420.HEIC	Boring, everyday snap

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Perplexity AI’s Image Generator

• Use real-life filenames for the style field
• Keep prompts short, skip grammar
• Try different file formats: .jpeg, .jpg, .CR2, .HEIC
• Don’t be afraid to retry if the first result is too clean

Need to edit your AI photos further? Learn how to blur faces or add glow effects in Photoshop for extra privacy or style.

FAQs

How do I get access to the image generation feature in Perplexity AI?

You need a Pro subscription to use the image generator.

What’s the best way to prompt for amateur-looking photos?

Keep prompts short and use a filename as the style, like IMG_1234.jpeg.

Can I use detailed prompts for better results?

Short prompts work better for casual, amateur vibes. Detailed prompts usually look too professional.

What style filenames should I use?

Try filenames like IMG_1234.jpeg, selfie.jpg, or even IMG_20240420.CR2. Mix it up for variety.

What if my AI photo still looks too professional?

Change the style filename or subject and try again. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get that imperfect, real-life look.

And if you’re looking to upload your new AI photo to Instagram from your PC, here’s a guide: how to upload photo to Instagram from PC 📸