How to Prompt Google Veo 3: Complete Guide & Tutorial (2025)

How to Start Prompting Google Veo 3

What is Prompt Engineering?

Prompt engineering is the art of crafting precise text instructions that communicate your creative vision to AI models. For Veo 3, effective prompts translate your ideas into high-quality videos with accuracy and consistency.

The Golden Rules of Veo 3 Prompts

1.
Be Specific: "Close-up portrait" is better than "person"
2.
Follow Structure: Shot type → Subject → Action → Style → Technical
3.
Use Cinematic Language: Professional film terminology works best
4.
Balance Detail: Enough info to be clear, not so much to be confusing
5.
Test and Iterate: Refine prompts based on results

Your First Veo 3 Prompt

Let's start with a simple example and break down each component:

"Wide shot of a red car driving down a mountain road at sunset, cinematic lighting, 4K quality"

Breakdown:

Wide shot - Camera framing
Red car - Main subject
Driving down mountain road - Action
At sunset - Timing/lighting
Cinematic, 4K - Quality/style

Why it works:

Clear camera position
Specific subject description
Defined action and movement
Atmospheric lighting cue
Professional quality indicators

The Anatomy of a Perfect Veo 3 Prompt

The 5-Part Structure

1

Shot Type & Camera

Defines the perspective and framing

Wide shot, close-up, aerial view, POV

2

Subject Description

The main focus of your video

Person, object, animal, environment

3

Action & Movement

What's happening in the scene

Walking, flying, rotating, flowing

4

Environment & Mood

Setting, lighting, atmosphere

Golden hour, misty forest, neon city

5

Style & Quality

Technical and artistic specifications

Cinematic, ultra-detailed, 4K, artistic

Example Breakdown

1. Camera: Aerial drone shot

2. Subject: of a vintage red sports car

3. Action: speeding through winding mountain curves

4. Environment: during golden hour with misty valleys below

5. Style: cinematic composition, ultra-detailed, 4K

Complete Prompt:

"Aerial drone shot of a vintage red sports car speeding through winding mountain curves during golden hour with misty valleys below, cinematic composition, ultra-detailed, 4K"

Mastering Camera Techniques in Veo 3

📷 Shot Types

Extreme Wide Shot

Shows entire environment, establishes scale

"Extreme wide shot of..."

Wide Shot

Full subject visible with some environment

"Wide shot of..."

Medium Shot

From waist up, natural conversation view

"Medium shot of..."

Close-up

Head and shoulders, intimate detail

"Close-up of..."

Extreme Close-up

Eyes, lips, hands - maximum detail

"Extreme close-up of..."

🎬 Camera Movements

Pan

Horizontal camera rotation

"slow pan left", "quick pan right"

Tilt

Vertical camera rotation

"tilt up", "tilt down"

Dolly/Tracking

Camera moves with subject

"tracking shot", "dolly in"

Zoom

Changes focal length

"slow zoom in", "dramatic zoom out"

Crane/Jib

Vertical camera movement

"crane shot rising", "jib arm movement"

📐 Camera Angles

Eye Level

Natural, neutral perspective

"eye level view", "straight on"

Low Angle

Camera below subject, heroic feel

"low angle shot", "worm's eye view"

High Angle

Camera above subject

"high angle", "bird's eye view"

Dutch Angle

Tilted camera, dynamic tension

"dutch angle", "canted frame"

POV (Point of View)

See from character's perspective

"POV shot", "first person view"

Camera Technique Examples

Dynamic Action Scene


                            "POV shot from motorcycle rider's perspective, racing through neon-lit city streets at night, camera shake, motion blur, ultra-wide lens"

Techniques used: POV perspective, motion effects, wide lens choice

Cinematic Portrait


                            "Slow dolly-in close-up of woman's face, soft natural lighting, shallow depth of field, 85mm lens, emotional expression"

Techniques used: Dolly movement, specific lens choice, depth of field

Professional Lighting in Veo 3 Prompts

💡 Lighting Types

Natural Lighting

Golden Hour

• Warm, soft light
• Long shadows
• Romantic mood

Blue Hour

• Cool, even light
• Magical atmosphere
• City lights blend


                                "golden hour lighting", "blue hour atmosphere", "natural sunlight"

Studio Lighting

Key Light

Main light source, defines subject

Fill Light

Softens shadows, reduces contrast

Rim Light

Separates subject from background


                                "studio lighting setup", "three-point lighting", "professional lighting"

Dramatic Lighting

Chiaroscuro: Strong contrast, dark and light

Side lighting: Emphasizes texture, depth

Backlighting: Creates silhouettes, halos

Color gels: Mood through color temperature


                                "dramatic chiaroscuro", "moody side lighting", "backlit silhouette"

🌈 Color Temperature & Mood

Warm Tones (2700K-3500K)

Sunset, candlelight, cozy interior

Creates intimate, comfortable, romantic atmosphere. Perfect for indoor scenes, evening settings.


                                "warm candlelight", "cozy fireplace glow", "sunset amber tones"

Cool Tones (5000K-7000K)

Daylight, LED, moonlight

Modern, clean, technological feel. Great for corporate, futuristic, or clinical settings.


                                "cool daylight", "LED strip lighting", "moonlight blue tones"

Mixed Lighting

Combine warm and cool sources for visual interest and depth. Often used in cinematic scenes.


                                "warm interior cool exterior", "neon and streetlight mix", "fire and moonlight"

Pro Lighting Example


                            "Portrait of young man in creative workspace, key light from large window (soft daylight), warm desk lamp as fill light, cool blue accent light from computer screen, professional studio quality"

Analysis: Combines natural key light with artificial fill and accent lighting for a modern, professional look with visual depth.

Mastering Subject Description

👥 People & Characters

Physical Description

• Age: young woman, elderly man, teenager
• Hair: blonde curls, black straight hair
• Build: athletic, slender, robust
• Clothing: business suit, casual jeans, elegant dress

Expression & Mood

• Emotions: smiling, contemplative, determined
• Eye contact: looking at camera, gazing away
• Body language: confident pose, relaxed stance

Good Example:


                            "Young professional woman in navy blazer, warm smile, making eye contact with camera, confident posture"

📱 Objects & Products

Material & Texture

• Metals: polished steel, brushed aluminum
• Fabrics: silk, cotton, leather, velvet
• Glass: crystal clear, frosted, tinted
• Wood: oak grain, smooth maple

Color & Finish

• Specific colors: crimson red, midnight blue
• Finishes: matte black, glossy white
• Patterns: striped, polka dot, geometric

Good Example:


                            "Sleek smartphone with matte black aluminum frame, curved edges, reflecting studio lights"

🌍 Environments

Natural Settings

• Landscapes: mountain valley, ocean coastline
• Weather: misty morning, stormy sky
• Seasons: autumn forest, spring meadow
• Time: dawn, dusk, midday sun

Urban Settings

• Architecture: modern skyscraper, historic brick
• Streets: busy intersection, quiet alley
• Lighting: neon signs, street lamps
• Atmosphere: bustling, serene

Good Example:


                            "Bustling Tokyo street at night, neon signs reflecting on wet pavement, steam rising from manholes"

🎭 Character Consistency Across Scenes

Consistent Elements

✓
Physical features: "Brown-haired woman with green eyes"
✓
Clothing: "Wearing red leather jacket and black jeans"
✓
Accessories: "Silver watch, small hoop earrings"
✓
Character traits: "Confident demeanor, warm smile"

Pro Tips

Create a character sheet: Document all physical details and refer back to them for each scene.

Use reference images: Generate a base character image and describe elements consistently.

Layer descriptions: Start with broad features, then add specific details for each scene.

Start Creating with These Techniques

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❓ How to Prompt Veo 3 FAQ

How do I write effective prompts for Google Veo 3?

To write effective Veo 3 prompts, follow the 5-part structure: 1) Camera angle/shot type, 2) Subject description, 3) Action/movement, 4) Environment/lighting, 5) Style/quality. Be specific, use cinematic language, and avoid contradictory terms.

What makes a good Veo 3 prompt vs a bad one?

Good prompts are specific ("close-up of woman with green eyes"), use professional language ("cinematic lighting"), and follow logical structure. Bad prompts are vague ("nice video"), contradictory ("dark bright scene"), or overly complex with too many elements.

How long should my Veo 3 prompts be?

Optimal Veo 3 prompts are typically 10-25 words. Include enough detail to be specific but avoid overly complex descriptions. Focus on the most important visual elements: subject, action, setting, and style.

Can I use the same prompting techniques for Veo 3 Fast and Premium?

Yes, both Veo 3 Fast and Premium use identical prompting techniques. The same prompt structure, keywords, and strategies work for both models. The only difference is generation speed and processing time, not prompt requirements.

How do I prompt Veo 3 for specific camera movements?

Include camera movement terms in your prompt: "dolly in", "pan left", "tracking shot", "crane up", "zoom out". Combine with shot types like "aerial drone shot panning over" or "handheld camera following". Place camera instructions at the beginning of your prompt.

What are the most important keywords for Veo 3 prompts?

Key categories: Camera ("close-up", "wide shot", "aerial"), Movement ("walking", "flowing", "rotating"), Lighting ("golden hour", "studio lighting", "dramatic"), Style ("cinematic", "4K", "professional"), and Quality ("ultra-detailed", "high resolution").