Backlit Portrait in the Dark

Use the uploaded user photo as the **ONLY source of the main subject’s identity**. Preserve the user’s exact recognizable identity with maximum fidelity: facial structure, face shape, proportions, forehead, hairline, eyebrows, natural eye shape and spacing, nose, lips, cheeks, cheekbones, jawline, chin, skin tone, natural skin texture, facial hair if present, and all distinctive facial characteristics. **Do not copy the reference subject’s identity. Do not beautify, reshape, slim, age, de-age, masculinize, feminize, or reinterpret the user’s face.** The user’s identity must remain unmistakably their own, regardless of the reference subject’s gender or appearance.
Recreate the uploaded reference image as accurately as possible, using the reference only to control the subject’s **expression, emotion, gaze, head position, body pose, clothing, composition, environment, lighting, camera perspective, and visual style**. The final image should depict the user standing indoors in front of a large, bright rectangular window or illuminated doorway. The background is almost completely black around the edges, creating a strong vertical tunnel-like composition, while the central rectangular opening behind the subject is intensely bright, soft white, and slightly overexposed. The bright background creates a dramatic backlit silhouette effect with a subtle glow around the subject’s outline.
Subject is positioned centrally, shown from approximately the upper thighs/waist upward, with the lower portion gradually disappearing into deep shadow. Body faces mostly toward the camera with a relaxed, upright posture. Both arms are bent naturally in front of the torso, with the hands loosely clasped/interlocked around the lower chest or upper abdomen. Fingers should remain naturally positioned and anatomically realistic, with subtle rings/accessories if appropriate to the reference styling. Shoulders are relaxed and slightly angled naturally rather than rigidly squared.
The head is turned noticeably toward the **viewer’s left**, approximately a three-quarter/side-facing orientation. The subject is **not looking at the camera**; reproduce the reference’s calm, contemplative gaze directed toward the left side of the frame. Keep the eyes naturally visible behind round dark sunglasses, with the gaze direction and head rotation matching the reference. Facial expression is serious, calm, reserved, and thoughtful, with relaxed lips and no smile. Do not transfer the user’s original expression from their uploaded photo.
Dress the user in a simple oversized/off-white or light beige crew-neck long-sleeve sweatshirt with minimal/no visible branding. Preserve the reference’s loose, clean silhouette and understated styling. Add small round dark sunglasses with thin frames, positioned naturally on the user’s face while preserving their facial identity and proportions. If facial hair exists in the user identity reference, preserve it naturally rather than replacing it.
Lighting is the defining feature: strong soft white daylight or studio light comes from directly behind the subject through the large rectangular opening, producing high-key white illumination in the center background and deep black shadows surrounding the frame. The subject’s front-facing side remains significantly underexposed, with soft low-key fill revealing only enough facial and clothing detail to maintain realism. Create a subtle rim light around the hair, shoulders, and outer body edges. Maintain deep blacks without crushing all subject detail. The sweatshirt should transition from softly illuminated beige/cream near the upper torso into progressively darker shadows toward the bottom.
Composition should closely match the reference: portrait-oriented **9:16 aspect ratio**, centered subject, large vertical luminous rectangle occupying most of the background behind the head and torso, heavy black negative space surrounding the rectangle, and strong symmetrical visual balance. Camera is positioned approximately at chest/eye level with a natural portrait perspective, slightly distant enough to capture the torso and hands. Use an approximately 50–70mm full-frame equivalent lens, moderate depth of field, realistic perspective, and subtle background softness. Keep the subject sharp while the bright background remains smooth and minimally detailed.
Photorealistic high-end cinematic editorial photography, natural skin texture, realistic fabric texture, physically accurate lighting, subtle film grain, deep blacks, soft highlight roll-off, restrained contrast, atmospheric mood, premium fashion-editorial aesthetic, dramatic backlighting, understated color palette of black, white, cream, and warm neutral skin tones. No text, no logos, no watermark, no extra people, no unnecessary objects, no artificial facial alterations, no exaggerated muscles, no distorted hands or fingers, no duplicated limbs, no warped sunglasses, no cartoon/anime appearance.
**IDENTITY PRIORITY:** uploaded user photo = **WHO THE PERSON IS**. Reference image = **HOW THE PERSON appears in this scene**. Preserve the user’s identity exactly while reproducing the reference’s expression, calm emotion, leftward gaze, head rotation, hand position, posture, clothing, framing, lighting, background, and cinematic visual style.

Copy the complete prompt and use your own reference photos where requested.