If you are reading this, you have likely just gained access to Google Veo 3.1, the latest update released in October 2025. While Veo 1 was impressive, 3.1 is a different beast entirely. With the ability to generate native synchronized audio, 1080p resolution, and consistently track characters using “Ingredients,” the gap between AI and reality has narrowed significantly.
However, Google Veo 3.1 is literal. It doesn’t guess your intent; it executes your exact words. If your prompts are vague, your results will be hallucinations.
Here is the comprehensive guide to undertand Veo’s language, from basic structure to advanced camera control.
The Anatomy of a Perfect Veo 3.1 Prompt
To get professional results, stop writing sentences and start writing directives. A high-success prompt in Google Veo 3.1, always follows this 6-part structure:
[Subject] + [Action] + [Context/Environment] + [Camera/Lighting] + [Style/Aesthetic] + [Audio]
Why this order matters:
Veo prioritizes information that appears early in the prompt.
- Bad: “A cinematic video of a dog running in a park with sunlight.” (Too vague).
- Good: “A golden retriever puppy sprinting towards the camera. Central Park at sunrise, wet grass flying. Low-angle tracking shot, shallow depth of field. Cinematic lighting, warm golden glow. Audio: Paws thumping on grass, happy barking, ambient city hum.”
20 High-Performance Prompts (Categorized)
Here are 20 templates tested on the Google Veo 3.1 model.
Category A: Cinematic & Storytelling
Best for short films, trailers, and narrative content.
- The “Hero” Shot: “Close-up of a weary astronaut looking out of a cracked helmet visor. Reflections of a burning nebula in the glass. Heavy breathing, condensation forming. 85mm lens, anamorphic flare. Sci-fi thriller aesthetic. Audio: Heavy mechanical breathing, distant alarm blaring.”
- The Period Piece: “1920s jazz club, smoke-filled room. A trumpeter playing a solo on stage, sweat dripping down his face. Spotlight on the subject, background in deep shadow (chiaroscuro lighting). Noir style, high contrast black and white. Audio: Muted trumpet solo, clinking glasses, low chatter.”
- The Cyberpunk Chase: “Wide tracking shot of a futuristic motorcycle weaving through traffic in a neon-lit Tokyo rainstorm. Wet pavement reflections, motion blur. Cyberpunk 2077 aesthetic, vibrant pinks and cyans. Audio: High-pitched electric engine whine, rain hitting metal, doppler effect of passing cars.”
- The Fantasy Reveal: “Drone shot starting at the feet of a knight and rising rapidly to reveal a massive dragon perched on a castle ruin. Overcast sky, epic scale. Game of Thrones style, desaturated colors. Audio: Wind howling, metal armor clanking, distant dragon roar.”
- The Emotional Portrait: “Extreme close-up of an elderly woman’s eye, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Soft window light from the left (Rembrandt lighting). Hyper-realistic texture, 8k resolution. Audio: Slow ticking clock, silence, soft exhale.”
Category B: Commercial & Product Showcase
Best for dropshipping ads, brand reveals, and E-commerce. Start using these prompts according to your product in Google Veo 3.1.
- The “Pour” Shot (Beverages): “Macro slow-motion shot of ice cubes dropping into a glass of amber soda. Splashes frozen in time, carbonation bubbles rising. High-key studio lighting, white background. 4k advertising standard. Audio: Ice clinking, fizzing sound, liquid pouring.”
- The Tech Reveal: “Sleek matte-black smartphone spinning slowly in a void. Rim lighting emphasizing the metallic edges. Minimalist, futuristic, Apple-style commercial. Audio: Whooshing sound, electronic hum, clean beat.”
- The Fashion Walk: “Low-angle dolly shot of a model walking down a runway wearing a flowing red silk dress. Fabric moving physically correctly in the wind. Flash photography going off in the background. High fashion aesthetic. Audio: Upbeat runway house music, camera shutters clicking.”
- The Food Porn: “Close-up of a knife slicing through a crispy fried chicken burger. Steam escaping, juices running. Warm restaurant lighting, bokeh background. Appetite appeal. Audio: Distinct ‘crunch’ sound, sizzling.”
- The Luxury Car: “Tracking shot of a silver luxury sedan driving along a coastal road at sunset. Reflections of the ocean on the car’s body. Helicopter view. Premium automotive commercial. Audio: Deep engine purr, wind noise.”
Category C: Social Media (YouTube Shorts/Reels)
Designed for high retention and quick hooks.
- The “POV” Experience: “First-person POV of parkour jumping between rooftops in Paris. Hands visible, camera shake to simulate running. Adrenaline, Go-Pro aesthetic. Audio: Heavy breathing, wind, city noise.”
- The Satisfying Loop: “Perfect loop of a hydraulic press crushing a colorful ball of slime. Top-down view, bright studio lighting. Oddly satisfying aesthetic. Audio: Squishing sound.”
- The DIY Tutorial: “Fast-motion time-lapse of hands assembling a wooden birdhouse. Top-down view on a workbench. Sawdust flying. Bright and educational. Audio: Fast-paced upbeat ukulele music, hammering sounds.”
- The Travel Vlog: “Selfie-style video of a woman spinning around in a field of sunflowers in Tuscany. Lens flare hitting the camera. Happy, vibrant, travel influencer style. Audio: Laughter, ‘Wow, this is beautiful’ (dialogue), birds chirping.”
- The unboxing: “Hands slowly lifting the lid off a premium velvet jewelry box to reveal a diamond ring. Sparkle filter effect. Soft luxury lighting. Audio: Box friction sound, magical chime.”
Category D: Abstract & Creative Arts
Best for music videos and background visuals.
- The Liquid Dream: “Abstract swirling ink in water, mixing gold and turquoise paints. Macro lens, slow motion. Ethereal, dreamlike. Audio: Underwater submersion sound, ambient drone.”
- The Glitch Art: “A statue of David melting into digital pixels. Data mosh effect, RGB separation. Vaporwave aesthetic. Audio: Digital glitch noises, static.”
- The Fractal World: “Camera flying through an infinite 3D fractal tunnel. Glowing geometric shapes. Psychedelic, trippy. Audio: Trance music beat, echoing wind.”
- The Paper Cutout: “Stop-motion animation style of a paper boat sailing on a sea made of blue cellophane. Jerky frame rate (12fps). Craft aesthetic. Audio: Paper crinkling, child humming.”
- The Double Exposure: “Silhouette of a man’s head filled with a video of a thunderstorm. The lightning flashes illuminate his profile. Surreal, True Detective intro style. Audio: Thunder cracking, rain.”
Expert Tips for Google Veo 3.1 (New Features)
A. Master “Ingredients-to-Video”
One of the biggest complaints with older models was that characters changed faces between shots. Veo 3.1 solves this with “Ingredients.”
- Tip: Don’t just describe your character in the prompt. Upload a Reference Image (Ingredient) first.
- Prompt Syntax: “Using the character from Reference A, show them sitting in a cafe…” This ensures your protagonist wears the same shirt and has the same face in every generated clip.
B. Native Audio is a “Separate” Prompt
While you can combine audio instructions in the main prompt, experts recommend separating them for clarity.
Visual Prompt: A car drifting around a corner. Audio Prompt: Tires screeching loudly, engine revving to redline, no background music.
Note: Explicitly saying “no background music” is crucial if you want clean sound effects (SFX) for editing later. Look out these instagram viral ai prompts to generate stylish photos, Viral Boys DP
C. The “First and Last Frame” Trick
Want a perfect transition?
- Generate Clip A.
- Take the Last Frame of Clip A.
- Upload it as the Start Frame for Clip B. This forces Veo to continue the motion seamlessly, allowing you to stitch together 60-second clips without jump cuts.
Troubleshooting: Why Your Prompt Failed In Google Veo 3.1
| Problem | Likely Cause | The Fix |
| “The video looks blurry/warped” | You didn’t specify a lens or camera type. | Add “4k, sharp focus, 85mm lens” to your prompt. |
| “The character looks like a cartoon” | You missed the style keyword. | Add “Photorealistic, raw footage, unedited” to force realism. |
| “The camera moves too fast” | Veo defaults to dynamic motion. | Use keywords like “Slow motion,” “Static tripod shot,” or “Gentle pan.” |
| “The text on the sign is gibberish” | Google Veo 3.1 is better at text, but not perfect. | Keep text requests short: “A sign that says ‘OPEN’.” Avoid long sentences. |
Final Thought
The difference between a generic AI clip and a viral masterpiece now lies entirely in your ability to articulate light, lens, and motion. Veo is not just generating video; it is translating your imagination. The prompts listed above are your starting point, but the real magic happens when you start tweaking the variables – changing a “50mm lens” to a “fisheye,” or shifting the lighting from “studio” to “bioluminescent.”
Don’t let the AI guess. Be the director. The camera is now a keyboard.