The beauty of an AI kids photoshoot is that you don’t have to coax a child into standing in a costume for half an hour. We made 3 scenes in Nano Banana Pro — one generation per prompt, no retouching — and put together a prompt formula for a boy, a girl and a baby. Every child in this article was generated from a description: we didn’t use photos of real children.
Rules parents should know
Before uploading a child’s photo to any AI tool, keep in mind three rules set by the developers:
- Photo editing is for adults only. Gemini’s help says image editing is available to users 18 and older. The parent should upload and edit the photo from their own account.
- Only photos you have the rights to. Google asks you to upload only images you’re entitled to use and prohibits using other people’s images without consent. A photo of someone else’s child from social media is off-limits.
- No content that exploits children. Google’s prohibited use policy names such content explicitly, and violations lead to restricted access and account suspension.
A practical tip: if you need an image for a card or invitation, the child doesn’t have to be “real” — the model will draw a similar one from a description, and you won’t need to upload your child’s photo anywhere.
How to write a prompt for a kids photoshoot
The formula: (face from photo) + age as a number + clothing + activity + setting + light + lens.
- Age as a number. The model reads “little” any way it likes; “5 years old” is precise.
- An activity, not a pose. Jumping, building, reading, blowing on a dandelion — that’s what makes an image feel alive.
- Soft light: an overcast day, a window, golden hour.
- A 50mm lens shot at the child’s eye level — the way kids’ photographers work.
- No brands or symbols on clothing: we regenerated one image because a flag appeared on the spacesuit.
For a photo-based image, add this as the first line: “The child from the photo, keep the face exactly as in the picture.” If parents are in the shot too, upload their photos — Nano Banana 2 keeps the likeness of up to 4 people, Nano Banana Pro up to 5. More on family shots in our article on AI family photoshoots.
Idea 1: a girl in an autumn park
A puddle jump is a scene that’s almost impossible to catch on the first try with a real camera.
Kids photoshoot: a happy 5-year-old girl in a yellow raincoat and red rubber
boots jumps into a puddle in an autumn park, water splashes, golden leaves,
soft daylight, a joyful candid moment, 50mm lens, photorealistic, no text
The result is the article’s cover. For a girl’s photoshoot, swap the clothing and activity: “in a wildflower crown, blowing on a dandelion,” “in a ballerina tutu, twirling in a studio.”
Idea 2: a boy astronaut in a cardboard rocket
A themed studio shoot with homemade props is a favorite genre of kids’ photographers.
Themed kids studio photoshoot: a 6-year-old boy in a plain white toy astronaut
suit with no flags, patches or logos sits in a cardboard rocket decorated with
paper stars and planets, holding a toy planet, soft studio light, dark navy
background with small warm fairy lights, a mischievous smile, photorealistic,
no text
Other ideas work well for a boy’s photoshoot too: “a firefighter in a toy helmet next to a red truck,” “a pirate on a wooden raft in a pool,” “clay dinosaurs on a table.”
Idea 3: a sleepy baby
Real newborn photoshoots happen in the first weeks, while the baby sleeps a lot. With AI, you can get this shot anytime.
A gentle newborn-style photoshoot: a sleeping baby swaddled in a soft beige
knitted blanket lies in a small wooden bowl prop, a tiny knitted bear-ear
hat, cream background, soft window light, calm mood, photorealistic, no text
For an older baby, change the activity: “a 1-year-old sits on a blanket reaching for soap bubbles,” “a 2-year-old eats watermelon in the backyard.”
Where to run these prompts
Nano Banana Pro and Nano Banana 2 are available in the AI2Face generator. Paste a prompt and get an image in 2K or 4K; with your child’s photo, add the line about keeping the face. The cost of each generation is shown before you run it, you can pay by card or crypto, and credits from packs don’t expire. You get welcome credits after signing up. For more ideas with adults and families, see our collection of photoshoot prompts.
Bottom line
A good kids photoshoot prompt has the age as a number, a specific activity, soft light and clothing without symbols. For cards and invitations, you don’t have to upload your child’s photo: the model will draw a similar child from a description. If you need your own child, upload the photo yourself, as the parent, from an adult account — that’s what the developers’ rules require. Start with the three scenes from this article and adapt the story to your child’s age and personality.
FAQ
What prompt should I write for a kids photoshoot?
Give the age as a number, plus clothing, activity, setting and light: “a 5-year-old girl in a yellow raincoat jumps into a puddle in an autumn park, soft daylight, 50mm lens.” The activity matters more than the pose: a child who's doing something looks alive.
Can I upload my child's photo to an AI tool?
Only your own child's, and only as the parent. Google allows uploading only images you have the rights to, and image editing in Gemini is available to users 18 and older. Content that exploits children is banned in every service.
How do I keep my child's likeness in an AI photo?
Use a sharp front-facing photo in daylight and start the prompt with “The child from the photo, keep the face exactly as in the picture.” State the real age: if you write younger or older, the model will change the features.
Can I make a kids photoshoot without a photo of the child?
Yes. The model will draw a child from a description — that's how every image in this article was made. It works well for cards, invitations and illustrations where you don't need a specific child.
Sources
3
- https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/14286560
- https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/16625148
- https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/image-generation
