How to Write Perfect Sora 2 Prompts: Complete Guide

OpenAI's Sora 2 has revolutionized AI video generation, but creating the perfect prompt requires understanding its capabilities and limitations.

Understanding Sora 2's Strengths

Sora 2 excels at creating professional-quality AI videos with unprecedented control over cinematography and style.

Pro Tip: The key to great Sora 2 prompts is being specific about camera work and lighting. Vague descriptions produce mediocre results.

Core Capabilities:

• Cinematic camera movements: Dolly zooms, tracking shots, crane movements
• Realistic lighting: Natural daylight, golden hour, studio lighting
• Character consistency: Maintaining character appearance across frames
• Scene composition: Professional framing and depth of field

The Perfect Prompt Structure

1. Start with the Subject 👤

Always begin with what or who is the main focus:

✅ Good: "A woman in her 30s with long brown hair wearing a red coat"

❌ Bad: "There is a person somewhere"

2. Define the Action 🎬

Be specific about movement and behavior:

✅ Good: "walking confidently through a bustling Tokyo street"

❌ Bad: "doing something"

3. Describe Camera Work 📹

This is crucial for Sora 2:

4. Set the Lighting 💡

Lighting dramatically affects mood:

• Golden hour: Warm sunset tones with long shadows
• Overcast: Soft, even natural light
• Rim lighting: Dramatic backlight creating silhouettes
• Neon reflections: Cyberpunk atmosphere on wet surfaces

5. Add Visual Style 🎨

Reference cinematography styles:

Shot on 35mm film with shallow depth of field
4K cinematic with bokeh background
Documentary realism style
Anamorphic widescreen aesthetic

Example Prompts

Basic Prompt (Poor)

"A person walking down a street"

Optimized Prompt (Excellent)

"A confident woman in her 30s with long brown hair wearing a red coat walks through a bustling Tokyo street at dusk. Tracking shot following from behind at eye level. Neon signs and street lights reflect off wet pavement. Golden hour lighting with warm tones. Shot on 35mm film with shallow depth of field and cinematic bokeh. 4K professional cinematography."

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Too vague: "A nice scene" - Be specific!
2. No camera description: Always include camera movement/angle
3. Ignoring lighting: Lighting is 50% of the visual impact
4. Too many actions: Focus on one main action per prompt
5. Unrealistic expectations: Sora 2 has limits on physics and complex interactions

Advanced Techniques

Using TikTok as Reference

The best way to learn is by analyzing viral TikTok videos. Use PromptVid to:

1. Paste any TikTok URL
2. Get AI analysis of camera work, lighting, and composition
3. Generate Sora 2-optimized prompts based on the style

Iterative Refinement

Start with a basic prompt, generate, then refine:

• Add more specific camera movements
• Adjust lighting descriptions
• Fine-tune the mood and atmosphere

Conclusion

Mastering Sora 2 prompts takes practice, but following this structure will dramatically improve your results. Remember: subject + action + camera + lighting + style = perfect prompt.

Use PromptVid to analyze successful TikTok videos and learn from professional cinematography!