The Ultimate veo 3.1 prompt Playbook: Principles, Templates, and 60+ Ready-to-Use Examples for Creators

Why the veo 3.1 prompt matters for creators#

If you can write it, you can shoot it. That’s the promise of Google’s Veo 3.1. Your veo 3.1 prompt is the control room for subject, action, style, camera language, pacing, and even multi-shot sequences. This guide gives content creators—video makers, designers, educators, marketers, and voice actors—the practical tools to translate creative intent into compelling, consistent visuals.

You’ll learn:

• veo 3.1 prompt design principles (the core principles)
• A reusable structure and template
• 60+ copy-and-paste prompt examples
• Advanced techniques, troubleshooting, and best practices
• Access, pricing basics, and integrations

Throughout, we’ll anchor key phrasing you can adapt immediately to your workflow.

How to access Veo 3.1 and get started#

• Vertex AI: In the Google Cloud console, enable Vertex AI, then look for Veo 3.1 in Model Garden/Generative AI Studio. Access may depend on region, project permissions, and pricing plans. Enable billing to run generations.
• VideoFX (creator-facing): Some regions and accounts may offer a web interface for Veo-based generations. Check availability and terms.
• API/SDK: If enabled for your project, you can call Veo 3.1 via REST/SDK, orchestrate shot lists, and integrate with your creative stack.

Tip: Start with the studio UI to iterate your veo 3.1 prompt quickly, then move to the API for automation and batch work.

veo 3.1 prompt design principles: The principles of effective prompting#

Use these principles to make your veo 3.1 prompt unambiguous and cinematic:

1. Be specific about the visual core

• Subject: Who or what is central? Provide age, attire, character vibe, product model, or brand palette.
• Action: Define the motion and intent: “skateboard kickflip,” “steam curling from cup,” “glossy lipstick glides.”

2. Control the world around the subject

• Setting: Location, time of day, weather, period, culture, and texture.
• Props and wardrobe: Key items to anchor realism.

3. Direct the camera like a DP

• Camera moves: “slow dolly-in,” “handheld jitter,” “top-down macro,” “orbit clockwise.”
• Lens and depth cues: “35mm shallow DOF,” “macro bokeh,” “anamorphic flares,” “F2.8, soft roll-off.”
• Framing: “rule-of-thirds,” “centered,” “wide master,” “tight close-up.”

4. Light for mood

• Lighting: “golden hour rim light,” “soft box key + cool fill,” “neon cyan-magenta contrast.”
• Exposure: “overcast diffuse,” “high-key,” “low-key moody shadows.”

5. Constrain the output so it matches your target

• Aspect/duration: “9:16, 8 seconds,” “16:9, 12 seconds.”
• Style tags: “photoreal,” “stop motion,” “2D flat vector,” “watercolor,” “studio-grade product.”
• Negative cues: “avoid text overlays,” “no watermark,” “no extreme fish-eye.”

6. Sequence with beats

• Use timecoded beats for multi-shot clarity:
  • 0–2s: Establishing wide
  • 2–5s: Medium with action
  • 5–8s: Close-up payoff

7. Reference without infringing

• Use generic descriptors of eras, movements, or techniques instead of trademarked properties. If you include references, ensure you have rights.

8. Plan for audio, even if you add it later

• Add timing cues—“beat drop at 3s, cut on snare”—so the video syncs with a music bed or voiceover in post.

9. Iterate systematically

• Adjust one variable at a time: camera movement, lighting, or style. Save versions of your veo 3.1 prompt.

10. Ethical and practical guardrails

• Keep content safe and respectful, and adhere to platform and model policies.

The anatomy of a strong veo 3.1 prompt#

A great veo 3.1 prompt concisely includes:

• Subject + action
• Setting + production design
• Style + camera + lens
• Lighting + color palette
• Aspect + duration + pacing
• Shot beats (optional)
• Negative constraints
• Optional: reference assets (stills, color boards) if your interface supports uploads

Reusable templates you can customize#

Use these as starting points. Replace bracketed text.

• veo 3.1 prompt template (single-shot): “A [subject: e.g., barista in vintage cafe] [action: pours latte art swan] in [setting: sunlit corner with plants], [style: photoreal, warm filmic grain], [camera: slow dolly-in, 50mm shallow DOF], [lighting: golden hour rim, soft key], [color: earthy greens and amber], [aspect: 16:9], [duration: 8s]. Negative: avoid text overlays.”

• veo 3.1 prompt template (multi-beat): “Aspect 9:16, duration 12s. Style: [aesthetic]. Lighting: [mood]. Color: [palette]. Beats: 0–3s: [wide establishing, camera move] 3–8s: [medium action, detail, lens] 8–12s: [close-up payoff, insert] Negative: [what to avoid].”

• veo 3.1 prompt template (product): “Clean seamless studio for [product], photoreal macro detail, [camera: slow orbit 360°, 85mm], [lighting: softbox key + edge rim], [background: matte neutral], [aspect + duration]. Call out materials and microtextures. Negative: fingerprints, dust.”

• veo 3.1 prompt template (explainer): “Crisp 2D flat vector animation explaining [topic] with [3] scenes, simple shapes, consistent brand palette [hex codes], kinetic transitions on beats, clear iconography, [aspect + duration]. Negative: no text labels.”

60+ ready-to-use prompts you can copy#

Cinematic and storytelling

1. veo 3.1 prompt: A lone hiker crests a ridge at sunrise, sea of clouds below, photoreal, slow dolly-out, 35mm lens, golden rim light, 16:9, 8s. Negative: no text.
2. veo 3.1 prompt: Neon-lit alley in light rain, protagonist adjusts motorcycle helmet, anamorphic flares, handheld, shallow DOF, 16:9, 10s. Negative: no logos.
3. veo 3.1 prompt: Cozy cabin interior, fireplace flicker reflecting in eyes, macro close-up, soft grain, warm tungsten, 4K look, 16:9, 8s.
4. veo 3.1 prompt: Desert road at blue hour, car taillights streak, timelapse feel, tripod, wide master, cool-magenta palette, 21:9, 7s.

Social reels and shorts (9:16) 5) veo 3.1 prompt: 9:16 smoothie bowl assembly overhead, vibrant fruit, stop-motion vibe, crisp daylight, beat cuts every 2s, 9:16, 8s. 6) veo 3.1 prompt: Street fashion spin transition, model twirls, whip-pan, high-contrast urban backdrop, 9:16, 7s, Negative: no motion blur smears. 7) veo 3.1 prompt: Before/after desk setup glow-up, light sweep transitions, clean minimal, 9:16, 9s, white and slate palette. 8) veo 3.1 prompt: Quick coffee recipe, macro pours and crema bloom, rhythmic jump cuts, 9:16, 8s.

Product and e-commerce 9) veo 3.1 prompt: Matte black wireless earbuds on wet slate, macro droplets, soft rim, slow hero orbit, photoreal, 16:9, 8s. 10) veo 3.1 prompt: Skincare serum droplet forming perfect sphere, backlit shimmer, 100mm macro, high-end beauty lighting, 1:1, 6s. 11) veo 3.1 prompt: Running shoe tread flex in slow motion, dust motes, side key light, 50mm, 16:9, 7s. 12) veo 3.1 prompt: Watch crown winding close-up, brushed steel, subtle reflections, studio infinite white, 85mm, 16:9, 6s.

Education and explainer 13) veo 3.1 prompt: 2D flat vector animation explaining photosynthesis, 3 scenes, leafy palette, smooth easing, simple icons, 16:9, 12s. 14) veo 3.1 prompt: Whiteboard-style line drawing of supply and demand curves animating in, clean motion, 16:9, 10s, Negative: no text labels, just visuals. 15) veo 3.1 prompt: Stop-motion periodic table building from colored tiles, overhead, rhythmic beats, 16:9, 9s. 16) veo 3.1 prompt: Human heart cross-section visualization, soft medical lighting, subtle particle flow, 16:9, 8s.

Marketing and promos 17) veo 3.1 prompt: Bold launch teaser: quick macro flashes of a new smartphone, specular highlights, black void background, staccato cuts, 16:9, 7s. 18) veo 3.1 prompt: Lifestyle montage: morning run, smoothie, laptop café, warm filmic grade, upbeat pacing, 16:9, 12s. 19) veo 3.1 prompt: SaaS dashboard vibe, abstract UI blocks animating elegantly, glassmorphism, soft depth, 16:9, 9s. 20) veo 3.1 prompt: Conference promo: bustling expo floor bokeh, handshake close-up, stage lights sweep, 16:9, 10s.

Travel and nature 21) veo 3.1 prompt: Drone-like coastal cliff reveal, turquoise water, gulls, slow tilt-up, 16:9, 8s. 22) veo 3.1 prompt: Forest path after rain, macro raindrops on fern, shallow DOF, cool green palette, 16:9, 7s. 23) veo 3.1 prompt: City timelapse: sunset to night, light trails, crisp tripod, 16:9, 10s. 24) veo 3.1 prompt: Snowy mountain panorama, windblown powder sparkle, 70mm, cinematic calm, 21:9, 8s.

Food and beverage 25) veo 3.1 prompt: Searing steak close-up, sizzling fat pearls, side key, moody warm, 16:9, 6s. 26) veo 3.1 prompt: Pouring matcha with microfoam art, overhead to side-angle, soft morning light, 16:9, 8s. 27) veo 3.1 prompt: Chocolate drizzle slow motion over layered cake, glossy highlights, macro, 1:1, 6s. 28) veo 3.1 prompt: Cocktail with levitating citrus peel twist, neon back bar bokeh, 50mm, 16:9, 7s.

Beauty and fashion 29) veo 3.1 prompt: Lip gloss applicator glide macro, glossy specular, flawless surface, 85mm, high-key, 1:1, 6s. 30) veo 3.1 prompt: Runway walk loop, strobes, long lens compression, cool desaturated grade, 16:9, 7s. 31) veo 3.1 prompt: Nail art close-up, chrome accents in diffused light, overhead macro, 1:1, 6s. 32) veo 3.1 prompt: Hair flip in golden backlight, slow motion, 50mm, 16:9, 7s.

Real estate and interiors 33) veo 3.1 prompt: Modern living room flythrough, soft daylight, parallax moves, 16:9, 10s. 34) veo 3.1 prompt: Kitchen countertop product vignette, shallow DOF, warm/cool mixed light, 16:9, 7s. 35) veo 3.1 prompt: Bedroom morning scene, linen textures, sunbeams through sheer curtain, 16:9, 8s. 36) veo 3.1 prompt: Bathroom spa detail shots, stone and matte black fixtures, water bead macro, 16:9, 7s.

Gaming and tech 37) veo 3.1 prompt: RGB mechanical keyboard hero, keycap press macro, vapor glow, 16:9, 6s. 38) veo 3.1 prompt: Drone racing POV through neon gates, fast motion blur, dynamic FPV feel, 16:9, 8s. 39) veo 3.1 prompt: Retro console boot screen aesthetic, CRT scanlines, nostalgic palette, 4:3, 7s. 40) veo 3.1 prompt: Circuit board cinematic macro journey, shallow DOF, cool cyan lighting, 16:9, 8s.

Music and visualizers 41) veo 3.1 prompt: Abstract audio-reactive shapes pulsing to 120 BPM, neon gradients, 16:9, 10s. 42) veo 3.1 prompt: Vinyl record spinning, stylus close-up, dust motes in warm shaft of light, 16:9, 7s. 43) veo 3.1 prompt: Minimalist bar visualizer over soft grain gradient, clean, 16:9, 8s. 44) veo 3.1 prompt: Liquid ink in water slow motion, macro swirls, classical elegance, 16:9, 8s.

Events and sports 45) veo 3.1 prompt: Basketball slam in slow motion, rim shake, crowd bokeh, high-contrast arena lighting, 16:9, 7s. 46) veo 3.1 prompt: Marathon shoe pack run-by, low angle, motion streaks, sunset flare, 16:9, 8s. 47) veo 3.1 prompt: Wedding rings macro on linen, champagne bokeh, soft pastel, 1:1, 6s. 48) veo 3.1 prompt: DJ crowd hands, laser haze, dolly through, punchy contrast, 16:9, 9s.

Narrative and character beats 49) veo 3.1 prompt: Over-the-shoulder writer typing by window, dust motes, warm afternoon tone, 16:9, 8s. 50) veo 3.1 prompt: Child discovers glowing firefly jar at dusk, magical realism, soft vignette, 16:9, 8s. 51) veo 3.1 prompt: Detective pins photo on corkboard, tungsten desk lamp pool, shallow DOF, 16:9, 7s. 52) veo 3.1 prompt: Elderly hands tending bonsai, serene light, macro textures, 16:9, 7s.

Animation and stylization 53) veo 3.1 prompt: Paper-cut stop-motion style city, gentle camera drift, soft shadow layers, 16:9, 9s. 54) veo 3.1 prompt: Watercolor koi pond, flowing brush textures, tranquil ripples, 16:9, 8s. 55) veo 3.1 prompt: 2D flat vector workspace loop, clean lines, soft drop shadows, 16:9, 7s. 56) veo 3.1 prompt: Claymation fruit bowl, tactile fingerprints, warm studio light, 1:1, 7s.

Tutorials and how-to 57) veo 3.1 prompt: Overhead hands assembling camera rig, step-by-step beats, labels implied via motion, 16:9, 10s. 58) veo 3.1 prompt: Bicycle chain maintenance, grease detail macro, crisp garage light, 16:9, 9s. 59) veo 3.1 prompt: Makeup contour steps, side-to-front angle shifts, soft glam light, 9:16, 9s. 60) veo 3.1 prompt: Latte art tutorial beats: wide, medium pour, macro reveal, warm palette, 16:9, 10s.

Ambient loops and screensavers 61) veo 3.1 prompt: Rain against windowpane bokeh, city lights, slow rack focus loop, 16:9, 12s. 62) veo 3.1 prompt: Fireplace embers glowing, wood crackle implied, macro sparks, 16:9, 12s. 63) veo 3.1 prompt: Northern lights over snowy pines, slow pan, ethereal, 21:9, 12s. 64) veo 3.1 prompt: Aquarium jellyfish drift, neon bioluminescent hues, 16:9, 10s.

Corporate, nonprofit, and education use cases 65) veo 3.1 prompt: Team stand-up meeting silhouettes through glass, morning light, modern office, 16:9, 8s. 66) veo 3.1 prompt: Nonprofit field work montage, warm candid tone, respectful framing, 16:9, 10s. 67) veo 3.1 prompt: University lab pipetting macro, sterile light, subtle bokeh, 16:9, 7s. 68) veo 3.1 prompt: Healthcare handwashing procedure close-ups, clinical clarity, 16:9, 8s.

Memes and playful edits 69) veo 3.1 prompt: Cat in tiny sunglasses lounging, sunbeam, comedic zoom, 1:1, 6s. 70) veo 3.1 prompt: Overly dramatic slow-mo chip dip with epic backlight, tongue-in-cheek, 16:9, 6s. 71) veo 3.1 prompt: “That escalated quickly” montage—mundane to absurd props, quick push-ins, 16:9, 8s. 72) veo 3.1 prompt: Satisfying slime swirl macro, candy colors, loopable, 1:1, 7s.

Science and maker content 73) veo 3.1 prompt: 3D-printed object time-lapse, bed to finished, clean lab light, 16:9, 10s. 74) veo 3.1 prompt: Magnetic ferrofluid forming spikes, macro, glossy black, tight key light, 16:9, 8s. 75) veo 3.1 prompt: Solar eclipse simulation, corona glow, dark sky, cinematic slow pan, 21:9, 8s. 76) veo 3.1 prompt: Drone parts assembly overhead, organized grid, cool tone, 16:9, 9s.

These examples are deliberately compact; extend them with beats, lens details, and negatives to match your brand.

Advanced veo 3.1 prompt techniques#

• Negative prompting: Proactively exclude artifacts. Example: “Negative: no text, no HUD, no fisheye, no watermark.”
• Style anchoring with references: If your interface allows image/video refs, upload a color board, texture swatches, or a hero still and say “match palette and contrast” without infringing IP.
• Emotion injection: Add verbs and adjectives that cue performance and grade: “tender, introspective, hushed lighting,” or “kinetic, punchy, high-contrast neon.”
• Pacing and editorial beats: Specify exact timestamps for cut points, ramp speed, or slow-mo. “Cut on 0:02, 0:04, 0:07; slow dolly from 0:05–0:08.”
• Camera grammar: Use classic vocabulary—tilt, pan, dolly, crane, gimbal, roll, rack focus, parallax. Add lens language—24mm wide vs 85mm portrait compression.
• Multishot micro-boards: “0–2s wide master, 2–5s medium action, 5–8s macro payoff.” This makes a veo 3.1 prompt more deterministic.
• Domain presets: Build prompt “presets” for product, food, fashion, and keep them in a library. Swap only subject/action for speed.
• Iterative seeds and variation: If your workspace offers seeding or variation weights, save promising seeds to re-roll consistent looks.
• Audio-aware direction: Even if Veo focuses on visuals, cue edits to beat drops or voiceover pauses. If audio conditioning is available in your environment, mention “align lip movement to provided VO” and upload the track.

Troubleshooting your veo 3.1 prompt#

• Output feels generic: Add distinct production design, lens, and lighting. Increase specificity: materials, era, props.
• Wrong framing: State framing at the top: “center-framed tight close-up,” “rule-of-thirds left.”
• Too much motion blur: Specify shutter feel: “crisp motion, minimal blur.” Avoid whip-pans unless intended.
• Inconsistent style across beats: Use one sentence to lock style: “Consistent [aesthetic] across all shots.”
• Overexposed scenes: Ask for “balanced exposure, protect highlights.”
• Messy compositions: “Clean background, negative space, minimal set dressing.”
• Artifacts or watermarks: Add Negative constraints. Simplify busy prompts; remove conflicting cues.
• Off-topic outputs: Put subject and action in the first 10 words of your veo 3.1 prompt. Lead with the noun and verb.
• Timing drift: Define “duration Xs; hold this shot for Y seconds; cut at Z seconds.” Keep to three beats max at first.
• Color not matching brand: Set palette explicitly: “Use #0C1222, #3A86FF, #FFBE0B; soft gradients.”

Best practices for consistent results#

• One intention per prompt. Avoid trying to make a full short film in one pass.
• Lock spec: aspect, duration, style, lighting, lens—then iterate subject/action only.
• Keep a prompt journal of wins, seeds, and negative lists.
• Test short durations (6–8s) to dial in look, then scale to longer.
• Use references ethically; secure rights for any assets you upload.

Use-case workflows (marketing, education, social, product)#

• Marketing: Draft a brand “visual bible” veo 3.1 prompt: palette, lighting, lens, background. Generate product hero loops and lifestyle B-roll. Edit in your NLE, add licensed music/VO.
• Education: Build a modular explainer library of 2D and tactile prompts. Keep consistent color and icon style so lessons feel cohesive.
• Social media: Create reusable 9:16 templates: hook macro (0–2s), action (2–6s), payoff (6–9s). Batch-generate variations by swapping only subject nouns.
• Product demos: Macro hero, materials close-up, function in context. Consistent studio setups let you reuse lighting text across prompts.

Integrations: Gemini, workflows, and editing apps#

• Ideation with Gemini: Ask Gemini to produce five variants of a concise veo 3.1 prompt, each with different lenses/lighting. Pick the best and refine.
• Orchestration and flows: Use workflow tools (e.g., Vertex AI workflow/orchestration) to chain steps: generate shot list → create prompts → call Veo → send to an editor.
• Editing and finishing: Assemble clips in Premiere Pro, Final Cut, or CapCut. Color match with LUTs referenced in your prompt. Add VO via a TTS/voice actor and licensed music.
• Asset management: Keep brand palettes, SFX sheets, and prompt presets in a shared library for team reuse.

Comparing Veo 3.1 to other AI video models (prompting perspective)#

• Runway, Pika, Luma, and similar tools accept comparable camera/lighting language. Veo 3.1 often rewards classic cinematography terms (lens mm, DOF, dolly/rack focus) and detailed production design.
• Some models lean stylized by default; your veo 3.1 prompt can push to “studio-grade photoreal” or “illustrative” with clear lighting and material cues.
• Multi-beat prompts with timestamps tend to be honored well; keep beats simple and ordered from wide to close.

Keeping up with updates#

Models evolve. Revisit your best-performing veo 3.1 prompt templates every few months, testing:

• New aspect/duration limits
• Improved motion handling
• Better adherence to multi-shot instructions
• Any new parameters exposed in your UI/API

FAQ#

What makes a good veo 3.1 prompt?#

A strong veo 3.1 prompt leads with subject and action, then locks style, camera, lighting, aspect, duration, and negatives. Use one-liners for single shots and timecoded beats for multi-shot control.

How do I control camera moves in a veo 3.1 prompt?#

Name the move and lens explicitly: “slow dolly-in, 50mm shallow DOF,” or “handheld with subtle sway, 35mm.” Put it near the front of your veo 3.1 prompt for priority.

Can I add audio or dialogue with a veo 3.1 prompt?#

Veo focuses on visuals. Use your veo 3.1 prompt to align edits to beats or VO pauses, then add audio in post. If your environment supports audio conditioning, note “sync lip movement to provided VO” and supply a track.

How long should my veo 3.1 prompt be?#

Short and specific wins. One to three sentences for a single shot; up to five lines for a multi-beat sequence. Avoid piling on conflicting style tags in a veo 3.1 prompt.

Why doesn’t my output match my veo 3.1 prompt?#

Conflicts or missing constraints are common culprits. Tighten the opening line, remove extra adjectives, add negatives, and specify aspect/duration. Iterate one change per new veo 3.1 prompt.

Do I need timestamps in a veo 3.1 prompt?#

Only for multi-beat shots. If you want precise pacing, timestamps help. For single shots, timestamps can be omitted from your veo 3.1 prompt.

How do I get access and pricing for Veo 3.1?#

Check your Google Cloud project’s Vertex AI access for Veo 3.1 or any creator-facing app your account supports. Pricing is typically usage-based; confirm in your console. Your veo 3.1 prompt strategy doesn’t change with plan tier.

Can I reuse a successful veo 3.1 prompt across subjects?#

Yes—save “presets.” Keep style, camera, lighting, aspect, and negatives identical; swap only the subject/action. This creates a consistent series from one veo 3.1 prompt template.