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Veo Lite Prompt Guide: Write Prompts That Actually Work
The quality of your Veo Lite output depends almost entirely on how well you describe what you want. This guide covers prompt structure, cinematic language, lighting vocabulary, and copy-paste templates for every major video category.
The Veo Lite Prompt Formula
A well-structured Veo Lite prompt follows a consistent four-part structure. Each layer adds specificity that guides a different aspect of the model's generation process. You don't need every element in every prompt — but the more you include, the more control you have over the result.
Full assembled prompt
“A woman walking through a wheat field at golden hour, wind in the air, warm summer light — tracking shot from the side, 35mm lens, shallow depth of field — cinematic, film grain, Terrence Malick style”
Camera Movement Reference
Veo Lite understands professional cinematography terminology. The following movements are recognized and rendered accurately. Use these exact terms in your prompts for predictable results.
Dolly push
Camera moves forward toward the subject on a track. Creates intimacy and focus.
“slow dolly push into a close-up”Dolly pull
Camera moves backward away from the subject. Creates reveal or emotional distance.
“dolly pull back to reveal the full scene”Pan
Camera rotates horizontally on a fixed axis. Follows action or reveals a space.
“slow pan left across the city skyline”Tilt
Camera rotates vertically. Reveals height or follows vertical action.
“tilt up from feet to face, medium shot”Crane / Jib
Camera moves vertically on a mechanical arm. Classic epic shot.
“crane shot rising from ground level to aerial”Handheld
Camera held by operator, producing organic micro-movement. Feels immediate and real.
“handheld tracking shot following subject through crowd”Rack focus
Focus shifts between foreground and background subjects mid-shot.
“rack focus from foreground flower to person in background”Static wide
Fixed camera, wide angle. Establishes space, shows scale.
“static wide shot, establishing the scene”Copy-Paste Prompt Templates
These prompts are tested and produce consistently strong results in Veo Lite. Copy them directly, or use them as a starting point to adapt to your own subject matter.
Cinematic Landscape
“Snow-covered mountain peak at sunrise, drone shot slowly descending, epic wide angle, golden light breaking through clouds, cinematic color grade”
“Misty valley at dawn, fog flowing between tree lines, static wide shot, soft diffuse light, National Geographic style”
“Volcanic eruption at night reflected in a lake, wide shot, dramatic orange glow, ash particles in air, documentary footage”
Product Demo
“Luxury watch rotating on a brushed steel surface, macro lens, shallow depth of field, dramatic side lighting, dark studio background, commercial quality”
“Glass perfume bottle on white marble, soft box lighting, slow 360-degree rotation, clean product photography, high-end fashion”
“Smartphone floating in water droplets, ultra-slow motion, black background, dramatic spotlight, tech product reveal”
Character & People
“Young woman walking through a sunlit wheat field, tracking shot from side, golden hour backlight, hair blowing in wind, cinematic, 35mm film look”
“Chef plating a dish in a busy restaurant kitchen, handheld close-up, dramatic practical lighting from overhead, fast-paced energy”
“Elderly man sitting by a window reading, static medium shot, soft overcast natural light, contemplative mood, documentary style”
Urban & Street
“Busy intersection in Manhattan at night, time-lapse style, light trails from traffic, crane shot from above slowly descending, neon reflections on wet road”
“Tokyo alley at dusk, steam rising from street food stalls, handheld walking shot, shallow DoF, warm street light, Blade Runner atmosphere”
“London Bridge at sunrise, fog over the Thames, static wide shot, blue hour light, commuters as silhouettes in foreground”
Abstract & Nature
“Gold ink dropping into clear water in slow motion, macro lens, black background, ultra-sharp detail, diffuse directional light”
“Lightning storm over an ocean, static wide shot from beach, long exposure style, dramatic cloud formations, cinematic color”
“Cherry blossom petals falling in slow motion, shallow depth of field, soft spring light, bokeh background, Japanese garden”
Common Prompt Mistakes
These are the most common patterns that produce weak or inconsistent Veo Lite results — and how to fix them.
✗ Weak prompt
“A good video of some nature”
✓ Strong prompt
“Drone shot over a coastal cliff at golden hour, ocean waves crashing below, slow forward push, cinematic wide angle”
Issue: Too vague — no subject, no camera, no atmosphere
✗ Weak prompt
“Make it cinematic and nice”
✓ Strong prompt
“Cinematic color grade, shallow depth of field, soft side lighting, 35mm film look”
Issue: Aesthetic descriptors need specifics to have effect
✗ Weak prompt
“Fast camera that moves around a lot”
✓ Strong prompt
“Handheld camera following the subject, quick pan to reveal background, energetic and documentary-style”
Issue: Vague motion descriptions produce inconsistent results
✗ Weak prompt
“A city at night with things happening”
✓ Strong prompt
“Tokyo street intersection at night, neon signs reflected in rain puddles, pedestrians in foreground, handheld medium shot”
Issue: Missing specifics on subject, lighting, and framing