Retro style embodies a look that never goes out of fashion, feeling both timeless and special. When you recreate it with Google Gemini AI, it takes on a whole new life. It’s like you’ve stepped back into the past — where the camera lights were soft, and everything looked calm and dreamy.
With Gemini AI’s creative power, you can easily turn your simple selfie into a beautiful cinematic retro portrait. Just imagine — a picture with vintage Bollywood charm or a classic 90s studio pose that looks incredibly realistic and shines in 4K clarity. The result is just like an old photo from a family album but with a modern glow.
Want to give your Instagram a nostalgic touch? Or make your family portrait look old-fashioned and classy? Maybe you want to build a stylish retro vibe for your personal brand? These 10 ready-to-use retro prompts will help you do it all. With them, you can create portraits that look timeless, elegant, and ultra-realistic — like old memories coming back to life in a new way.
1. 80s Studio Portrait Look
“A close-up studio portrait of a man with a neatly trimmed dark beard and dark hair, looking directly at the camera with a calm expression. He is wearing a light cream or off-white turtleneck sweater under a brown corduroy blazer. The lighting is soft and even, highlighting his features. The background is a subtle, smooth gradient of pastel colors, possibly a light pink blending into a light blue/green, creating a soft, dreamlike glow behind him.”
2. Retro Polaroid-Style Portrait
“A close-up polaroid photo of a young man in his late teens or early twenties with messy, wavy brown hair. He has a friendly smile and is looking directly at the camera. He’s wearing a striped collared shirt with the top buttons open. The background is softly blurred with greenery and some subtle bokeh lights, suggesting an outdoor setting in the evening or late afternoon. The photo has a vintage, nostalgic feel, characteristic of a ‘Summer ’98’ snapshot. The lighting is natural and soft.”
3. Vintage Radio Era Portrait
“A sophisticated portrait of a distinguished man in his 50s or 60s, with short, neat hair, sitting comfortably in a classic leather armchair. He is wearing a tailored tweed suit with a vest and tie, looking towards the viewer with a slight, knowing smile. To his left, on a small wooden table, sits a vintage wooden radio with a fabric speaker cover and classic dials, with a stack of vinyl records beneath it. The room has a warm, inviting atmosphere, with patterned wallpaper (possibly honeycomb or geometric) and a window with drapes in the background. The lighting is soft and warm, creating a nostalgic, sepia-toned effect, reminiscent of mid-20th-century photography.”
4. Old Bollywood Cinematic Portrait
“A full-body studio portrait of a confident man with dark hair, styled in a retro fashion. He is standing with his hands on his hips, wearing a vibrant, open-collared patterned shirt with a paisley or psychedelic design in orange and brown tones, tucked into high-waisted, flared light-colored pants. The background features draped velvet curtains, primarily in a rich red and gold pattern, evoking a 70s disco or performance vibe. There’s dramatic, warm lighting with visible lens flares and a spotlight effect, creating a circular vignette around the subject, enhancing the vintage, showy atmosphere.”
5. Classic 90s Indian Family Photo Look
“A studio portrait of a young man in his late teens or early twenties with short, neatly combed brown hair. He is seated, looking directly at the camera with a friendly, subtle smile. He is wearing a classic red and blue plaid flannel shirt over a white t-shirt, paired with light blue jeans. The background consists of vertically hanging fabric panels in various soft, pastel colors such as blue, green, pink, and yellow, creating a striped and slightly blurred effect. The lighting is soft and even, giving the photo a slightly retro, timeless feel.”
6. Monochrome Retro Film Portrait
“A striking black and white close-up portrait of a mature man in his 50s or 60s with neatly combed, slicked-back grey hair. He has a serious yet contemplative expression, looking slightly off-camera with direct, engaging eyes. He is wearing a dark suit jacket over a dark shirt and tie, suggesting a formal or professional setting. The lighting is dramatic and controlled, with strong contrast that highlights the contours of his face and the texture of his skin, creating a powerful and intense mood. The background is a plain, dark gradient, allowing the focus to remain entirely on his face.”
7. Retro Café Vibe Portrait
“A warm and inviting photograph of a young woman with long hair and large, retro-style eyeglasses, sitting at a round wooden table in a cozy café. She is holding a steaming cup of coffee or tea, looking thoughtfully out of a window with venetian blinds, through which warm, golden sunlight streams, creating beautiful light rays and shadows. She is wearing a comfortable, textured brown or earthy-toned knitted sweater. The café interior features dark wooden paneling on the walls, adorned with vintage-style posters, and a checkered red and white floor is subtly visible. The overall mood is nostalgic, serene, and warm, emphasizing the cozy atmosphere and the golden hour lighting.”
8. Soft Vintage Romance Portrait
“A serene portrait of a young woman with long, wavy blonde hair, seated gracefully in a vintage upholstered armchair, possibly velvet or tufted. She is wearing a flowing, elegant off-white or cream-colored blouse and trousers, holding a closed book in her lap, and looking pensively off to the side with a gentle smile. The background shows a soft, diffused light from a window with sheer, ornate curtains, and the room has subtle classical elements, including a light pink or pastel wall. The scene is enhanced with soft, warm, out-of-focus bokeh lights (or fairy lights) scattered in the foreground and background, creating a dreamy and ethereal atmosphere.”
9. 70s Retro Street Fashion Portrait
“A gentle portrait of a distinguished man in his 60s, with short, neat grey hair, looking slightly off to the side with a kind, soft smile. He is wearing a light, open-collared linen or cotton shirt in an off-white or cream color, suggesting a relaxed, comfortable setting. He is positioned near a large window draped with sheer, ornate lace curtains, which diffuse the natural light beautifully. The scene is adorned with soft, warm, out-of-focus bokeh lights scattered throughout the foreground and background, creating a dreamy, ethereal, and magical ambiance.”
10. Vintage Studio Black Background Portrait
“A dramatic black and white studio portrait of a man in his 30s or 40s with short, neatly styled hair, looking directly at the camera with a serious and intense expression. He is wearing a crisp white dress shirt with dark suspenders over dark trousers, conveying a classic, sophisticated, yet edgy look. The lighting is very sharp and contrasting, casting deep shadows and highlighting his features, particularly on one side of his face, against a completely dark background. This creates a strong, cinematic, and chiaroscuro effect.”
