Disclaimer: This is an independent creative test made with AI, for demonstration only. It isn't an ad for any brand shown or named, and isn't affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by them. All trademarks belong to their owners
Nano Banana Pro - realistic skincare lifestyle photos with range
Six everyday skincare photos with a wide cast, from phone snapshots to editorial portraits
Tested by Nouamane Benbrahim
What happens when you tell the AI "give me range" and nothing else?
I'd already made a 10 shot set for this navy serum that stuck close to a blue moodboard. For the second set I dropped the moodboard and only said "I want 5 people shots and 5 product shots, give me range". Same bottle, same product photo as the reference. These are the six everyday-life shots from that set. The brand isn't a client, I'm only testing.
Here's my exact process.
1. Decide what kind of photo each shot is
With range, the first thing I pick for each shot is the kind of photo. Some should look like someone took them on their phone. Others should look like a real shoot with a photographer.
For the phone ones I ask for an iPhone shot with everything in focus and no blur in the background. For the shoot ones I ask for shallow depth of field and I name a director's style for the light. I wanted both kinds in this set.
2. Make the room messy
The phone shots only work for me if the room looks lived in.
For the bathroom mirror I asked for a small rented apartment bathroom: greyed grout, fog around the edges of the mirror, a toothbrush in a glass, a hair tie and rings in a little dish. She's in a waffle robe with her hair in a claw clip.
Exact prompt
Create a new photorealistic image. THE VIBE: The real morning routine — unpolished, intimate, relatable. A steamy bathroom, soft window light, a woman mid-ritual caught in the mirror; honest and warm, not staged. IDENTITY LOCK: An invented woman in her late twenties: light-medium skin with a warm neutral undertone, messy honey-brown hair piled in a loose claw clip with strands falling out, hazel eyes, bare face, a few blemishes and faint under-eye shadows, small gold huggie earrings. THE SUBJECT: Seen in the bathroom mirror, she leans toward it with weight on one hip, wearing an oversized white waffle-knit robe slipping off one shoulder, pressing her palms gently to her cheeks after applying serum, eyes on her reflection, lips slightly parted. The product from the first reference stands on the sink edge in front of her. THE PRODUCT (preserve exactly, from the first reference): a tall slim cylindrical airless serum bottle in deep glossy midnight navy blue, the matching navy cap forming the top third with a thin horizontal seam, high-gloss finish; a thin white outlined vertical oval with the white serif wordmark DIEUX centred on the body, small white serif text beneath. 30 mL scale. Do NOT redesign or recolour it. THE FACE: Natural skin texture, visible pores, no airbrushing, no plastic or waxy skin, real skin with subtle tonal variation, faint dewy sheen on cheekbones. THE SETTING: A small rented-apartment bathroom: white subway tile with slightly greyed grout, a mirror with a band of condensation fogging its edges, a chipped white ceramic sink with a toothbrush in a glass, a hair tie and rings in a small dish, a folded towel on the counter. THE LIGHT: Soft morning daylight from a frosted window at frame-left, mixing with a warm vanity bulb overhead; gentle uneven light. THE KEY DETAILS: Fog on the mirror edges, water droplets on the sink, the navy bottle with its white DIEUX logo sharp on the sink edge in the foreground. THE MOOD: Everyday self-care, candid, warm and real. THE COMPOSITION: Bottle in the lower foreground near the frame edge, her reflection filling the upper-middle of the mirror, tile and fog framing. THE CAMERA: Shot on an iPhone, deep focus, everything sharp, NO background blur; candid eye-level snapshot. THE LABEL: White DIEUX oval logo and navy colour-block readable; fine print soft.
For the sink ledge I wanted water rings on the marble, a dripping brass tap, a gold ring and chain tossed next to the bottle, and leaf shadows coming in from the window.
Exact prompt
Create a new photorealistic image. THE VIBE: The shelf that earns its place — the serum in a real, lived-in bathroom, part of someone's actual day. Warm, honest, aspirational-but-real. THE SUBJECT: The product from the first reference stands upright on a marble sink ledge, three-quarter view. THE PRODUCT (preserve exactly, from the first reference): a tall slim cylindrical airless serum bottle in deep glossy midnight navy blue, the matching navy cap forming the top third with a thin horizontal seam, high-gloss finish; a thin white outlined vertical oval with the white serif wordmark DIEUX centred on the body. Do NOT redesign or recolour it. THE SETTING: A white Carrara marble ledge with faint water rings, a brass tap dripping, a ribbed glass tumbler with a bamboo toothbrush, a gold ring and a thin gold chain tossed beside the bottle, a small sprig of eucalyptus in a bud vase, a folded oatmeal linen hand towel, a blurred window beyond with green leaves. THE LIGHT: Warm late-morning sun from a window at frame-right casting a sharp leafy shadow pattern across the marble and the bottle; crisp specular highlight on the glossy navy. THE KEY DETAILS: Water droplets on the marble, the dappled leaf shadows, a fingerprint on the tumbler. THE MOOD: Warm, calm, everyday luxury. THE COMPOSITION: Bottle on the right third, props receding to the left, the tap in the soft background. THE CAMERA: Shot on an iPhone, deep focus, everything sharp, NO background blur; candid lifestyle snapshot at ledge height. THE LABEL: DIEUX oval logo readable; fine print soft.
For the taxi it was a worn seat with a small tear, a scratched partition with a glowing payment screen, rain on the window and neon outside. She's slouched sideways after a night out with her heels kicked off.
Exact prompt
Create a new photorealistic image. This is a photograph taken in the back seat of a New York City yellow taxi at night from the start — not a composite. Rebuild the entire scene as if shot natively here, with unified lighting across subject, product and environment. THE VIBE: Skincare on the move — the after-party reset in the back of a cab, city lights smearing past. Electric, glamorous, a little tired and a lot alive. IDENTITY LOCK: An invented woman in her early thirties: deep brown skin with a warm red-copper undertone, long box braids gathered over one shoulder, dark brown eyes with a slightly smudged winged liner, gold statement earrings. THE SUBJECT: Slouched sideways against the cab door, legs crossed, a black satin slip dress and an oversized cropped leather jacket, heels kicked off on the floor. She pumps a drop of serum from the product from the first reference onto the back of her hand, glancing up out the window with a tired grin. THE PRODUCT (preserve exactly, from the first reference): a tall slim cylindrical airless serum bottle in deep glossy midnight navy blue, the matching navy cap forming the top third with a thin horizontal seam, high-gloss finish; a thin white outlined vertical oval with the white serif wordmark DIEUX centred on the body. 30 mL scale in her hand. Do NOT redesign or recolour it. THE FACE: Natural skin texture, luminous sheen on cheekbones and nose bridge, warm depth in shadows, no airbrushing, no plastic skin. THE SETTING: Worn black vinyl taxi seat with a small tear, the scratched plexiglass partition with a glowing payment screen, rain-streaked window with Manhattan streetlights and neon signs blurred outside. THE LIGHT: ALL light from practical sources — sodium-orange streetlights and blue-magenta neon sliding across her face through the wet window, the dim cool glow of the partition screen; uneven colour casts, deep natural shadows; specular neon streaks on the glossy navy bottle. THE KEY DETAILS: Raindrops on the window, a clutch bag and phone on the seat, the drop of serum glinting on her hand. THE MOOD: Late-night glamour, candid, urban. THE COMPOSITION: Shot from the opposite side of the back seat, her figure filling the right two-thirds, window light on the left. THE CAMERA: Cinematic editorial frame, 35mm-wide feel, shallow depth of field, slight handheld looseness; neon-soaked realism in the manner of David Fincher. NO studio lighting. THE AFTER EFFECT: Light motion streaks of city lights through the window only; she and the bottle are sharp. THE LABEL: White DIEUX oval logo readable; fine print soft.
3. Cast for range, then write the skin for their age
Range also means who's in the shot. I went with a man in his 40s after a shave, a woman in her 60s, and a woman in her early 20s by a pool.
For the man I asked for fine lines, crow's feet and a salt and pepper beard with individual hairs, plus a slate bathroom with a brass wall lamp and a big window. The grey in the beard came through.
Exact prompt
Create a new photorealistic image. THE VIBE: Modern men's grooming — skincare as a quiet act of discipline after a shave. Clean, masculine, understated; slate, navy and warm wood. IDENTITY LOCK: An invented man in his early forties: medium-brown skin with a warm golden undertone, close-cropped black hair greying at the temples, neatly trimmed short salt-and-pepper beard with a soft natural line, dark brown eyes, faint forehead lines and crow's feet. THE SUBJECT: Bare-chested with a dark charcoal towel around his neck, he stands slightly turned at a sink, tipping his chin up and patting serum onto his jawline with his right fingertips, eyes downcast in concentration. His left hand holds the product from the first reference at chest height. THE PRODUCT (preserve exactly, from the first reference): a tall slim cylindrical airless serum bottle in deep glossy midnight navy blue, the matching navy cap forming the top third with a thin horizontal seam, high-gloss finish; a thin white outlined vertical oval with the white serif wordmark DIEUX centred on the body. 30 mL scale in his hand. Do NOT redesign or recolour it. THE FACE: Natural skin texture, visible pores, fine lines, beard of individual hairs varying in direction and colour, no airbrushing, no plastic skin, luminous sheen on cheekbones and nose bridge. THE SETTING: A modern bathroom with dark slate-grey stone walls, a walnut vanity, a brass tap, a safety razor and shaving brush on a small tray, steam hanging faintly in the air. THE LIGHT: A single large window from frame-right, soft but directional, strong falloff into dark shadow on the left; warm practical light from a brass wall sconce behind. THE KEY DETAILS: Water droplets on his shoulders, the razor tray, the glossy navy bottle catching a crisp specular highlight. THE MOOD: Calm masculine ritual, grounded confidence. THE COMPOSITION: Waist-up, man on the right third, bottle and hand near the centre, dark negative space left. THE CAMERA: Editorial grooming campaign portrait, 85mm feel, shallow depth of field; gritty desaturated realism in the manner of David Fincher. ALL light from window and sconce. NO studio lighting. THE LABEL: White DIEUX oval logo readable; fine print soft.
For the woman in her 60s I asked the model to keep her fine lines, her crepey eyelids and the age spots on her cheeks and hands. I also asked for soft window light like a Vermeer painting. She came out with all of it, age spots included.
Exact prompt
Create a new photorealistic image. THE VIBE: Ageless confidence — a woman in her sixties who has nothing to prove, lit like a painting. Warm, dignified, luminous; cobalt, cream and silver. IDENTITY LOCK: An invented woman in her mid-sixties: fair skin with a cool-neutral undertone, a sleek chin-length silver-white bob, pale grey-blue eyes, natural brows, fine lines around eyes and mouth, a few age spots on her cheeks and hands, bare skin with a touch of rose lip balm, a single strand of pearls. THE SUBJECT: Seated in a cream linen armchair, turned three-quarters toward a window, she holds the product from the first reference loosely in both hands in her lap and looks out the window with a soft, knowing half-smile. She wears a fitted cobalt-blue cashmere turtleneck. THE PRODUCT (preserve exactly, from the first reference): a tall slim cylindrical airless serum bottle in deep glossy midnight navy blue, the matching navy cap forming the top third with a thin horizontal seam, high-gloss finish; a thin white outlined vertical oval with the white serif wordmark DIEUX centred on the body. Do NOT redesign or recolour it. THE FACE: Natural aged skin texture with fine lines, crow's feet and crepey eyelids preserved, visible pores, no airbrushing, no plastic or waxy skin, soft subtle flush at the cheeks. THE SETTING: A sunlit living room in an old apartment: tall window with sheer curtains, a stack of books and a small vase of white ranunculus on a side table, pale plaster walls. THE LIGHT: Soft north-window light from frame-left in the manner of a Vermeer painting, gentle falloff into warm shadow, highlight on the pearls and the glossy bottle. THE KEY DETAILS: Her rings, the pearls, a reading glasses pair folded on the books. THE MOOD: Grace, self-assurance, quiet beauty at every age. THE COMPOSITION: Seated three-quarter length, figure left of centre, window light filling the left, bottle in her lap at the lower centre. THE CAMERA: Editorial portrait, 85mm feel, shallow depth of field; naturalistic light in the manner of Roger Deakins. ALL light from the window. NO studio lighting. THE LABEL: White DIEUX oval logo readable; fine print soft.
The pool one I made super graphic: shot straight down, a white swimsuit, a cobalt tile edge and hard noon shadows from a deck chair cutting across her.
Exact prompt
Create a new photorealistic image. This is a photograph taken at the edge of a mid-century outdoor swimming pool at noon from the start — not a composite. Rebuild the entire scene as if shot natively here, with unified lighting across subject, product and environment. THE VIBE: Graphic high-fashion summer — hard sun, bold geometry, cobalt against white. Cool, striking, unapologetic. IDENTITY LOCK: An invented woman in her early twenties: medium skin with an olive undertone, sleek wet black hair slicked straight back, dark eyes, strong brows, bare glowing skin, small gold hoop earrings. THE SUBJECT: She lies on her back along the pool's edge, one leg bent, one arm draped over the edge with fingertips trailing in the water, the other hand resting the product from the first reference upright on her collarbone. She wears a sculptural high-neck white one-piece swimsuit and oversized black cat-eye sunglasses pushed up on her head, eyes closed to the sun. THE PRODUCT (preserve exactly, from the first reference): a tall slim cylindrical airless serum bottle in deep glossy midnight navy blue, the matching navy cap forming the top third with a thin horizontal seam, high-gloss finish; a thin white outlined vertical oval with the white serif wordmark DIEUX centred on the body. Do NOT redesign or recolour it. THE FACE: Natural skin texture, no airbrushing, no plastic or waxy skin, water droplets on skin. THE SETTING: A pool deck of white terrazzo edged in small glossy cobalt-blue mosaic tiles, the pool water bright blue with sharp caustic lines, a striped deck-chair shadow falling across the frame. THE LIGHT: Hard directional noon sun, crisp black shadows, high contrast, bright specular glints on wet skin and the glossy bottle. THE KEY DETAILS: Wet footprints on the terrazzo, the tile grid, shadow stripes cutting across her body. THE MOOD: Bold, graphic, fashion-editorial summer. THE COMPOSITION: Shot from directly above, her body on a diagonal across the frame, the pool edge a strong leading line, water filling one corner. THE CAMERA: High-fashion editorial photograph, overhead, deep focus, punchy-saturated grade. ALL light from the sun. NO studio lighting. THE LABEL: White DIEUX oval logo readable; fine print soft.
4. What broke
The product drifted way more in this set than in my moodboard set. Here's everything I caught:
- A label typo. On the sink ledge the label says "2-in-1 Repair Serum". The real bottle says 3-in-1.
- A different bottle. In the taxi it turned into something closer to a spray can, and the logo is garbled.
- Tiny text. In the mirror shot the bottle is so small that the small print under the logo is mush.
- Sunglasses. At the pool I asked for them pushed up on her head. She's wearing them.
I haven't fixed these yet. I'd redo the sink shot before showing it to any real brand, since the typo is right on the label.
Why it works
Asking for range with no moodboard gave me six different people in six different places, and I picked the kind of photo for each one before anything else. The product reference kept the bottle close to right in most of them, and every miss I found was on a small label or a bottle held at an angle.
Your turn: pick one product and write down three kinds of photos it could show up in. A phone pic, a real shoot, and one in between. Then make one of each.
Emero keeps your product reference saved between chats, so your next set starts from the same bottle, at cost.
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