The Guide to Prompting Google Veo 3.1: Tips, Techniques & Prompts

A brown-haired woman talking.

A medium shot opens on a seasoned, grey-bearded man in sunglasses and a paisley shirt, his gaze fixed off-camera with a contemplative expression. His gold chain glints subtly. Beside him, a younger man in a tank top, also looking forward, suggests a shared moment of observation or reflection.

A snow-covered plain of iridescent moon-dust under twilight skies. Thirty-foot crystalline flowers bloom, refracting light into slow-moving rainbows. A fur-cloaked figure walks between these colossal blossoms, leaving the only footprints in untouched dust.

A medium shot frames an old sailor, his knitted blue sailor hat casting a shadow over his eyes, a thick grey beard obscuring his chin. He holds his pipe in one hand, gesturing with it towards the churning, grey sea beyond the ship's railing. "This ocean, it's a force, a wild, untamed might. And she commands your awe, with every breaking light"

A follow shot of a wise old owl high in the air, peeking through the clouds in a moonlit sky above a forest. The wise old owl carefully circles a clearing looking around to the forest floor. After a few moments, it dives down to a moonlit path and sits next to a badger. Audio: wings flapping, birdsong, loud and pleasant wind rustling and the sound of intermittent pleasant sounds buzzing, twigs snapping underfoot, croaking. A light orchestral score with woodwinds throughout with a cheerful, optimistic rhythm, full of innocent curiosity.

The scene explodes with the raw, visceral, and unpredictable energy of a hardcore off-road rally, captured with a dynamic, almost found-footage or embedded sports documentary aesthetic. The camera is often shaky, seemingly mounted inside one of the vehicles or held by a daring spectator very close to the action, frequently splattered with mud or water, catching unintentional lens flares from the natural, often harsh, sunlight filtering through trees or reflecting off wet surfaces. Within an 8-second sequence, one of the lead vehicles, a low-slung, open-cockpit buggy so caked in thick, brown mud that its original color is a mystery, approaches a wide, shallow river crossing at incredible speed. Without the slightest hesitation, its unseen driver powers straight into the water. The impact sends an enormous, almost solid, opaque sheet of muddy water spectacularly high into the air, completely engulfing the small buggy for a terrifying moment.

Camping (Stop Motion): Camper: "I'm one with nature now!" Bear: "Nature would prefer some personal space."

A keyboard whose keys are made of different types of candy. Typing makes sweet, crunchy sounds. Audio: Crunchy, sugary typing sounds, delighted giggles.

A handheld shot follows a wok as it's expertly flicked, sending vibrant, sizzling vegetables tumbling over themselves in a flash of motion and steam. Audio: a metallic clank and a sharp whoosh.

A paper boat sets sail in a rain-filled gutter. It navigates the current with unexpected grace. It voyages into a storm drain, continuing its journey to unknown waters.

A meticulously detailed scene opens, displaying a small, pale yellow, humanoid figure crafted from wax. This figure stands centered in a warm, ethereal landscape composed entirely of molten wax. In its raised hand, a delicate, bright flame flickers with a vibrant glow. (0-1 seconds) The camera initiates a smooth, tracking shot, maintaining an eye-level perspective with the small wax person. As the figure begins to gently walk forward, its small feet creating subtle ripples in the viscous, pale yellow wax terrain, the camera gracefully follows its movement. (1-7 seconds) The wax person continues its quiet journey, steadily progressing across the glowing, soft landscape. The camera holds its smooth, tracking motion, subtly receding slightly to reveal a broader view. (7-8 seconds)

A medium shot opens on a seasoned, grey-bearded man in sunglasses and a paisley shirt, his gaze fixed off-camera with a contemplative expression. His gold chain glints subtly. Beside him, a younger man in a tank top, also looking forward, suggests a shared moment of observation or reflection. The camera slowly pushes in, subtly emphasizing their quiet focus. In the background, a vibrant mural splashes across a wall, hinting at an urban setting. Faint city murmurs and distant chatter drift in, accompanied by a mellow, soulful hip-hop beat that adds a contemplative yet grounded atmosphere. "The city always got a story," the older man murmurs, a slight nod of his head. "Just gotta listen."

A follow shot of a wise old owl high in the air, peeking through the clouds in a moonlit sky above a forest. The wise old owl carefully circles a clearing looking around to the forest floor. After a few moments, it dives down to a moonlit path and sits next to a badger. Audio: wings flapping, birdsong, loud and pleasant wind rustling and the sound of intermittent pleasant sounds buzzing, twigs snapping underfoot, croaking. A light orchestral score with woodwinds throughout with a cheerful, optimistic rhythm, full of innocent curiosity.

A medium shot, historical adventure setting: Warm lamplight illuminates a cartographer in a cluttered study, poring over an ancient, sprawling map spread across a large table. Cartographer: "According to this old sea chart, the lost island isn't myth! We must prepare an expedition immediately!"

A detective interrogates a nervous-looking rubber duck. "Where were you on the night of the bubble bath?!" he quacks. Audio: Detective's stern quack, nervous squeaks from rubber duck.

A close up of spies exchanging information in a crowded train station with uniformed guards patrolling nearby "The microfilm is in your ticket" he murmured pretending to check his watch "They're watching the north exit" she warned casually adjusting her scarf "Use the service tunnel" Commuters rush past oblivious to the covert exchange happening amid announcements of arrivals and departures

A woman, classical violinist with intense focus plays a complex, rapid passage from a Vivaldi concerto in an ornate, sunlit baroque hall during a rehearsal. Their bow dances across the strings with virtuosic speed and precision. Audio: Bright, virtuosic violin playing, resonant acoustics of the hall, distant footsteps of crew, conductor's occasional soft count-in (muffled), rustling sheet music.

A close up in a smooth, slow pan focuses intently on diced onions hitting a scorching hot pan, instantly creating a dramatic sizzle. Audio: distinct sizzle.

A breathtaking, painterly 2D animated continuous visual narrative, rendered with the lush, vibrant, and slightly surreal, almost dreamlike, infused with the intricate, delicate detail of traditional Japanese woodblock prints (Ukiyo-e), follows a young, adventurous, and kind-hearted girl as she befriends a colossal, gentle, ancient Forest Spirit. The Spirit is a magnificent, awe-inspiring creature, its form a harmonious blend of animal and plant – perhaps with moss-covered, antler-like branches, fur like shimmering leaves that change color with its mood, and eyes like deep, tranquil forest pools. They meet in a sun-dappled, sacred grove deep within an ancient, primeval forest, where impossibly tall, gnarled trees form a living cathedral and tiny, glowing, friendly forest sprites peek from behind mossy rocks.

The camera begins with a slow, elegant track along the richly paneled walls of a dimly lit, sophisticated hallway, the warm glow of the ornate wall sconces casting inviting reflections on the polished floor. Soft jazz music plays in the background. As we approach an arched entryway, the camera performs a graceful push-in, revealing a grand mirror and flickering candles, then smoothly pivots to the right, opening up to a luxurious home bar. The clinking of ice and the murmur of conversation become audible. The camera settles on a close-up of a perfectly crafted cocktail. "Welcome," a smooth, baritone voice says. "Care for a taste?"

The camera slowly pushes forward into a breathtaking ice cave, its jagged walls sculpted by nature into intricate patterns of blues and whites, reflecting the ethereal light from an opening ahead. The crunch of ice underfoot and the drip-drip of melting water create a serene, echoing soundscape. As the camera moves closer, a gentle, ambient melody begins, swelling with the light from the cave's exit. The camera emerges from the narrow opening into a vast, sun-drenched valley, revealing a group of polar bears playfully sliding down an ice slope, their roars echoing with joy.

Prompt: Camera dramatically dollies around the subject in this striking cinematic scene. It captures a high-tension moment within a long, sterile, monochromatic green corridor. A lone woman, dressed in a dark, flowing trench coat and trousers that billow dramatically, is suspended mid-air in a powerful, graceful leap.

Prompt: Rendered in an intricate origami art style using complex, angular folds and crisp creases. A multi-layered diorama depicts a cute neighborhood street entirely from folded paper – houses with sharp rooflines, precise white picket fences, and layered, geometric flowers and rose bushes in vibrant paper hues.

Prompt: a cute monster walking towards the camera
Prompt: a cute monster swimming underwater
Prompt: a cute monster walking in a candy wonderland

Prompt 1: Graceful dancer is slowly dancing to classical music.
Prompt 2: A male dancer comes in, gracefully dancing with the woman as classical music plays.
Prompt 3: More dancers show up on the stage.
Prompt 4: The classical music continues, and the dancers continue to dance

[Your scene description here]. No subtitles. No captions. No on-screen text. No text overlay. No typography.

A warm kitchen scene. A mother and daughter cook together, laughing. The daughter stirs a large pot, steam rising softly. The mother tastes from a spoon and smiles. Natural window light. No subtitles. No captions. No on-screen text.

[Character description], visible pores, natural skin texture, peach fuzz detail, subtle subsurface scattering, realistic skin tone with natural color variation, no retouching, photorealistic skin

A medium close-up of a woman in her late thirties, visible pores, natural skin texture, peach fuzz lit by morning sunlight, subtle subsurface scattering, no retouching, soft shadows that sculpt her features. She looks quietly out a window. Warm natural key light with cool fill. No subtitles.