What each part of the prompt does
- Photo of a photo
- "Create a Polaroid instant photo" makes the white-bordered print the subject, so the model draws the border and caption instead of a plain portrait.
- Film flaws on purpose
- Flash glare, soft focus, faded colours and grain are the flaws of real instant film. Asking for them makes the picture believable and hides small mismatches between the two people.
- A pose with contact
- An arm around Santa's shoulders and a thumbs up give the pair a shared moment, which reads warmer than two people standing apart.
- Handwritten caption
- The caption sits in quotes and is written "in black marker", so it looks handwritten on the border rather than typed onto the picture.
Variations to try
Same idea, one thing changed. These have no example image yet.
Santa photobomb Create a Polaroid instant photo of the person from my uploaded photo with Santa Claus sneaking into the frame, keeping their face exactly the same. The person smiles at the camera in front of a decorated Christmas tree while Santa leans in from behind, grinning, and makes bunny ears with two fingers behind their head. Slight flash glare, soft focus, faded warm colours and a little film grain, like a real instant photo. The white Polaroid border shows a handwritten caption in black marker: "[CAPTION]". Square frame.
Polaroid strip of three Create three Polaroid instant photos of the person from my uploaded photo with Santa Claus, keeping their face exactly the same, laid side by side on a wooden table. In the first they stand side by side by a decorated tree, in the second they both laugh at something off camera, and in the third Santa hands them a wrapped present. Slight flash glare, soft focus, faded warm colours and a little film grain, like real instant photos. The white border of the last one shows a handwritten caption in black marker: "[CAPTION]". 3:2 frame.
Outdoors in the snow Create a Polaroid instant photo of the person from my uploaded photo standing next to Santa Claus, keeping their face exactly the same. They stand side by side outside in the snow beside Santa's sleigh, a reindeer behind them, the person laughing with one arm around Santa's shoulders and Santa giving a thumbs up. Slight flash glare, soft focus, faded warm colours and a little film grain, like a real instant photo. The white Polaroid border shows a handwritten caption in black marker: "[CAPTION]". Square frame.
If the result isn't right
- If Santa's face looks like a mask, add "real older man with a natural white beard".
- When your face drifts, keep the Polaroid look but ask for "less blur on the faces".
- If the caption is misspelled, shorten it to two or three words.
- For a print-ready file, ask for "only the Polaroid, centred on a plain white background".