Can AI dish up food photos good enough for a cookbook spread?
In this video I walk you through ten copy-and-paste Sora AI prompts that generate magazine-worthy images—from a molten-center chocolate cake to a twilight French cheese board. Every shot you’ll see was created with ChatGPT-crafted wording + Sora’s image engine—no fancy camera, no studio lighting, just smart prompt design.
These examples are perfect for:
📚 Cookbooks & e-books – hero images and chapter openers
📝 Food blogs & newsletters – mood-setting banners without stock-photo fees
📸 Instagram, Pinterest & Reels – scroll-stopping visuals that keep your grid cohesive
🧑🍳 Menu mock-ups, course thumbnails, client mood-boards – rapid concepts before you ever heat the oven
1 “Rustic sourdough boule on crinkled parchment, soft morning window light, moody shadows, 100 mm macro, f/2.8, crumbs scattered, minimal background props, professional food magazine photo”
2 “Japanese omakase nigiri platter on dark slate, overhead softbox mimic daylight, vivid fish texture, wasabi accent, negative space for text, ultra-realistic, gourmet magazine style”
3 “Golden hour flat-lay of Mediterranean mezze board: hummus swirl, olives, pita triangles, antique brass spoon, linen backdrop, cinematic color grading, foodie editorial shoot”
4 “Decadent molten chocolate cake, center oozing, isolated on matte black plate, rim light highlighting glossy sauce, macro focus, dramatic shadows, cookbook hero image”
5 “Rainbow poke bowl, overhead perspective, saturated daylight, wooden table, chopsticks diagonally placed, shallow depth of field, lifestyle magazine food spread”
6 “Steam-kissed dim-sum bamboo basket, backlit against dark background, rising steam frozen, 85 mm lens look, editorial mood, minimalist styling”
7 “Seasonal harvest salad with edible flowers, pastel ceramic plate, sunlight through leaves bokeh, airy Scandinavian styling, high-resolution cookbook photo”
8 “Espresso martini on tarnished silver tray, moody bar ambience, warm tungsten rim light, cocktail glass condensation macro, premium spirits feature”
9 “Stack of blueberry pancakes with syrup pour in mid-air, high-speed capture feel, airy studio light, bright backdrop, brunch magazine cover quality”
10 “French cheese board at twilight, candles out-of-focus, rich wood grain, Leica look, 50 mm lens style, cozy yet luxurious, European gourmet editorial”