Artificial Intelligence
oi-Madhuri Adnal
The latest AI photo trend is taking Instagram and X back to the 1980s. Users are turning their recent photographs into retro portraits with the help of ChatGPT prompts that recreate the clothes, hairstyles, settings and photography styles associated with the decade.
From Bollywood inspired glamour shots to old family album pictures, the trend offers plenty of ways to give a modern photograph an 80s makeover.
An AI trend uses ChatGPT prompts to transform modern photos into 1980s-style portraits, recreating looks like Bollywood glamour, vintage family albums, and studio shots for Instagram and X by detailing desired retro elements.
You do not need a complicated editing tool to try it. Upload a suitable photograph to ChatGPT and describe the look you want in your prompt. You can ask it to change the outfit, hairstyle, background, lighting and overall photographic style while keeping your face recognisable.
Here are seven 80s prompts you can try.
1. 1980s Bollywood heroine prompt
The classic Bollywood heroine look is one of the easiest ways to give a photograph an instant 80s feel. Think voluminous hair, colourful traditional outfits, bold jewellery and dramatic studio lighting.
Prompt:
“Transform my photo into a glamorous 1980s Bollywood portrait. Keep my facial features recognisable and natural. Add voluminous retro hair, bold traditional jewellery, an elegant colourful outfit, dramatic studio lighting and subtle analogue film grain.”
2. Old family album prompt
If you want your photograph to look like it came from an old family album, keep the styling simple. Faded colours, soft lighting and a little film grain can help create that nostalgic effect.
Prompt:
“Turn this picture into a realistic 1980s Indian family album photograph. Keep my face and expression natural. Add vintage clothing, a simple indoor background, soft lighting, slightly faded colours and authentic analogue film grain.”
3. 1980s college student prompt
Want to imagine yourself as a college student from the 80s? Ask ChatGPT for period clothing, a vintage campus and a more natural photograph rather than a polished studio portrait.
Prompt:
“Reimagine me as an Indian college student in the 1980s. Keep my facial features recognisable. Add period appropriate clothing, retro hairstyle, a vintage college background, natural daylight and the texture of an old film photograph.”
4. Vintage studio portrait prompt
The old studio portrait is another popular choice. A plain backdrop, soft lighting and an 80s hairstyle can make a modern photograph look like it was taken decades ago.
Prompt:
“Create a realistic 1980s studio portrait from my photograph. Preserve my recognisable facial features and natural expression. Use a simple vintage studio backdrop, period appropriate hairstyle and clothing, soft professional lighting and authentic analogue photography grain.”
5. 1980s wedding photo prompt
Indian wedding photographs from the era had a distinct look. Traditional clothes, jewellery, flowers and warm indoor lighting can help recreate that style.
Prompt:
“Transform this photograph into an authentic 1980s Indian wedding portrait. Keep my face recognisable. Add traditional wedding clothing, period appropriate jewellery and flowers, warm indoor lighting, a classic wedding backdrop and subtle vintage film grain.”
6. 1980s street style prompt
For a more candid photograph, ask ChatGPT to place you in an Indian street setting from the decade. This works well if you want something that looks less posed.
Prompt:
“Reimagine my photo as a candid street photograph from India in the 1980s. Keep my facial features and natural appearance. Add authentic 1980s clothing, an Indian street background, natural lighting, muted colours and realistic analogue film texture.”
7. 1980s magazine cover prompt
For a glamorous finish, try an editorial style inspired by fashion magazines from the decade. Bold styling, statement accessories and dramatic lighting can give the photograph a more polished look.
Prompt:
“Turn my photo into a sophisticated 1980s Indian fashion editorial portrait. Keep my facial features recognisable. Add bold retro styling, voluminous hair, statement accessories, dramatic studio lighting and authentic vintage film grain. Make it look like a professional photograph from the 1980s.”
How to get a better result with your prompt
The prompt you use can make a big difference to the final photograph. Instead of simply writing “make me look like the 1980s”, mention exactly what you want changed.
You can specify the outfit, hairstyle, background, lighting, pose and photography style. If the first result does not look right, use a follow up prompt to make individual changes.
For example, you can ask ChatGPT to make the hairstyle bigger, change the outfit, use an old Indian home as the background, tone down the modern makeup or add more natural film grain.
You can also tell ChatGPT what not to change. If you want to look like yourself, include instructions such as “keep my facial features, body proportions and natural expression unchanged”.
The 80s trend is essentially giving users a chance to see themselves in a completely different era. With the right photograph and a detailed prompt, a regular modern picture can be turned into everything from a Bollywood style portrait to an old family album photograph.
