How to Prompt Veo 3 and Veo 3.1

What is Veo 3/3.1?

Veo 3 and Veo 3.1 are AI video generation models that turn clear written prompts and reference images into short, polished clips. You describe what the camera sees and hears, and the model composes the shot, animates motion, lights the scene, and mixes audio into a 4 to 8 second video. You set the aspect ratio up front and, when needed, attach reference images so faces, products, and environments stay consistent.

Veo 3 focuses on crisp motion, cinematic lighting, and readable subjects. You control the shot with film grammar, not code. You choose a duration and aspect ratio, then Veo renders a short video that matches the prompt.

Veo 3.1 builds on that base. You get richer native audio, tighter prompt adherence, and control tools that help you plan multi-shot stories. Those tools include Ingredients to Video for character and style consistency, First and Last Frame for artful transitions, and Scene Extension for continuous action.

How does Veo 3/3.1 work?

You describe the shot in plain language. Veo “reads” the camera request, sets a composition, animates the subject, and lights the scene. You supply the length and aspect ratio up front so the model frames the action correctly. You can start from text or use reference images to ground faces, props, or sets.

Why does Veo 3/3.1 take prompts?

A clear prompt removes guesswork. It tells the model where to place the camera, what the subject does, and what the scene sounds like. It also gives you a repeatable process that teammates can follow. The result feels like a storyboard that renders.

What a Veo 3/3.1 prompt should include

You want a prompt that reads like a concise director’s note. Here are some elements you should include.

• Cinematography: shot type, camera movement, lens or focus behavior.
• Subject: who or what appears on screen, with distinct traits that remove ambiguity.
• Action: a short verb phrase that states what the subject does from start to finish.
• Context: location, time of day, weather, props, or background motion.
• Style and Lighting: genre, palette, lighting quality, and texture.
• Audio: dialogue, sound effects, and ambient sound when needed.
• Format controls: duration per clip (4, 6, or 8 seconds), aspect ratio (16:9 or 9:16), and audio on or off.
• Negative elements: a short list of items to exclude.
• References (optional): up to a few images that lock character, wardrobe, props, or environment.

What is Veo 3/3.1 “looking for” from a prompt?

Veo looks for film grammar and clarity. The model prioritizes the camera request and the action beat. It also rewards unambiguous nouns and verbs. If you write, “show a dramatic product reveal,” you leave room for guesswork. If you write, “tight product macro; slider move left to right; cap twists open and mist rises,” you get a specific composition and a readable moment.

Veo also looks for scope control. Short clips work best when you pick one scene and one main action. As with most things in life, it’s good to keep it simple.

Best practices for a Veo 3/3.1 prompt

• Lead with camera. For example: “wide aerial,” “medium handheld,” or “macro product shot.”
• Use concrete verbs. Write “opens the umbrella” instead of “experiences a rainy moment.”
• Name one subject per shot. Add a secondary subject only when that subject interacts.
• State duration and aspect ratio so motion and framing fit your canvas.
• Add audio cues only when they support the story. Keep lines short and on-beat.
• Use negative elements as a list. Write “no logos, no extra text, no crowds.”
• Save references for identity or brand fidelity. Ingredients to Video shines with faces, wardrobe, and hero props.
• Break complex scenes into timestamps or multiple clips. You get control and easier iteration.

Reference table: prompt components, purpose, and examples

Veo 3/3.1 prompt templates

Use these business-ready templates as drop-ins. Replace bracketed items. Each template includes camera, subject, action, context, style, audio, duration, aspect ratio, negatives, and optional references.

Office workflow details b-roll (16:9, 8 s)

Wide to medium office shot; slow dolly left; Subjects: people working on an office; Action: markers write keywords while a laptop screen scrolls code; Context: sunlit open office, plants, city view; Style: documentary, natural skin tones; Audio: Ambient office murmur, marker squeak, soft keyboard; Duration: 8 s; AR: 16:9; Negative: no readable proprietary code, no talking heads.

Corporate b-roll with diversity and roles (16:9, 8 s)

Wide office shot; slow dolly left; Subjects: two engineers in casual attire; Action: collaborate at a whiteboard with sticky notes; Context: sunlit open office, plants, city view; Style: documentary, natural skin tones; Audio: Ambient office murmur, marker squeak; Duration: 8 s; AR: 16:9; Negative: no visible proprietary code.

Event highlight cold open (16:9, 6 s)

Wide drone shot over convention center in NYC; Action: crowd streams in; Context: sunrise light, New York City; Style: energetic documentary; Audio: Ambient distant chatter; Duration: 6 s; AR: 16:9; Negative: no readable badges.

Is Veo 3/3.1 good for businesses?

Veo serves marketers, product teams, founders, and comms leads who need volume and consistency. You can generate targeted clips for ads, pre-rolls, product reveals, HR spotlights, and investor updates. You write a repeatable prompt format, then your team produces on brand.

You also get watermarking that signals AI generation. That feature supports disclosure policies for regulated industries. The output slots into standard editing timelines and social upload workflows.

Quick business-fit table

How Veo 3/3.1 and Visla work together

Veo 3 and 3.1 are integrated inside Visla so teams can brief, generate, and edit in one place. Here’s the short how-to.

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