Have you ever looked at a photo and felt instantly inspired by its colors, textures, or overall mood? That’s one of the reasons I love Midjourney photography style references. They’re like mini showcases of different creative directions—each one with its own vibe, palette, and story to tell.
In this post, I’ll look at three specific Midjourney style references and share my thoughts on why they’re so eye-catching. Hopefully, this will spark some ideas for your own work, whether you’re into photography, design, or any other creative field. Check this link If you don't know how to use sref codes.
1) Midjourney Style Reference 68
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Let’s start with sref code 68. When I first saw it, I immediately thought, “Wow, this looks like a blend of painting and photography.” The subjects appear in a soft, dreamlike setting, and there are bright splashes of color across the images—pinks, oranges, teal, or hints of yellow. The colors flow over the models’ faces, sometimes masking certain features or creating a hazy effect.
There’s something magical about this style. It feels like the photo is in the middle of transforming into a piece of art. It’s as if we’re peering into someone’s daydream or a memory that’s slowly fading in and out.
If you want to try this style in your own photography, you could experiment with digital overlays that mimic paint strokes, or even incorporate real paint effects on a printed image. The key is to keep the dreamy feel without covering the entire subject’s face. That way, viewers still recognize the person while feeling that surreal energy.
2) Midjourney Style Reference 658087864
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Now let’s talk about sref code 658087864. This set of images has a completely different mood. It’s bright, crisp, and bursting with life. You might see models with strong makeup or bold clothing surrounded by flowers, water, or vibrant backdrops. Every element—from the lighting to the setting—feels carefully chosen to bring out a sense of confidence and color.
What jumps out most is the sheer variety within each photo. One might have a person standing in water with their hair swirling around them, while another might feature a more straightforward portrait with a big focus on the model’s face. Yet all these images fit together because of their powerful color and clear, polished look.
3) Midjourney Style Reference 116
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Finally, we have style reference 116, which feels like a nighttime adventure in a big city. These images feature dimly lit streets, neon signs, and shadows that reveal only bits of the models. Rain or moisture seems to be a running theme—maybe droplets on windows or shiny sidewalks reflecting the city lights. There’s a cinematic vibe here, almost like stills from a movie scene. You can sense tension or intrigue in the air, as if something significant is about to happen.
One thing that makes --sref 116 stand out is the way light and shadow play together. Instead of having light come straight from the front, it often arrives from the side or behind the model. This creates interesting silhouettes and edges that glow in the dark. If you want to recreate something like this, you could head out to a city location at night when the streets are wet—maybe after a light rain. Experiment with how different signs or streetlights reflect off the ground or your subject. Sometimes all you need is a single streetlamp or a passing car’s headlights to get that dramatic effect.
Why Midjourney Style References Are Useful
You might wonder why style references matter so much. Simply put, they’re fantastic for brainstorming. They offer a quick look at how certain colors, lighting setups, or themes work together. If you’re working with a team—say, a makeup artist or a designer—showing them a Midjourney reference can help them see the vision you have in mind. It’s one thing to describe a “dreamy, painterly portrait,” but it’s more effective to show them --sref 68 and say, “I want something like this.”
Style references also encourage you to try new things. Maybe you’ve never shot in a neon-lit setting at night, but seeing --sref 116 sparks your curiosity. Or perhaps you’ve always worked with neutral tones, but the explosion of color in --sref 658087864 makes you want to shake things up. Inspiration is often about stepping outside of your usual comfort zone and seeing what happens.
Mixing and Matching Elements
Another fun idea is to blend styles. Imagine taking the bright color approach from --sref 658087864 and combining it with a bit of the painterly effect seen in --sref 68. You could have a vibrant portrait session where parts of the photo are treated with a smudgy paint texture.
When mixing different references, it’s important to keep a sense of coherence. If you’re blending soft, dreamlike elements with sharp, neon city lights, you need to figure out how they’ll work together without clashing. Sometimes that means picking a unifying color scheme or focusing on one main idea while adding hints of another. Experimentation is key—test, revise, and see what feels right.
Final Thoughts
Our Midjourney style references library can open up whole new worlds of inspiration. But here’s the cool part: these references aren’t rules. They’re more like inspiring suggestions. You get to decide how to interpret or transform them. Whether you’re a photographer, designer, or just someone who appreciates a good visual, letting these references spark new ideas is half the fun. They encourage you to try something a little different, take risks, and learn as you go.
So if you’re looking to shake up your next photoshoot or design project, take a close look at these style references—or others you find on our library. Collect them, study them, then put your own spin on them. You’ll be amazed at what you can create when you let inspiration and experimentation guide you!