My Review of Reve Image as a Photographer
Xiaobo, May 7, 2025
Intro
As a photographer and PhD student in computer graphics, I closely follow the evolution of AI image generation tools. While platforms like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion can produce visually striking images in a range of styles, I find them still lacking for serious commercial photography applications. The main issues are realism and the growing popularization and homogenization of aesthetics. In fashion and visual culture, accessibility and overexposure often lead to a sense of cheapness—and trends that are quickly discarded.
Recently, I discovered a new AI model that outperforms Midjourney and Stable Diffusion in photorealism. What truly impressed me is its ability to produce highly photorealistic images with refined aesthetics. This model captures lighting, skin texture, and nuanced detail with the polish of high-end editorial photography.
It’s called Reve Image, powered by a new model named Halfmoon, built from the ground up to prioritize prompt accuracy, visual quality, and typography—designed for photographers, designers, and creatives.
Recently, I discovered a new AI model that outperforms Midjourney and Stable Diffusion in photorealism. What truly impressed me is its ability to produce highly photorealistic images with refined aesthetics. This model captures lighting, skin texture, and nuanced detail with the polish of high-end editorial photography.
It’s called Reve Image, powered by a new model named Halfmoon, built from the ground up to prioritize prompt accuracy, visual quality, and typography—designed for photographers, designers, and creatives.
Prompt and Control
Reve Image offers an exceptional level of control—it's as if the model truly grasps the intent behind your prompt. You can fine-tune every aspect: pose, mood, composition, lighting, even lens type—and these nuances are reflected in the final output.
I've been particularly impressed by its versatility across various photography genres. In editorial fashion, it captures the crafted styling and soft, directional lighting reminiscent of a real set. For beauty portraits, it renders subtle tones, textures, and atmospheres with a cinematic quality. Even in product shots, there's a clarity and polish that feels distinct and non-generic.
What surprised me most is its proficiency with text—a challenging area for models like Stable Diffusion and Midjourney. You can specify exact phrases to appear within the image—on a bag, poster, or sign—and it integrates them seamlessly and intentionally. This capability opens up exciting possibilities, especially for concepts that blend fashion, design, and storytelling.
Here are some examples with their prompt text. You can get a sense of how strong the aesthetics are and how well the model captures the details in the prompt.
I've been particularly impressed by its versatility across various photography genres. In editorial fashion, it captures the crafted styling and soft, directional lighting reminiscent of a real set. For beauty portraits, it renders subtle tones, textures, and atmospheres with a cinematic quality. Even in product shots, there's a clarity and polish that feels distinct and non-generic.
What surprised me most is its proficiency with text—a challenging area for models like Stable Diffusion and Midjourney. You can specify exact phrases to appear within the image—on a bag, poster, or sign—and it integrates them seamlessly and intentionally. This capability opens up exciting possibilities, especially for concepts that blend fashion, design, and storytelling.
Here are some examples with their prompt text. You can get a sense of how strong the aesthetics are and how well the model captures the details in the prompt.
Prompt - "A young black man with short dreadlocks stands centered in front of a draped canvas backdrop that features a soft, painterly landscape scene. The fabric backdrop is pinned at the top and cascades onto the wooden floor, creating natural folds and wrinkles. He wears an oversized, textured sweater with a bold red, blue, and black argyle pattern layered over a crisp white collared shirt. His tailored checkered trousers in grey and black tones and black leather lace-up boots complete the look. The lighting is moody and diffused, casting soft shadows across his face and clothing. The scene is captured on film, emphasizing the subdued color palette of earth tones and muted primary colors. Professional fashion photography with soft diffused studio lighting and film grain texture."
Prompt - "A close-up beauty shot for Vogue Italia, featuring a model with luminous skin adorned with layered gold and emerald jewelry. She gazes directly at the camera with an enigmatic expression, the image awash in a soft, diffused emerald green light that casts an ethereal glow. Her hair, styled in sleek waves, partially obscures her face, creating a sense of mystery. The jewelry, a blend of modern and antique pieces, reflects the green light, adding depth and intrigue to the composition."
Prompt - "A stylish black briefcase covered in colorful stickers is held by a light tan-skinned hand adorned with five chunky, colorful rings. The briefcase features gold-toned hardware and is decorated with numerous playful stickers including hearts, shoes, balloon animals, and ice cream designs in vibrant colors like blue, pink, yellow, green, and orange. Text stickers include phrases such as "BE HAPPY", "HERE TO SHARE MORE LOVE", "I'M YOURS", and the repeated brand name "REVE". The image is photographed against a clean, light gray background using even, diffuse studio lighting that highlights the vibrant colors against the neutral backdrop. The commercial product photography style creates a polished, fashion-forward presentation of this personalized accessory, with the hand entering from the right side of the frame to grip the briefcase's handle."
Prompt - "A tense close-up shot through a rain-streaked windshield, reflecting neon signs, of a young woman gripping the steering wheel. Her face is partially illuminated by the phone in her other hand, her expression a mix of determination and fear. Film grain, gritty, cyberpunk aesthetic.
Prompt - "A cropped photograph of a light-skinned adult standing against a warm peachy-orange background. The person wears a simple white short-sleeved t-shirt and dark pants, with their face not visible in the frame. They are holding a black smartphone in their right hand, actively using it with their thumb positioned on the screen. The most prominent element is a vibrant red canvas tote bag hanging from their shoulder, featuring the text "IMAGINE ANYTHING" repeated multiple times in cream-colored 70s retro swash capital letters. The text creates a distinctive pattern as it progressively becomes more truncated toward the bottom of the bag, with horizontal sections of the letters intentionally removed. The image is shot in a medium close-up with even, diffuse artificial lighting that creates a warm atmosphere, emphasizing the contemporary fashion accessory against the minimalist interior setting. Medium close-up photography with soft artificial lighting and neutral color temperature."
Who Is It For
I think the tool is very useful across creative roles, but it’s especially valuable for photographers, designers, and anyone involved in visual direction—particularly in commercial, editorial, and branding work.
For photographers like me, it’s become a really practical tool for pre-visualizing shoots. I can test out lighting setups, styling ideas, and even try different moods or compositions before committing to a full production. It’s a fast way to clarify your thoughts and refine direction—almost like having a sketchbook that thinks in light and texture.
It’s also really helpful on the client side. I’ve used it to build pitch visuals and storyboards that feel polished and coherent. Instead of relying on vague references or moodboards, you can show something more specific—something closer to the final result. That can make a big difference in aligning expectations.
For photographers like me, it’s become a really practical tool for pre-visualizing shoots. I can test out lighting setups, styling ideas, and even try different moods or compositions before committing to a full production. It’s a fast way to clarify your thoughts and refine direction—almost like having a sketchbook that thinks in light and texture.
It’s also really helpful on the client side. I’ve used it to build pitch visuals and storyboards that feel polished and coherent. Instead of relying on vague references or moodboards, you can show something more specific—something closer to the final result. That can make a big difference in aligning expectations.
Things to Consider
At the same time, I think it’s important to stay mindful of how we use tools like Reve—especially in photography. The images it creates are often stunning and incredibly polished, but I’ve started to notice a kind of sameness creeping in again. A lot of outputs start to feel like they’re coming from the same visual playbook.
What worries me is that, as more people turn to AI for visuals, we might lose some of the variety and weirdness that comes from real human creativity. The little imperfections, cultural nuances, or unexpected choices that give an image character can get flattened out by what the algorithm thinks is “good taste.”
That’s why I think we need to use AI tools with intention. They can definitely help, but they shouldn’t take over. If we keep putting our own perspective, taste, and experience into the process, then AI can be a creative ally—not a replacement. For me, it’s about using these tools to build on what makes our work personal and different, not just fast and smooth.
What worries me is that, as more people turn to AI for visuals, we might lose some of the variety and weirdness that comes from real human creativity. The little imperfections, cultural nuances, or unexpected choices that give an image character can get flattened out by what the algorithm thinks is “good taste.”
That’s why I think we need to use AI tools with intention. They can definitely help, but they shouldn’t take over. If we keep putting our own perspective, taste, and experience into the process, then AI can be a creative ally—not a replacement. For me, it’s about using these tools to build on what makes our work personal and different, not just fast and smooth.