How to Use Photo References and Blending in Midjourney AI

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Use Midjourney’s Reference Image tool to create beautiful and unique art pieces

Co-authored by Darlene Antonelli, MA Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: July 3, 2025 Fact Checked

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Using a Reference Picture

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Using The Blend Command

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Tips & Tricks

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Video

Do you want to use a photo as a reference for Midjourney? You first need to add Midjourney to your Discord server before you can create any AI art. Then follow these simple steps to use a photo as a reference image in your next Midjourney creations!

Easily Use Reference Photos in Midjourney

Upload the images you want to use as references and copy their URLs. In your "/imagine" prompt, include the URLs of the images, add a text prompt, and any parameters. On mobile, using the /blend command is easier because you don't need to upload the reference pictures. Instead, enter "/blend" and add the images from your gallery or file manager.

Section 1 of 3:

Using a Reference Picture

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1
Upload an image you want to use. You can send a direct message to the Midjourney Bot with your image or use a third-party site, like Google Photos.
- You need the URL generated for your image. If you sent a DM to Midjourney, copy the image address. If you uploaded the image with a third party, you need the URL as if you're sharing the image.
2
Add your image URL(s) after the /imagine prompt. You can use more than one image as a reference image.
- Enter /imagine + the URL(s) into the Midjourney Discord server #General or #Newbie channels or the server where you added the Midjourney Bot.
- You need at least 2 image references; or 1 image and 1 text description.^{[1]
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- A complete prompt will look like this: /imagine https://imageURL1 https://imageURL2 description of what you want --parameter 1 --parameter 2.

Section 2 of 3:

Using The Blend Command

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This is similar to using a reference photo but is optimized for mobile users. In this case, you don't need the URL for images, but can instead send them directly to the Midjourney Bot to have multiple images blended together.
2
Select the images to blend. After you send the command prompt, you will be able to choose pictures from your phone's gallery (or your computer's file manager). Tap or click at least two photos that you want to blend.
- You can add up to 5 pictures. To add more than 2, select the optional/options field and click or tap to add images.
3
View your results. Midjourney will take longer to complete the Blend command because the images used need to be uploaded first.
- The default aspect ratio is 1:1, but you can change that to Portrait (2:3), or Landscape (3:2).

Section 3 of 3:

Tips & Tricks

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To mimic the reference image more, add --iw 2. Use --iw 1 or leave the weight alone to let AI generate random items and people in your result. Use --iw 0.5 to use less imagery from the reference photo and allow AI to generate more random objects and people.
Use the language in the results to get AI-generated art similar to the image you have without using it as a reference.
3
Add stylize or weird parameters to get a variety of images. Weird controls how unusual an image is compared to other Midjourney images. Stylize controls how strongly Midjourney applies the default aesthetic.
- Add --w <value> to see how different you can make an image. 250 is a good starting value. The range is 0 - 3000.
- Add --s <value> to see how detailed and stylized you can make an image. 100 is the default, and the range is 0-1000.
- Midjourney cannot use stylize or weird parameters for prompts that only use images without text.