Image prompts guide rather than copy an image exactly. Reference behavior and weighting can differ by Midjourney version.
1. Choose a reference for a specific reason
Decide whether the reference is mainly for composition, subject silhouette, color, mood or another visual property.
2. Attach the image in the Create interface
Upload or select the image and attach it as the appropriate reference/input type for the current interface.
3. Write a complete text prompt anyway
Describe the final image you want. Do not write only instructions like “make this better,” because the reference is inspiration, not an edit specification.
4. Adjust influence carefully
If the current version exposes image-weight or related reference controls, change them gradually and compare how strongly the result follows the reference.
5. Match crop and composition when possible
A reference with a similar aspect ratio and framing gives the model a cleaner structural signal than a radically different crop.
Use the attached image only as a reference for [composition/color/mood/subject]. Final scene: [description]. Preserve [specific property] but change [specific property]. Do not copy any text, logo or incidental background detail from the reference.
Assuming the model will reproduce the reference exactly; using a reference without saying what matters; relying on a mismatched crop; escalating weight instead of improving the text prompt.
Finish check
You should be able to say which part of the result came from the text and which visual property was stabilized by the reference.