sooo, i've been messing around with these tools since the early days of blurry blobs and weird hands, and honestly, the jump to where we are now is actually insane. over the years, i've seen skin look like plastic and eyes that were just... nightmare fuel. i think getting that "pro photography" look is really all about how the model handles global illumination and micro-textures. the reason DALL-E 3 feels "off" to you is probably because it's heavily filtered and tends to over-smooth things to look "perfect," which ironically makes it look fake. in my experience, if you want that raw, authentic vibe, you gotta move away from the "safety" of the more corporate models. here's what i recommend: • Midjourney v6.1: this is still the gold standard for that cinematic, professional look. it has this "secret sauce" for lighting that just feels... right. use the --v 6.1 parameter and try adding keywords like "f/1.8" or "shot on 35mm." it basically does the heavy lifting for you.
• Flux.1 [pro]: this one is the new heavyweight. tbh, it's lowkey better than Midjourney for skin details like pores and tiny imperfections. it doesn't over-smoothen things, so the textures feel way more gritier and real... i think?
• Stable Diffusion XL: if you're willing to go down the rabbit hole, using this with a specific "realism" checkpoint is unbeatable cuz you have TOTAL control over the output. anyway, if you want something that works out of the box, definitely go with Midjourney. but if you want the most "raw" and detailed look possible, Flux.1 [dev] is a total beast. gl!

Curious about one thing: what’s ur budget and hardware situation? Honestly, Flux.1 [pro] is the king for skin textures right now, but it gets pricey fast. Quick tips for that "pro" look:
- Prompt for specific camera lenses (like 35mm)
- Focus on "natural lighting" over generic "4k" keywords Lmk ur setup, cuz a Midjourney v6 sub vs running local gear makes a HUGE difference in long-term costs. 👍

Just sharing my experience: Honestly, I've been down this rabbit hole for years and spent a fortune on subs. In my experience, going with Midjourney is the most efficient route for that high-end photography look without needing a degree in prompting. - Stick to big name tools for better lighting
- Watch ur monthly credit limits tho It's basically a balance between pro results and ur wallet, but mainstream brands handle the heavy lifting best imo

Just saw this thread! Just sharing my experience: I went through this last year tryin to get that hyper-realistic look. Honestly, I got a bit too reckless downloading random models from sketchy forums just cuz they promised better textures. Big mistake... almost caught some nasty malware. Highkey scary stuff. Now I’m way more cautious. Basically, if ur tool doesn’t have solid safety protocols, I’d be careful. Stick to the reputable names and protect ur hardware!! gl

Wow ok that changes things. Gonna have to rethink my approach now.