Photo © Alan Winslow

5 minute read

Improve Your Portraits With These Unique Looks

FUJIFILM Film Simulation modes are the ideal tool to help you experiment with and improve your portrait photography

For over 85 years, Fujifilm has been perfecting its skills in color science. Throughout this time, it has created some of the most loved photographic films in the industry – and a piece of this legacy has been preserved digitally inside every FUJIFILM digital camera.

With the simple press of a button, you can access a collection of Film Simulation modes that put these legendary analog styles at your fingertips. And when you add in a unique selection of Advanced Filters, you have the perfect recipe for stunning portraiture, straight out of camera.

Film Simulation Modes

With a wide range of Film Simulation modes available on X Series bodies, it is possible to enhance your images in moments using in-camera effects.

Learn photography with Fujifilm, Improve Your Portraits With These Unique Looks

Access the IMAGE QUALITY SETTING menu, then scroll down until you see the FILM SIMULATION option. You’ll then have quite a few choices

The PRO Neg. options are a good choice for portraits, as well as PROVIA/Standard or ASTIA/Soft, but it all depends on the feel you want your images to have. Alternatively, you may wish to photograph in SEPIA or the ACROS (+Ye/R/G Filter), which offers beautiful black & white tones.

PROVIA/Standard

Great for a range of subjects and scenes

ASTIA/Soft

Brings out soft tones with a saturated pop of color

Photo © Alan Winslow

PRO Neg. Hi

Perfect for natural skin tone reproduction

Photo © Alan Winslow

PRO Neg. Std

This mode gives a low saturation and soft tones

Photo © Alan Winslow

SEPIA

Go retro with a warm sepia look

Photo © Alan Winslow

CLASSIC CHROME

For a documentary feel with added tonal depth

Photo © Alan Winslow

ACROS (+Ye/R/G Filter)

Rich gradation creates beautiful detail and texture

ACROS | Photo © Alan Winslow

MONOCHROME (+Ye/R/G Filter)

Ideal for street portraits and architectural backdrops

ETERNA/Cinema

Controlled contrast with a very natural color palette

CLASSIC Neg.

Enhanced color and harder tonality than the Pro. Neg options

Don’t Forget Advanced Filters!

In addition to the Film Simulation modes, there is a selection of Advanced Filters, which allow you to get even more creative with your images. The way to access the filters varies from model to model, but it will typically be via a top-plate dial or the DRIVE SETTING menu. The best ones to try for portraits are: