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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 colour 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 analogue 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.
Access the IMAGE QUALITY SETTING menu, then scroll down until you see the FILM SIMULATION option. You’ll then have quite a few choices
PROVIA/STANDARD
Velvia/VIVID
ASTIA/SOFT
CLASSIC CHROME
PRO Neg. Hi
PRO Neg. Std
ETERNA/CINEMA
ACROS (+Ye/R/G Filter)
MONOCHROME
SEPIA
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 ACROS (+Ye/R/G Filter), which offers beautiful black & white tones.
PROVIA/Standard
Great for a range of subjects and scenes
Photo © Alan Winslow
ASTIA/Soft
Brings out soft tones with a saturated pop of colour
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
ACROS+Ye Filter | Photo © Alan Winslow
ACROS+R Filter | Photo © Alan Winslow
ACROS+G Filter | Photo © Alan Winslow
MONOCHROME (+Ye/R/G Filter)
Ideal for street portraits and architectural backdrops
MONOCHROME | Photo © Alan Winslow
MONOCHROME+Ye Filter | Photo © Alan Winslow
MONOCHROME+R Filter | Photo © Alan Winslow
MONOCHROME+G Filter | Photo © Alan Winslow
ETERNA/Cinema
Controlled contrast with a very natural colour palette
Photo © Alan Winslow
CLASSIC Neg.
Enhanced colour and harder tonality than the Pro. Neg options
Photo © Alan Winslow
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:
Photo © Matt Weintritt | HIGH-KEY - Create a fashion effect with this filter, which adds brightness to your images
Photo © Matt Weintritt | LOW-KEY - The opposite of high-key, this filter creates dark tones with emphasised highlights
Photo © Matt Weintritt | TOY CAMERA - Apply a retro toy camera look to your shots
Photo © Matt Weintritt | SOFT FOCUS - Give your images a dreamy, soft glow throughout
With this many beautifully classic and bespoke modes available in-camera, you’ll never need to rely on basic social media filters again!
