Kodak Portra 400 is the most beloved portrait film of the modern era. Introduced in 1998 and reformulated in 2010, it is renowned for its natural skin tone reproduction, wide exposure latitude, and exceptionally fine grain for an ISO 400 stock.
Try Kodak Portra 400 free
Apply this film stock to your own photos — no account needed.
Film Characteristics
Skin tones
Warm, accurate, flattering. Reds and oranges are pulled slightly toward peach.
Highlights
Soft rolloff — overexposure by 1–2 stops actually improves the look, adding a creamy, pastel quality.
Shadows
Open and detailed, with a warm lift rather than crushing to pure black.
Saturation
Moderate — not muted like Ektar, not vivid like Velvia. Natural without being flat.
Grain
Very fine for ISO 400. T-grain technology keeps grain structure smooth and tight.
Halation
Subtle warm-orange blooming on highlight edges, characteristic of the anti-halation layer.
Best use cases
- ▸ Portraits and headshots
- ▸ Weddings and editorial
- ▸ Any daylight outdoor shooting
- ▸ Street photography where skin detail matters
- ▸ Fashion and lifestyle
Shooting tips
Rate at box speed (ISO 400) or overexpose by 1 stop to ISO 200. The film rewards overexposure — this is the "Portra look" photographers chase. Shoot in warm golden-hour light for maximum character.