Best Color Film for Fashion Photography: My Top 3 Picks
Curious about analog fashion photography or just getting started with film? This is your sign to dive in. Shooting fashion on film isn’t just a stylistic choice, it’s a completely different way of seeing. Film photography invites you to slow down, be intentional, and deeply engage with your subject. There’s a tactile, timeless quality to fashion photography on film that digital simply can’t replicate. Skin tones feel more alive, light behaves more poetically, and imperfections become part of the charm.
If you're a beginner in fashion film photography, there are plenty of great entry points. The Pentax K1000 is a classic 35mm camera known for its durability and simplicity, perfect for learning the fundamentals. The Nikon F3 adds a bit more flexibility and professional polish, making it a favorite among fashion photographers. And if you're ready to step up your game, the Mamiya RZ67 is a powerhouse in the 120 format world. With its large negatives and razor-sharp lenses, it's become iconic for producing stunning, high-resolution fashion editorials.
One of the most rewarding (and nerve-wracking) aspects of shooting fashion on film is the wait. After sending off your rolls to be developed, there’s that delicious anticipation, you never quite know what you’ll get. But when the scans come back? Pure magic. It's a reminder that film photography is built on trust, in your eye, in the moment, and the process.
By choosing to shoot fashion on film, you're not only making beautiful work, you're also continuing a long legacy of image-makers who reshaped how we see fashion, light, and identity through an analog lens.
So go ahead. Load that roll. Frame the shot. And experience the beauty of fashion photography on film.
Top 3 Color Film Stocks for Fashion Photography:
Note: All photographic examples below are mine! You can check out my work here
3. Kodak Gold 200
Kodak Gold 200 is a classic consumer-grade color negative film that delivers a warm, golden-toned palette perfect for creating soft, dreamy fashion imagery. With its rich skin tones, fine grain, and slightly vintage look, it’s ideal for outdoor shoots, natural light portraits, and lifestyle fashion editorials. Rated at ISO 200, it performs best in bright, sunny conditions and golden hour light, making it a favorite for shooting film on a budget without sacrificing character.
Kodak Gold offers consistency, warmth, and affordability, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and seasoned fashion photographers looking to add a nostalgic, sun-kissed vibe to their work.
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2. Kodak Portra 800
Kodak Portra 800 is a high-speed color-negative film that delivers beautiful skin tones, fine grain, and stunning color accuracy, even in challenging lighting conditions. Known for its versatility and low-light performance, Portra 800 is a favorite among fashion photographers who shoot during twilight, indoors, or in studio settings with natural light.
What sets Portra 800 apart is its ability to retain detail in both shadows and highlights, while offering that signature Portra softness and subtle color palette, perfect for editorial looks, moody styling, or high-fashion concepts that call for depth and nuance. It’s also incredibly push-friendly, giving you room to experiment creatively with exposure.
Whether you're on location or in the studio, Portra 800 brings flexibility without sacrificing the clean, polished aesthetic fashion imagery demands.
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1. Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is one of the most beloved and versatile color film stocks on the market, known for its exceptional skin tones, fine grain, and soft, natural color palette. With a 400 ISO, it balances flexibility and image quality, making it ideal for shooting both outdoors in changing light and indoors with natural or artificial lighting.
Portra 400’s wide dynamic range means it handles highlights and shadows beautifully, retaining detail even in tricky lighting situations. Its subtle tones and minimal contrast give your fashion work a dreamy, editorial feel straight out of the camera, while still leaving room for color grading in post.
Whether you're shooting street style, studio portraits, or dreamy location-based fashion editorials, Portra 400 delivers consistent, professional results, perfect for photographers who want timeless, elegant images with just the right amount of warmth.
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Choosing the Right Color Film: Where to Start
Whether you're just diving into film photography or looking to shake up your current workflow, choosing the right color film stock can feel overwhelming—but the beauty is, there’s no one “right” answer.
Start by asking yourself a few key questions:
Do you need low or high ISO? (Lower ISO = finer grain and sharper detail, but you'll need more light.)
Do you prefer warm or cool undertones in your images?
Are you shooting 35mm or medium format?
Is cost a factor in your decision?
If budget is a concern, start with affordable and widely available films like Kodak Gold 200 or Fujifilm Superia. Once you’ve tested a few rolls, you’ll start to notice whether you lean toward warmer tones, punchier contrast, or softer palettes.
But here’s the truth: the best way to discover your favorite color film is to experiment. When I was first getting started, I ordered a variety of film stocks from Amazon and B&H Photo, just to see what resonated. That hands-on trial-and-error taught me more than any guide ever could. And remember, many photos you see online, mine included, are edited or lightly color-corrected. Experiencing the raw film results yourself is the only way to truly understand how each stock behaves.
So grab a roll, get out there, and let the process surprise you, that’s where the magic happens.
And if you share your photographs on Instagram, tag me in the comments so I can check them out!
This blog is fully written and run by photographer Caterina Maina. If you like what you read, please leave a comment, like, and/or share it on your social media! All photographs are taken by Caterina Maina Photography and are subject to copyright
And if you have any questions, suggestions on topics, or an interesting exhibition Caterina should check out please feel free to leave them in the comments or email her at caterinamainaphotography@gmail.com!
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