Metering for skin on Portra 400

Colour negative film loves light. With Portra 400 I meter for the shadows and let the highlights fall where they may — usually rating it at 200 and pulling detail back in the scan.

Skin is the test. Get it warm but not orange, bright but not blown. I meter off the face, open up a third to a full stop, and let the latitude of the stock do the rest.

None of this is gospel. It’s just what I’ve landed on after a lot of rolls. Your light, your lab and your eye will move the numbers — that’s the point.