Here we are again, enjoying the timeless elegance of traditional Hanfu portrait photography! This time, I had the pleasure of joining the YL Camera x Fujifilm workshop at the picturesque Chin Swee Caves Temple in Genting Highlands. The temple’s amazing views and intricate architecture made it such a perfect spot to capture the elegance of traditional Hanfu.
This workshop was a great chance to meet fellow photography fans, pick up a few tips, and just enjoy the creative vibe of the day. Whether you’re into photography or love the timeless beauty of Hanfu, it was an experience worth every moment. Let me share some of the highlights!
Oh, and this was actually my first time shooting Hanfu portraits! I was super excited to rent the Fujinon XF50mm F1 R WR lens again—it’s seriously one of my favorites. The creamy bokeh it creates is just stunning, and it nailed focus on every single shot. It really made the whole experience even better!
The weather up at Chin Swee Caves Temple during the event was windy and chilly, which added a bit of a challenge to the shoot. To top it off, there’s some construction happening at the temple right now, so most of the photography had to be done indoors. With the wild weather outside, shooting outdoors was pretty much impossible, but we made the best of the situation and got creative with the indoor setups! It was a great reminder that sometimes, the best shots come from adapting to unexpected conditions.
Hanfu Portrait Photography With the Fujicolor Superia X-TRA 400 Film Recipe
For this shoot, I used my Fujifilm X-T4 paired with the Fujinon XF50mm F1 R WR lens, and honestly, this combo is still a dream team. The X-T4 has been with me for years now, and it’s still going strong, delivering fantastic results every time. The XF50mm lens, with its gorgeous creamy bokeh and sharp focus, made capturing the elegance of Hanfu portraits a breeze.
I also decided to try out my Fujicolor Superia X-TRA 400 film recipe, one of my best Japanese film-look recipes and wow—I’m beyond impressed with how the photos turned out! The colors, tones, and overall vibe were spot on. The best part? No editing was needed. I was able to share the photos straight out of the camera (SOOC), and they looked incredible. It was so satisfying to see the film-like results come to life without any post-processing!
The model totally nailed it with the Hanfu outfit during the Hanfu portrait photography session—it matched perfectly and brought the whole vibe of the shoot to life. Every detail, from the flowing fabric to the intricate patterns, blended so well with the setting and added an authentic touch to the photos.
Shooting Slightly Overexposed Benefits For Creative Purposes
For this session, I adjusted my approach to suit the characteristics of the Fujicolor Superia X-TRA 400 film recipe. To fully bring out its unique tones and colors, I intentionally shot slightly overexposed. This technique helped enhance the vibrancy and softness that the film recipe is known for, creating that nostalgic, film-like aesthetic I was aiming for.
Overexposing might seem counterintuitive at first, but this recipe worked wonders. The highlights were beautifully balanced, and the shadows retained just enough detail to give the photos depth. It’s always fun to experiment and see how small tweaks like this can completely transform the final results!
Cinematic Style Similar To Wu Xia Movies?
I’ve always been drawn to cinematic photography, so for this session, I incorporated some basic portrait techniques alongside the classic rule of thirds to create balanced and visually engaging compositions. The goal was to blend the elegance of Hanfu with a storytelling vibe that feels straight out of a movie. I have fallen in love with this 50mm f1 lens by Fujifilm and is one of my top list of Fujifilm lenses.
Are you ready to dive into the results of this amazing traditional Hanfu portrait photography session? Let’s take a look at how it all came together—here we go! 🎥📸✨
