Best Settings For Nikon D3400 Portrait

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The Nikon D3400 is a 24.2 MP entry-level DSLR that still takes genuinely good portraits. It has an APS-C sensor, an 11-point autofocus system, a Guide Mode that walks beginners through settings, and battery life rated at 1,200 shots per charge. The camera body sells used for $200-$300 in 2025, making it one of the cheapest ways to get into portrait photography with a real interchangeable-lens camera. But cheap doesn’t mean bad. With the right settings and a decent prime lens, the D3400 produces portraits with smooth background blur, accurate skin tones, and enough resolution to print at 16×24 inches without any softness.

The kit 18-55mm lens works for learning, but portrait photography on the D3400 really opens up when you add a fast prime. This guide covers the exact settings, lens choices, and techniques that get the best portrait results from this camera.

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Best Camera Settings for Nikon D3400 Portraits

Portrait photography on the D3400 comes down to controlling three things: background blur (aperture), skin tone accuracy (white balance), and sharpness on the subject’s eyes (focus point selection). Here’s the starting configuration:

Setting	Value	Why
Shooting mode	Aperture Priority (A)	You control depth of field, camera handles shutter speed
Aperture	f/1.8 – f/2.8 (prime lens) or f/4 – f/5.6 (kit lens)	Wider aperture = more background blur = subject pops
ISO	100 outdoors, 400-800 shade, 800-1600 indoors	Lower ISO = cleaner skin tones, less grain
White balance	Cloudy (outdoor shade) or Flash (with speedlight)	Cloudy preset adds warmth that flatters skin
Metering mode	Matrix (default) or Center-weighted	Matrix works most of the time. Switch to Center-weighted for backlit subjects
AF mode	AF-S (Single Servo)	Locks focus, holds it until you recompose and shoot
AF-area mode	Single-point AF	You choose which AF point sits on the subject’s eye
Image quality	RAW (NEF) or RAW + JPEG Fine	RAW gives full editing control over skin tones and exposure
Picture Control	Portrait (or Flat for maximum editing flexibility)	Portrait preset softens skin slightly and adds warmth in-camera
Drive mode	Single frame (S)	Portraits are deliberate – no need for burst mode

How to Set Aperture for Portraits on the D3400

Turn the mode dial to A (Aperture Priority). Rotate the command dial (the big dial on the back near your right thumb) to change the aperture value. Lower f-numbers mean wider aperture, more light, and more background blur. For portraits, you want the lowest f-number your lens allows.

With the kit 18-55mm lens, zoom to 55mm and set the aperture to f/5.6. That’s as wide as the kit lens opens at 55mm. It won’t give you the creamy background blur of a prime lens, but at 55mm and f/5.6 with the subject 6-8 feet away, you’ll still get noticeable background separation.

With a 35mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.8 prime, set the aperture to f/1.8 or f/2.0. The background will dissolve into a smooth wash of color. For group portraits (2-4 people), close down to f/4 or f/5.6 so everyone’s face stays in the focal plane.

Where to Focus for Portraits

Always focus on the eye closest to the camera. The D3400 has 11 AF points. Press the “i” button on the back, navigate to AF-area mode, and select Single-point AF. Then use the directional pad to move the active AF point so it sits directly over the subject’s nearest eye. Half-press the shutter to lock focus, recompose slightly if needed, and take the shot.

If the subject’s eyes are between AF points, place the point on the nearest eye, half-press to lock focus (in AF-S mode, focus locks and stays locked), then shift the camera slightly to get your composition right while keeping the shutter half-pressed. This is called “focus and recompose.” It works reliably for portraits because you’re typically not moving toward or away from the subject.

Best Lenses for Nikon D3400 Portraits

The kit 18-55mm lens is fine for learning but limiting for portraits. Its maximum aperture at portrait-friendly focal lengths (45-55mm) is only f/5.6, which doesn’t blur backgrounds as much as you’d want. A fast prime lens is the single biggest upgrade you can make for portrait quality on the D3400.

Lens	Effective focal length (DX)	Max aperture	Best for	Price (new)	Price (used)
Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8G DX	52mm	f/1.8	Environmental portraits, half-body, indoor	$200	$120-$150
Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G	75mm	f/1.8	Classic headshot focal length, beautiful bokeh	$220	$130-$160
Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.8G	127mm	f/1.8	Tight headshots, compression flatters faces	$475	$300-$350
Nikon AF-P 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G VR	105-450mm	f/4.5-6.3	Outdoor portraits with extreme background compression	$350	$200-$250
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art	45mm	f/1.4	Environmental portraits, superior sharpness wide open	$500	$300-$350
Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (kit)	27-82mm	f/3.5-5.6	Learning, versatility, already included with camera	Included	$50-$80

The best value pick is the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX. It’s the sharpest lens Nikon makes under $200, it’s tiny, and it autofocuses on the D3400 (which lacks a built-in focus motor and can’t autofocus with older AF-D lenses). The 52mm equivalent focal length is versatile for half-body and environmental portraits. If you only buy one lens beyond the kit zoom, make it this one.

For dedicated portrait shooting, the 50mm f/1.8G at 75mm equivalent is the classic choice. The slightly longer focal length creates more flattering facial proportions (less nose distortion) and more background separation than the 35mm at the same aperture.

How to Get Good Skin Tones on the Nikon D3400

Skin tones are where entry-level cameras can look amateur or professional depending entirely on your settings. The D3400 actually handles skin well if you set white balance correctly.

Don’t rely on Auto White Balance (AWB) for portraits. AWB shifts with every frame depending on what the camera sees. If the subject wears a bright red shirt, AWB might compensate by adding a blue/green cast to the whole image, including the skin. For consistent skin tones across a portrait session, pick a white balance preset and stick with it.

Lighting condition	Recommended white balance preset	Color temperature	Effect on skin
Open shade outdoors	Cloudy	~6000K	Adds warmth, removes blue cast from shade. Flattering.
Golden hour (1 hour before sunset)	Direct Sunlight	~5200K	Preserves the warm golden light naturally
Overcast sky	Cloudy or Shade	~6000-8000K	Compensates for the cool, flat light
Indoor window light	Direct Sunlight or Cloudy	~5200-6000K	Depends on whether window faces sun or shade
Indoor tungsten/warm bulbs	Incandescent	~3000K	Removes orange cast from warm bulbs
Flash (speedlight)	Flash	~5400K	Matched to flash color temperature

If you shoot in RAW, white balance can be adjusted after the fact in Lightroom, Capture One, or Nikon’s free ViewNX-i software. But getting it roughly right in-camera means less time editing and more consistent results across a batch of images.

Using the Portrait Picture Control

The D3400 has a Portrait Picture Control preset (Menu > Shooting Menu > Set Picture Control > Portrait). It slightly reduces sharpening and increases color saturation compared to Standard. The reduced sharpening avoids making skin texture too prominent, while the added saturation gives skin a healthy glow. This only affects JPEGs and the camera’s LCD preview. If you shoot RAW, Picture Control is baked into the preview but fully adjustable later.

How to Use Natural Light for Nikon D3400 Portraits

The D3400 doesn’t have a built-in commander mode for off-camera flash, and most beginners don’t own a speedlight. Good news: natural light produces the best portraits anyway, as long as you know what to look for.

Open shade is the easiest lighting for portraits. Position your subject in the shade of a building, a tree, or an overhang, but facing toward the open sky (not deeper into the shade). The sky acts as a giant, even light source. No harsh shadows under the eyes or nose. No squinting. Skin looks smooth and evenly lit. Set white balance to Cloudy to add warmth.

Window light works for indoor portraits. Place the subject near a large window with indirect light (no direct sun beaming through). Position them at a 45-degree angle to the window so one side of the face is lit and the other falls into gentle shadow. This creates natural dimension and shape in the face. A white sheet of paper or a piece of white foam board on the shadow side bounces light back and fills in harsh shadows without any special equipment.

Avoid midday direct sunlight. The sun directly overhead creates deep shadows under the eyes, nose, and chin. If you have to shoot at midday, move the subject into open shade. If no shade is available, use the pop-up flash (press the flash button on the left side of the D3400) as fill flash to lighten the shadows. Set flash compensation to -1.0 EV (Menu > Shooting Menu > Flash Compensation) so the flash fills shadows without looking like a flash fired.

Nikon D3400 Portrait Composition Tips

Use the rule of thirds for headshots. Place the subject’s eyes along the upper third line of the frame, not dead center. On the D3400, turn on the grid display (Menu > Setup > Viewfinder Grid Display > On) to see the thirds lines in the viewfinder.

Leave space in the direction the subject is looking. If the subject looks toward the right side of the frame, place them on the left third so there’s “breathing room” in front of their gaze. This feels natural. A subject jammed against the edge of the frame in the direction they’re looking feels cramped.

Shoot at the subject’s eye level or slightly above. For standing adults, this usually means holding the camera at your own eye level. For children, kneel down. For seated subjects, crouch. Shooting from below (looking up at the subject) distorts the jaw and nostrils. Slightly above eye level slims the face and makes the eyes more prominent.

Fill the frame for headshots. A common beginner mistake is standing too far away and including too much environment around the subject. For a headshot, the subject’s face should fill the frame from the top of the head to mid-chest. Zoom in with your feet (move closer) or with the lens. The background should be a blur, not a distraction.

Nikon D3400 Portrait Settings FAQs

What aperture is best for portraits on the Nikon D3400?

The widest your lens allows. With the kit 18-55mm lens, zoom to 55mm and shoot at f/5.6. With the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G DX or 50mm f/1.8G prime, shoot at f/1.8 for maximum background blur on single-person portraits. For couples or small groups, stop down to f/4 to keep all faces sharp. Avoid shooting portraits at f/8 or narrower unless you intentionally want the background in focus (environmental portraits showing the location).

Can the Nikon D3400 blur the background in portraits?

Yes, but how much blur depends on the lens and distance. The kit lens at 55mm f/5.6 produces mild background blur. A 50mm f/1.8 prime produces strong, creamy blur (bokeh) that isolates the subject dramatically. Three things increase background blur: wider aperture (lower f-number), longer focal length, and more distance between the subject and the background. Position your subject at least 6-8 feet in front of the background rather than against a wall.

Should I shoot portraits in RAW or JPEG on the Nikon D3400?

RAW if you’re willing to edit. RAW files from the D3400 are about 25-30MB each and give you full control over exposure, white balance, and skin tone in post-processing. If you overexpose or the white balance is slightly off, RAW lets you fix it completely. JPEG compresses the image and bakes in the camera’s processing (sharpening, color, contrast). If you don’t edit photos, shoot JPEG Fine at the highest resolution. If you’re learning, shoot RAW + JPEG Fine so you have both.

Why are my Nikon D3400 portraits blurry?

Three likely causes. First, shutter speed too slow – in Aperture Priority mode, the camera may drop shutter speed below 1/60s in low light, causing motion blur. Check the shutter speed in the viewfinder before shooting. If it’s below 1/80s, raise the ISO. Second, missed focus – if the active AF point wasn’t on the subject’s eye, the camera may have focused on the nose, ear, or background. Switch to single-point AF and place the point on the nearest eye. Third, lens not stabilized – the kit lens has VR (vibration reduction). Make sure VR is switched On via the toggle on the lens barrel.

Does the Nikon D3400 have face detection autofocus?

In Live View mode only. Switch to Live View (press the Lv button on the back), and the D3400 can detect faces and prioritize them for focusing. It doesn’t work through the viewfinder – viewfinder AF uses the 11-point hardware AF system. For posed portraits, viewfinder AF with single-point selection (placed on the eye) is faster and more reliable than Live View face detection. Live View face detection is useful for self-portraits or when the camera is on a tripod and you’re directing the subject from behind the camera.

What is the best Nikon D3400 lens for portraits under $200?

The Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8G DX. It sells new for about $200 and used for $120-$150. It autofocuses on the D3400 (many older Nikon lenses don’t), it’s razor-sharp from f/1.8, and the 52mm equivalent focal length works for half-body portraits, environmental portraits, and everyday shooting. The f/1.8 aperture lets in 4x more light than the kit lens at f/3.5, so you can shoot in lower light and get significantly more background blur.