People ask me all the time: "What camera do you use?" and "What gear would you recommend?" Here it is — a complete, honest overview of every piece of equipment I personally use and shoot with every day. No fluff — just the gear I truly trust.
Where It All Began: Analog Photography
Before I talk about my digital gear, I have to talk about where my love for photography really began — with analog cameras.
My three analog companions are the Canon AE-1, the Rolleiflex, and the Leica Mini. Each is completely different, but they share the same philosophy: slow down, think, and commit to the shot.
Shooting on film taught me more about photography than anything else. When you only have 36 shots, you pause and think before pressing the shutter. You set the aperture manually. You focus manually. Every single decision counts.
That's exactly what I love about it. Photography reduced to its essence. No tricks, no AI sliders. Just you, the light, and the moment.
"One moment. One click. One photo. That's real photography to me — not hours of editing with AI."
The Cameras
Fujifilm X-H2 — The Primary Body
My main camera for commissions, weddings, and portraits. 40.2 megapixels, excellent autofocus, and in-body stabilisation make it the perfect workhorse. Paired with the 56mm f/1.2 for portraits, it's an unbeatable combination.
Shop the Fujifilm X-H2 on Amazon →Fujifilm X-E5 — The Second Body
My street and travel camera. A rangefinder-style mirrorless that feels like a classic film camera — compact, discreet, and with the same Fujifilm film simulations. Ideal as a second body at events with a different focal length.
Shop the Fujifilm X-E5 on Amazon →Lenses
XF 56mm f/1.2 R — The Portrait King
85mm equivalent. If you shoot portraits, this lens will change your life. Exceptional subject separation at f/1.2 and a rendering that immediately wins over clients. My most-used lens for commissioned work.
Shop on Amazon →XF 35mm f/1.4 R — The Portrait Classic
53mm equivalent. One of Fujifilm's most legendary lenses. Creamy bokeh, warm character, slightly dreamy wide open. Worth every cent.
Shop on Amazon →XF 23mm f/2 R WR — The Everyday Lens
35mm equivalent. The lens that sits on my street camera most of the time. Natural field of view, fast aperture, weather-resistant — the perfect street and travel companion.
Shop on Amazon →XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR — The Travel Zoom
27-206mm equivalent. The ultimate all-in-one travel lens. Weather-resistant, image-stabilized, and covers an enormous range — from wide-angle to telephoto in a single lens.
Shop on Amazon →TTArtisan 28mm f/2.8 — The Budget Gem
42mm equivalent. A fantastic third-party lens at an unbeatable price. Compact, sharp, and full of character.
Shop on Amazon →Flash & Lighting
Godox V1 Pro (Fuji) — The Round-Head Flash
My flash for portraits, weddings, and indoor shoots. The round head produces noticeably softer, more natural light than traditional rectangular flash heads. TTL, HSS, and battery-powered — everything you need.
Shop the Godox V1 Pro on Amazon →Softbox for Godox V1
Soft, diffused light directly on the flash. Essential for flattering portrait shots — transforms harsh flash into soft, studio-quality light. Small enough to work on location.
Shop the Softbox on Amazon →Camera Bag
A good camera bag protects your gear and doesn't scream "expensive camera inside." The bag I use daily is compact enough for city photography but fits a spare lens and all the essentials.
Memory Card
Don't skimp on memory cards. A slow or unreliable card means missed shots and lost images. I use a fast UHS-II card that keeps up effortlessly with the 40MP RAW files from both the X-H2 and X-E5.
Tripod
Essential for long exposures, landscape shots, and stable video. I use a lightweight travel tripod that's sturdy enough for the X-H2 without weighing down my bag too much.
Black Mist Filter
My secret weapon. A Black Mist filter softens highlights, adds a gentle glow around light sources, and gives images a subtle cinematic, film-like quality — straight out of camera. I use the 1/4 strength — dreamy without overdoing it.
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Photos by Reinhart Julian, NordWood Themes, Daniel Romero, William Thomas, and Erik Mclean via Unsplash
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