Mr. and Mrs. Mares
Camera akimbo
PORTRAITSNATURECAMERAS
Tommy Barker
2/2/20261 min read
I recently completed a photo shoot for a young client, Junior, which I shared with my friend Alan. Alan had been looking for a fall shoot for him and his wife, so after seeing the results from the Junior shoot, he was eager to book a session. We coordinated our schedules and met on a Saturday morning at a hidden park in Long Beach just before Christmas.
Equipment Choice
For this shoot, I used two mirrorless cameras—Canon R6 OG and Canon R6 Mark II—and two prime lenses: a 35 mm L 1.4 version I and an 85 mm 1.8 USM. The dual-camera setup allowed me to maintain a dramatic shallow depth of field while capturing both contextual and traditional portrait shots. The lenses provided a clear, sharp look with excellent color rendition. Working with two cameras made focusing and composition straightforward, as each camera paired with a lens suited a specific style.
Both cameras are efficient with modest file sizes, providing flexible post‑processing and reliable focus accuracy. Those two cameras are cheat codes for doing some really amazing portraits, wildlife, or anything that you throw at them, as they are very versatile. I like the file sizes. I like the file flexibility. It's more capability in a camera(s) than I've ever had.
Execution and Results
With the overcast sky and my recent skill gains, I captured a series of images that showcase vibrant color work and sharp focus. The dual‑camera setup streamlined the process: one camera handled wider shots, the other captured tight portraits, each with the same exposure settings for uniformity.
Gallery Overview
This shoot demonstrates the power of using two high‑capability bodies and complementary prime lenses for portrait work. The resulting images reflect both technical proficiency and artistic intent, marking a high point in my current portfolio. I think it all really came together to produce a wonderful series of images that I actually had to pare down, because I kind of over-delivered. So this isn't everything, but this is some of my best work to date.
