It's really nice to see a working mans gear. I was starting to think that being a photographer was about having a clean desk, a neat preppy backpack and an orange/teal studio light setup, iMac and all. Your gear looks much more like my woodworking tools - a bit battered, nothing flashy (pun intended) - but fully functional and professional.
Nice idea with the light, a lot more compact too. For the minimal times I'd need additional light this could replace my flash, which only really gets used during the dancing... and only if necessary. Thanks for showing us!
No nonsense, no waffle, straight to the point, highly recommend your vid. Such a refreshing change to get useful insight into a photographers work flow. I’ll keep an eye out for more of same in the future. Thanks
Great vid Kev. Very interesting. I’m keen to grab a 56 but love the wr of the 50. The 1.2 wins every time tho. Gorgeous images mate. Loved the father watching the exchange of rings shot. And the young girl in the doorway about to walk down the isle. Awesome 👏🏻
Greetings from the States. Thank you for providing your experience and expertise with Fuji products as well as general photography tips. You've inspired me to get out there and shoot a wedding. Keep up the great work sir.
Another good one Kevin. Putting used wedding memory cards into a pouch that clips onto my belt seems a bit risky though. I always put them in my RIGHT hand pocket...so I know that these cards....go RIGHT into the computer when I get back to base.
It's definitely not risky :-) There is no way that pouch can come off my belt and it stays on my body until I get home. It's on me even if I stop to get fuel on the way back.
Really surprising that you don't use much lighting gear. Probably a sign of how good cameras sensors are nowadays, the mood of the shots you take too. Must be good for the guests not being flashed all the time 👍🏻
I think it goes well with my style. Obviously for others and different styles then lighting works well. For me though, I try to use as little as possible.
I'm keeping my D700 for landscapes but have decided to sell my 24-70 2.8 to finance a fuji x-t20 and a few lenses featured here. If it's as nice as my x-70 it will be a good move I hope. Great videos Kevin..
Great Video Kevin, thanks for sharing, so pleased you have a utube channel, follow your blog but like the channel here as its easier. Gotta be said that you are an outstanding photographer, just love the emotive images you capture....look forward to more videos, keep up the great work! All the best from Australia( ex Pom living in Perth), Stephen
thanks Kevin! After seeing your workflow, your color management and your tool bag ... I only miss your eye ... your mind and your heart .... and then you clone! Ahahahahahahah, thanks again for all that you share with us common mortals and Fuji users!
thanks Kevin for sharing. A big fan of your work. Now just an FYI for those of you might be interested the square hood in the video. I ordered it from the link, it looks great in the photos posted on the site but it's made of cheap plastic. It's not anywhere near the quality of the hoods from Fuji, canon or Nikon. I sent a complaint to the seller and he agrees that the photos on his site could be misleading and said he'll update it with better photos.
Absolutely. It's not the same build as the official hoods, but in my opinion, it's a better shape, it's lighter, does the job and is about $60 cheaper too.
Thanks for your videos Kevin! In prepping for my first two solo weddings next month and you've been a tremendous inspiration and help. Thanks for all you do.
Thanks so much for sharing your gear and tips on their uses !!! I've been wondering about a portable light for dark scenes like the dancing. So I might try the portable handheld unit. The bag looks cool too. I started with a small shoulder bag, but it can't hold enough gear. So I may check the bag out too. Thanks again !!!
Since I made the video I checked on the bag and it looks like Filson no longer makes them. But none the less, there are lots of other bags out there of course.
Thank's for sharing. It was quite a surprise to see that you only use 2 Xpro2 for wedding. But I must admit that the first black and white picture is truly outstanding. It shows that you don't need a 5.000$ camera to be a good professional.
Great simple straight talking vlog, love Fuji cameras, just going through the process of adding either the XT2 or X-Pro 2 to sit along side my X-Pro1. Thanks for doing this vlog, appreciated seeing how you work and the images relating to each lens.
Kevin, Thanks so much for sharing your strategies. I am a big fan of your work...stunning! I was a wedding photographer for many years and worked in similar ways. Quick question, I ordered the square hood that you use on your X100F. Do you use a lens filter as well?
Really enjoying these videos, well done Kevin! Just ordered a Lumimuse, looks great, much better than the un-pocketable A5 panel I have at the moment. And it's USB chargeable, what more could a photographer want?
Huge fan Kevin. Thanks for everything you share. Just a quick question, you mentioned the 90mm f2 lens. Does it get used much? I have the 56mm 1.2 as my main tele lens but am keen to buy the 90mm f2 for speeches and church weddings. Is it worth the extra cost? Thank you again for your videos 😊
Hi Kevin, I'm big fan of your pictures :) I would like ask you with which lens do you use in the rain f2? Because 23mm 1.4 and 56mm 1.2 is not Wr, how i see your most use lens is these. Cheers
Thank you for this, Kevin. The little Manfrotto light is a great idea 💡Can you tell us how this kit would differ from your Day in the Life kit please? Smaller spaces, generally indoors, I guess makes a difference to what you’d use and why. Many thanks 📷😊
I actually use my GFX a lot of DitL stuff. And no little light. If I'm shooting APS-C then I'll generally use the XT2 for Day in the Life as the tilt screen is great for the kids etc.
Kevin thanks very much. I have a toddler shoot this afternoon which may lead to a family life shoot so I’m keen to get things right and who better to learn from? If you ever decide to do a workshop on this please let me know. I’m in Austria but I’d find a way because there’s a huge potential market for this here. Family is everything. Thanks again 🙏🏼😊
Thank you! Looking forward on the exposure x3 video and your workflow in 2018 LR, Exposure, settings. You've inspired me to get an X-T2 and start shooting again. For some reason other then better sharpening in Exposure X3 i find LR faster to work with... and also the default raw interpretation seems better in LR... while in Exposure X3... raf files seem to be a bit overexposed? ...maybe it's just me tho. You're a true inspiration, thank you again for this!
Hi Kevin, glad you're on You Tube. I've been asked to shoot a wedding soon, which will be a first for me so I want to be as prepared as possible. One thing that's bugging me is a wedding photographer dress code - is there one? I'm thinking smart but not formal, so I can move about freely. But that said, I don't want to offend anyone. What do you wear?
Hi Matt. I typically wear trousers, shirt and jacket. I don't normally wear a tie unless it's at a venue that insists on it. I'll also dress like the guests if the situation demands. So, when I photographed a fancy dress wedding - I dressed like a crocodile :-)
Just one question Kevin : you said in few video you shoot with BBF, do you keep pushing your af-l button, or you just push it once and leave it, then recompose ? I'm really confused by this, if I need to keep my finger pushing or if just one push is enough. Thanks :)
There is a setting in the cameras to set the button to PRESSING, which means you can keep the button pressed (or not). I tend to have it set to pressing and work that way.
I've got several Cpsyspeed bags, Krzysztof. They are great, but for me I prefer them when I'm out shooting on the streets and may need a few more lenses etc. For weddings, I prefer not to have bulk around my body.
Kevin, did you ever try out the 56 APD version? If yes, you obviously did not choose it over the standard 56mm, yet I'd like to know whether it may be worthwhile looking into it. I know that the APD filter costs you some light...
Hi Jessica. They are both very different cameras. I see the X70 as more of a pocketable and probably travel camera but it won't give you as big prints and the sensor is older. The X100F, though bigger, is going to give you better image quality.
Thanks for taking the time to reply :-) it looks huge on the video and I thought surely he doesn't carry that over his shoulder LOL I'm thinking he must leave it in the car. I'm new to wedding photography and yours and Bradley Hanson's styles are right up my street. I did a wedding last weekend, candid style, 2 Olympus OMDs and left the bag in the car, I had a Lowepro Trekker bum bag to carry the flash (just in case), wide angle lens and spares
Hi Kevin, I noticed you don't use any filters and you don't cap your lens (except the x70 and x100f with hood) - what are your thoughts behind this approach?
Kevin, Im considering getting some of this equipment for a shoot in Croatia in August. I normally shoot with a Canon 5Dsr and all the tons of lenses. Im a commercial photographer. I am trying to lighten the load for the flight from the USA to Croatia. Can you talk about the focusing you use? I mean do you look thru the view finder or the back? It may be a stupid question but Ive never even touched one of these and Im a bit concerned about the electronic focusing. Is it easy to use?
I typically look through the VF - but the X-T2 has a very good tilt screen if you prefer to shoot that way. The sensor in the X-Pro2, X-T2 and the X-H1 are the same so really it comes down to ergonomics. I much prefer smaller and lighter cameras hence I gravitate towards the X-Pro2. Focusing is not an issue in terms of focus acquisition.
For your wide lens choice, you mentioned you don't go wider than the 18mm. Is the faster 16mm just too an odd of a focal length? They seem so close, care to elaborate?
Of course. The f2 lens is generally a backup though I may use it if the light is reasonable and it’s a prolonged period of time. The 100f is much better for very close up work - I’ll likely use that at cluttered drinks receptions where I want to blend in as much as possible. The 100d can be shot with one hand and I can hold a drink in the other :-)
Hi Kevin, you have some lovely images there. I'm also a Wedding photographer and curious about your very light weight set up and the Fuji system as a whole. I've always been a focus and recompose person and stuck to centre point AF until recently. I started using a Sony Mirrorless body as a second camera body and the AF-C wide mode has really been quite a revelation for me in terms of keeper rate for moving shots. Can I ask, what focus mode do you use on these Fuji cameras? I often go through phases of thinking that centre point AF and recomposing is the most simple and effective method, but then get blown away by technology such as eye-af (at the same time as being concerned with will the camera choose the right subject or not). It'll be great to hear how you deal with AF on these cameras. Keep up the great work - I've subscribed!
Hi Sam. Thanks for subscribing:-). I'm a habitual focus and recompose guy. The Face detection and zone focus modes of the Fuji's are very good (though I've heard amazing things about the Sony's too). However, I prefer to be in total control of what I'm shooting. I remember back in the day using area focusing on my Canon system and it regularly selected the wrong person (this was 9 years ago so I'm sure the Canon system is better now). I'll use the zone AF perhaps when I'm shooting in a crowded scene and it's not imperative that I am 100% getting the exact subject I want. It works really well, but of course, it's a larger focus area so there is the latitude for the camera to select something other than what I want. The Face Detection is different and again, I'll use that, usually in crowded scenes. I don't take too many shots. I don't shoot 10's of frames per image to get one keeper which means I can be in control totally of the focus. I hope that makes sense.
Yep. I'll use CH and Continuous focus - but again, using the centre point. Really the only time I'll "spray and pray" is the confetti and sometimes during the recessional too.
Hahh, just bought the lumimuse on Friday, worked with it on Saturday on a wedding, it is already broken, I used from hand as you, give some extra light on the object. At one point I placed on the flash hot shoe. An hour later it just fall off from the camera and broke all apart but still works. The hot shoe attachment holds the led really unsafely. Any opinion what to tell to manfrotto?:)
Kevin, do you see the X100S or X100f as an appropriate second body to a XT3 with the 56 mm? (To avoid investing in another xt2 or xt3 paired with the 23 mm f1.4) Thanks for your feedback!
Kevin Mullins cool. I will have a look. Also Quick qustion moved from canon to fuji last year. Got xpro2 and xt1. I still cant afford a 2nd xpro2 body. Would you still shoot a wedding with xt1 ?
35mm (50ish FF equiv) just isn't a focal length I work at much. It's neither wide enough to be context setting nor long enough for separation I find. I know lots of people who shoot exclusively at that focal range though so it's horses for course s.
Hi Kevin, thanks for a peek into your bag. I've just looked through the attributes of a wedding I recently shot using my X-pro2, X-E2 and X100T. Low and behold by a country miles the 56 1.2 and the 23mm f2 (I havent got the 1.4 yet) got used way more than anything else. I did use the 35 1.4 occasionally to crop into hugs and stuff, felt like a nice distance for that, not too invasive. But the 56 certainly stole the show in finished results. Thanks again.
Walnut Street Photography If Creative Live ever got in touch, then of course - though I doubt I’m on their radar. I do offer workshops via my website : www.kevinmullinsworkshops.co.uk
I'm not sure exactly which one it is. The one in the video is the smaller one they do for mirrorless cameras. I also have two larger ones from my DSLR days.
Great vid Kevin! Fuji shooter from Nova Scotia Canada! So with your laptop/computer...that must be your main editing machine at home and you have your files on an external, etc.? Then on the go, your just using the smart previews in the catalog - is that correct?
I use smart previews synced across drop box for when I'm on the go. I don't need to use an external drive as I never need to take the RAW's or larger JPEGs with me.
Kevin Mullins oh ok! I’m having a time wrapping my head around how I would use them. I have a central iMac at home with 3 external drives. If I wanted to edit a wedding on a laptop in the go I’d have to create / export a NEW catalog file with smart previews to put on MacBook. Once I’m done I’d have to reimport the smart preview edits to the original catalog file on iMac. I think... lol
Hi Kevin, since your wedding photography is more about documentaries style and candid shots, how do you deal with a situation when the wedding’s environment is boring and then it’s difficult to capture great candid moments. I have this issue several times when i do birthday etc photography sessions. Therefore, i’m not fully confident to do wedding photography that is more about capturing candid moments. Thank you very much for your inspiring videos
Hi Rakan. Thanks for the comment. You know, I actually dedicate a whole section of my Wedding PJ workshop to "what happens when nothing happens". And the fact is, there is always something happening - you just need to look for it. I'll be doing another video soon covering this.
Hi! I have decided to switch from canon to Fuji. I need a camera which I can easily carry with me always. I looked thru the Fuji universe and I am getting a xe3+23mm kit almost $300 cheaper den buying xt20 and 23f2 separately. SLR & rangefinder style is really not an issue but Fuji doesn't really updates rangefinder styles with video features. I need it for night photography and make short films. What camera & lens would you recommend for me?
