Professional portrait photographer Scott Robert Lim has photographed many sessions in the studio, but when he’s traveling and can’t have all of his gear with him, he slims down his kit to increase mobility. “When I travel I like to keep my kit light and as low profile as possible without sacrificing the quality of my images and content,” he says. “This kit allows me to capture a wide variety of images at the highest quality in a small compact kit.” Keep reading as the Sony Artisan dives into his travel-friendly kit for professional-level portrait photography.
Product Preview – In This Article You’ll Find:
–Sony Alpha 9 III
–Sony Alpha 7R V
–Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II
–Sony 55mm f/1.8
–Sony 16-25mm f.2.8 G
–Sony HVL-F46RM
–Sony HVL-F60RM2
Cameras
Sony Alpha 9 III: I primarily use my Sony Alpha 9 III with global shutter because it has revolutionized my lighting kit. I can bring two portable Sony flashes, one as primarily a commander unit (Sony HVL-F46RM) and the other as my main light (Sony HVL-F60RM2) which works in sync with the Sony Alpha 9 III. This allows me to shoot in bright light and low f-stops with the equivalent strength of a 1200 watt strobe at a fraction of the size! (Editor’s Note: Read more about the global shutter difference from Lim in Flash Forward: Why This Pro Says The Sony Alpha 9 III Will Change The World For Photographers.)
Photo by Scott Robert Lim. Sony Alpha 9 III. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/400-sec., f/3.2, ISO 1250
Sony Alpha 7R V: My Sony Alpha 7R V is my second camera and is primarily used as a backup and is perfect for super high resolution images when high detail is needed.
Photo by Scott Robert Lim. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/2500-sec., f/2.8, ISO 800
Lenses
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II: My workhorse lens is the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. It is very versatile and is probably my favorite travel portrait and street photography lens. It can literally do it all.
Photo by Scott Robert Lim. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/2500-sec., f/2.8, ISO 160
Sony 55mm f/1.8: I also like creating shallow depth-of-field images while traveling, and the Sony 55mm f/1.8 is the perfect choice because of its high quality and very small size.
Photo by Scott Robert Lim. Sony Alpha 9 III. Sony 55mm f/1.8. 1/3200-sec., f/2, ISO 400
Sony 16-25mm f/2.8 G: For wide-angle environmental and travel portraits, I love using my Sony 16-25mm f/2.8 G. It is excellent in low light and has a very small footprint.
Photo by Scott Robert Lim. Sony Alpha 9 III. Sony 16-25mm f/2.8 G. 1/3200-sec., f/2.8, ISO 125
Accessories
Sony HVL-F46RM and Sony HVL-F60RM2 Flashes: As I mentioned earlier, using these two portable flashes with my Sony Alpha 9 III allows me to get way more light with a fraction of the size.
Softbox: I also use compact umbrella softbox options that can be set up literally in seconds but also create amazing soft light.
Constant Light: For low light situations I love using a powerful constant light that can be set to 100-9,000 lumens.
Photo by Scott Robert Lim. Sony Alpha 9 III. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/320-sec., f/2.8, ISO 400
Snacks: Shooting can be long days, often without the option to take a break to eat. So having some of my favorite snacks helps me get through the day.
Bug Repellent: I also bring some mosquito repellent. I recently had a shoot and at sunset thousands of mosquitos came out and attacked us, consequently I got hit with the West Nile Virus.
Low-Tack Waterproof For Labeling: I label every piece of equipment, including every camera body, lens, lens hood, cap, battery, flash, etc. When you shoot with other photographers and share gear, labeling is a must. I also bring a roll of low tack, waterproof tape where I can label and mark off gear and handy to use on location to mark spots or areas.
See more of Scott Robert Lim’s work on his Alpha Universe Profile and on Instagram @scottrobertlim.
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