In the studio, the photographer can really take control of the entire shooting situation. Sony Artisan Of Imagery Miguel Quiles is a master of that environment and he’s refined his gear to a precise collection of cameras, lenses, lights and accessories to create his stunning portraits. We connected with Quiles to find out what he uses and why.
Cameras:
Sony α7R III: This is my workhorse camera for all of my portrait, headshot and beauty work. It checks every box that I could need for the type of work I do: high resolution, low weight, small footprint, featured-packed and utterly reliable.
Sony RX100V: This is my go-to camera to shoot behind the scenes video during my shoots that I upload to my YouTube channel. The video quality is unbelievable and the cameras is light enough to take with me everywhere.
Lenses:
Sony 85mm f/1.8: The 85mm f/1.8 has quickly become one of my favorite lenses. It’s been a favorite focal length for my headshot work for years, but I use this one because of its light weight and excellent image quality.
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master: This is a jack-of-all-trades lens for me. I can shoot everything from full-length to close-up portraits. When utilizing it outdoors, it gives me a wonderful quality of bokeh that my clients love.
Sony 90mm f/2.8 G Macro: Anytime I am working with a model that has amazing skin, I reach for this lens that I lovingly call "Excalibur". It's the sharpest lens I've ever used and crucial for giving me stunning quality for my beauty portraits.
Sony 100mm f/2.8 G Master: This has been a not-so-secret weapon of mine for my beauty work since its release. It gives me better sharpness that is only surpassed by my Sony 90mm f/2.8 G, and offers a focal length that is flattering for close up portraits.
Accessories:
Sony 1TB Rugged Hard Drive: I use this hard drive to offload files from my laptop at the studio, or to transfer files from the day to my video editor or retoucher. It’s rugged enough to carry in my bag and get tossed around without having to worry about damaging it.
Sony 64GB UHS-II SD Cards: Simply put, these are the best and fastest SD cards available for my α7R III. I wouldn't entrust my important data to any other cards.
Sony α7R III Battery Grip: A majority of the images I shoot are in the portrait orientation, and by using a grip it helps me to keep the camera more steady while giving me quick access to the buttons I use most.
Profoto Air Remote: The Profoto lighting system is what I use for all of my studio portrait work, and this trigger is what I put on my camera to make it happen.
ThinkTank Backpack: This backpack has been through thick and thin for over 5 years. I can fit everything safely in the bag and have room left over to carry other items like water, snacks, etc.
ThinkTank Memory Card Holder: A bright case that I can find in my bag, I use it to keep all of my memory cards in one, easy to find spot.
Joby Gorillapod: I use this in combination with my RX100 V to vlog and capture behind the scenes footage. It’s ultra-versatile.
Batteries: I own three batteries for my α7R III so I can have two in the battery grip and one on standby. These batteries were a big reason why I upgraded to the α7R III as they last for thousands of photos.
Battery Charger: While I don't use it as much as I used it for the α7R II, I carry it with me so I can keep my batteries topped off.
Rocket Blower: Keeping my sensor and lenses clean saves me time in post and protects my gear, so I always have one of these in my bag.
