Last year, my hairstylist, Roel Melis, and I discussed doing another photoshoot together. We had already worked together for many years, and since I quit doing portrait photos years ago, we haven’t done any shoots at all.

We discussed taking a session with Glen, a world-class hair stylist, and three tattooed women. And so it would be on a cold wintry Saturday night.

I purchased a new camera, a Canon R3, as well as the new best zoom. I think this is Canon’s best portrait lens; the RF 50mm F1.2 is genuinely outstanding.  A full Elinchrom portable studio setup was brought to me thanks to Grobet Antwerp. It is my expert provider for over a decade. 3 portable flashes and softboxes are included to perform at the top level.

In addition to the Canon, I would use the Leica M Monochrome camera. The 12-year-old black-and-white camera captures genuinely classic images. Some behind-the-scenes shots.

It would be a long night, but one thing was certain: I still knew what it was all about. I had done this job for many years, but I had always felt strongly connected to it. It appears to be a second home, but it consumes a significant amount of energy. This is a vitality that I require for my other work in my practice, which is why portrait photography has been a struggle for me in the past.

But as I worked, I was pleasantly pleased by the results. The images have a delightful flair to them and they put a grin on my face. Pics captured with the Leica M Monochrome.

It was my first time working with the new Canon substance. The Canon R3 and its new 50mm lens was incredible. I was sceptical about the picture quality before purchasing this setup, but the results are excellent. That’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. As a backup camera, I had my Canon 1Dx Mark II with me.

Leica M Monochrom

The first Canon R3 photos have arrived.

We laboured until 1 a.m. and then everyone was finished. But I was pleased with the performance of the stylists, make-up artists, and models. A very lovely team effort with fine music, food, and drinks. However, it has a fantastic ambience.

More photos are on their way and can be viewed via the gallery link.

Thank you