FASHION

The kit two fashion photographers couldn't work without

By adding full-frame mirrorless options to their fashion photography equipment, Kid Circus and Jaroslav Monchak are changing the way they shoot.
A woman looks away from the camera as she sits at a pebbly beach while holding a pair of boots, taken on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV by Kid Circus.

London-based photographer Kid Circus likes to focus on the energy in the space while taking photos, so having the right kit is important. Colour rendition is one of his main considerations, along with an easy menu layout and ergonomics. Taken on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens at 45mm, 1/250 sec, f/5.6 and ISO500. © Kid Circus

Capturing the essence of fashion requires more than just a keen eye and a talented model; it demands a carefully curated arsenal of tools. Fashion photographers Kid Circus and Canon Ambassador Jaroslav Monchak have been adding Canon full-frame mirrorless cameras to their fashion photography equipment lists. Here they share their other must-have equipment and why getting their hands on the Canon EOS R5 has proven to be a real eye-opener.

Jaroslav has been shooting fashion for the past decade, and, with the advent of the Canon EOS R and now the Canon EOS R5 full-frame mirrorless cameras, his workflow has started to change. For more flexible, creative photoshoots, Jaroslav favours the Canon EOS R5. "Canon's full-frame mirrorless cameras provide fast autofocus and excellent performance in such a small package. This is truly a revolution," says Jaroslav.

As a member of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, Jaroslav represents Ukraine in the international photographic community, and as the founder of photography school Lighthouse, he has to keep up to date with the latest camera tech in order to teach his students everything they need to know.

Michael Circus, best known as Kid, is a portrait and fashion photographer whose images are filled with personality. The human connection he makes on set is central to his work. "You want to release all the technical stuff out of your brain and just focus on what's in front of you," he says about his approach. His kitbag is built to help his workflow and to focus his energy on the room. "What's important to me is definitely image quality, the ability to capture movement, and a really nice colour profile. But the ergonomics as well. If you pick up the camera and it doesn't feel right, I do think it affects you and your psyche." The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV has been his long-time workhorse, however the move to mirrorless with the EOS R5 has opened up new potential in his workflow.

From a versatile camera body to flexible lenses, we take a look inside the two photographers' kitbags.

A boy reads a book while leant against a large stack of cushions, taken on a Canon EOS R5 by Jaroslav Monchak.

The Canon EOS R5's 45MP sensor offers photographers such as Jarsolav the best of both worlds – a resolution similar to the Canon EOS 5DS R combined with the benefits of a full-frame mirrorless camera. Jaroslav has been particularly impressed by the AF system and its eye-detection technology. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens at 70mm, 1/125 sec, f/2.8 and ISO400. © Jaroslav Monchak

Through a doorway, a girl can be seen sitting in a yellow armchair playing the guitar, taken on a Canon EOS R5 by Jaroslav Monchak.

When testing the Canon EOS R5, Jaroslav was delighted with the camera's reliability. "Of the 2,000 photos I took, there wasn't a single miss," he says. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens at 50mm, 1/200 sec, f/2.8 and ISO2000. © Jaroslav Monchak

1. Canon EOS R5

"I had read a lot about the Canon EOS R5 and in particular about the autofocus system; namely the eye-tracking mode," explains Jaroslav. "I tried it, and was surprised at how accurate and quick it was to focus."

The Canon EOS R5's autofocus is programmed using a deep-learning AI that enables it to recognise and track a subject's face and eyes, and the head and body if the face and eyes are not visible, with new levels of accuracy and precision. For Jaroslav, the new technology had an immediate impact. "Of the 2,000 photos I took, there wasn't a single miss and that's really impressive! Just compose an image and press the shutter. It greatly sped up my work and allowed me to concentrate more on working with the model, light and composition."

Canon EOS R5

A sensational full-frame 45MP sensor with up to 20fps and an advanced AF system enables the Canon EOS R5 to deliver a high-performance shooting experience.

Adding the Canon EOS R5 to his fashion photography equipment list meant Jaroslav was also able to test out the JPEG files straight from the camera. "I shoot in RAW 90% of the time, but there are times where I take pictures in JPEG, usually when the lighting is good. The files created by the Canon EOS R5 produce colours I really like, especially in the mid-tones and skin colours. It saved a lot of time that I would normally spend processing RAW files."

The move to mirrorless also gave Kid creative possibilities he didn't have with his Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. "I used the EOS R5 for the first time in the summer of 2022, and I couldn't believe how amazing it was," he enthuses. "We shot in not the best light and were able to set it to ISO 6000 and still get good quality."

The Canon menu system – which allows him to customise his camera with ease – made the move even smoother. "Mirrorless does help your workflow: it takes out the guesswork. If you need to adjust something, you can see it before you've taken the shot."

2. Canon PowerShot G7 X series

High-resolution, editorial and advertising images aren't always the only shots required on set. For his own and clients' marketing channels, Kid also shoots the stories behind the shoot. "I use the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II (now succeeded by the Canon PowerShot G7 Mark III) to capture fun behind-the-scenes content," he explains. He chose the camera in part due to its size which allows him to move around on set shooting reportage. "I think people react to it differently than when you have a DSLR in your hand."

A Canon PowerShot G7 Mark III camera.

Canon PowerShot G7 Mark III

Superb 4K video, a large 1.0-type sensor and delivering 20.1MP photos ideal for vloggers, bloggers, live streaming, video conferences and anyone posting content online.

But the compact camera still delivers DSLR quality, with a large 1.0-type sensor and a bright f/1.8-2.8 Canon lens delivering high quality in stills and Full HD movies. "It's one of those 'set and forget' numbers," says Kid. "It's got a really flexible lens on it and it's just a fun camera to have because it doesn't take up a lot of space but you get the Canon quality without the bulk."

Its successor, the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III, has a faster processor, shoots at 20fps and with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, enables you to live stream on YouTube. It also has an extended battery life, giving you 25 additional shots per charge as compared to the PowerShot G7 X Mark II, so you are free to capture every moment without the fear of missing out.

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A woman in pink sunglasses stands in front of a blue wall, seen through a pink tunnel.

Here Jaroslav utilised a wider aperture on the Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM in a low light situation. He placed the model to the right edge of the frame and relied on the lens's edge-to-edge sharpness to keep his model tack-sharp when combined with a shallow depth of field. Taken on a Canon EOS R with a Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM lens at 1/125 sec, f/6.3 and ISO100. © Jaroslav Monchak

3. Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM

Like many fashion and portrait photographers, Jaroslav is a long-time fan of the 50mm focal length, particularly in a prime lens. He started out shooting with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM and spent years working with it in combination with the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM to give him some added reach and compressed perspective. But he upgraded to the Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM lens when it was released, for its improved optical clarity and wider maximum aperture.

"The edge-to-edge sharpness in this lens is fantastic, especially when paired with the Canon EOS R, which I like to do," he says. "Making high-end fashion photographs, I need to ensure that the photos are crisp and sharp in every respect where I need them to be, and this lens delivers that. For me, this lens is perfect whether shooting in natural light or with studio lighting."

Having ultimate sharpness around the edge of the frame means that Jaroslav can position his models anywhere in the scene, confident that he can place the focus where he wants and get sharp and consistent results. With a wide maximum aperture of f/1.2 this also means it's good in low light.

Kid is also a fan of this lens. "You have to move around a bit more but there are occasions where I just want to do straight portrait work, and the 50mm is less imposing than the 24-70mm," he says. "If you're working with somebody who's not got a great deal of experience being in front of a camera, it does look a little bit less intimidating."

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 A smiling woman with long curly brown hair relaxes in a hammock, taken on a Canon EOS R5 by Jaroslav Monchak.

Jarolsav says that the eye-detection technology in the Canon EOS R5 has enabled him to spend more time on composition and lighting. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens at 47mm, 1/200 sec, f/2.8 and ISO500. © Jaroslav Monchak

A close-up of a woman's face, her eyes closed showing pink eyeshadow, taken on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV by Kid Circus.

The versatility paired with optical quality through the range makes the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Kid's most-used lens. Taken on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens at 70mm, 1/125 sec, f/8 and ISO100. © Kid Circus

4. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

Jaroslav's current favourite (and most used) lens is the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. He says, "I really like the range of its focal length. I use it mainly in the photo studio, and the zoom function means I can recompose my shot without having to reposition the camera." Combining the 24mm wide-angle end of the zoom lens with a unique angle can help embellish a photograph's story.

Jaroslav also likes shooting directly into the sun with the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. "The coating of this lens is so good that I can shoot directly into the sunlight and be met with minimal flare in my image," he says. "That means my clients can see the product or subject better, but I can also use this backlighting style to fill the shot with energy."

A Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

A professional everyday L-series zoom that delivers high image quality with a constant f/2.8 aperture.

The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens has two types of coatings. The Super Spectra coating helps to reduce internal flare and ghosting in the image and is optimised for each EF lens to ensure consistent colour balances across the EF range. Also, the Fluorine coating covers both the front and rear elements to protect the glass from raindrops or fingerprints.

A woman smiles as she kicks her leg towards the camera, taken on a Canon EOS R5 by Kid Circus.

Adaptability is important to Kid when he's shooting, and being able to use the same zoom lens throughout without disrupting the energy is a major selling point for him. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM lens at 40mm, 1/400 sec, f/5 and ISO3200. © Kid Circus

5. Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

"If you'd asked me four years ago, I was against zoom lenses," says Kid, but after trying them for the first time, he was converted. "For fashion photography I recommend the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM lens every time. Whatever you use, you want it to be an extension of you and this lens is so flexible, and so versatile. It saves changing lenses halfway through a shoot and disturbing the flow. It has been an absolute workhorse."

The Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM is ideal for fashion photography, taking shots to a higher standard with its super-sharp optics. It has three glass moulded aspherical and three UD lens elements, as well as advanced optical coatings. Its 9-blade aperture also allows for a smoother, circular bokeh effect.

The Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM lens.

Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

Part of Canon's trinity of essential f/2.8 RF zoom lenses, the RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM boasts a fast aperture and image stabilisation plus a Nano USM motor for silent focusing.

Kid particularly favours the speed on this lens. "It's f/2.8, which is very handy when you're struggling in low light and need a fast and really sharp lens." The 5-stop image stabilisation – which is enhanced when added to the IBIS of the EOS R5 – also helps to capture detail in total confidence when light levels drop.

6. Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

Kid's portfolio includes beauty shots that detail the colour and textures of the face – and for this work, he favours the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens. "This lens has been really good for beauty," he says. "I can go close and get cutaways of the eyes or cut-off shots of the top off the head without distortion."

The Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM lens.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

Part of Canon’s prestigious L-series, the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM features an Image Stabilizer with angle and shift detection that is highly effective at close focusing distances.
Portraits-fashion-lifestyle-3_4k_EM.mp4

7. Connect to tablet with Canon Camera Connect

When shooting on location with clients, Kid includes a tablet in his kitbag as an alternative to tethering to a laptop. Using proprietary software – the Canon Camera Connect app – he can connect the camera to the tablet. "A client can have the tablet and they can see the shots as they come in," he says. "They can star rate and those ratings will carry over when I take out the memory card. It's such a handy thing because it's so portable and it's wireless, and I've found it to be reliable."

It further streamlines his kitbag. "Connecting via Wi-Fi from the camera, you're zipping stuff into a tablet before you blink."

Kid wants the camera to become an extension of his hand so that he can focus on capturing the moment, and the Canon EOS R5 has done just that. Along with the right lenses, software and apps, he can focus more on the creative aspect of photography.

For more inspiration and advice from Kid Circus and other content creators, check out the Canon Europe Learning Series playlist on YouTube.

Jason Parnell-Brookes, Mark Alexander and Emma-Lily Pendleton

Fashion photographers' kitbag

The key kit pros use to take their photographs

Photographer Kid Circus looks through the viewfinder of a Canon EOS R5 camera.

Cameras

Canon EOS R5

A full-frame 45MP sensor with impressive AF performance. "I really appreciate the autofocus which defines the eyes so well. It is very convenient," says Jaroslav.

Lenses

Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM

The RF lens that sets new standards in photographic performance, delivering supreme sharpness, extra creative control and a low-light performance that's simply remarkable. "The edge-to-edge sharpness in this lens is fantastic," says Jaroslav. "For me, this lens is perfect whether shooting in natural light or with studio lighting."

Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM

With this powerful zoom lens, you can put your personal touch on a story thanks to a fast aperture and super sharp optics that will keep you ahead of the competition. Kid particularly appreciates its speed and ability to produce clear images in low light.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

A professional-quality standard zoom that offers outstanding image quality and a fast f/2.8 aperture throughout its zoom range. Jaroslav says: "I really like the range of its focal length. I use it mainly in the photo studio, and the zoom function means I can recompose my shot without having to reposition the camera."

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

This is everything you'd expect from a prime lens, its excellent optical quality and superior delivery of ultra-fine detail making it ideal for fashion photography – particularly when you need to capture detail or emphasise facial expressions.

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