Portrait Photography
caliallstaring
Lens reviews, portrait tips, and camera gear by Xing Liu — based in California.
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Panasonic
Sigma 135mm F1.4 DG Art Wins EISA Portrait Lens Award — A Late Summer Shoot with Rosina
The Sigma 135mm F1.4 DG Art just won EISA's Portrait Lens 2026-2027 award. To celebrate, I took it out for a late-summer session with Rosina at Sutter's Fort — her summer dress against the season's first hints of fall color, right at that in-between moment before autumn takes over.
Sony
Sony A7IV + Sony 85mm F1.4 GM II Portraits: Anna in San Francisco, Part Two — Baker Beach & the Legion of Honor
Real-world Sony A7IV photography with the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II — portrait samples from Baker Beach and the Legion of Honor in San Francisco with model Anna, plus first impressions of the GM II's bokeh and sharpness wide open on the Sony Alpha 7 IV.
Sony
Sony A7IV + Sigma 105mm F1.4 Art: A Wilson Tennis Photoshoot with Natalia
A full Wilson tennis-inspired photoshoot with model Natalia — two outfits, real serve action shots, and how the Sony A7IV's autofocus tracking handled fast racket swings with the Sigma 105mm F1.4 Art.
Canon
Canon EOS R6 Mark II + RF 50mm f/1.2 L — A Spontaneous San Francisco Street Style Session with Anna
A spontaneous meetup turned into a full street style session in downtown San Francisco with model Anna (@anna.vsz), visiting from Germany — Chinatown color, red lanterns, and Financial District high-rises, shot on the Canon EOS R6 Mark II with the RF 50mm f/1.2 L.
Nikon
Nikon Z5 II + NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S — Western Portraits in Old Town Auburn
Second round with the Nikon Z5 II, this time paired with the NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S for a western-inspired portrait session with model Nicoleta in historic Old Town Auburn, California.
Canon
Canon EOS R6 Mark II in 2026: Still Worth Buying Now That the R6 Mark III Is Out?
Is the Canon EOS R6 Mark II still worth buying in 2026 now that the R6 Mark III and R6 V are out? A real answer from someone who's shot 190+ videos on this body — plus what's actually rumored for the R6 Mark IV, and why new camera prices have spiked due to the 2026 memory shortage.