Portrait Photography
caliallstaring
Lens reviews, portrait tips, and camera gear by Xing Liu — based in California.
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Nikon
Nikon Z6III + Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S: Fall Street Portraits with Sofia in Roseville
First shoot with the newly arrived Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S on the Nikon Z6III: late afternoon fall-outfit street portraits with Sofia in a small Roseville town complex, all shot wide open at f/1.2 across nine locations, from backlit hair and string-light bokeh to long column shadows.
Sony
Sony A7IV + Samyang AF 135mm F1.8: Downtown Street Portraits with Aranza
Downtown street portraits on the Sony A7IV with the Samyang AF 135mm F1.8, shot across a few different city backdrops with Aranza — plus a quick lens swap to the Sigma 85mm F1.4 Art for a change of outfit and look.
Canon
Canon EOS R6 Mark II + RF 85mm F1.2 L: Urban Style Portraits with Andrea
An urban style portrait session with Andrea on the Canon EOS R6 Mark II and RF 85mm F1.2 L — Tiger Mist outfits against concrete backdrops around the city, shot wide open for creamy bokeh and muted tones.
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.
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.