Gear Talk: Using The Right Tool for the Job

Gear Talk: Using The Right Tool for the Job

Here at 517 Visuals, we offer photography of award-winning buildings and award-winning people. Having a duel specialty like that has its pros and cons. One of the pros is we can be more useful to our clients, but the con is needing A LOT more equipment.

The gear we choose for a project can make or break the shots we take. One day we could be capturing the intricate details of a historic building, and the next we’re getting an introverted architect to give us a genuine, approachable facial expression. 

Understanding what we need to bring to our photoshoots is key. Let’s dive into the different camera gear we bring with us on an architectural shoot vs a headshot portrait session.

Architectural Photography: From Eye View to Sky View

When we shoot architecture, our goal is to create stunning visuals that not only capture a project’s purpose, but also reflect its depth and character. We feel that our work is an extension of the design process, the final leg of a long relay race. 

To make that happen, we use lenses that can handle wide spaces, while keeping everything in focus. Here are some of the tools we bring along with us:

Tilt-Shift Lenses:

Gear Talk. Tilt-shift lenses are our moneymakers for architectural photography.

The Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L and the Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II are our “moneymaker” lenses for architectural photography. They allow us to correct perspective distortion. What’s that? Well, if you’ve ever seen a picture of a building that looks like it is falling backwards, or the base of the building is wider than the top, they didn’t use a tilt-shift lens. Those crooked lines are the cardinal sin of architectural photography. We avoid that by leveling our camera and rather than tilt the camera up to get more of the building, these lenses let us tilt them separately from the camera. Then all vertical lines stay vertical.

Drones for Aerial Shots:

Gear Talk. Mavic 3 drones are our moneymakers for architectural photography.

For more contextual perspectives, we turn to our drones. Our matching set of DJI Mavic 3 drones are equipped with high-resolution cameras that allows us to capture dramatic aerial shots of buildings, showing a structure in its environment. This is especially valuable for highlighting larger properties or architectural designs that are best seen from above. With the ability to maneuver into hard-to-reach angles, a drone also let us replicate common perspectives that architects like to use in their renderings. They are also super fun to fly around.

The Irregulars (aka stuff we don’t use as much):

Gear Talk. The irregulars are 3 peices of equipment we bring to expand our architectural photography options.

70-200mm Lens: Our Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM telephoto lens gets used to zoom in on the details, like intricate carvings or patterns high above the ground. The compression effect also allows us to isolate specific elements without losing clarity, creating a focused, intentional image.

16-35mm Lens: We don’t use the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM as much nowadays, but back when we were documenting hotels, it never left our camera. It’s great when we need to “run and gun” a project, where we aren’t going to fuss with every little detail of an image. Which is kinda rare now.

2x Multiplier Adapter: The Canon Extender EF 2x III can be used on any of our lenses to double their focal range. For example, pairing it with a 70-200mm lens effectively turns it into a 140-400mm lens. This is useful when we need to capture distant architectural details, without physically moving closer. It also allows us to emphasize specific elements of a scene by isolating them further from their surroundings, giving us more creative flexibility.

Headshot Portraits: Too Legit to Quit

Headshot photography is about more than just taking a quick snapshot—it’s about making people look “hireable.” Whether we’re photographing someone for their website or their next speaking engagement, our goal is to highlight their best features as well as telling a little story. Achieving this requires the right lenses to create a flattering perspective, control depth of field, and focus on what matters most—your face.

The Trifecta:

Gear Talk. Portrait lenses all have their own unique look and feel. Choosing the right one is important.

85mm Lens: The Sigma 85mm F1.4 Art is our favorite lens for headshots. It gives a natural perspective, similar to what you see with your normal vision. It also has beautiful background blur (bokeh). This keeps the focus on our subject, melting away any distractions.

50mm Lens: The Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art aka “Nifty 50” is helpful in tight spaces, when we’re shooting groups, or when we want a slightly wider field of view. This gives us a touch of the environment, adding a bit of context to the image while still keeping the subject front and center.

35mm Lens: The Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art is a storyteller lens. Wider than the 50mm, the 35mm works well when we want to include a lot of background context in an environmental portrait without distorting the subject.

While we typically use Canon gear, these three lenses from the Sigma ART line are the exception because they are exceptional. Lenses like this are designed to flatter facial features while keeping the background tastefully out of focus, creating that polished, professional look.

The Backups:

Having a set of backup lenses when you're doing headshot photography is important.

70-200mm Lens: Although we typically favor prime lenses for their sharpness and beautiful bokeh, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM zoom lens serves as an excellent backup if something goes wrong with our main lenses or when we need a little more flexibility in focal length. This lens allows us to adjust quickly without changing our position, which can be useful in fast-paced portrait sessions.

16-35mm Lens: The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM zoom lens is another versatile tool we keep on hand for portraits too. While not typically used for close-up headshots, it’s great for environmental portraits where we want to include a whole lot more of the background. It’s really, really wide.

The Cameras We Use: Don't Take Pictures, Make Them

Picking the right camera will make or break a headshot portrait session.

To complement our lens choices, our two main camera are the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS 5DS (as a backup). These cameras are our top picks because of their high megapixel count, huge dynamic range, and excellent image quality.

For architectural photography, the resolution allows us to capture fine details and textures, while for headshots, the clarity and dynamic range ensure the subject stands out beautifully. Paired with the right lens, these cameras help us deliver stunning, professional-grade images on every project.

Final Thoughts

When selecting our gear, we always think about the subject and the goal. Are we showcasing the grandeur of a modern tech building or capturing a CEO’s confident smile? Each tool has a specific job, and understanding their strengths and weaknesses helps us get the shot we need. For us, photography isn’t just about clicking the shutter—it’s about telling a story. And with the right gear, we know we can tell the right one.

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For image licensing info and downloads email info@517visuals.com