Photographer Julia Trotti holding a mirrorless camera in a field of purple wildflowers at golden hour

Camera and Lens Reviews · Portrait Photography Tips

Real-world camera and lens reviews, portrait photography tips and travel stories by photographer Julia Trotti. Every review is shot on real portrait sessions, with photo samples from Sony, Canon, Fujifilm, Lumix, Nikon and smartphone cameras. Browse by topic in the Archives or search for a lens or camera.

Sony A7C vs ZV-1 II vs iPhone 14 Pro Max
Sony A7C vs ZV-1 II vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Which Is Best for Vlogging?
I compared the Sony A7C, ZV-1 II and iPhone 14 Pro Max for vlogging: focal lengths, framing, image quality, stabilisation, built-in microphones and autofocus. Read more...
Every Sony camera explained
Every Sony Camera Explained: Which One Should You Buy?
Sony's whole camera lineup explained, from the RX1R III and A6700 to the A7 IV, A7 V, A7R, A7S III, A1 II and A9 III: what each one is for,... Read more...
10 camera accessories worth adding to your kit
Best Camera Accessories for Photographers: 20 I Actually Use
The camera accessories I actually use as a portrait and travel photographer, from a mini flash and pocket LED to magic arms, mini printers and SSDs, plus a few weird... Read more...
Canon RF 45mm f1.2 close-up portrait of a woman with wavy blonde hair and a drop earring, edited with the New York preset
Canon RF 45mm f1.2 Review: Real Portrait Photo Samples
Is Canon's cheapest f/1.2 lens too good to be true? I tested the RF 45mm f/1.2 STM on the R6 III at a portrait shoot: sharpness, bokeh, autofocus, flare, price... Read more...
iPhone 17 Pro vs pro camera: portrait and cinematic mode
iPhone 17 Pro vs Pro Camera: Portrait Mode, Cinematic Mode and Real Bokeh
I tested the iPhone 17 Pro against my Sony A7IV at a real portrait shoot, at every focal length from 0.5x to 4x, plus portrait mode, Cinematic mode and Log... Read more...
iPhone 17 Pro camera test and review
iPhone 17 Pro Camera Review: Real Portrait Photo Samples
I took the iPhone 17 Pro Max to a real portrait shoot. Photo samples from the 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x cameras, unedited and edited, plus ProRes video, specs... Read more...
Xiaomi 15T Pro camera test and review
Xiaomi 15T Pro Camera Review: Real Portrait Photo Samples
I took the Xiaomi 15T Pro to a real portrait shoot. Photo samples from the 1x, 2x, 0.6x and 5x cameras, unedited and edited, plus video, specs and price. Read more...
Xiaomi 17 Ultra camera test and review
Xiaomi 17 Ultra Camera Review: Real Portrait Photo Samples
I took the Xiaomi 17 Ultra to a professional portrait shoot. Real photo samples from the 1x, 0.6x and 3.2x to 4.3x telephoto cameras, unedited and edited, plus video, specs... Read more...
Dreamy soft portrait of a woman in a white top shot with a mist filter
How to Take Dreamy Photos: 6 Tips for a Cinematic Look
Six simple ways to make your photos feel dreamy and cinematic, from telephoto lenses and sunrise light to movement, mist filters, composition and colour. Read more...
Vestrahorn mountain reflected in the black sand at Stokksnes, Iceland
Iceland Ring Road Photography Guide: 8-Day Itinerary, Best Photo Spots and Camera Gear
My Iceland Ring Road photography guide: our 8-day itinerary, the best photo spots in each region, the camera gear I used and practical tips for photographing Iceland. Read more...
Woman with arms outstretched in front of Skógafoss waterfall
Iceland South Coast and Golden Circle Photography Spots: Waterfalls, Black Sand Beaches and Tips
The best photography spots on Iceland's Golden Circle and South Coast: Gullfoss, Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Kvernufoss, the plane wreck, Reynisfjara, Fjaðrárgljúfur and more, with lens and crowd tips for each. Read more...
Smiling woman in a beanie at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Jökulsárlón and Southeast Iceland Photography Guide: Svartifoss, Vestrahorn and the East Fjords
The best Southeast Iceland photography spots from our Ring Road trip: Svartifoss, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Stokksnes and Vestrahorn, Icelandic horses and the East Fjords, with tips for each. Read more...
Atlantic puffin portrait shot with a 70-200mm lens in Iceland
Where to See Puffins in Iceland (and How to Photograph Them)
Where to see puffins in Iceland, the best time of day and season, and how to photograph them, from our visit to the puffin colony at Hafnarhólmi, Borgarfjörður eystri. Read more...
Goðafoss waterfall with snow-capped hills behind in North Iceland
North Iceland and Reykjavik Photography Spots: Stuðlagil, Dettifoss, Goðafoss and More
The best North Iceland and Reykjavik photography spots from our Ring Road trip: Stuðlagil Canyon, Dettifoss, Mývatn, Goðafoss, the rainbow street and Hallgrímskirkja, with practical tips for each. Read more...
Backlit beach portrait brightened in Lightroom
How to Brighten Dark Photos in Lightroom (Without Blowing Out the Sky)
How to brighten dark or backlit photos in Lightroom without blowing out the background, using Shadows, Highlights, Whites and Blacks instead of Exposure, with my exact settings and a before... Read more...