Why I Use the Fujifilm GFX100S II for Portrait Photography

When people step into my studio or meet me on location, one of the first things they notice is the camera in my hands. It’s not your everyday DSLR — it’s the Fujifilm GFX100S II, a medium format powerhouse I’ve chosen because it allows me to create portraits that feel both timeless and contemporary.

But it’s not just about having the latest tech. It’s about how I combine this camera with my own colour grading, lighting, and lens choices to create something unique for every client.

1. 102 Megapixels of Subtlety

The GFX100S II captures extraordinary detail, but detail alone isn’t the goal — it’s how that detail serves the portrait. Pores, fabric textures, and hair strands are rendered with incredible clarity, yet the overall look stays soft and flattering thanks to my lighting and lens choices.

2. The Signature Medium Format Look

The larger sensor produces a depth and tonal richness you just don’t get with smaller formats. Backgrounds melt into a soft blur, and skin tones feel dimensional and natural. It’s the kind of look people recognise from high-end fashion magazines — and now you can have it in your business or personal portraits.

3. My Bespoke Capture One Styles

After years of working with brands, editorial clients, and cultural icons, I’ve developed my own hand-crafted Capture One styles. These aren’t off-the-shelf filters — each style is fine-tuned to bring out the best in skin tones, contrast, and mood.

The GFX100S II’s incredible raw files give me a perfect canvas for this process, meaning your final portraits carry a signature look that you won’t see anywhere else.

4. Vintage Glass Meets Modern Tech

While the GFX100S II works beautifully with modern Fujifilm lenses, I also adapt vintage lenses to this system. These lenses have unique rendering qualities — subtle softness, organic bokeh, and character that can’t be replicated with software.

Paired with the resolution and colour science of the GFX, this blend of old and new creates portraits that feel both authentic and elevated.

5. Colour That Tells the Truth

Fujifilm’s colour science is legendary. On the GFX100S II, skin tones look natural and luminous, while subtle colour shifts in clothing, backgrounds, and light are preserved with precision. When combined with my Capture One grading, the result is a portrait that feels true-to-life but elevated.

6. Built for the Future

When you invest in a portrait session, you want those images to last. The resolution, tonal depth, and quality from this setup mean your portraits will look as good years from now as they do today, across any format — from LinkedIn to magazine spreads.

Bottom line: The Fujifilm GFX100S II is the foundation of my portrait work, but it’s the combination of medium format clarity, my custom Capture One styles, and the character of vintage lenses that makes each image truly yours.

If you’d like to see what that looks like in your own portraits, book your session here and let’s create something timeless.