Roberto De Micheli, who goes by the username roby17269 in the forums, switched from wildlife photography to more recently focusing on his passion for fashion. He also dabbles in travel and kids’ photography (mainly family outings). Roberto submitted a wide range of photography on these subjects to us for this article, but we focused on the fashion segment as it’s his most recent work.

This story is part of our What’s in your bag? community spotlight series. The series showcases the diverse gear and photography of our community, and shares their stories of how that gear helped them to capture the perfect shot.

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“I love the mood and color of this one, which was shot in the attic of an old building.” Canon EOS-1D X | Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II | F3.5 | 1/50 sec | ISO 1600 Photo: Roberto De Micheli

Meet Roberto De Micheli (roby17269)

Home base: Jersey City, USA
Favorite camera and lens: Roberto’s current favorite setup is the Hasselblad X2D II 100C paired with the XCD 50mm f/2.5. For fashion work, he also regularly uses the XCD 35–100mm, appreciating the look and rendering that medium format delivers. For travel, family and event photography, he relies on a Canon R5, often paired with Canon’s RF 50mm f/1.2, RF 85mm f/1.2 and RF 100–500mm lenses. Roberto describes himself as “more of a tele guy than a wide guy”.

I am a sucker for big sensors, so currently the X2D II is my favorite tool. Plus, it is undoubtedly the most gourgeous camera on sale right now.

What’s in Roberto’s bag

Roberto’s camera bag Photo: Roberto De Micheli

• Primary cameras: Hasselblad X2D II 100C
• Lenses:
  • Hasselblad XCD 50mm f/2.5 (primary fashion and editorial lens)
  • Hasselblad XCD 35–100mm f/2.8–4
  • Canon RF 50mm f/1.2
  • Canon RF 85mm f/1.2
  • Canon RF 100–500mm
  • Canon RF 35mm f/1.4 (travel)
• Support gear: Roberto’s fashion setup includes a heavy Manfrotto tripod with a geared head for catalog and studio work. For lighting, he uses Broncolor Siros L 800 strobes and a Profoto B1 500, paired with a variety of modifiers for both studio and location shoots. When traveling, he’ll often pack a drone, typically either a DJI Mavic 4 Pro or Mini 5 Pro, to complement his still photography.
• Camera bags: Roberto currently uses an older backpack that has stayed with him through years of shoots and travel. While he appreciates beautifully designed, high-end gear, he values intentional shooting and adaptability far more than carrying excessive equipment.

“I am a sucker for big sensors, so currently the X2D II is my favorite tool. Plus, it is undoubtedly the most gorgeous camera on sale right now.”

“A lot of work went into setting up the table and the style of all four models. Group shots are tricky to make all the models look good at the same time.” Photo: Roberto De Micheli

What types of scenes do you like to focus on (pun intended)?

“My father was a film photography hobbyist, but somehow his passion never rubbed off on me. With the advent of digital photography, something clicked in my engineer brain and I bought a Sony DSC-F717 around 2003. I started with opportunistic travel photography and the compliments I received went straight to my head. From there, things started snowballing onwards with more professional opportunities every year.”

“Fashion shoots happen in studios or on location. In my heart, though, I still remember my two safaris in Africa (Kenya and South Africa) most fondly, which can be a magical place. The safaris were during my wildlife ‘phase’. I was absolutely floored by how rich, colorful and amazing nature was in those places.”

“Experimental” Phase One IQ180 | 300mm | F9.5 | 1/350 sec | ISO 35 Photo: Roberto De Micheli

When capturing that perfect shot, what techniques come to mind?

“For fashion, I do not have a preferred recipe. The best ‘technique’ I know is to work with great talent and to create a good atmosphere on set. I will also be bold and try different angles, poses and light setups. For travel, I like taking panoramas with a long lens (RF 100-500). For kids, I like to ‘disappear’ and take photos while they play for the best expressions. For drones, practice those flying maneuvers!”

Should photographers spend what they can to get the best shot?

“I’d say two things: don’t spend too much until you find your niche and decide to be serious about it, and learn to take control of your photography!”

Roberto really enjoyed writing the content for this spotlight article and would be grateful for you to join him in discussion in the forums. You can also visit his work at rdmfashionphoto.com. Thanks, Roberto, for being featured!

If you’d like to share your photography, tell us about your main camera, lens choices, key settings and strategies. Your photos and story could be featured in the next article!

Editor’s note: This article continues a series, ‘What’s in your bag?’, highlighting DPReview community members, their photography and the gear they depend on. Would you like to be featured in a future installment? Tell us a bit about yourself and your photography by filling out this form. If you’re selected for a feature, we’ll be in touch with next steps.

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