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Sydney-based fashion photographer and Canon Master Steven Chee has spent 25 years capturing imagery that blends timeless style with natural beauty. Known for his ability to reveal authenticity within polished fashion work, Steven’s approach is rooted in his early training in both drawing and photography.
Learn more about Steven Chee“I feel like my creative style leans into capturing someone’s natural beauty. Through years of study and assisting in my early career, I developed the ability to tackle any subject or situation with lighting control to produce memorable images.”
For this project, Steven put Canon’s hybrid lenses, including the new RF 85mm f/1.4L VCM, to the test across stills and video on a fashion shoot. Combining portability with optical performance, the RF 24mm f/1.4L VCM, RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM and RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM primes supported both stills and video capture, while the RF 24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z zoom and RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Z helped complete the kit.
View range of Hybrid Lenses“The hybrid lenses felt light and nimble. My 24-70mm zoom is my workhorse, but it’s heavy. With these primes I could work faster and explore new angles that I wouldn’t usually try once locked into a zoom setup.”
“I really loved the separation you can achieve with the 85mm focal length. For beauty, it’s perfect. It captures the human face without distortion. For fashion, it isolates the talent from the background, keeping the viewer’s attention on clothing and expression.”
“For those who have the time to make deliberate choices, primes like this give you a special beauty that zooms can’t always replicate. I’d definitely recommend it for fashion and hybrid creators.”
The shot
Our first scene introduced our character and her environment.
The challenge
The challenge was mounting the camera to a moving vehicle. In this instance, the hybrid lenses offered a twofold advantage:
1. Lightweight design: perfectly balanced on the gimbal thanks to their compact size.
2. Consistent form factor: every prime lens in the range shares the same shape, weight and filter size, so we could quickly change to the 85mm for the character introduction without having to rebalance the gimbal, saving valuable time on set.
The lenses
• RF 24mm f/1.4L VCM hybrid prime – to capture the car in motion and its reflections. The 24mm was the perfect view to show this while maintaining a connection to the main character inside.
• RF 85mm f/1.4L VCM – to reveal the talent inside, isolated from distractions. Blurred hands and steering wheel in the foreground, and a softness to the backseat and extended view to the road behind focused the attention on Zuza driving.
The outcome
When both lenses were cut together, the wide and tight shots perfectly introduced our character. Context and intimacy in one sequence.
The shot
An open-plan studio space, shifting from wide establishing views to close detail on the designer’s tools and work.
The challenge
We needed to transition from the expansive feel and view of the room to the fine details of the work desk environment. The wide range of focal lengths in the hybrid lens range made it easy to select the right lens for each perspective.
The lenses
• RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM to establish the space.
• RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM and RF 85mm f/1.4L VCM to capture tighter, more intimate moments.
Shooting at the widest F1.4 apertures created beautifully soft foregrounds and backgrounds, drawing attention to actions and intricate techniques.
The outcome
I love how this section came together. Experiencing the space at different levels of detail kept the sequence dynamic and engaging. Wide shots provided context, while primes highlighted craftsmanship with smooth, shallow focus.
The shot
By the pool at day’s end, we illustrated downtime in the character’s creative process as she sketched and reflected outdoors.
The challenge
For me, the challenge was what to shoot and from where, as I loved all the angles the location provided. The sun angle of the afternoon light helped narrow down the options and we used the space to its fullest. Building, pool, and water elements were all captured in line with the storyboards I had dreamt up weeks earlier.
The lenses
• RF 24mm f/1.4L VCM and RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM – to establish the wider environment and sense of space
• RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM and RF 85mm f/1.4L VCM – to capture intimate moments of reflection without distortion
• RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Z zoom – for voyeuristic perspectives with foreground elements in frame, helping to show the depth of the scene
The outcome
I’m happy with how this sequence balances isolation and connection. Wide shots depicted her calm space, while tighter focal lengths placed the viewer in her private moments of inspiration.
The wide focal range of the hybrid lens range meant we could cover these moments without moving around too much, allowing us to capture ample footage for the edit while the sun gradually set.
“The most useful thing I learnt was how much I appreciated the size and weight. It’s not just about lighter lenses, it’s how that translates to ease on gimbals, less need to rebalance, and more refined exposure control through the tactile iris ring. Accessories, filters and hoods are streamlined across the lineup.” - Steven Chee
For photographers entering fashion, Steven offers one key piece of advice: collaborate.
“Try to work with a stylist that has more experience than you! Clothes are the hero in fashion, and access to the right pieces is a massive advantage.”
Canon Master Steven Chee is a renowned fashion image maker working across photography and motion, celebrated for his captivating and timeless imagery.
Canon has expanded the new generation, L-series range of Hybrid lenses.
Steven Chee has established himself as one of Australia’s leading photographers. His portfolio showcases an impressive array of breathtaking fashion, beauty, and portrait photography, specialising in capturing emotive moments and striking compositions.
