Behind the Lens with Robby Klein: Studio Film Photography with the Pentax 67 and Mamiya RZ67

If you have not encountered the work of Robby Klein, you are missing one of the most compelling voices in contemporary portrait photography. Originally from New Orleans, Robby developed his visual sensibility through drawing and painting before finding his way to photography. That foundation shows. His portraits carry a painterly quality that is rare in any medium, and he shoots the majority of his work on film.

A Portrait Photographer Who Shoots Film at the Highest Level

Robby's client list is a roll call of the biggest names in music and film. Dolly Parton, Billie Eilish, Justin Timberlake, A$AP Rocky, DJ Khaled, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts. These are not snapshots. They are considered portraits made with intention, and film is central to how he makes them.

In this behind-the-scenes video, Robby takes us through a test shoot with a model, showing how he works through different looks, different cameras, and different film stocks to find the images he is after. It is one of the most instructive videos we have put out, not because of what he says but because of what you can observe about how a working professional at this level actually operates on set.

The Cameras Robby Uses on Set

Robby shoots with three cameras in this session, each chosen for a different reason.

Pentax 67

The Pentax 67 is Robby's workhorse for studio portrait work. The 6x7 negative is massive, and the detail it resolves when scanned or printed is exceptional. The 105mm f/2.4 lens produces background separation that photographers spend years chasing. When you need images that will be used large and need to hold up under scrutiny, the Pentax 67 delivers.

Mamiya RZ67

The Mamiya RZ67 is another 6x7 format camera, but with a rotating back that allows you to switch between portrait and landscape orientation without moving the camera on the tripod. In studio work where you are using controlled lighting, this is a significant workflow advantage. It is a heavier, more modular system than the Pentax, but its flexibility on set is hard to beat.

Leica M6

The Leica M6 brings a completely different energy to the shoot. Where the Pentax and Mamiya demand a tripod and deliberate framing, the Leica is handheld and fast. It lets Robby move around the set, react quickly, and capture moments between the posed setups. The resulting images have a looser, more candid quality that balances the formal portraits from the larger cameras.

What You Can Take Away from Watching Robby Work

Studio photography on film is a discipline. Every frame costs money and takes time to process, which means working professionals like Robby have developed an economy of motion that is worth studying. He does not spray and pray. He sets up a look, understands what he wants, and then works toward it methodically.

Watch how he interacts with his subject between shots. How he adjusts lighting without overthinking it. How he moves from camera to camera depending on what the moment calls for. These are the habits that separate photographers who shoot film professionally from those who just use it for the look.

If you want to shoot portrait work at this level, start with the right film. Kodak Portra 400 in 35mm and Kodak Portra 400 in 120 are what working portrait photographers reach for. They handle mixed light, they render skin beautifully, and they have the latitude to forgive small errors while you are focused on your subject rather than your meter.

Browse our full selection of film cameras and film stocks and start building the kit that fits how you shoot.