My 2026 Gear Ludwig Favre

2026 My Essential Gear

A Thoughtfully Chosen Setup

As an artist photographer who sells fine art prints, every piece of equipment I use has been carefully selected to ensure the best image quality, reliability, and efficiency. My gear is a balance of robustness, practicality, and design, allowing me to create high-quality photographs while maintaining a seamless workflow. Here’s an in-depth look at my setup and why I chose each piece.

Film Photography: Mamiya 7 II

For my film work, I rely on the Mamiya 7 II, a medium format rangefinder that delivers exceptional sharpness and stunning image quality. Its lightweight and compact design make it perfect for travel and street photography, while the 6×7 negative size ensures a level of detail that rivals large format cameras. The leaf shutter also allows for slower handheld shutter speeds without introducing blur.

My Preferred Film Stocks:

  • Kodak Gold 200 – A budget-friendly classic that produces warm tones and a nostalgic feel, perfect for sunny outdoor scenes.
  • Kodak Portra 400 – My go-to film for portraits and landscapes, offering excellent dynamic range, smooth skin tones, and great latitude in scanning.
  • Cinestill 800T – A cinematic, tungsten-balanced film that excels in low-light conditions, adding a unique glow to highlights.

Digital Photography: Fujifilm GFX 100S

For digital work, I use the Fujifilm GFX 100S, a medium format mirrorless camera with an incredible 102-megapixel sensor. This camera offers unparalleled detail, dynamic range, and color depth, making it an excellent choice for fine art prints.

Lenses I Use:

  • Wide-Angle Lens – Ideal for capturing grand landscapes, architecture, and immersive compositions.
  • Zoom Lens – Perfect for versatility, allowing me to frame compositions precisely without sacrificing image quality.

Filming & Behind-the-Scenes: Lumix S9 + DJI Osmo Pocket 3

To document my process and create engaging content, I use the Lumix S9 for filming and, from time to time, for still photography. Compact, refined, and efficient, it fits seamlessly into my workflow to capture clean footage and occasional stills when the moment calls for it. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 remains dedicated to behind-the-scenes and travel vlogs, delivering smooth, cinematic stabilization in a discreet form factor.

Computing & Editing: The Backbone of My Workflow

Editing is just as crucial as capturing the shot, and my hardware ensures seamless processing of high-resolution files.

  • Mac Studio M4 Max – The powerhouse behind my workflow, handling large RAW files, complex retouching in Photoshop, and batch processing in Lightroom without any lag.
  • MacBook Pro M1 – My portable workstation for editing on the go.
  • iPad Pro 11” – Perfect for reviewing images, making quick edits, and client presentations.
  • BenQ PD3220U 32” Monitor – A color-accurate 4K display, essential for precise color grading and proofing my fine art prints.

Storage & Backup: Protecting My Work

Data security is non-negotiable in my workflow. I ensure that all my files are backed up in multiple locations.

  • Synology 24 TO
  • On the go LaCie Rugged 4 To

Carrying My Gear: The Best Camera Bags

Transporting gear safely while keeping it easily accessible is key. I switch between different bags depending on the shoot:

  • WANDRD PRVKE – A durable and weather-resistant backpack, perfect for travel photography.
  • Peak Design Everyday Sling 10L – Ideal for carrying a compact setup during street photography sessions.
  • Bellroy Camera Bag – A stylish yet functional option for casual shoots and urban photography.

Software: The Creative Tools I Use

I rely on Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop for my entire editing process, from RAW conversion to fine-tuned retouching. Lightroom allows me to organize, edit, and apply my custom presets, while Photoshop helps with detailed retouching and print preparation.

Conclusion: A Setup Built for Excellence

Each piece of my gear has been chosen with careful consideration, ensuring that I can produce the highest-quality images while maintaining an efficient workflow. Whether shooting film or digital, editing, or backing up my files, my setup is optimized for reliability, practicality, and aesthetic excellence.

If you’re interested in seeing the results of my work, check out my fine art prints, available in limited editions of 30.

📷 Photography & Video Gear

Film

Digital

Video & Behind the Scenes

🖥 Computing & Editing

💾 Storage & Backup

🎒 Camera Bags

🛠 Post-Production Software

  • Adobe Lightroom

  • Adobe Photoshop

The New yorkers

From RAW to Remarkable

How to Develop a Unique Editing Style for Photography: A Guide for Creatives

In the digital age, post-processing has become an essential part of photography. While capturing the perfect shot is the first step, editing allows you to bring your creative vision to life and make your work truly stand out. Developing a unique editing style takes time and experimentation, but it’s one of the most rewarding aspects of being a photographer.

Why Does an Editing Style Matter?

Your editing style is your visual fingerprint—it’s what makes your work instantly recognizable. Whether it’s bold, saturated colors or soft, muted tones, your editing choices convey mood, emotion, and narrative. A consistent editing style helps establish your photography brand and builds trust with your audience, whether they’re scrolling through Instagram or browsing your portfolio.

Steps to Develop Your Signature Editing Style

1. Start with a Solid Foundation

Editing can’t fix a poorly captured image, so focus on the basics during your shoot: composition, lighting, and exposure. The better the original photo, the more room you’ll have for creative edits.

2. Experiment with Different Editing Tools

Every photo editing tool offers unique features that can help shape your style. Start with industry-standard software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. Learn how to use key functions such as:

  • Tone curves for fine-tuning contrast
  • HSL sliders for precise color adjustments
  • Split toning for adding subtle color grading
  • Presets to speed up your workflow while maintaining consistency

3. Study What Inspires You

Look at the work of photographers whose styles you admire. What stands out in their work? Is it their color grading, shadow detail, or the mood they create? Analyze their work without copying it, and think about how you can adapt similar techniques to fit your own vision.

4. Play with Color

Color is one of the most powerful tools in editing. Decide on the color palette that resonates with your vision:

  • Vibrant and warm tones evoke energy and optimism
  • Cool and muted hues often feel calm and introspective
  • Monochrome is timeless and emphasizes texture and form

Don’t be afraid to adjust individual colors using tools like the HSL panel to create a harmonious or distinctive look.

5. Be Consistent

Consistency doesn’t mean every photo needs the exact same treatment, but your work should feel cohesive. Create a set of go-to adjustments or presets that align with your aesthetic. This is especially useful when working on a series or curating a portfolio.

6. Know When to Stop

Over-editing is a common pitfall. While it’s tempting to push sliders to the extreme, subtlety often results in a more polished image. Step away from your work and revisit it with fresh eyes before calling it finished.

Tips for Finding Inspiration

  • Look Beyond Photography: Draw inspiration from art, films, or fashion. These mediums often emphasize mood and tone, which can inspire your edits.
  • Experiment with Trends: Stay true to your style but experiment with current trends to refine your aesthetic.
  • Seek Feedback: Share your edited photos with trusted peers or mentors. Constructive criticism can provide valuable insights.

Showcasing Your Editing Style

Once you’ve developed a signature editing style, make sure your audience sees it. Curate your social media profilesand portfolio to reflect your aesthetic. Consider offering before-and-after examples or editing breakdowns to engage your followers and show the thought process behind your work.

Create a Unique Editing Style

Creating a unique editing style isn’t an overnight process—it’s a journey of discovery and refinement. As you experiment, learn, and grow, you’ll develop a look that’s unmistakably yours.

Ready to Begin Your Editing Journey?

Your editing style is waiting to be discovered. Don’t hesitate to experiment, learn, and grow! If you’re looking for a head start, my carefully crafted Lightroom presets are available. They’re designed to help you achieve consistent, professional-quality edits effortlessly, whether you’re working with landscapes, urban scenes, or portraits.

Explore my presets here and take your photography to the next level. Share your before-and-after photos or your editing process in the comments, and inspire others on their journey. If you’re looking for tailored advice or feedback, reach out—I’d love to help you refine your vision.

Let’s create something remarkable together.

Copenhagen church II, limited edition Architecture art print by Ludwig Favre

Q&A architecture photography with Adobe

Q&A with Adobe
Architecture photography

Ludwig Favre

Paris-based architecture photographer Ludwig Favre is known for his pastel-infused images of California and the desert that often draw comparison to a Wes Anderson film.
Favre shares how he achieves his signature style and why for him, a photo never feels finished.

 

How did you get into photography and what drew you to architecture in particular?
When I was 6 my father showed me how to create a photo using film and a chemical bath. I started doing it professionally about six years ago. Before that I was at an agency doing art direction, and before that I worked for French TV. Picture and motion are a part of my life. When I was at the agency I started selling my photos to galleries, and that made it easier for me to leave my job and do photography full time. In Paris we have a lot of monuments, so when I was a child my father showed me a lot of monuments and took me to exhibitions. It was a part of me. I need to discover new things and experiment with different points of view.

Where do you find inspiration?
From the movies. As a child I watched a lot of films, like the original Blade Runner, and films from Stanley Kubrick. This obsession with the center line shows up a lot in my photos. I also find inspiration from painting and music. I listen to a lot of American music like The Doors and Jimi Hendrix. I lost my father when I was very young and it’s something that reminds me of when he was here.

What do you think makes a great architecture photo and what excites you about a shot?
It’s a good subject combined with good light (not overexposed) and a good moment. I try to have good symmetry and a point of view. When I discover a new place it’s always exciting. My heart beats a lot because I want to capture what I feel in that moment. It’s difficult sometimes for people with me because I run immediately to take what I see. It’s because I’m afraid of losing this moment which matters to me in terms of photography — a certain light or a person may enter the framework of my camera and make the perfect scene.


How would you describe your style and how do you achieve it?
I think it’s about my colors. I have a particular color palette with softer pastels. I don’t know where it comes from, but it’s a representation of my feelings about that moment, place, and time. I want to embellish reality, which can sometimes be very hard — it’s kind of like a dream world. It’s something I create after the shoot in both Lightroom and Photoshop. I prefer shooting in the summer and in the morning. Sometimes I like to take a picture at noon when the light is very harsh. A lot of photographers don’t like to shoot at noon, but the colors are interesting at this time. In terms of the sky, the blue is more electric then.

What are the biggest challenges in shooting architecture photography?
Sometimes I get to a location that I’ve seen on Google Maps and it’s not the same. It can be totally different because of construction, or you don’t have the good weather, or the light is not the same in June as in December. What I see and what I want is not always the same, so it’s difficult.


What’s inside your camera bag?
I have two lenses, a 16–35mm and a 24–70mm. I have two camera bodies, an ND-10 filter for long exposure, a remote, a tripod, a MacBook Pro, two hard drives, four to six SD cards, a DJI drone, a little light (because when I shoot at night I need to see what I’m doing), my iPhone, and my iPad Pro that I use the most when traveling for retouching. My favorite lens is the 24–70mm, because it’s the most versatile for street or landscape photography. But when I’m inside I always use the 16–35mm because I have a wide angle with this one.

What would you suggest as a starter kit?I recommend above all a good lens — a 16–35mm or a 24–70mm to start. This allows you to be versatile and to capture not only architecture, but also landscape or street photography. The camera should be 24mp minimum to be able to make enlargements of good quality. The more millions of pixels, the more details you will have. Phone cameras now have algorithms to improve your images, and you can use them to capture street photography in a very spontaneous way or even landscapes. It’s a tool that you always have in your pocket, and it makes for a very good backup camera.

 

What are some common beginner mistakes you can learn from?
I’d say it would be not looking for original angles or grasping the way to build a photo, and also using the automatic mode of your camera. I think when you don’t know the basics of photography and don’t play with the aperture, for example, you lose the creativity of the composition.   

What are your favorite Lightroom tools? Do you have any tips for using presets?
My favorites are for color adjustment because my pictures are about the colors. And the Geometry tool. I think it’s very important for me to have a good perspective and to place my principal subject in the center of my photo. I use the Contrast, Highlight, and the Black adjustment presets every time. I use them to create something different in my images. In terms of presets, it’s necessary that your settings reflect your creativity — you need to find a good adjustment between reality and your vision. I adjust enormously the cyan of my photographs to give them a very past dimension. By playing with the red, yellow, and the blue you will create your own photographic style.


How do you use Photoshop for editing?
I use the Curve tool and I use Photoshop for color correction. When I work on an image I always use Lightroom first (and sometimes only Lightroom), but I often use Photoshop to correct my colors and remove what I don’t like. And I like to save my work in Photoshop because I export in 300dpi, so it’s good for large-format images. 

How do you choose what to edit and how do you know when it’s finished?
When I do a shoot, I always have a photo that‘s talking to me more than the other ones — because of symmetry, cropping, or even the light because of that moment. A picture is never finished for me. I never like what I do. I always think I can do better. When I come back to it after, I say “No, it’s not what I want.” But sometimes I see my photo and think okay, stop, it’s finished It’s something I create after the shoot in both Lightroom and Photoshop by Adobe. . You can’t do any better. 


How has COVID-19 changed the way you work?
It’s very difficult for a photographer like me who wants to travel. I have a road trip to California, New Mexico, and Utah planned, but due to the pandemic I don’t know when I can leave. And I want to go to Greenland to do a project with the white polar bears. Not being able to find a new place to shoot right now is very frustrating. I have to think differently and find another place because I can’t stay here and wait to see what’s happening.

What has photography brought to your life?
It’s a big change. I feel free because I can do what I want, when I want. I can’t stay in the same place for a week without moving. It’s a real liberty to do what you love the most and earn money for it, so it’s just incredible. What’s even more wonderful is being able to share my work with everyone because photography is a testimony to the world around us. It’s not just about capturing a moment—it’s about creating something unique and personal. It’s something I create after the shoot, using both Lightroom and Photoshop by Adobe.

I’m very lucky.

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