Mikaela Mertens crafts the perfect FS RECIPE to encapsulate the bliss of wedding moments
Mikaela Mertens didn’t initially set out to be a wedding photographer. Based in Los Angeles, her creative path began with studying movie editing. Influenced by her father’s career in animation and college studies, she spent her early years looking at the world through the lens of a creative storyteller.
Today, Mikaela is known for a professional practice that balances a meticulous 50/50 split between film and digital. Whether using her medium format FUJIFILM GA645 or a more modern FUJIFILM X-T50, her goal is crafting a soft, warm, and unapologetically dreamy aesthetic.
The name of her FS RECIPE is a beautiful tribute to its look and intended use: “Honey, I Do.”
Defining Your Niche with Style
For Mikaela, a photographer’s style is their most valuable calling card. In a world where clean, editorial wedding photography is abundant, she believes that having a distinct niche is what connects a creator with their clients.
“People gravitate towards me because of the way my analog images look,” Mikaela explains. “When people see my work, they want to hire me for that reason. If they ask, ‘Will it be cheaper if we do all digital?’, I tell them that part of my work is having bit of both, so you get that film look alongside the digital photos.”
Beyond the aesthetic appeal, Mikaela views custom FS RECIPEs as a vital learning tool. “It gives you access to visual changes inside a digital camera, and it’s such a money saver.
“You can change your settings, put it into your computer, and look at it instead of going through an entire roll, taking it to the lab, and realizing it was underexposed. It’s a great way to figure out your niche.”
Starting Her Journey with ASTIA
When tasked with creating a custom look for an outdoor, garden-themed project, Mikaela reached for ASTIA as her foundation. Known for its gentle contrast and faithful yet soft rendering of tones, ASTIA provided the perfect canvas for her vision.
“ASTIA was a great starting point because it’s very soft and not super saturated,” she says. “I did end up adding warmth with my FS RECIPE, but I liked that initial softness. It’s incredibly pretty for skin tones, especially in bridal photography.”
From Garden Vibes to Image Making
To transform ASTIA into her signature “Honey, I Do” FS RECIPE, Mikaela focused on having a light touch. Her subjects, primarily couples in outdoor settings, required a look that felt sun-drenched and airy.
“I knew we were doing outdoor and garden vibes, so I wanted to make it warm,” Mikaela notes. To achieve this, she made specific WHITE BALANCE adjustments. “I turned up the red tones a little bit and turned down the blues. I also upped the shadows because I wanted to get rid of darkness as much as possible and keep things light.”
Texture played an equally important role. While Mikaela loves the character of analog film, she learned that balance is key when working. “I did a weak GRAIN EFFECT. At first I tried a high setting, but when I put it on my computer it was a little too much. You want that film feel, but you don’t want it to counteract the softness.”
Staying Out More
One of the most significant benefits Mikaela found in using FUJIFILM X-T50 was the ability to minimize post-production. For a creator who transitioned away from movie editing because she wanted to be ‘out more’, getting the look right in-camera is a liberating experience.
“The one thing I dislike about my job is editing the photos,” she laughs. “I’m not a big fan of being at the computer all day. That’s why I like Film Simulation modes so much. It’s like having your presets right there in the camera. You don’t have to go into an editor to add warmth or softness later.”
This real-time creative control also changes the client’s experience. “Sometimes people want to see the back of the camera, and I usually hate showing it because a RAW image doesn’t look like the final vision. With Film Simulations, I can show them a preview on the LCD that actually looks like film. It puts everyone at ease.”
Growing with Custom Film Simulations
Reflecting on her time with FUJIFILM X-T50, Mikaela was surprised by how quickly the system felt like an extension of her hands.
“I was nervous about how hard it would be to get comfortable, but I was pleasantly surprised,” she says. “It’s easy to learn. I love how compact it is, which is so important when you’re documenting a long wedding.”
Mikaela Mertens’ “Honey, I Do” FS RECIPE
FILM SIMULATION: ASTIA
MONOCHROMATIC COLOR: N/A
GRAIN EFFECT: WEAK, SMALL
COLOR CHROME: OFF
COLOR CHROME FX BLUE: OFF
SMOOTH SKIN EFFECT: OFF
WHITE BALANCE: DAYLIGHT/ R: +5, B: -3
DYNAMIC RANGE: DR100
D RANGE PRIORITY: OFF
TONE CURVE: H -1, S +1
COLOR: 0
SHARPNESS: 0
HIGH ISO NR: 0
CLARITY: -2
