//define Model for metadata collection.
var GFS = mongoose.model("GFS", new Schema({}, {strict: false}), "fs.files" );
var UserSchema = Schema({
image: {type: Schema.Types.Object, ref: 'GFS' } // refer the model
});
var User = mongoose.model('User', UserSchema);
User.findById(req.params.id)
.populate('image') //populate
.exec(function(err, user) {...})