Lighting for fashion and portraits

Course Description

This intensive, hands-on lighting workshop is designed for photographers who already understand exposure and composition, and want to elevate their portrait or fashion work through intentional lighting design. We’ll explore the language of light ; direction, quality, and control. While using a mix of natural, continuous, and strobe setups. The class will cover both technical setup and creative direction: how to light different faces and moods, balance ambient and artificial sources, and build a lighting style that supports your vision. Expect a mix of live demos, guided shooting sessions with models, and group discussion focused on developing a professional lighting workflow. You’ll Learn: Understanding light direction, quality, and falloff How to shape and modify light with reflectors, diffusers, and modifiers Working with one-light and multi-light setups Balancing ambient and flash for consistent tone Lighting for different skin tones, textures, and moods Building a repeatable portrait lighting setup Structure (4 hours): Introduction + Lighting Theory (30 min) Review of exposure in relation to light output Understanding hard vs. soft light, contrast, and modifiers Demo: Natural Light Control (45 min) Using windows, reflectors, and negative fill How to see and sculpt daylight indoors Demo + Practice: Studio Lighting (1.5 hr) One-light portrait setup and refinement Adding fill, rim, or background lights Guided student shooting with model Creative Application + Review (1 hr) Experimenting with lighting styles (fashion/editorial looks) Review of images, workflow tips, and gear recommendations Discussion: developing your own lighting language What to Bring: Camera with hot shoe and manual controls Memory card, charged batteries Optional: favorite lens for portraits (50mm–85mm ideal) Notebook or laptop for notes