Lighting For Portraits & Fashion 101

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

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Eye Dot Studio, 548 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Canada

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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