Portrait Studio Lighting MasterClass I


For Beginner

Who Should Attend

This masterclass is designed for beginner photographers who want to build a strong foundation in studio portrait lighting. Whether you are a hobbyist exploring your passion or an aspiring professional ready to level up your skills, this course will guide you from core concepts to confident, hands-on studio practice.

This course is ideal for:

  • Photography Enthusiasts who want to step beyond natural light and master studio lighting.

  • Beginner Photographers looking to learn strobes, light modifiers, and light direction with control and precision.

  • Aspiring Portrait & Fashion Photographers aiming to build a professional-quality portfolio.

  • Creative Professionals (makeup artists, fashion stylists, and content creators) who want to understand studio lighting to elevate their visual work.

Prerequisites & Equipment:

  • Experience Level: No prior experience with studio equipment is required—just your curiosity, creativity, and drive to learn.

  • Studio Gear: Access to modern, industry-standard studio lighting and modifiers is fully provided for all class sessions and weekly assignment hours.

  • Student Gear: Students are expected to bring their own camera (DSLR or mirrorless with a standard hot shoe) and lens(es).

Syllabus

Week 1: Fundamentals & Camera Mastery

  • Course Introduction & Roadmap

  • Exposure Triangle (Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO) for Studio Settings

  • Focal Lengths, Lens Selection, & Composition

  • Assignment: Research & analyze a signature lighting style from a notable photographer.

Week 2: Posing, Direction & Digital Workflow

  • Assignment Review & Discussion

  • Model Communication, Posing Guides, & Direction Techniques

  • Digital Image Fundamentals: RAW vs. JPEG, Color Profiles, & File Management

  • Assignment: Practice posing a non-professional subject (friend/family).

Week 3: Studio Gear & Basic Lighting Setups

  • Intro to Studio Gear: Strobes, Continuous Lights, Stands, Grips, & Modifiers (Softboxes, Umbrellas, Grids)

  • Flash Synchronization, TTL vs. Manual, & Light Meters

  • Live Shoot: Basic 1-Light & 2-Light Setup with Model

  • Assignment: Recreate a classic 1-light portrait setup.

Week 4: Beauty Lighting Mastery

  • Review Assignment Images

  • Understanding Light Quality: Hard vs. Soft, Specular vs. Diffused

  • Live Shoot: Beauty Setups (Clamshell, Butterfly, Beauty Dish, & Reflectors)

  • Assignment: Beauty Portrait Shoot (Capture clean skin & catchlights).

Week 5: Beauty Retouching & Post-Processing

  • Lightroom & Photoshop Workflow for Studio Portraits

  • Frequency Separation, Dodge & Burn, & Skin Tone Correction

  • Exporting for Print vs. Web / Social Media

  • Assignment: Fully retouch 2 beauty portraits from Week 4.

Week 6: Editorial & High- Fashion Lighting

  • Review Retouched Beauty Assignments

  • Mood Board Creation & Storytelling in Photography

  • Live Shoot: Editorial Lighting Setups (Gel Lighting, Dramatic Shadows, High-Key vs. Low-Key)

  • Assignment: Editorial Fashion Shoot based on a mood board.

Week 7: Deconstructing Light & Reverse Engineering

  • Analyzing lighting setups from magazine covers and advertisements

  • How to replicate any lighting setup using shadow direction, catchlights, and falloff

  • Advanced Modifiers: Scrims, V-Flats, Gobos, & Snoots

  • Assignment: Pick a complex commercial reference image to deconstruct and plan to shoot.

Week 8: Creative & Experimental Lighting

  • Review Deconstruction Plans

  • Live Shoot: Advanced Creative Techniques (Gels, Prism/In-Camera Effects, Gobos, Motion Blur + Flash Sync)

  • Assignment: Creative Lighting Shoot incorporating at least 2 creative elements.

Week 9: Portfolio Building & Live Client Simulation

  • Review Creative Shoot Assignments

  • Live Shoot: Full Live Client Simulation (Concept $\rightarrow$ Tethered Capture $\rightarrow$ Client Selection)

  • Culling, Batch Editing, and High-Speed Workflow

Week 10: Portfolio Review, Business & Graduation

  • Final Student Portfolio Presentations & Critique

  • Pricing Strategies, Client Management, & Studio Marketing

  • Final Q&A & Course Wrap-Up

    Course Fee: P32,000

A woman sitting on a stool wearing a black dress and beige trench coat, posing against a brown background with draped fabric.

Photo by: Albert Pedrosa