Finer Adjustments

Recently, during my fashion photography class, one of my students asked me, “Why is it that every time you set up the lights, the results of the shots look perfect, but when we do it ourselves, something always feels off?”

I told her that this is exactly why I ask everyone to work on their projects independently. It’s only when you do it yourself that you begin to notice the finer adjustments needed to create the right light.

Teaching lighting is actually easy. Most of it is textbook knowledge. A larger light source creates softer light, while a smaller light source creates harder light. Move the light closer, and it becomes softer. Move it farther away, and it becomes harsher. Light modifiers, angles, and setups all have straightforward explanations.

But understanding lighting requires more than that.

Real lighting happens after the setup. Once the lights are in place, it’s the small refinements — the subtle movements, slight changes in angle, height, distance, power, and positioning — that make or break the final image. These finer adjustments are what separate a technically correct photo from an image that truly feels right.

The only way to develop this skill is through practice.

The more you experiment with small adjustments, the more sensitive your eyes become to light. You begin to notice when a shadow is too heavy, when the highlight is too bright, or when the light simply does not match the mood you are trying to create. Over time, you gain more control because you learn to see what needs to be corrected.

And the more you work with lighting, the better you become.

To improve, you also need to set the bar high for yourself. If you settle for an image that is only close to what you envisioned, the learning stops there. Growth happens when you push beyond “good enough.”

If the result is not the image you truly want, keep adjusting. Study the light. Move it slightly. Refine it again and again until everything finally comes together.

That is where the real learning happens.

Keep on shooting everyone!