Exploring Photography: studio lighting and portraiture (intermediate)

About this course

Participants work with studio flash, light modifiers and reflectors to shape light and create different portrait lighting styles. They experiment with lenses and focal lengths, considering how these affect perspective, framing and depth of field, while practising exposure and focus in studio conditions. The course also covers planning and conducting portrait shoots, including directing and working with a subject. Learners examine influential portrait photographers and use this analysis to inform and assess their own images.

What you'll learn

• Control studio flash, modifiers and reflectors to create distinct portrait lighting styles.
• Compare lenses or focal lengths through differences in perspective, framing and depth of field.
• Plan and conduct a portrait shoot while directing and working with a subject.
• Apply exposure and flash settings to produce well-exposed, sharply focused studio portraits.
• Analyse the work of an influential portrait photographer and apply relevant ideas when evaluating personal images.

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for intermediate photographers developing beyond fundamental skills in portrait photography. Participation includes hands-on studio work, planning a shoot and directing a portrait subject, alongside analysis of established photographers.

• Learners will work directly with a portrait subject during planned shoots.