Hardware Store Hacks: How to Get Pro Lighting Results on Any Budget
During this seminar, John Gress will demonstrate how to achieve high-end, professional-looking results using flashes you already own and modifiers crafted from everyday items you might find around your house or at the store around the corner. Whether you're working with a speedlight or a $4,000 monolight, you'll learn how to shape, control, and finesse your lighting like a pro. But this session isn't really about saving money or building homemade gear...it's about understanding the principles that make great lighting work and discovering creative ways to experiment with them. Along the way, you'll see how everyday materials can be used to explore ideas that apply to every level of photography, from simple portraits to sophisticated setups. You'll leave with practical techniques you can use immediately, a deeper understanding of how light behaves, and fresh ideas for experimenting with tools you may already have at home. If you've ever wondered how photographers create polished, professional images, this class will show you that great lighting starts with understanding how light works. The techniques you'll learn can be applied with improvised tools, the gear you already own, or the professional equipment you may add to your kit in the future.
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The Lighting Summit
Join some of the most respected voices in photography for a full day d
…Join some of the most respected voices in photography for a full day dedicated to mastering the art of light. The Lighting Summit explores how to use light with purpose and creativity, from choosing the right shapers and maintaining color consistency
…Join some of the most respected voices in photography for a full day dedicated to mastering the art of light. The Lighting Summit explores how to use light with purpose and creativity, from choosing the right shapers and maintaining color consistency to working confidently with both LED and flash. Discover how lighting can elevate any scene, turning challenging conditions into beautiful, portfolio-worthy images. Whether you want to sharpen your t
…Join some of the most respected voices in photography for a full day dedicated to mastering the art of light. The Lighting Summit explores how to use light with purpose and creativity, from choosing the right shapers and maintaining color consistency to working confidently with both LED and flash. Discover how lighting can elevate any scene, turning challenging conditions into beautiful, portfolio-worthy images. Whether you want to sharpen your technical skills or find new inspiration, this summit will give you the tools and confidence to make light your strongest storytelling tool.
Dive into hands-on experiences in the Lighting Summit’s studio bays and dynamic lighting setups!
Additional information on The Lighting Summit can be found here.
Sponsored by Profoto
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Michael Anthony, The Power of Three: Light Shapers That Transform Your Portraits
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM: Meg Loeks, Balancing Light and Color: Creating Consistent, Cinematic Imagery
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Roberto Valenzuela, Less Gear. Better Light. Studio Lighting Masterpieces made Simple
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM: Lunch (on own)
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Seth Miranda, Precision Lighting: Controlling Highlights, Shadows, and Visual Impact
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM: Chloe Ramirez, Lighting Saves the Day: Mastering Light When Natural Light Won’t Cooperate
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Joe McNally, One Light, Two Light, Three Light for Portraits on Location
Dynamic Portraits Using One Light
You don’t need a studio full of gear to create dynamic portraits—just
…You don’t need a studio full of gear to create dynamic portraits—just one light and the ability to shape it. In this live demo, John Gress shows how a single light can produce dramatically different results by changing its position, distance, and mod
…You don’t need a studio full of gear to create dynamic portraits—just one light and the ability to shape it. In this live demo, John Gress shows how a single light can produce dramatically different results by changing its position, distance, and modifiers. From clean and simple to bold and dramatic, you’ll learn versatile one-light techniques you can use in both studio and on-location sessions to maximize creativity with minimal equipment. What
…You don’t need a studio full of gear to create dynamic portraits—just one light and the ability to shape it. In this live demo, John Gress shows how a single light can produce dramatically different results by changing its position, distance, and modifiers. From clean and simple to bold and dramatic, you’ll learn versatile one-light techniques you can use in both studio and on-location sessions to maximize creativity with minimal equipment. What You’ll Learn: How to create multiple portrait styles with just one light The impact of angle, distance, and modifiers on mood and texture Techniques for adapting one-light setups in studio and on location How to maximize efficiency and creativity with limited gear
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Mastering Light: Transforming Portraits Through Simple Shifts
Join Pratik Naik for a hands-on Photo Walk where you’ll discover just
…Join Pratik Naik for a hands-on Photo Walk where you’ll discover just how much can change with a simple shift of light. Instead of relying on rigid setups, Pratik will guide you through playful experimentation—showing how small adjustments can compl
…Join Pratik Naik for a hands-on Photo Walk where you’ll discover just how much can change with a simple shift of light. Instead of relying on rigid setups, Pratik will guide you through playful experimentation—showing how small adjustments can completely transform a portrait. You’ll see cause and effect in real time and learn to trust both your eye and intuition when shaping light. This session is all about exploration and discovery, giving you
…Join Pratik Naik for a hands-on Photo Walk where you’ll discover just how much can change with a simple shift of light. Instead of relying on rigid setups, Pratik will guide you through playful experimentation—showing how small adjustments can completely transform a portrait. You’ll see cause and effect in real time and learn to trust both your eye and intuition when shaping light. This session is all about exploration and discovery, giving you practical techniques and creative freedom to apply in your own work. Plus, you’ll leave with striking images you’ve created along the way.
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