Studio Lighting for Portraits

Learn lighting and posing in Singapore.
4 sessions, 2 hours each, S$450 (includes model & studio fees)

See discount, course outline or sign up now


Good posing, strong rapport, clear communication and great lighting are just some of the key ingredients to a good studio portrait.

Although lighting setups are everywhere, not everyone understands why a light was placed in a certain position or aimed at a particular angle. Copying setups without a strong understanding of the hows and whys often results in disappointing portraits.

By giving you 5 out of 8 hours of hands-on training with in-class projects and a final model shoot, our Studio Portraiture workshop aims to equip you with a strong foundation in two key areas:

Alexia Giesen

  1. lighting concepts so you’d be able to modify an existing setup to achieve your own creative ideas, troubleshoot lighting problems, and create your own setups that others will be wanting to follow,
  2. posing, directing and communication techniques that help to make your model look as good as possible

All studio lessons take place at our partner studio located in central Singapore near Clarke Quay and City Hall.

In Studio Portraiture, you spend 5 out of 8 hours of your workshop setting up lights, making adjustments to improve your setup, shooting in-class portraiture projects, and putting all that you’ve learnt into a final model shoot. By the end of it, you would:

Lighting nightmare no more. Learn how to tackle challenging lighting from white-on-white to black-on-black

Lighting nightmare no more. Learn how to tackle challenging lighting from white-on-white to black-on-black

  1. be able to handle a shoot on your own in any studio environment,
  2. know how to fully utilise a studio environment, its lighting supports and modifiers,
  3. know what to look out for in a good studio portrait, and how to maximise your number of keepers,
  4. be proficient with various light modifiers from softbox to reflector to snoot to achieve your desired creative direction,
  5. be able to troubleshoot lighting problems on your own,
  6. have a strong understanding of lighting concepts to be able to get the job done with minimal equipment (and how you can do all of what you’ve learnt at home too),
  7. learn about the classic portraiture lighting setups, their strengths and weaknesses, and how to modify from there to your liking,
  8. have hands-on experience as an art director, photographer and lighting assistant,
  9. have planned, executed and shot at least two different portraiture projects
  10. know what flatters a woman and a man, and how to make them look good in your portraits,
  11. and most importantly, have lots of fun!

We keep our class small (4 persons max) so you can be sure you’ll get individual attention from our instructors.

Click here to sign up now

Course Outline

Lesson detailsTopics covered and learning objectives
Lesson 1
Introduction
Location: the Hive Lavender Studio, 1 Kallang Junction
7.30–9.30pm
Laptop highly recommended

    Lesson
  1. Introduction to Studio Environment

  2. Exposure Techniques for Studio/Flash photography

  3. Zero-ing the camera

  4. Maximising use of the Studio: what and who goes where

  5. Digital Workflow in Studio


    6. Practical
  6. Hands on setting up lights and backdrops

  7. Setting up a digital workflow
Lesson 2
One Light, Multiple Lights
Location: the Hive Lavender Studio, 1 Kallang Junction
7.30–9.30pm

    Lesson
  1. Understanding the Variables in Studio Portraiture and controlling them

  2. Quality of Light

  3. Photographing the Face

  4. Facial and Feature Analysis

  5. Classical views of the Face

  6. Working with One Light

  7. Shadow Management

  8. Light Shaping Modifiers



    Practical
  1. One Light Setups

  2. Controlling the Quality of Light

  3. Controlling Spill and Direction with Modifiers
Lesson 3
Classic Setups
Location: the Hive Lavender Studio, 1 Kallang Junction
7.30–9.30pm

    Lesson
  1. Lighting Patterns

  2. Classic Lighting Setups

  3. Understanding the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Classic Lighting

  4. Multiple Lights Setups

  5. Knowing what Flatters your model

  6. Remedying Facial Problems, from double chins to large ears



    Practical
  1. Team Project: Portraits in Classical Lighting

  2. Half and full body posing

  3. Review and critique of portraits project
Lesson 4
Model Shoot
Location: the Hive Lavender Studio, 1 Kallang Junction
7.30–9.30pm

    Lesson
  1. Directing and Posing models



    Practical
  1. Model Shoot: Facial analysis, planning and execution of model shoot

  2. Review and critique of model shoot

Course Requirements

Participants must bring their own camera (DSLR or compact with manual exposure modes). A tripod and laptop is highly recommended for this workshop.

Course Schedule

April 2022 Class (Weekend Class)
  1. 9 April 2022, 10.30am–12.30pm
  2. 9 April 2022, 1.30–3.30pm
  3. 10 April 2022, 10.30am–12.30pm
  4. 10 April 2022, 1.30–3.30pm
May/June 2022 Class (Weekdays)
  1. 30 May 2022, 7.30–9.30pm
  2. 31 May 2022, 7.30–9.30pm
  3. 02 June 2022, 7.30–9.30pm
  4. 03 June 2022, 7.30–9.30pm

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Click here to sign up now

Promotions & Discounts

Early Bird Promotion — $10 off

Sign up and make payment at least one month before the commencement date to enjoy $10 off your course fee.

Bring-a-friend Promotion — $10 off

Get $10 off your course fees when you sign up with your friends and make payment together.

Sign up for Studio Portraiture