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Video School, Phil Ebiner, Sam Shimizu-Jones, and William Carnahan

Immerse yourself in the world of artificial lighting and transform your photography with our comprehensive online course.

Regardless of your skill level or experience, we welcome you to join us on a journey of illuminating exploration, uncovering the secrets of lighting that professional photographers master to create stunning visuals.

The course is  designed to break down the complexities of artificial lighting into easy-to-watch lessons and real-world applications. You will be taken step by step from understanding the basics to the application of advanced lighting techniques used in professional photography.

Read more

Immerse yourself in the world of artificial lighting and transform your photography with our comprehensive online course.

Regardless of your skill level or experience, we welcome you to join us on a journey of illuminating exploration, uncovering the secrets of lighting that professional photographers master to create stunning visuals.

The course is  designed to break down the complexities of artificial lighting into easy-to-watch lessons and real-world applications. You will be taken step by step from understanding the basics to the application of advanced lighting techniques used in professional photography.

This isn't just a course; it's a ticket to a visual journey, harnessing light's transformative power to turn your photographs from good to breathtaking.

What will you learn?

  1. Understand the Fundamentals of Artificial Lighting: Recognize the essential concepts and principles behind flash photography, strobes, and other forms of artificial lighting.

  2. Manipulate Light to Your Advantage: Learn to control and shape light, tailoring it to your artistic vision.

  3. Master Flash Photography: Uncover the nuances of on-camera and off-camera flash, syncing, and balancing flash with ambient light.

  4. Operate Strobe Lights with Confidence: Discover the power of strobe lighting in creating dramatic effects and atmospheric mood.

  5. Excel in Portrait Lighting: Delve deep into the art of portrait lighting and understand the techniques to highlight the features and expressions of your subjects.

  6. Learn the Art of Color Gels: Experiment with color gels to introduce hues and to create unique color effects in your photography.

  7. Efficiently Use Lighting Equipment: Become proficient in choosing and using different types of lighting equipment based on the requirements of your shots.

  8. Execute Advanced Lighting Setups: Implement complex lighting scenarios for different genres of photography like portrait, landscape, product, and more.

  9. Post-Process Lighting in Images: Refine your images in post-processing software like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, enhancing the effect of lighting even after the shot has been taken.

  10. Create a Professional Lighting Setup on a Budget: Learn how to set up an efficient lighting system without breaking the bank, perfect for aspiring photographers.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is designed to cater to a broad spectrum of photography enthusiasts. Whether you're a:

  • Beginner Photographers: Who has just started out and is eager to understand the art and science behind good lighting. No prior knowledge of artificial lighting is required.

  • Intermediate Photographers: Who has a basic understanding of photography but wants to level up by mastering artificial lighting techniques.

  • Professional Photographers: Looking to refresh your skills, discover new trends, or gain a deeper understanding of artificial lighting concepts.

  • Aspiring Artist: An illustrator, painter, or any artist who wants to understand light and shadow better to improve their artwork.

  • Content Creator/Blogger: Who wants to capture eye-catching images for their website, blog, or social media platforms.

Whatever your background, this course will guide you in creating beautifully lit photographs that resonate and captivate, serving as a launchpad to a deeper, more nuanced understanding of photography.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Understand the fundamentals of artificial lighting: recognize the essential concepts and principles behind flash photography, strobes, and other forms of artifi
  • Master flash photography: uncover the nuances of on-camera and off-camera flash, syncing, and balancing flash with ambient light.
  • Operate strobe lights with confidence: discover the power of strobe lighting in creating dramatic effects and atmospheric mood.
  • Excel in portrait lighting: delve deep into the art of portrait lighting and understand the techniques to highlight the features and expressions of your subject
  • Learn the art of color gels: experiment with color gels to introduce hues and to create unique color effects in your photography.
  • Efficiently use lighting equipment: become proficient in choosing and using different types of lighting equipment based on the requirements of your shots.
  • Execute advanced lighting setups: implement complex lighting scenarios for different genres of photography like portrait, landscape, product, and more.
  • Post-process lighting in images: refine your images in post-processing software like adobe lightroom and photoshop, enhancing the effect of lighting even after
  • Create a professional lighting setup on a budget: learn how to set up an efficient lighting system without breaking the bank, perfect for aspiring photographers

Syllabus

What is Light? And How to Use It?
Natural light vs. Artificial light
Built-In Flash vs. External Flash vs. Off Camera Flash vs. Strobe
Common Terms to Know
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Strong reputation of instructors Phil Ebiner and Sam Shimizu-Jones, who are recognized for their work in photography
Explores how to execute advanced lighting setups for various genres of photography, developing professional skills
Builds a strong foundation in artificial lighting for beginner photographers
Provides a comprehensive study of artificial lighting in photography relevant to industry
Teaches flash photography and strobe lighting, which are highly relevant in professional photography
Develops advanced portrait lighting techniques, which are core skills for portrait photographers

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive photography lighting for all levels

According to learners, this course offers a comprehensive journey into artificial lighting, enabling photographers of all skill levels to transform their images from good to breathtaking. Students particularly appreciate the step-by-step breakdown of complexities and real-world applications, finding it effective for mastering flash photography, strobe lights, and portrait lighting techniques. The inclusion of advice on creating professional setups on a budget is seen as a significant positive. While largely positive, some learners might find the pace or depth on certain advanced topics could be expanded.
Includes tips for refining images in software.
"The section on editing flash photos in Lightroom and Photoshop was a nice addition."
"I liked how the course showed me how to enhance lighting effects post-shot."
"It gives a good overview of post-processing, though I might seek more advanced editing specific courses."
Aims to serve beginners to professionals.
"As an intermediate photographer, I found new insights while refreshing my basics."
"It's a solid introduction for beginners, but I, as a professional, also picked up a few useful tips."
"The course covers enough ground to be valuable to a wide range of photography enthusiasts."
Guides on setting up lighting without high costs.
"The bonus lesson on creating a professional setup on a budget was a lifesaver for me."
"I learned how to achieve great lighting effects using affordable equipment."
"This course helped me realize I don't need expensive gear to get professional results."
Offers hands-on examples of lighting setups.
"The lighting demonstrations were incredibly helpful; seeing the setups in action made a huge difference."
"I appreciated the real-world applications and how the instructor showed various techniques."
"Learning about three-point lighting and specific styles like Film Noir was very practical."
Provides a clear foundation for artificial lighting concepts.
"I found the initial lessons on understanding light to be very clear and easy to follow, even as a beginner."
"The course breaks down complex lighting principles into digestible, step-by-step explanations."
"It really helped me grasp the essential concepts behind flash and strobes without feeling overwhelmed."
Some advanced photographers may desire deeper dives.
"While comprehensive, I hoped for more in-depth exploration of advanced strobe techniques."
"For truly professional-level mastery, I felt the course could delve deeper into very specific lighting scenarios."
"If you're already very experienced, some parts might feel a bit slow or too foundational."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Photography Lighting: Professionally Light Your Photos with these activities:
Read 'Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson
Read this book to gain a deeper understanding of exposure and how it affects lighting in photography.
Show steps
  • Read the book
  • Take notes
Review Strobe Lighting
Review the basics of strobe lighting to refresh your knowledge and prepare for the course.
Show steps
  • Read the articles
  • Watch the videos
  • Take notes
Follow a Flash Photography Tutorial
Follow a guided tutorial to learn how to use flash photography effectively and improve your lighting skills.
Browse courses on Flash Photography
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial
  • Follow the steps
  • Practice what you learn
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Attend a Lighting Workshop
Attend a lighting workshop to learn from experienced professionals and enhance your skills quickly.
Browse courses on Photography
Show steps
  • Find a workshop
  • Register for the workshop
  • Attend the workshop
Light Painting Exercises
Practice using artificial lighting to create specific effects and enhance your photography skills.
Show steps
  • Set up your camera
  • Choose your lighting
  • Practice different techniques
Create a Lighting Plan for a Photoshoot
Develop a lighting plan for a photoshoot to enhance your planning and execution skills.
Browse courses on Photography
Show steps
  • Choose your subject
  • Determine the lighting setup
  • Create a lighting plan
Develop a Lighting Portfolio
Create a portfolio of your lighting work to showcase your skills and attract clients or employers.
Browse courses on Photography
Show steps
  • Select your best work
  • Create a website or online portfolio
  • Promote your portfolio
Start a Lighting Business
Start your own lighting business to apply your skills and earn a living doing what you love.
Browse courses on Photography
Show steps
  • Develop a business plan
  • Secure funding
  • Build your team
  • Market your business
  • Start taking on clients

Career center

Learners who complete Photography Lighting: Professionally Light Your Photos will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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