Module 5: Advanced Lighting

Mastering light is one of the most powerful steps in a photographer’s development, and this module takes you through that craft with clarity and purpose. You’ll dive deeper into key lighting equipment. From speedlights and studio flash systems to monobloc heads, floor packs, transmitters, and essential hard and soft light shapers, building the technical foundation needed for confident, versatile setups.

From there, the focus shifts to lighting people. You’ll look at the essentials of portraiture, face shapes, symmetry, and how lighting affects expression and form. Core techniques such as broad, short, split, and butterfly lighting are paired with creative approaches like high-key, low-key, silhouette, Rembrandt, and Badger/Krupps lighting. Whether working on headshots, ¾ portraits, full-length images, or groups, you’ll learn to shape light to flatter your subjects and support your vision.

The module then expands into product photography, location lighting, and production planning. You’ll explore how to handle reflective surfaces, use dark-field and light-field setups, work effectively on location, and incorporate colour to elevate storytelling. Finally, you’ll walk through conceptualising, planning, shooting, and wrapping up a project—building a complete, professional workflow that carries through every lighting situation.

Why This Module Matters

After going through the essential aspects of light in the previous module, you will further develop your lighting skills and equipment knowledge in Module 5. In this advanced lighting module, you'll:

• Learn a range of lighting methods and techniques for multiple scenarios and subjects.
• Develop your lighting equipment knowledge, investigate monoblocs, packs, speedlights and accessories.
• Practice several lighting methods to create various moods and looks.
• Build production workflow strategies to create organised sessions to achieve your project goals.

What You’ll Learn

• Artificial Light Equipment
  Investigate speedlight, studio flash, floor packs, monoblocs and accessories.
• Lighting People
  Learn portraiture lighting styles for various facial features and sharpen your judgement.
• Lighting Techniques
  Explore high key, low key, split, butterfly, Rembrandt, Badger/Krupps, and more!
• Location & Production Planning
  Build organised workflows and practical methods to plan your sessions.

What You’ll Do

• Portrait Practical Tasks
  Complete job-like portraiture briefs to challenge acquired lighting knowledge.
• Still Life Project
  Practice Still Life photography, capturing artificially lit images for a hypothetical client.
• Location Lighting Assignment
  Scout locations and test your judgment and lighting skills following specific guidelines.
• Convert Theory Into Practice
  Present creative images applying acquired techniques and methodical workflows.

Module Outcomes

By completing Module 5, you will:

• Develop a strong understanding of lighting equipment, its attributes and related accessories.
• Gain confidence to create several lighting set-ups for various photography genres and subjects.
• Learn how to scout locations, evaluate variables and prepare a production plan.
• Be confident to execute a food, product advertising, editorial or conceptual photography brief.

Guidance Every Step of the Way

Our expert photography tutors will guide you step by step — from understanding lighting equipment options to creating attractive images with artificial lighting for a range of subjects. With their guidance, you’ll confidently do another important step towards professional expertise in your photography abilities.