Lighting the Editorial Portrait

Working portrait photographers must navigate an ever-growing set of challenges while maintaining a unique creative vision and a natural and authentic connection to their subject. A photo shoot that goes perfectly as planned is a rare occurrence and having a set of skills and techniques to meet and overcome setbacks is the hallmark of a professional, be they emerging artists or seasoned veterans.

In this highly interactive and inclusive four-day workshop, Joe Pugliese collaborates with participants, approaching the idea of a portrait session as a moving target. It’s crucial to determine which practices yield results with the most impact, regardless of limitations of budget, time, subject, and/or client demands. With that in mind, we visualize the ideal outcome of a shoot and work to achieve it in mock scenarios that present common hurdles that can arise during any production, big or small. Be prepared to tackle a wide range of assignments covering varying styles of editorial portraiture, including studio lighting, environmental portraiture – with and without the use of flash. Every aspect of a shoot is considered—from start to finish—including workflow and pre-production, creative direction, lighting design, subject interaction, editing, and post-production.

Joe’s experience spans years of magazine covers, features, and advertising assignments, and his unique perspective is demonstrated during portfolio reviews and feedback sessions on the workshop’s assignments. You leave with renewed inspiration and a confident approach to take into any editorial photo shoot.