Lighting & Camera Skills Archives

The Photographer’s Edge: Posing & Lighting Secrets of World-Class Portraits

This is a 5-day, hands-on class where you’ll master the art of posing and lighting at a level that will set your work apart. No more memorizing stiff poses or endlessly copying others, here, you’ll learn the posing system that works for every genre: weddings, portraits, fashion, families, seniors, and more. Posing is a language not a set of rules. We will learn the language of posing together so you never how to never run out of things to "say" during a shoot.

The Photographer’s Edge: Posing & Lighting Secrets of World-Class Portraitsstevekozak2025-08-14T11:40:19-05:00

Movie Magic: Lighting & Storytelling Inspired by Film

Learn how todraw inspiration from iconic movies and translate those looks and moods into still photography. You’ll get tons of hands-on experience trying new tools and techniques — things you may not have had the chance to play with before. From classic items like gels, grids, and reflectors to more advanced tools like gobos, flags, nets, and scrims, you’ll discover how each shapes and motivates light in unique ways.

Movie Magic: Lighting & Storytelling Inspired by Filmstevekozak2025-08-13T15:32:10-05:00

Like a Fairytale – Natural and Artificial Light Photography

Step into a space where photography becomes more than a technical act — where portraits breathe emotion, color sets the tone, and each frame tells a quiet story. This class is a journey into visual storytelling through portraiture. Together, we’ll explore the poetic side of photography - how to craft atmosphere, evoke feeling, and use subtle tools like light, composition, wardrobe, color, and posing to create images that resonate.

Like a Fairytale – Natural and Artificial Light Photographystevekozak2025-08-13T11:38:02-05:00

Mastering Commercial Photography: Vision, Lighting, and Client Confidence

In this comprehensive master class, photographer Ab Sesay will guide you through the creative and logistical framework behind successful commercial shoots. You’ll explore advanced lighting techniques for photographing people, products with people, and people within real-world spaces both in-studio and on location. But lighting is just the beginning.

Mastering Commercial Photography: Vision, Lighting, and Client Confidencestevekozak2025-08-13T15:44:09-05:00

The Story-Driven Portrait: A Masterclass in Emotion, Technique, and Creative Impact

The Art of Vision & Story: A Hands-On Masterclass in Portrait Photography and Cinematic Storytelling Step into the next level of your creative journey. This immersive class is not your average photography class—it's a transformational creative experience designed for visual artists ready to go beyond technical proficiency and into emotional, narrative-driven mastery.

The Story-Driven Portrait: A Masterclass in Emotion, Technique, and Creative Impactstevekozak2025-08-13T10:22:07-05:00

Harness Flash: From Fearful to Fearless in One Week

If flash feels frustrating, confusing, or like it’s holding your work back — this class is for you. You’ll learn how to control your light instead of letting it control you — and more importantly, how to use it with purpose. This class is built for photographers who understand the exposure triangle, sync speed, and the difference between flash and continuous light.

Harness Flash: From Fearful to Fearless in One Weekstevekozak2025-08-11T14:48:00-05:00

Learning to See and use Light to Tell Stories

This class will transform you as a photographer. It does not matter where you are in your career; each participant will receive specialized instruction from concept to print. Learn to see differently before you even put the camera to your face. Carl will cover; the psychology of the portrait, the right light for the situation, the power of seeing shape, form, and lines, and learning how to harness whatever light you have. This class will open your eyes to the world of natural light and artificial light portraits in an all encompassing learning experience.

Learning to See and use Light to Tell Storiesstevekozak2025-08-13T11:51:17-05:00

Quality AND Quantity – Connecting High School Senior Portraits, Sportraits, and Volume Sports Teams

Ready for an adventure into all things high school senior? Feel like you need a creative push alongside others that have been in business for a while? If you have an established senior business and are looking to break into Media Day style Sportraits or Varsity Teams (or vice versa), this advanced lighting, posing, and business class is where you need to be. Learn how to plan & attack the pre/on-site/& post processes to keep you organized and moving forward.

Quality AND Quantity – Connecting High School Senior Portraits, Sportraits, and Volume Sports Teamsstevekozak2025-08-13T15:38:54-05:00

The Complete Photographer: Mastering Your Camera, Flash and Composition

This course is designed for photographers who want to take command of their camera functions and who are eager to explore the creative potential of flash photography. This course covers essential aspects of photography, from camera controls, lenses and flash to creative composition techniques. This course is ideal for photographers who want to gain a solid understanding of camera operation, explore the nuances of lenses, master the use of flash, and enhance their composition skills.

The Complete Photographer: Mastering Your Camera, Flash and Compositionstevekozak2025-08-13T12:02:18-05:00