Movie Magic: Lighting & Storytelling Inspired by Film

Julie Gayler
Track: Lighting & Camera Skills

At a Glance

• Go beyond basic portraits to craft atmosphere and narrative depth.
• Get hands-on experience with advanced lighting tools (gels, grids, scrims, nets, gobos, and more!)
• Learn to design, pose, and direct to give your subjects an unforgettable experience.
• Elevate your artistic voice and walk away with unforgettable images.

Class Description

Are you one of those photographers (like me) who can’t help but watch movies and get completely absorbed by the scenes — noticing every subtle choice that was made?

Movies have always inspired my photography. Not just because it looks cool (though it definitely does), but because light in film is a storyteller all its own. It shapes mood and emotion, sculpts characters, and breathes life into a moment, pulling you right into the scene. That’s exactly what I wanted my images to do.

So, I dug deep into the elements of cinema — studying how filmmakers create that magic — and now I want to share it all with you! You don’t need a million-dollar Hollywood budget to bring your ideas to life. You just need to understand the tools that will help you tell the story you envision — and learn how to use them creatively.

During the week, we’ll draw 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.

But we won’t stop at lighting alone. We’ll explore all the details that make an image feel like a scene from a film: concept development, set building, composition, color theory, posing and directing, and even color grading in post. All of these elements work together to create images with depth and narrative power.

We’ll have a blast collaborating on set, learning what it feels like to direct your own mini “movie moment.” I’ll be your gaffer specialist – the one who can help you execute the vision in your mind!

The sets I’m developing are not a formula, but an opportunity to problem solve and think creatively…your way!

Over the course of the week, you will learn to think like a director, and shoot like a photographer. We are also going to have fun with some movie trivia, how to analyze favorite films for inspiration, and enjoy nerding out over all things film!

This class is perfect for those who already have some portrait experience using at least one light off camera, but are ready to push past “pretty” and create work that feels intentional, emotive, and cinematic. You’ll walk away with a new way of seeing light, a fresh approach to storytelling, and images for your portfolio.

I’m bringing a lot of fun toys to play with — but the best part will be watching you take that inspiration and making it your own. I’ll have universal controllers available to use strobes, all you will need to bring is your camera/lens kit to create.

We will be working on 8×10 ish sets, and primarily using studio appropriate focal lengths (50mm, 85mm if you like primes; 24-105 territory for those of you with zooms).

If you tether (it’s a game changer…we will talk about that too!), bring your laptop/cord.

We will be using Photoshop and Capture One/Lightroom for the editing portions, if you want to follow along. Most of all, bring a lot of SD cards, because this class will provide plenty of creative shooting opportunities!

This is more than just a class — it’s a whole new way to tell stories with light.

• CLASS INTENSITY: Blue
• CLASS BREAKDOWN
  Classroom instruction & demos: 30%
  Hands-on: 65%
  Post-production: 5%
• PREREQUISITES:
  Lighting 2:  I kill it with available light.
  Lighting 3: Confident with additive light and OCF.
  Post-Production 1: All Levels
  Studio Business 2: Just starting out.
  Studio Business 3:  In my growth journey.
  Studio Business 4: Established and ready for more.

What do these mean? Learn More