Garage Studios

The next course dates for the Studio Lighting Part 1 are 6th & 7th March (only 3 places left) 1st & 2nd May and 10th & 11th July. Bookings being taken now.

To book your place or to find out more information click here to get in contact with us.

We now offer 2 Studio Lighting courses- Part1 and Part2. Please be aware that if you are booking onto Part2, we require you to have completed Part1, or demonstrate a good knowledge or lighting through a portfolio. As we work with very small numbers of students in each group, we hope to ensure that each group will be at the same technical standard, as everyone will then get the most from the course.

Studio Lighting Part1 (2 Day course- £300)
Studio Lighting Part2 (2 Day course- £450)

You can book onto either of these courses- you dont need to book for both- though we would need to see your current work if you want to book Part2 without completing Part1.

A 10% discount is available on Part2 if you have already completed Part1, we will also offer a discount for Group Bookings mid-week and if you book Part1+2 at the same time.

Studio Lighting Part 1 is a 2 day course with an experienced model and all lighting equipment provided, all in studio for £300.

This is an introduction to studio lighting and the techniques and equipment involved, it is hands on practical course with a basis away from technical. This will be offered as a one day (according to demand) and a two day (£300) course, with a maximum of 6 people on the two day and 6 people on the one day or we can tailor a package to your needs.

DarkDaze the tutor has a great deal of experience of studio lighting and on location for still and video, film and digital, and for personal work and commissions, his work has been published and exhibited internationally.

You will learn through practice and are encouraged to take a lot of images as throughout the day- this is not a ‘sit down theory’ course, but is very hands on.

We provide all the equipment needed, you will only need to bring your Digital SLR (please check it can take a pc sync or hotshoe sync). We also supply an experienced and easy going model for the duration of the course. (Please note this is not a Glamour course). This is a very easygoing safe environment to learn how to interact with your subject and get the most out of new skills.

You will learn about lighting for many aspects of photography- but the overall aim is that you will begin to ‘see’ light differently and whilst improving your technique. No experience of flash/strobe is strictly necessary- but we do try and keep groups together of the same level of experience. We are confident that you will gain a great deal from this course and leave a more enthusiastic photographer.

Past attendees have gone on to shoot adverting jobs in London and have their shots accepted into stock picture libraries, and previous assistants of DarkDaze have gone onto full time work in the industry.

We run the course approx 10-5.30 both days and we cover all aspects of using Strobes/Studio Flash from very basic set-ups, to more complicated 4 or 5 light set-ups. You will learn fully confident in using Studio equipment, light meters, lighting a room, lighting a subject and working with a model- as well as being confident in experimenting with set-ups of your own. We provided a tutor and Lighting Assistant all weekend and encourage you to shoot as much as possible to get over the fear that some photographers have when they enter a studio or work with a new, unknown model.

To book your place or to find out more information click here to get in contact with us.

Studio Lighting Part 2

This course will cover shooting in the studio with a range of advanced lighting set-ups and include shooting to a brief. It will equip you with the necessary knowledge for shooting editorial/portraits/headshots and fashion, working with a client, and directing models.

This is a follow on to Lighting Part 1 in, introducing more advanced lighting set-ups, but also we have drafted in our regular shoot stylists from Ophelia Fancy, Stevi Jelbart and Emma Sandham-King. As well as running their own business these ladies have styled for ITV primetime shows, Channel 4, MTV parties/Dazed/Westwood and numerous bespoke clients, as well as all the Garage Studios commercial shoots. They will lead you through styling a shoot for a client, from fashion to portrait, working with you and the model(s). Hands on experience is worth so much more and will prepare you for commercial shoots, but they also help you as a photographer realise your ‘vision’.

We will keep all groups to a maximum of 6 students per course so you will receive full attention from the tutors, the group will be split at intervals to work with the stylists or DarkDaze and his regular lighting assistant Natasha Alipour-Faridani.

Approximate Itinerary.

Day One
10am start at Garage Studios.
Portfolio discussion with work from Tutors and other examples.
Preparing for a shoot- discussion with Stylists, Make-Up artist, Client and Subject.
Shooting style discussion with your tutor.

Lunchbreak 45mins

Discussion and practical work with Lighting Set-ups.
Working with the subject/model (supervised and guided by tutor).
Review.
Finish 5.30pm

Day One will allow for both Group work on lighting set-ups as well as 1:1 shooting time with the model, with help on all aspects of posing/composition and lighting from DarkDaze/Assistant and the Stylists.

Day Two
10am Start at Garage Studios.
Review of day one- issues, any lighting queries.
Preparation for 1:1 shoot with model (discussion with Stylists/MUA and DD)
1:1 review of previous day shots with Natasha or DarkDaze.
Digital Editing Session.
Image Review with Group.
Discussion on portfolio and approaching clients.
Finish 5pm.

We will provide all models, sets, make-up and clothes for model. You will need a good quality DSLR and to have completed Studio Lighting Part 1 and a serious level of enthusiasm for lighting.

The real emphasis on this course is to acquire real confidence with lighting for all situations, as well as working with a brief. Much of modern photography is problem solving and we will equip you with the skills you need to make it in the commercial world, you will also get a lot of 1:1 focus on your composition, developing a style and your portfolio.

To book your place or to find out more information click here to get in contact with us.