Portrait Lighting Mastery
Transform your skills - Develop confidence - Take better pictures
"This course is a truly cost-effective way to buy into deep knowledge. It was a transformative journey to excellence in portrait photography." Ted Ridgway Watt - January 2024
Meet your tutor - Damien Lovegrove
Portrait Lighting Mastery - online course
"There's no doubting that Damien Lovegrove's work is simply stunning. What I found amazing in this course was Damien's willingness to share all his tips, tricks and success secrets. Not just in the course itself, but also in our email exchanges. Thanks Damien!" - Ian Davies
- 50 lessons in 12 modules
- 46 videos - 11 hours run time
- 10 group Zoom sessions in 2024
- Full email support
- Lifetime access
Course Curriculum
Click on the down arrow below to see the full curriculum
Is this course right for me?
If you're someone who's apprehensive about using flash, frequently finds themselves salvaging photos in post-production, or leans heavily on the forgiving qualities of natural light, you'll find this course invaluable. Maybe you're new to portrait photography and eager to lay down a solid foundation in lighting, or perhaps you're a dedicated natural light photographer wanting the flexibility to shoot at any time of the day. Whatever your level or preference, this course aims to demystify lighting and give you the creative control you crave in your photography.
If you don't see yourself as technically savvy, you're more than welcome here. While we may touch upon numbers occasionally throughout this course, our primary tool for evaluating our art will be our own eyes. I've frequently observed that those with limited technical know-how often create some of the most inventive and beautiful work. Whether you're reliant on TTL, finding it tough to pre-visualise lighting, bewildered by flash, or simply dissatisfied with your portrait lighting—this course is tailor-made for you.
What will I learn?
Upon completing this course, you'll emerge with renewed confidence, able to take control of the light around you or better informed and able to choose the perfect lights and modifiers for your portraits.
You will learn far more than the fundamentals of portrait lighting, I'll explain how to communicate with the people you are photographing, how to develop a shoot rhythm and much more.
As well as full email support you will be able to pose questions for my complimentary Zoom sessions for an in-depth answer to any problems or challenges that you face.
I'll show you a diverse palette of portrait styles, ranging from the timeless elegance of old Hollywood to the contemporary flair of cutting-edge editorial fashion. I'll explain the strategies behind each look and what problems to avoid.
Do I need lights?
The short answer is yes. The long answer is...
I understand that choosing the right lighting equipment can be a daunting task. With questions such as: Do I need a flash or continuous light for my work?, What power of light do I need?, and Which modifiers should I choose?
This course is designed to empower you to make informed choices. You may already possess some—or even all—of the lighting gear you need. Together, we'll ensure you only invest in equipment that genuinely complements your work, sparing you from unnecessary purchases.
Being able to create your own light opens up a world of possibilities that didn't exist using just the available light. When you use your lighting kit well, your pictures will look all the more fabulous for it.
Equipped with the right tools and freshly honed skills, you'll gain the confidence to capture far more creative portraits.
Testimonials
★★★★★
Luciana Rizzi - January 2024
There is no doubt that Damien is not only the master of light but also the master of teaching. I did not hesitate to enrol in this Portrait Lighting Mastery course in the founders round as he promised to cover all aspects of lighting and explain everything that he has learned about portrait lighting over the years. This lighting course has thoroughly exceeded my expectations. Damien 's extensive and clear explanations cover everything you need to know, right from the start. His wealth of knowledge, talent and skills become evident as you go through the course. He really knows how to build beautiful portraits from scouting locations, finding and liaising with models, and styling a shoot. All done with creativity, elegance, panache, attention to detail and a sense of humour. Damien ultimately achieves a sublime style of photography that I’m so in love with! All the tools that I need to master lighting and develop my own style are in this course - Thank you Damien!
★★★★★
Alan Wheetman - January 2024
The course content is well thought through, structured, entertaining and educational. Damien presents this course, as he does with all his tutorials, in a calm and relaxed manner at a pace that sits comfortably between the novice learner and the seasoned professional. There is something for everyone to learn from Damien's vast wealth of lighting experience. His delivery is engaging and fun and very quickly I got drawn into the learning process. I am so pleased I signed up for this course. The locations and models alone are breathtaking, but Damien's knowledge and application of lighting is the icing on the cake that makes this course a definitive must have.
★★★★★
Dave Broomfield - January 2024
I’ve really found all the content both enjoyable and very informative.
★★★★★
Stuart Reece - January 2024
Whether you are a complete novice or a photographer with years of experience I believe that you will find considerable benefit in enrolling on this course. Damien’s enthusiasm is inspiring and his real life professional experience and considerable knowledge are valuable assets which enhance the course. If you are serious about improving as a photographer I would encourage you to take this course.
★★★★★
Frank de Groene - January 2024
I like this course very much. It gives a lot of information, I like the way you simplify the use of light with great results. I also like the many examples. The video’s where you actually show how you shape the light to make a picture are the most informative, like in the sections “Taking control of available light” and “Back light, kick light and two point lighting”.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the course start and finish?
The course starts the moment you enrol and you can go at your own pace. The course content is initially released over a period of 14 days so as not to overwhelm you from the start, but you are free to take as long as you want to finish the course.
How long do I have access to the course?
This is a lifetime access course. You can log back in at any point and join a Q&A Zoom session if you would like me to discuss anything in more depth. You will have my school email address and as a student you will be able to ask me for advice at any time.
How does this fit in with your previous videos?
I thoroughly recommend that participants have a copy of the video called Lumen and a copy of my ebook called Portraits. These supplement the learning in this course and can be bought at a discounted rate by course students. If you have recently purchased Lumen, Portraits or the complete Lovegrove Collection you will have received by email a heavily discounted invitation to join this course. If you didn’t receive the email please let me have the email address you used to buy the products and your current email that you would like me to send the discount code too.
I have all your previous content and attended your workshops. Should I enrol on this course?
This course is pretty much all new in concept. I have used 10 previous
items within the 47 videos. The vast majority of the content is newly
recorded and the scripts/ texts are newly written.
It is different from the previous videos and my eBook because it brings
together all the knowledge and information into one coherent course. My
previous videos, like Lumen and Illumination are great accompaniments to
this course because they show my communication with the models and the
rigging of lights etc.
Moving forward, all my BTS videos will be published exclusively within
this course. I plan to make 10 or 12 completely new items each year and
over time this Portrait Lighting Mastery course will probably have twice
the number of videos than it currently has. The price of the course will
increase in time to cover the added value but once enrolled you will
have access to all the new content for free.
If you are on the fence, my advice is to enrol and check out the
content. There are 14 days of drip feed and once you have access to the
complete course you will be able to determine the true value of the
course to you. I have a 30 day full money back guarantee so you can
activate this if you are not completely satisfied.
Why can't I just watch instructional videos on YouTube?
You can do that for sure but you must understand that the majority of the content in this course is unique. I’ve not held anything back and you can email me anytime with questions that arise. You will also get access to a series of Zoom seminars where I answer student questions.
How many Zoom sessions can I attend for free?
You can attend as many Zoom sessions as you like. They are currently scheduled approximately every 4 to 5 weeks with a break in August. All the dates for 2024 and the log in details are published already in the course curriculum.
What sort of time commitment is needed to get the full benefits?
There are times in all of our lives where restrictions on time or money prevent us from doing the things that we love. It is easier to find the time to watch the videos and take on the knowledge so when you can set up shoots again you will be starting from a far better place.
Is this course a good investment for me?
A one day workshop with me costs about $500, A multi day adventure costs $5000 and I’m well aware that these prices are well out of the reach of a lot of photographers who want to learn my skills. This was one of the reasons I set about creating this masterwork containing all the knowledge and wisdom that I possess. I started by restricting the content to portraiture lighting but as you will know by now, I’ve expanded the curriculum into other related areas of photography. It doesn’t stop here though. I’ll be adding new content and updating older content from time to time too. There is also direct contact via email support with me. I don’t use ghost writers or virtual PAs. I respond to all my emails personally. Then there are 10 Zoom sessions each year where I get to answer your questions on all things photography. All things considered I think the course pricing represents good value.
What could possibly go wrong?
Exactly! Once you have completed this course, that niggling fear of shooting portraits will be gone and a new level of confidence will empower your creativity. You'll want to get out and shoot knowing that you have a greater skill level to utilise. You won't be alone either. You can reach out to me for help and advice via email. When you are on a shoot you might find yourself asking the question "What would Damien do here?" and then wait for the inspiration to arrive.
What if I'm unhappy with this course?
I want you to be completely satisfied with this course. If for any reason you're not delighted, I will give you a full refund, so you can enrol risk free.
Don't miss this opportunity to supercharge your skills and transform your photography. Enrol now and join the other creatives on this journey of discovery.