After over two years monkeying around with my camera and integrating lighting in to get the best shot possible, I figured it was time to learn from an expert. While Jocelyn was out of town at a trade show, I attended one of Don Gianatti’s Lighting Essentials workshops. We all rolled into Spindle Studios, a great design/photography firm in Columbus, OH at around 8:30 on a Sunday morning and went to work. We finally broke for dinner – eleven hours later – after learning more than just great tips, but truly a new way to think about light. Some of the results of the best two days of learning I’ve experienced in a long time are below.

All of the models were fantastic – big props to Grace, Casie, Mahmoud, Michaila, Catherine, and James! Don is a great teacher and mentor of young photographers, and I call him a friend. I can’t wait to check out one of his more advanced workshops! You can check out Don’s great work here.