Fundamentals of Photographic Lighting

Foundations of Photographic Light: Practical lighting skills for studio and natural environments. 6 Weeks | Prerequisite: Photo I: Aperture, Shutter Speed, & ISO (ART-X406.29) or equivalent experience.

This foundational lighting course is designed for photographers who are new to lighting or want to build confidence working with light in a variety of settings.

Through observation, guided practice, and hands-on assignments, you’ll learn how light behaves and how to use it intentionally to shape mood, depth, and visual impact in your photographs.

Course Details You’ll explore working with natural light and introduced lighting tools while reinforcing essential camera fundamentals, including aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

The course covers core lighting concepts such as contrast control, lighting ratios, and the Inverse Square Law, helping you understand how to balance exposure and tonal range in real-world situations.

You’ll also learn a basic digital workflow and make essential image adjustments using Lightroom.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to observe and control natural light, add light to a scene with purpose, and plan simple lighting setups that support creative photographic compositions—providing a strong foundation for more advanced lighting and studio work.

You’ll finish with a portfolio that reflects your growing mastery of light and a deeper understanding of how to use it as a tool for storytelling and mood creation.