Studio portrait workshop · New York City

Studio Mastery

A full day · David Dupuy Studios, 45 W 29th St, Manhattan · Next date to be announced

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Up to 6 students · 2 pro models · 2 instructors

A full day in a Manhattan studio with two professional models, two instructors and no more than six students. Learn camera settings for strobes, how to set up and shape the light, and how to pose and direct a model, and build your portfolio while you do it.

  • Full day
  • 2 models, 2 instructors
  • Up to 6 students
  • All skill levels
Woman dressed in red under a red fringed hat against a dark background
Hasselblad X2D II 100C · XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 E · in the studio
  • 30+Years in photography
  • 2M+Copies of Stunning Digital Photography sold
  • 1.6MYouTube subscribers
  • 3:1Students per instructor

The day

About 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, with a break for lunch

  1. 30 min

    Welcome and setup

    The studio’s strobes, continuous lights and triggers, a tour of the modifiers (softboxes, beauty dishes, reflectors, grids and gels), and how to work with a professional model.

  2. 30 min

    Lighting fundamentals

    Camera settings for strobes: raw, manual mode, base ISO, sync speed, f/8. Connect to the lights, place one light for shadows and a catchlight, read the histogram, and shoot Rembrandt, loop and butterfly setups. Students rotate between shooting, assisting and lighting.

  3. 45 min

    Multi-light setups

    Two- and three-light setups: key, fill, hair and rim, background. Controlling contrast and separation, gels and color for mood, and the hard cases: backlit, high-key and low-key.

  4. 45 min

    Your first shoot

    Lead your own shoot with the first model, one on one, applying the morning’s lessons with Tony’s feedback as you go.

  5. 1 hour

    Advanced techniques

    With the second model: fashion and beauty lighting (clamshell, edge light, beauty dish with reflector), the commercial look (hard light, gels, dramatic shadows), and using props, backgrounds and styling to tell a story.

  6. 1 hour

    Your second shoot

    Lead your own shoot with the second model. Refine your technique, posing and storytelling, and capture portfolio images under professional conditions.

  7. 30 min

    Wrap-up and critique

    Lighting workflow for your own or a rented studio, gear recommendations from budget to pro, marketing and client expectations, and a group critique of selected images.

Portraits like these

From Tony’s studio work, including two Studio Mastery sessions

Red-haired woman in a pale green lace dress against a muted green backdrop
Shot at the Jan 17 sessionHasselblad X2D II 100C · XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 E
Red-haired woman in a green blazer lying on dense green foliage
Shot at the Feb 20 sessionHasselblad X2D II 100C · XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 E
Woman in a wide black sun hat that hides her eyes, red lips, pale gray backdrop
One light and a gray backdropHasselblad X2D II 100C · XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 E

Your instructor and the studio

Two instructors, up to 6 students

Tony Northrup

Photographer, author and teacher

More than 30 years in photography. Author of Stunning Digital Photography, with more than 2 million copies sold, and host of a YouTube channel with 1.6 million subscribers.

About Tony

David Dupuy Studios

45 W 29th St, Suite 301, New York, NY 10001

A working portrait studio in Manhattan with a cyclorama, a couch, a vanity and a fire escape set, so you can change the look without changing locations. All the lights, stands, modifiers and triggers are included.

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From a past session

A student’s note to Tony

“He made it all seem natural and simple to me.”

Arka PathakArka PathakStudio Mastery student@arkanath on Instagram

  • In his words

    “It was a blast attending the studio portrait workshop by Tony, it was my first time in a studio and he made it all seem natural and simple to me. I feel so confident now that I can shoot something for my friends on my own.”

Questions

Is it right for my skill level?

Yes. All skill levels are welcome, beginning to advanced. With two instructors for up to six students, you get hands-on help at every setup, and you’ll lead your own shoots with both models.

What should I bring?

A camera, your favorite portrait lens, a full battery and an empty memory card. The studio’s lights, stands, modifiers and triggers are included, so you don’t need your own flash gear.

Can I use the photos?

Yes. A model release for portfolio use is included, so the portraits you make are yours to show.

How long is the day?

About seven hours, roughly 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, with a break for lunch. Coffee, water and seltzer are provided.

Where is the studio?

David Dupuy Studios, 45 W 29th St, Suite 301, in Manhattan, between Broadway and Sixth Avenue. Tony emails the details the day before.

When is the next date?

New dates are being scheduled now. Join the list and you’ll hear first, before a date is announced anywhere else.

A full day · David Dupuy Studios, Manhattan

Six students. Two models. One day.

Dates go to the list first. Add your email and Tony will tell you as soon as the next session is scheduled.

Email me the next date

Ready to shoot sooner? Outdoor Portraits is on sale now: Sat, Oct 17, golden hour to city lights.