The Keys to Creative Studio Lighting – Get Creative With Ian Van Der Wolde

Ready to stop playing it safe and start lighting like an artist?

If you’ve nailed the basics — you know your way around a softbox, you understand key vs fill, and you’re confident with exposure — but your portraits still feel… flat?

This is where it gets fun. This is where you level up.

Join Ian van der Wolde, one of Australia’s most respected lighting educators, for a hands-on deep dive into creative studio lighting that goes far beyond the standard playbook.

This isn’t about replicating cookie-cutter lighting diagrams.

It’s about learning to see light differently — and use it as a creative force.

You’ll discover how to:

• Use coloured gels to shift the emotional tone of your image

• Mix hard and soft light to create texture, separation, and shape

• Get creative with gobos and spot modifiers to craft light and shadow

• Layer light sources for complex, editorial-style setups

• Match your lighting to the subject, styling, and concept — intentionally and artistically

Ian will guide you through multiple lighting scenarios — from high-drama fashion looks to moody, minimalist portraiture — breaking down the why behind each decision and helping you think more critically and creatively about every modifier you reach for.

Then, it’s your turn. You’ll experiment, shoot, and build your own setups in a collaborative, supportive environment — with a professional model on set and Ian providing real-time feedback.

👀 Who This Is For

This workshop is ideal if:

• You’ve done beginner lighting workshops and are hungry for more

• You want to create work that stands out in a sea of sameness

• You’ve got the gear — but not yet the confidence to try bold, creative setups

• You shoot for brands, clients, or your own portfolio — and want to bring more intentionality and emotion into your lighting

This is your chance to move beyond technically correct and into visually striking.

🛠️ What You’ll Walk Away With

• Confidence using advanced lighting tools like gels, gobos, and hard modifiers

• Real-world experience building complex, layered setups

• A deeper understanding of lighting theory, mood, and control

• A series of portfolio-ready images that reflect your creative growth

Where to park?

There’s plenty of street parking around the studio, and if that’s full, you’ll usually find space at Bunnings or Woolworths just across the road (also a good excuse to grab a snack or last-minute plant).

Important note: Google Maps likes to play games—it often drops people at the back of the complex. We are Unit 27, but don’t let that fool you: we’re actually the second unit in the main front section of the complex, not hiding out in the far corners.

Please don’t park in the warehouse bays inside the complex (we know they look tempting), as they’re reserved for loading and you might end up making friends with a forklift. Parking is at your own discretion—we can’t be held responsible for any parking fines, tow trucks, or passive-aggressive notes left on windscreens.

Spaces are limited—don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn from one of Australia’s leading educators and elevate the way you think about light.