One of the things that separates new photographers from those with many years of experience is their mastery of artificial light.
Over the years I’ve enjoyed the privilege of attending workshops with legendary and masterful photographers like David Beckstead, Joe McNally, Matthew Jordan Smith, Denis Reggie, Nate Kaiser, Jeff Newsom, and others. And this summer I’m attending a Jerry Ghionis workshop.
Knowledge of and mastery of off-camera artificial light is essential for the photographer wanting to feel comfortable working in dark wedding reception halls, wanting to add dramatic pop to outdoor portraits, or just wanting to bring their photography to the next level.
Fellow photographers ask me all the time whether I wouldn’t mind helping them get a better mastery of their lighting skills.
I wish that I could just give away this knowledge & time to my fellow photographers & friends. But as sole breadwinner for a family of 6 whose income is 100 percent from photography, as somebody awash in the tasks of running a small business, and as someone who has acquired this knowledge by investing well over $15,000 in workshops over the years, I cannot give it away.
I’ve tried sharing this knowledge through large Meetup.com groups, but found it lacking in quality of time and personalization. I wasn’t satisfied with what I was able to share with larger groups.
And so I am now offering a personalized, affordable, intensive, one-on-one workshop to Las Vegas photographers wanting to really grab the horns of the off-camera lighting beast.
6 REASONS WHY AN INDIVIDUAL, PERSONALIZED WORKSHOP WITH STEVE FOGARTY IS AN INCREDIBLE VALUE at $500
- Great Value – Inexpensive. Workshops with “name” photographers will cost you about $1,800-$2,500. Tuition alone is usually $800-$1,200. Add in food, travel & lodging and you will spend an additional $1,000 or more on average. An individualized workshop with Steve Fogarty will cost you $500.
- No Geographic Blackout. The reason one usually has to travel for workshops is because most enforce a blackout zone that forbids local photographers – i.e., “the competition” – from attending. I’m OK teaching you what I know. I want to help raise the knowledge level (and therefore the prices!) of my peers.
- Totally Personalized to Your Questions & Your Equipment. One of the main goals of a personalized workshop is to get you to understand your lighting equipment better, and – if you don’t yet have any lighting equipment – to introduce you to the four different lighting systems used by Steve Fogarty: Big strobes; Medium strobes; Little strobes; and hotlights.
- Face Time. Personal time with “name” workshop instructors is very thin, because these workshops usually have 10 to 15 students. You’re lucky to get 10 minutes of one-on-one with your mentor, and asking questions requires assertiveness. You will get at least 3 hours of direct, in-the-field time with Steve Fogarty, who will answer every question about lighting you have, to the best of his ability.
- No Upselling. Many workshops pressure you to buy their latest DVD or light modifier or photo bag or book, etc. I won’t try to sell you anything.
- No Travel, No Hassle. Most “big name” photography workshops require you to travel, rent a car, rent a hotel, etc. You’ll be away from your home, your family and your business for 4 days to a week. Your personalized, intensive workshop will be in Las Vegas, at your convenience. No time away from your home, family, or business.
HERE’S WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
- first and foremost, how to gain control of your own lights, how to more consistently and professionally make your lights do what you want.
- all of your questions about off-camera lighting will be answered, with hands-on doing, to the best of my ability.
- why bright sunny days are awesome! Free kicker light!
- why cloudy overcast days are awesome! Free fill light!
- why you should have DIFFERENT LIGHTING SYSTEMS for different conditions & circumstances.
- what is a KEY, a FILL, & a KICKER light, and when to use them.
- how to get the SOFTEST LIGHT.
- what are MODIFIERS, why MODIFIERS are so essential to great lighting, and how to use them.
- softboxes
- beauty dishes
- grids
- snoots
- umbrellas
- how to use a light meter. When. Why. How. And when you can ignore your light meter.
- inside tips, what I LOVE and DISLIKE about each of my lightings systems.
- how to use the four different lighting systems owned & used by Steve Fogarty:
- 4 Canon Speedlites in eTTL mode triggered with RadioPoppers and with Infrared
- Quantum T5d-R triggered with PocketWizards
- Paul C Buff White Lightning x3200 strobes triggered by PocketWizards
- Lowell i-Light video light
Friend Discount
This intensive, personal mentoring workshop costs $500. If you bring a friend it costs $950, a $50 savings. If you bring two friends (for a total of three students) it costs $1,350, a savings of $150.
FAQ
Will you help me learn & master my lighting gear?
Yes! One of the main purposes of this workshop is to bring you closer to mastery of your own lights, to educate you about off-camera lighting in general, and to introduce you to a range of lighting systems, their pros & cons.
Can I ask you ANYTHING?
Errrr…yes? Answers depend upon questions
Answer 1. Sunny 16 is a good place to start when doing full-sun portraits. Answer 2. When was I born? I’m a Pisces. Answer 3. My social security number is wah wah wah zing zing twang bang boom pow.
How much is this workshop?
$500
How long is this workshop?
Each student receives at least 3 consecutive hours of my time, up to 9 hours, if the workshop has 3 students. My commitment to you is that I will answer all of your questions to the best of my ability, however long that takes.
Is the workshop longer if I bring one or two friends?
Yes. My goal is to focus at least 3 hours on each individual. If everyone wants to stay for the entire day, as we move about to different locations and focus on the different questions and lighting systems unique to the other students, you are welcome to stay.
Where is this workshop?
In the Las Vegas area. But the exact location is totally dependent upon the kind of lighting you want to learn. Are you having trouble lighting dark wedding reception halls during the dance and cake cutting and garter toss? We can meet at a local hotel reception hall, and we will set up my lights, and your lights, just the way I do in such dark places. Are you wanting to add a little punch to your family portraits? We can meet at a lovely location for family portraits like Lake Las Vegas and bring lights into the mix in different ways – i.e., subtly or obviously. Do you need some guidance on lighting large groups (e.g., a full wedding party) in full daylight or at dusk or in full darkness? We’ll arrange your shoot to occur around dusk and evening.
Can I use the photos we make in my portfolio?
Absolutely. While many workshops forbid you from using the photos you create during the workshop in your own portfolio (e.g., Jerry Ghionis), the photos you create with me are yours to use as you please.
Will we be shooting with models?
Yes. We will have models available to us if necessary for at least one hour per student.
How many students will be in this workshop?
One to three, max. One of the main purposes of these workshops is to give you individual attention highly personalized to exactly your questions and gear and needs. I will answer all of your questions to the best of my ability.
Can I do follow up questions with you through email or chat or txt or phone?
Absolutely! I will be available for at least one additional hour of questions any time after the workshop, all at the same time or non-concurrent.
I don’t see any way to schedule the date & time of our workshop. How do I do that?
Once you’ve paid your tuition, through email or phone or txt we will find the date & time & place that best meets your needs.
What if you don’t know my gear? How can you help me learn it?
I ask that you send me a link to the User Manual of any lighting gear you plan to bring to our workshop, and that you bring your user manual to the workshop. If you have to print out and staple a .pdf, that’s good.
by Steve Fogarty
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