Learn the Content of the Studio Photography Course Through One-on-One Private Lessons
The 5-week studio photography course we launched in 2009—covering lighting, portraiture, and model photography—is now available as one-on-one private lessons with Burak Bulut Yıldırım. The program is tailored to your skill level and consists of modules on single-light setups, High Key, Rembrandt, Butterfly, creative color, and fashion lighting.
We are not currently offering group courses with a fixed schedule. We tailor the theoretical and practical topics from our previous program into a personalized study plan based on your equipment, experience, and the type of photography you want to pursue.
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Is the studio photography course still ongoing?
The former 5-week group course is no longer offered. The program’s modules—lighting, portraiture, fashion, and practical work with models—can be selected for one-on-one private lessons. The number of lessons required is determined and scheduled once the student’s starting level and the number of shoots they wish to work on have been established.
For this reason, the “week” headings on this page do not correspond to the current calendar. The content below consists of independent study modules that can be added to the private lesson schedule.
What do participants in the studio lighting class have to say?
From among 386 Google reviews, we selected the experiences that most closely matched the topics of studio lighting, modeling practice, and one-on-one training.
“We took a private lesson on lighting from Burak Bulut. By the end of the class, we had no unanswered questions left. We left the workshop having truly internalized the material and practiced enough.”Ender Yurtoğlu
“They offer professional training; Burak Hoca personally oversees the program and teaches everything down to the finest detail. I took modeling and Photoshop classes at the studio.”Fatih Sezgin
“Burak Hoca is the best in the business, especially when it comes to lighting. He creates a very warm atmosphere that makes everyone who visits feel like a member of this wonderful family.”Ergün Okyay
How does a private studio photography lesson work?
The program is set up in three steps: first, we determine your skill level and your photography goals; next, we select the appropriate lighting modules; and finally, we implement the setups through hands-on practice and critique. This way, class time is dedicated not to a general curriculum, but to the topics you actually need to work on.
Level and Objective Analysis
We evaluate the camera and lighting equipment you use, your experience with portrait photography, and the type of images you want to create.
Setting Up the Lighting Plan
Select the necessary modules from single-light setups, classic portrait lighting, creative color, fashion lighting, or equipment usage.
Application and Critique
You handle the setup, and we’ll evaluate the results together. The direction, contrast, and ratio of the light, as well as its effect on the model, are adjusted during the shoot.
What studio photography topics can be covered?
The 5-week curriculum of the old course can now be broken down into 5 independent modules. One student might focus solely on single-light and portrait photography; another might study classic lighting, creative color, and fashion setups all at once.
Portrait, model, and studio equipment
Before beginning a portrait photo shoot, the face, body language, communication with the model, and equipment selection are all considered together.
- Examination of the human face in terms of portrait technique
- Communication between the photographer and the subject
- Model selection, body language, and direction
- An Analysis of Portrait and Fashion Photography from a Lighting Perspective
- Choosing a Camera, Lens, and Perspective
- The operating principles of flashing and continuous light systems
More than 4 portrait effects with a single light source
By adjusting the position, height, distance, and modifier of a single light source, you can create at least four distinct portrait effects.
- Differences in the use of light from the right, left, top, and front
- Comparison of Hard and Soft Light
- Using softboxes, reflectors, grids, and flags
- Light Height and Angle Based on Face Shape
- Post-installation review of footage and stills
Classic portrait lighting
Basic portrait lighting setups, such as High Key, Rembrandt, and Butterfly, can be set up using one or two lights; contrast is further controlled through the use of reflectors and negative fill.
- The Triangular Effect of Rembrandt Lighting on the Face
- Light Height and Shadow Control with the Butterfly Light
- Background and Face Exposure in High-Key Portraits
- Adjusting Shadow Intensity with the Reflector
- Light metering, histogram, and exposure control
Creative Color, Movement, and Exposure
Using color filters, long exposures, and motion, you can create creative studio experiments that go beyond traditional portrait lighting.
- Separating the main and fill lights using color gels
- Motion trail and long-exposure experiments
- Using both continuous light and a flash in the same frame
- Controlling the background color with exposure
- Turning a creative idea into a reproducible system
Fashion lighting and various styling techniques
Lights selected from previous modules are set up in sequence to practice speed, consistency, and more controlled lighting setups used in fashion photography.
- Reconstructing the learned light patterns
- The Shift from Portraiture to Fashion Photography
- Expanding the illuminated area based on the model's movement
- Creating contrast between the background, clothing, and skin
- Selection and Critique at the End of Filming
How many different portraits can be set up with a single light source?
You can create more than four distinct portrait effects using just a single studio light. The result is determined not so much by the number of lights as by their angle, height, distance from the subject, the modifier used, and the ambient fill level. In the private lesson, you’ll see this change in your shots as we move the same light to different positions.
Low contrast
It provides balanced lighting on both sides of the face. The skin texture and shadows appear softer.
The Rembrandt Approach
It adds volume to the face. The relationship between the shadows on the nose and cheeks is carefully controlled.
The Butterfly Approach
It creates a central shadow under the nose. The height is adjusted to prevent the eye sockets from appearing dark.
A dramatic distinction
It leaves part of the face in shadow. The result is determined by the negative fill and the choice of background.
Can we do a photoshoot with a model during a private lesson?
A practical session with a model can be scheduled separately if required to meet the course objective. Models, styling, makeup, or additional production needs are not automatically included in the standard course curriculum. Once your current skill level and the types of lighting you wish to work with have been clarified, the appropriate format for the practical session will be determined.
Installation and Technical Inspection
Light metering, the use of modifiers, background exposure, triggering systems, and hands-on practice with equipment can be practiced using a still life or a live model.
Portraiture, Direction, and Body Language
If the effects of light on the human face and body, model direction, and the flow of the shoot are to be coordinated, the model requirement is added to the production plan in advance.
What's left of the old 5-week studio course?
The program, which began in 2009, combined theory with practical application using models. Over the course of five weeks, participants learned about various portrait and fashion lighting techniques by experimenting with a total of eight different models. Today, this program is no longer offered on a fixed group schedule.
The focus of the course is on the subject architecture and practical approach to education. The necessary modules are selected for one-on-one lessons, each setup is performed by the student themselves, and the results are evaluated during the filming process.
What experience does the studio lighting training draw on?
Brand names are used in the context of employee training, workshops, seminars, or professional duties.
One-on-one and hands-on training experiences
“In terms of technical knowledge, he is far more skilled than many who call themselves ‘photographers,’ and he’s an instructor who can convey his knowledge very effectively. He does a great job of analyzing the needs of the people he’s working with.”İlker Awcı
“I took a two-day studio photography course in Istanbul. I already had some basic knowledge, but I learned the ins and outs of the craft, and now I know what to do and when to do it.”Hüseyin Enes Yigin
“We had a very productive and enjoyable two days of work. The atmosphere was positive, and the entire team consists of kind people. If you’re looking for professional service, this is the place to go.”Ugur Binay
“I’d like to thank my instructor, Burak, for helping me go from knowing nothing to being able to achieve so much. After his excellent teaching, I decided to take the second level as well.”Clarity Diamond
“Even though my schedule didn’t allow for group classes, I took advantage of the one-on-one instruction option. I had the opportunity to receive a truly meaningful education in a short period of time.”Ramazan Zengin
Write down which lights you want to learn about
Please send us information about your current skill level, the camera and lighting equipment you use, the type of portraits you’d like to take, and any sample work you have. Based on this, let’s work together to determine the modules we’ll cover and the appropriate structure for your private lessons.
Would you like to explore another topic in photography?
About the Private Studio Photography Lesson
Is the group course on studio photography still ongoing?
No. The old 5-week group course is no longer offered. The topics covered on this page—portrait lighting, fashion lighting, equipment, and practical application—can be included in a one-on-one private lesson program with Burak Bulut Yıldırım.
Can I take the entire old 5-week course as private lessons?
Yes. All five main modules from the previous program are available. The number of lessons and their order are determined based on your current level, your practical needs, and the lighting setups you choose.
Is the model included in the private lesson?
Modeling is not automatically included in the standard course curriculum. If modeling is required for the project, the need for a model, styling, makeup, and additional production resources will be evaluated separately when preparing the course syllabus.
Can I join as a beginner?
Yes. At the beginner level, you can start with camera controls, exposure, light direction, and single-light setups. Experienced students can move directly on to modules on classic portrait lighting, color, motion, or fashion lighting.
Can I use my own camera and lighting equipment?
Yes. Working with your own equipment is helpful because it allows you to replicate the same setups after the class. If you send your equipment list in advance, the program can be tailored to your existing system.
Are flashing lights and steady lights taught together?
Depending on your needs, the program may cover strobes, continuous light, or both systems. Their operating principles, light modifiers, motion freezing, exposure, and differences in use are compared in the application.
Can a studio photography class be taken online?
Lighting theory, portfolio reviews, equipment planning, and analysis of captured images can be done online. In-person studio classes are more effective for setting up lighting and practicing with a model.
What information should I submit for the lesson plan?
Please send us your current skill level, the camera and lighting equipment you use, the portrait or fashion style you’d like to learn, and any sample photos you have. We’ll use this information to determine the appropriate modules.
The page content was last updated in July 2026.