New York City Photography Lighting Workshop: Cinematic Portraits (7 People)
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An in-person 2-day cinematic lighting workshop in NYC with photographer Brett Garamella.
Create portraits in studio and on location with professional model and athlete. 7 photographers max. Aug 15–16.
Don't just capture light. Shape it.
A 2-day cinematic lighting workshop in New York City. Build atmosphere. Direct real people. Create intentional portraits in the studio and on the streets of Manhattan.
Limited to 7 photographers. August 15–16, 2026.
Most workshops teach you to react to light. I teach you how to shape it. You'll work with natural and artificial light in real environments until your images feel cinematic and intentional, not lucky.
I'm Brett Garamella, a portrait photographer and documentary filmmaker. My work has taken me from National Geographic and ESPN to an Academy Award-qualifying short film, with documentary projects from Colombia to Dagestan. But I came up in New York's film production world, that's where I learned to shape light the way cinematographers do. A loading dock becomes a stage. A bodega becomes a set. A stranger on the sidewalk becomes a character in a story you're building together.
The weekend:
Day 1: Cinematic Portraits. My full approach to cinematic portraiture from the ground up: choosing your background, leading lines, environmental storytelling, and one-light setups that look expensive. You'll shoot a professional model with me coaching every frame, then take it to the streets of Manhattan for atmospheric, documentary-style work through golden hour and into the night.
Day 2: Athlete + Sports Portraits. Hard light, grids, rim light, high-speed sync. Freeze motion and build dramatic editorial sports portraits. You'll rotate between shooting a professional athlete and a hands-on editing and color-grading session using the workflow I actually use. Then outside for raw NYC sports imagery and cinematic golden-hour work.
You're leaving with a portfolio. Not homework.
What's included:
Two full days of hands-on instruction (9:30 AM – 8 PM)
All lighting gear — strobes, modifiers, grids, reflectors, stands
Professional model (Day 1) and professional athlete (Day 2)
A dedicated editing and color-grading session
Shooting across multiple Manhattan neighborhoods
Portfolio-ready images you fully own
All skill levels welcome: from first-time off-camera flash to working pros. I meet you where you are and push you forward.
Limited to 7 photographers. 5 spots remaining. Early rate $300 before Eventbrite fees. Regular rate $500.
Questions about gear, flights, or hotels? Email: [email protected].
Refunds are available according to the workshop cancellation policy. Cancellations more than 60 days before the workshop receive a refund minus a $150 non-refundable deposit. Cancellations 30–59 days before the workshop receive a 50% refund. Within 30 days, the workshop fee is non-refundable.
Create portraits in studio and on location with professional model and athlete. 7 photographers max. Aug 15–16.
Don't just capture light. Shape it.
A 2-day cinematic lighting workshop in New York City. Build atmosphere. Direct real people. Create intentional portraits in the studio and on the streets of Manhattan.
Limited to 7 photographers. August 15–16, 2026.
Most workshops teach you to react to light. I teach you how to shape it. You'll work with natural and artificial light in real environments until your images feel cinematic and intentional, not lucky.
I'm Brett Garamella, a portrait photographer and documentary filmmaker. My work has taken me from National Geographic and ESPN to an Academy Award-qualifying short film, with documentary projects from Colombia to Dagestan. But I came up in New York's film production world, that's where I learned to shape light the way cinematographers do. A loading dock becomes a stage. A bodega becomes a set. A stranger on the sidewalk becomes a character in a story you're building together.
The weekend:
Day 1: Cinematic Portraits. My full approach to cinematic portraiture from the ground up: choosing your background, leading lines, environmental storytelling, and one-light setups that look expensive. You'll shoot a professional model with me coaching every frame, then take it to the streets of Manhattan for atmospheric, documentary-style work through golden hour and into the night.
Day 2: Athlete + Sports Portraits. Hard light, grids, rim light, high-speed sync. Freeze motion and build dramatic editorial sports portraits. You'll rotate between shooting a professional athlete and a hands-on editing and color-grading session using the workflow I actually use. Then outside for raw NYC sports imagery and cinematic golden-hour work.
You're leaving with a portfolio. Not homework.
What's included:
Two full days of hands-on instruction (9:30 AM – 8 PM)
All lighting gear — strobes, modifiers, grids, reflectors, stands
Professional model (Day 1) and professional athlete (Day 2)
A dedicated editing and color-grading session
Shooting across multiple Manhattan neighborhoods
Portfolio-ready images you fully own
All skill levels welcome: from first-time off-camera flash to working pros. I meet you where you are and push you forward.
Limited to 7 photographers. 5 spots remaining. Early rate $300 before Eventbrite fees. Regular rate $500.
Questions about gear, flights, or hotels? Email: [email protected].
Refunds are available according to the workshop cancellation policy. Cancellations more than 60 days before the workshop receive a refund minus a $150 non-refundable deposit. Cancellations 30–59 days before the workshop receive a 50% refund. Within 30 days, the workshop fee is non-refundable.
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Where is it happening?
New York, New York, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherBrett Garamella
