Sports portrait lighting: Simple setups for dramatic images

Lighting is one of the most powerful tools in sports portrait photography—and when used intentionally, it can transform a simple portrait into something bold, dramatic, and impactful.

In this hands-on class, photographer Edward Mathews will walk you through how to create striking athlete portraits using practical off-camera lighting setups that work in real-world environments like gyms, fields, and small studios. Through live demonstrations and guided shooting time, you’ll see firsthand how small lighting adjustments can dramatically change the mood, depth, and energy of a sports portrait.

Whether you’re new to lighting or looking to refine your technique, this class will give you approachable tools you can immediately apply to your own work.

By the end of the class, you’ll be able to:

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• Understand how lighting creates mood and drama in sports portraits
  
• Build and control a 4–6 light sports portrait setup
  
• Choose the right light modifiers for athletic subjects
  
• Adjust light placement to shape shadows and highlight athlete form
  

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• Lighting fundamentals for sports portrait photography
  
• Creating drama through contrast and shadow
  
• One-light setups for powerful, dynamic portraits
  
• Expanding to two-light setups for added depth and separation
  
• Selecting modifiers for sports and athlete photography
  
• Live lighting demonstration with an athlete model
  
• Hands-on shooting with instructor guidance
  

This class is ideal for beginner to intermediate photographers who want to create more dynamic portraits of athletes and active subjects.

Prerequisites

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• Basic camera knowledge
  
• Some familiarity with flash is helpful but not required
  

Required Gear

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• Camera with manual controls
  
• Portrait lens (50mm–200mm recommended)
  
• Memory card and extra battery
  

Recommended (Optional)

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• Speedlight or small flash
  
• Trigger system (if you own one)
  

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher MPEX Learning Studio