In this free portrait photography tutorial, legendary photographer @JerryGhionisPhotography walks you step-by-step through his complete portrait lighting and posing workflow. Perfect for beginner and intermediate photographers, this in-depth tutorial covers how to create powerful, emotive portraits using simple yet intentional techniques.
You’ll learn how Jerry:
• Uses the Westcott Ice Light 3 to sculpt dramatic light
• Directs subtle expressions to evoke authentic emotion
• Builds flattering compositions for individuals, couples, and editorial-style portraits
• Breaks down the lighting setup from one light to three lights
• Shares real-world tips for cropping, posing, and controlling shadows
Whether you’re shooting in-studio or on location, this tutorial will help you level up your portrait photography with confidence, clarity, and purpose, without overcomplicating your gear.
Gear Used:
Ice Light 3 RGBWW LED Kit with Battery Grip & Barndoors:
Ice Light 3 Bi-Color LED Kit with Battery Grip & Barndoors:
Dual-Joint Tilter Bracket:
L120-B:
Beauty Dish Switch by Manny Ortiz (36”):
X-Drop Pro Backdrop Stand (8′ and 5′ Wide):
X-Drop Pro Fabric Backdrop – Parchment Paper by Joel Grimes (8′ x 8’):
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Chapters
00:00 – Intro
00:25 – One Light, Big Impact: Creating Drama with a Sliver of Light
01:36 – Building the Look: Adding Edge and Background Lights
03:49 – How to Crop Portraits for Maximum Impact
05:07 – Black & White Portraits
12:19 – Sculpting with Light: Shadows, Angles, and Shape Control
16:51 – The 5 Essentials of Every Great Portrait
17:38 – Posing Real Couples: Flow, Emotion, and Shape
27:33 – Glamorous Portrait Lighting with One Overhead Light
45:18 – Fire & Ice: Creating Mood with Warm and Cool Lighting
55:04 – Double Exposure Silhouette Portrait
Comments
29 responses to “Mastering Portrait Lighting and Posing | FREE CLASS”
If I'm not mistaken, you have image stabilization enabled while using a tripod, right? 5:29
This is perfection!
Question love you Jerry and Westcott. When using these light do I need to be in the dark.
I got see, listen to , and chat with Jerry in Philadelphia recently. He and Joe McNally were great. Jerry makes it seem so effortless, but I suppose that's what happens when you've spent years honing your craft. Great video. Thanks for all the info.
All wit Sigma Art 105mm ?
great! enjoyed the knowledge…
GREAT
How did you get 105mm f1.2 on the efix data ? Is this a new lens we havent seen ? 😂
Ghionis and Chris Knight are just my absolute favorites. Loved this tutorial. Thanks Jerry and Westcott 👍
Super tutorial weddings posing class please Westcott ❤❤
Jerry's on set direction and explanation is by far the best I've seen..!
lol, Jerry said Z8 instead of zed8
thanks
I knew I picked the right company. Glad to put my money into a place that gives back 🙏🏾
the icelight might be effective for cropped shots…, but its not effective enough for full body lighting. You can clearly see that theres a dramatic drop off of light towards her waist and legs(in the full body shots)
good
Fantastic
Excellent video packed with so many tips!
So informative and usefull thank you very much for giving your time
This was beautifully taught. I’m probably gonna watch this over and over for the next couple weeks. Jerry I can’t thank you for what you do for the Photography community. I wrote you on Instagram because I happen to be in Las Vegas and was hoping to cross paths with you, but I made it a last minute message because I was unsure if we were gonna be able to stop in Las Vegas. Regardless, thank you for everything. You’ve been a real inspiration from my photography career.
Housing for the brain. Naturally, Jerry 🙂
Thanks for the great inspirational video. I have a question: why do you have the flash set to REAR on your Nikon when using LED lights? And is it better to use SPT stabilization mode on a tripod or to turn off stabilization altogether? Thanks for your answer.
Thanks for the great inspirational video. I have a question: why do you have the flash set to REAR on your Nikon when using LED lights?
anyone know the stands he is using for icelights
Love these, especially with Jerry!
Je regarde ton boîtier tu ai a 1600 iso il a une raison pour que tu sois si haut, merci
Jerry you are my mentor and I'm so grateful to you.
Awesome!! Love the lighting and camera photos. Great job on the video!!
Westcott always being above and beyond with all of this great and free education! We all appreciate what you do, Westcott!