Lighting for Black Backdrops

March 4, 2025

In this dynamic and practical course, award-winning photographer Bee Trofort dives into the art of photographing athletes against black backdrops—perfect for media day portraits. Bee breaks down the complexities of working with black backgrounds, explaining how to avoid unwanted light spill, maintain depth, and create striking separation between subject and background.

Using a simple three-light setup, Bee demonstrates how to use grids, beauty dishes, and strip lights to sculpt your subject with precision while keeping the backdrop richly dark. She also introduces a fill light technique that enhances skin tones without compromising contrast.

Beyond lighting, Bee shares her go-to posing workflow for photographing athletes efficiently and effectively, especially when working with large teams. You’ll learn how to capture a variety of expressions and angles, incorporate sports-specific poses, and create a fast-paced yet fun experience for your subject.

Whether you're preparing for your first media day or refining your portrait game, this course offers practical lighting strategies and posing tips to elevate your black backdrop photography.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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