Introduction to Studio Photography - A Beginner-Friendly Two-Day Workshop

Location: Leica Akademie UK, Soho, 15 Greek Street, London

Time: Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th November 2026 | 11:00am – 5:00pm
 

Workshop Overview
 

Designed specifically for those who are new to studio photography, this immersive two-day workshop provides a practical introduction to professional studio techniques using Leica cameras.

Participants will learn how to confidently work in a studio environment, understand the fundamentals of lighting, photograph both fashion and portrait subjects, and develop a simple but effective post-production workflow using Capture One and Adobe Lightroom.

No previous studio experience is required. The workshop is structured to build confidence step-by-step, combining demonstrations, guided practical exercises, and hands-on shooting sessions with professional talent.

Workshop Schedule

Day One — Studio Photography Fundamentals & Fashion

The first day introduces the fundamentals of working in a professional studio environment, giving participants the knowledge and confidence to start creating studio photographs from scratch.

The day begins with an introduction to studio photography and the key differences between working with controlled studio light and natural light. Participants will also explore camera settings, lens selection and how to set up a camera for studio shooting. All camera brands are welcome, and you do not need to own a Leica camera to take part.

Participants will then be introduced to the essential equipment used in a studio, including backgrounds, light stands, modifiers and reflectors. Through demonstrations and practical guidance, you’ll learn how to build a simple studio setup and understand how different lighting choices affect the final image.

The afternoon focuses on lighting and working with people. You’ll explore the principles of hard and soft light, light direction and simple one-light setups, as well as techniques for creating flattering light for fashion and portrait subjects.

You’ll also learn the fundamentals of working with professional models, including simple posing and direction, communication, styling and how to create a relaxed environment during a shoot.

The practical element of the day is a guided fashion photography shoot with a professional model. Participants will have the opportunity to photograph the model themselves, putting the techniques covered throughout the day into practice. The session will focus on camera settings, composition, lighting, framing and developing confidence when directing and photographing a subject.

The day concludes with an introduction to tethered shooting and digital workflow, including connecting a camera to Capture One or Adobe Lightroom, reviewing images as they are captured and organising files effectively.

Day Two — Portrait Photography & Editing

The second day builds on the skills developed during the first day, with a particular focus on portrait photography and creating more refined, professionally lit images.

The day begins with a review of the previous day's work, providing an opportunity to discuss images, ask questions and revisit key concepts before moving into portrait photography.

Participants will explore portrait lighting in more depth, including simple one- and two-light setups, classic portrait lighting techniques and ways of controlling the mood and atmosphere of an image. Practical demonstrations will show how small changes in light placement can significantly affect a portrait.

The workshop then moves into planning and preparing for a portrait session. You’ll look at choosing backgrounds and lenses, developing a simple shoot concept, directing your subject and encouraging natural expressions and poses.

This leads into a fully guided practical portrait shoot with a professional subject, giving participants the opportunity to apply the techniques covered throughout the workshop. The session will cover portrait composition, subject direction, facial expressions and refining lighting setups to create a series of finished images.

The final part of the workshop focuses on image selection and post-production. Participants will learn how to review and select their strongest photographs before being introduced to a straightforward editing workflow using Capture One and Adobe Lightroom Classic.

Editing demonstrations will cover essential adjustments such as exposure, white balance, colour, cropping and basic retouching, as well as preparing images for print and social media. The emphasis is on creating a simple, repeatable workflow rather than complicated editing techniques.

The workshop finishes with a group image review and discussion, giving participants the opportunity to share their work, receive constructive feedback and discuss how to continue developing their studio photography skills.

Throughout both days, the workshop combines demonstrations, practical exercises and hands-on shooting, ensuring that participants have plenty of opportunity to put each technique into practice

Included in the Workshop Fee

• Two days of expert Leica Akademie tuition
• Hands-on access to Leica cameras and lenses (subject to availability)
• Professional fashion model and portrait subject
• Fully equipped studio environment
• Capture One and Lightroom workflow demonstrations
• Refreshments throughout the weekend
• Leica Akademie Certificate of Completion
• Strictly limited to 8 participants

Who Is This Workshop For?

This workshop is ideal for:

• Enthusiastic photographers looking to try studio photography for the first time
• Leica users wanting to expand their skills
• Photographers moving from natural light to studio lighting
• Content creators seeking a more professional workflow
• Anyone wanting a structured introduction to portrait and fashion photography

No prior studio photography experience is required. You do not need a Leica Camera to attend.

Participant requirements: Please bring a camera, lens, spare batteries and SD card.

Image Editing

Please bring a laptop or iPad Pro with suitable editing software. We recommend Adobe Lightroom Classic. Capture One can also be supported.

Free trials of both Adobe Lightroom Classic and Capture One are available to download for those not currently using post-production software. Please see the following links:

• Adobe Lightroom: Adobe LR Free Trial
• Capture One: Capture One Free Trial

Please make sure to download all software before attending the workshop.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop participants will be able to:

• Understand the fundamentals of studio photography
• Set up and use basic studio lighting confidently
• Operate Leica cameras effectively in a studio environment
• Direct and photograph portrait and fashion subjects
• Shoot tethered using Capture One & Adobe Lightroom Classic
• Organise and edit images in Capture One and Lightroom Classic
• Create a portfolio of professionally lit studio photographs