Light Painting Portrait Photography with Josh Baker

Create Stunning Portraits Using Motion, Color & Light

Step beyond traditional portrait photography and discover a creative technique that transforms ordinary images into works of art. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to combine long exposures, LED light painting, and studio flash techniques to create dynamic portraits with vibrant colors, unique backgrounds, and eye-catching visual effects.

Using NANLITE LED wands and creative lighting techniques, Josh Baker will guide you through the process of building dramatic light-painted portraits while blending movement and precision. You’ll learn how to capture the energy of moving light while using second curtain flash to freeze your subject at the perfect moment—creating images that feel both artistic and professional.

Whether you’re looking to expand your portrait photography skills, experiment with new lighting techniques, or add a creative edge to your portfolio, this class will introduce you to an exciting approach you can continue exploring long after the workshop ends.

What You’ll Learn

• Mastering manual camera settings for creative long-exposure portraits
• Understanding shutter speed and exposure control for light painting effects
• Creating colorful, custom backgrounds using LED light sources
• Combining ambient light with off-camera flash for balanced exposures
• Using rear curtain sync flash to freeze motion and capture dramatic effects
• Working with multiple colors of light to create unique portrait styles
• Developing creative concepts and compositions using movement and light

Hands-On Experience

This interactive workshop gives you the opportunity to experiment with professional lighting tools and create your own light-painted portraits in a controlled studio environment. Josh will demonstrate his creative process, explain his approach to lighting and exposure, and guide students through techniques they can recreate with their own gear.

You’ll leave with a new set of creative tools for portrait photography and the confidence to use light, motion, and color to create images that stand apart.

What You’ll Need

• Camera with a hot shoe and manual exposure mode
• Tripod
• Memory card
• Extra camera batteries recommended (long exposures can consume additional power)
• Creativity and a willingness to experiment!

Skill Level

This is an intermediate-level workshop. Students should have a basic understanding of manual camera controls, including adjusting shutter speed and exposure settings. Ideal participants are photographers who want to explore creative lighting techniques and add a unique style to their portrait photography.

Workshop Format

3-hour hands-on photography workshop

About the Instructor

Josh Baker has more than 10 years of experience creating innovative light-painted portraits and teaching creative lighting techniques. Through his company, AzulOx Visuals, Josh specializes in unique visual storytelling and portrait photography. He regularly teaches lighting and photography workshops for Precision Camera and is also the co-founder of the North Austin Photographic Society.