MASTER LIGHT
SHOOT LIKE
CINEMA.
Master Lighting Course — the most obsessive lighting school on the internet. From single softbox portraits to full DMX film sets: physics, shaping, color, storytelling. For photographers, videographers, YouTubers and gaffers.
Light is not equipment. Light is language.
Master Lighting Course was born in a tiny rental studio in 2019. Today it's a full cinematic lighting academy. We don't sell presets. We teach you to see, shape and motivate every photon — so any camera, any budget, any location looks expensive.
- Physics first: falloff, specularity, size vs distance, contrast ratios
- 5 signature systems: Beauty, Drama, Commercial, Film Night, Daylight
- Real sets: you light models, products, cars, kitchens, night streets
- 3D Light Simulator: practice virtually before you rent gear
- Hollywood deconstructions: Blade Runner, Dune, Euphoria lighting maps
Founder Daniel Cross — 15 years as DP & gaffer. Lit for Netflix, Aesop, Porsche. His mantra: “If you can draw it, you can light it.” Every lesson starts with a hand-drawn top-view diagram.
Visual literacy
Train your eye: reference breakdowns, exposure zones, skin-tone vectorscopes, why cheap light looks cheap.
Modifiers mastery
Softbox vs umbrella vs beauty dish vs tube vs bounce. Feathering, double diffusion, negative fill, flags.
Story with light
Motivation, time of day, color contrast, practicals. Make audience feel without noticing light.
From first photon to film set
32 hours, 120 lessons, quizzes, RAW + diagrams. Lifetime access.
Foundations: Physics of Beautiful Light
Inverse square, size/distance, hardness, CRI/TLCI, exposure triangle for lights. 14 lessons + simulator.
One-Light Portraits That Look Like $10K
Rembrandt, Loop, Split, Butterfly, Clamshell. 1 softbox + 5 modifiers. Live model shoots.
Two & Three Lights: Separation & Depth
Rim, kicker, background control, fog/haze, gels. Commercial beauty system.
Color Mastery: RGB, Gels & White Balance
Color contrast, teal-orange done right, Hue/Sat control, mixing tungsten + daylight.
Product & Food: Specular Control
Glass, chrome, watches, bottles. Gradient strips, black cards, tabletop cinema.
Cinematic Interiors & Night
Motivated window, practicals, moonlight, TV flicker, book light through 12x12.
Large Sets: DMX, Balloons & Distros
Gaffer workflow, power, safety, lighting plots for music video & short film.
Portfolio + Certification Exam
Shoot 5 briefs, get personal feedback, earn verifiable certificate + job board.
| Format | What you get | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 4K Video | Over-shoulder + top-view + waveform | 32h |
| Diagrams | 120 printable lighting plots (PDF) | Lifetime |
| Practice | RAW files, 3D simulator, quizzes | Unlimited |
Learn from working gaffers
DP / FounderDaniel Cross
15 yrs, 300+ commercials. Ex-gaffer Netflix. Loves hard backlight and honest critique.
PortraitMaya Lin
Beauty & fashion. Vogue, Elle. Teaches flattering skin light for every face.
Film GafferAlex Moreno
Music videos & features. DMX, large sources, night exteriors. Safety nerd.
Real light. Real results.
Module 06 — Night club scene
Module 02 — One light drama
Beauty dish + fill
Short film set — book lightPracticals masterclassLoved by obsessives
“I rented ONE Aputure 300d and finally understood it. My portraits went from flat to Vogue in 2 weeks. The diagrams alone are gold.”
“The night interior module paid for the course 20x. I lit a whole short with 2 tubes + practicals. Director thought we had a 5-ton truck.”
“No fluff. Physics, demos, mistakes included. 3D simulator is genius for practicing at 2am without waking neighbours.”
One payment. Light forever.
Modules 01-02 • Perfect to taste light
- 28 lessons (8h)
- 20 diagrams PDF
- Community access
All 8 modules + certificate
- 120 lessons (32h 4K)
- 3D simulator + RAW files
- Personal feedback + certificate
- Lifetime updates
For studios up to 5 seats
- Everything in Mastery x5
- DMX plots + call sheets
- 1h live mentor review
30-day “Love the light” guarantee. If you don’t light better, we refund. No questions.
Questions? Answered.
Do I need expensive lights to start?
No. 70% of the course uses 1-2 budget LEDs + shower curtain diffusion, black flags and practical bulbs. You learn shaping, not shopping.
Is this for photo or video?
Both. We teach continuous light. Every setup shows flash equivalents, exposure, shutter/ISO tricks for motion and stills.
What gear is ideal?
Any camera, one light (Godox SL60 / Aputure 100d level), light stand, 5-in-1 reflector. Later: RGB tube, softbox 90cm, C-stand.
How long do I have access?
Lifetime. Including all 2026-2027 updates: virtual production + LED wall module coming free.
Will I get a certificate?
Yes, verifiable certificate after 5 portfolio briefs and final exam. Added to LinkedIn + job board.
What if I’m a beginner?
Perfect. Module 01 starts from zero. Advanced shooters usually skip to Module 04+ but still rewatch foundations.
Fresh breakdowns
Setups, diagrams, mistakes, behind-the-scenes. New article every week.
Stop guessing. Start lighting.
Join today, shoot cinematic tomorrow. 30-day guarantee, lifetime access, mentor feedback.
✦ 184 students joined this week ✦ Offer ends Oct 31
Contact studio
Questions about gear, teams, certificates? We answer in < 24h.
- Email via form below — no spam, only light
- Live Q&A every Thursday 18:00 UTC
- Support in English + subtitles in 12 languages