Inside the Core Studios Portrait Lighting Challenge
Pushing creativity through light, colour and experimentation.
This month, the CORE Studios photography team took on an internal challenge: to recreate the lighting, mood and style of a chosen reference portrait, using only studio equipment and themselves as the subject.
Working in pairs, each team selected one of three curated lighting sets:
- Set One: long-exposure movement & colour streaks
- Set Two: neon-dual tones & stylised cinematic edges
- Set Three: noir-inspired silhouette & overhead drama
The brief was simple: replicate the lighting as accurately as possible, then add a creative interpretation that reflects your own style.
Judging was based on lighting accuracy, creativity, technical execution and overall impact.
Team Highlights
Alex & Jana - Set One
Long-exposure techniques, coloured LEDs and intentional motion created portraits that feel fluid, dreamlike and expressive. Their images captured both movement and emotion in a way that felt true to the reference set while still being original.
Ari & Gabe - Set Two
Bold magenta and cyan tones shaped clean, cinematic portraits with strong contrast. Their blend of sharp detail and motion blur delivered a polished, stylised look that closely aligned with the brief.
Renee & Josh - Set Three
Minimal, high-contrast lighting and precise shadow control produced a moody noir aesthetic. Their portraits leaned into simplicity, using darkness as a storytelling tool.
Why We Do It
The challenge wasn’t just about replication; it was about exploring light, experimenting with technique, and pushing creative instincts.
Across all three teams, the final images show how much can be achieved when constraint meets creativity.
This is the kind of work that fuels CORE Studios: collaboration, experimentation, and consistently raising the bar.
