Massimiliano Giorgeschi Speaks On Shaping Stories with Light and Upcoming Lighting Workshop

Lighting is the foundation of great portrait photography, and few understand its transformative power better than Massimiliano Giorgeschi. The Italian photographer, now based in London, has built a reputation for creating images that feel both intimate and cinematic. His signature use of soft yet dramatic lighting allows him to craft portraits that capture not only the subject’s likeness but their presence, mood, and energy. For Giorgeschi, light is never just technical, it’s storytelling.

His portfolio is proof of that vision, spanning collaborations with household names such as Amazon Prime Video, ASOS, BBC, Bombay Sapphire, Sky and many more across commercial, editorial, and portraiture work. His ability to control and shape light ensures his images resonate with a sense of authenticity and atmosphere. The technical choices behind his lighting, balancing intensity, shifting direction, or experimenting with modifiers, Giorgeschi is a master of creating portraits beyond the surface into something unforgettable.

Yet, understanding the nuances of lighting isn’t just reserved for professionals working with big-name clients. For any photographer, mastering the technical elements of light with quality, quantity, and direction is the key to creating images that stand apart. Whether working with natural light, flash, or continuous setups, the ability to read and shape light can transform an ordinary portrait into one that feels refined, expressive, and timeless.

On October 19th, Massimiliano will be leading an intimate workshop in London for just ten participants, offering the rare chance to learn directly from his expertise. The day will combine theory and hands-on practice, giving attendees not only the technical understanding of light but also the opportunity to apply it in a studio setting with a model. With one-on-one time included, participants will walk away with sharpened skills, new portfolio-ready images, and a deeper appreciation for how lighting can define their creative voice. For anyone serious about improving their photography, this workshop is an unmissable opportunity.

We sat down with Massimiliano Giorgeschi for an in-depth conversation about his craft, exploring the vital role light plays in shaping images and elevating portrait photography into an art form, aswell as our upcoming workshop and what to expect!

When you think about light from an emotional standpoint, what does it do to an  image? 

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of photography, if not the most  important. It plays a key role in what you want to communicate with your images,  shaping the mood and emotion you aim to convey to the viewer. By controlling the direction of light, you also control the narrative and overall  feel of the image. 

Can you share an example of a shoot where lighting completely transformed the  outcome of the image? 

We could go through countless examples, but let’s keep it simple and to the point.  Think of a portrait. Now imagine a beautiful, soft light coming from a window  beside your subject. The light wraps gently around their face, creating an ethereal,  dreamy feeling and evoking a sense of calmness. 

Now, close the blinds on that window and take a torch. Hold it at a 45-degree  angle below your subject’s chin. Instantly, the image transforms into something  moody and heavy, with deep shadows that convey intimidation, or perhaps even fear. 

What are the most common mistakes you see beginners make with lighting? 

It's mainly a lack of control and fear of using artificial light. There is often a  misconception of what flash looks like compared to natural light. 

Who or what has influenced your understanding of light the most throughout your  career? 

I grew up watching a lot of movies, anime, and studying Renaissance art. I often  feel like I should draw more inspiration from these influences, but I can clearly see  how they’ve shaped the way I see and create images. When I began my  photography journey, I assisted as much as I could and learned to use flash from  photographers I admired. 

What’s the most challenging lighting situation you’ve ever faced, and how did you  overcome it? 

I don’t recall a specific example, but one situation that can be especially tricky is  mixing natural or ambient light with flash. Finding the right balance is key if you  want it to look natural, and at first, I struggled to master it. Now, though, it’s one of  the most satisfying challenges, when you get it right, the results are incredibly  rewarding. Environmental portraits, in particular, have become some of my  favorites to shoot. I love the process of adding a light and “motivating it” based on  the scene.

Are there any lighting setups you consider timeless? 

Photography is constantly evolving, and so is the way we communicate through it.  Still, some lighting setups remain foundational, techniques we continue to build  upon. For example, Rembrandt lighting with its signature triangle of light on the  cheek, or the classic Hollywood setup that creates the butterfly-shaped shadow  beneath the nose.  

How much does lighting influence the post-production for a shoot? 

You can “fix it in post” to a certain extent, especially nowadays with advancing  technologies and the rapid evolution of AI. Still, the quality and direction of light  ultimately dictate the outcome: how much detail the image retains, for example  

and in the case of composites, how seamlessly the subject blends into the scene  you’re creating in post. 

Why would you encourage experimentation with light in a controlled studio  environment? 

When you’re in a controlled environment like a studio, everything starts from zero.  You’re essentially in a white box, and every choice you make, how you light your  subject and the space around them, builds the scene. A studio is the perfect place to experiment with different light sources and modifiers, to explore how  positioning affects the outcome, to decide how much of the subject and  environment you want to illuminate, and to consider the color of the light. It can  feel overwhelming at first, but the more you experiment, the more you discover  what resonates with you and that’s how your personal style begins to take shape. 

How do you see lighting shaping the future of photography, especially with new  technologies emerging? 

I believe photography is, at its core, all about lighting. As I mentioned earlier, new  technologies can certainly help, but at the foundation of everything is light and  the emotional connection it creates in what we produce. A friend once told me that  photography is like writing: the camera is the pen, but you need to have something  to say to make it compelling. I’d take that idea further and say that lighting is the  ink for the camera. 

How would you describe your particular lighting style? 

I love soft lighting, but I’m equally drawn to dramatic light and shadows, so I often  try to blend the two. I first fell in love with cinematic-style lighting, likely because of  the influences I mentioned earlier, but I’m always looking to evolve and add  something new to it each time I shoot.

What can participants expect to take away from your workshop on October 19th? 

The idea of the workshop is to give every participant the chance to experiment  with lighting and create their own images. In the morning, we’ll cover the theory,  and in the afternoon, we’ll spend three hours practicing and exploring, ensuring  everyone feels more confident and comfortable using flash lighting.

The workshop begins with a morning theory session (11 AM–2 PM) where Massimiliano will teach the fundamentals of light and show how it shapes storytelling in portraiture, including the differences between flash and continuous light and the effects of various modifiers. In the afternoon practical session (3 PM–6 PM), participants will apply these lessons in the studio with a model, experimenting with setups, shaping light, and receiving hands-on guidance to create cinematic, professional portraits. 

Promo Code: AREANOIR40 for 40% off the workshop HERE