Exploring Studio Portrait Photography at Future Forward, Lajpat Nagar

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a studio portrait photography session at the Future Forward store in Lajpat Nagar. The session was powered by Tamron India and conducted by renowned photographer Idris Ahmed along with his team.

The workshop lasted close to four hours and introduced me to an entirely different side of photography — studio portrait lighting. As someone who spends most of the time shooting sports and action, this experience pushed me well outside my comfort zone in the best possible way.

Exploring a Different Side of Photography

The session began with Idris showcasing some of his best portrait work while explaining the concepts and techniques behind the images. He discussed various aspects of studio lighting, including the use of reflectors, diffusers, light modifiers, and how changing the angle of light can completely transform a portrait.

To be honest, many of these concepts and terminologies were relatively new to me as i had previously only shot in natural light for sports and wildlife photography. While I had heard of them before, seeing them demonstrated practically made a massive difference. It reminded me that exploring different genres of photography can significantly improve your understanding of the craft as a whole.

Shooting with Continuous Lighting

One of the most interesting aspects of the workshop was the use of continuous lighting photography instead of traditional flash setups. Since multiple photographers were shooting simultaneously, using individual flash triggers would have slowed down the process considerably.

The continuous lighting setup made things smoother and allowed everyone to visualize how the light was falling on the subject in real time. Alongside the main light source, there was also a fill light setup to soften shadows and balance the overall look of the portraits. A model was present throughout the session, giving participants an opportunity to experiment with different angles and compositions.

For this session, I used my Nikon D850 paired with a 35mm prime DX lens. The focal length worked well for environmental and close portrait compositions, especially in the crowded indoor setup.

A Crowded Yet Valuable Experience

The venue was packed with photographers, and honestly, it reminded me of my experience covering the Theyyam festival in Kannur, where at times it felt like photographers outnumbered the actual devotees present at the temple.

Interestingly, Idris addressed this situation directly and explained that the crowded environment was intentional to some extent. He wanted photographers to experience real-world pressure and learn how to work efficiently in challenging conditions rather than in a perfectly controlled environment.

That perspective made complete sense to me because photography assignments in the real world — whether sports, fashion, weddings, or festivals — are rarely comfortable or spacious. Learning to adapt quickly is part of the job.

At the same time, whenever things became too chaotic, Idris and his team stepped in to organize the participants and ensure everyone had a fair opportunity to shoot.

Learning Beyond Photography

Another enjoyable aspect of the workshop was interacting with photographers from different backgrounds. Many participants were involved in fashion, wedding and portrait photography, while others were photography students eager to learn studio lighting techniques.

Watching how different photographers approached composition, posing, and lighting gave me fresh ideas and perspectives. Sessions like these are not only about clicking pictures but also about understanding how other creatives think and work.

A New Genre Worth Exploring

The workshop made me realize two things:

• I managed to capture some really good portraits.

• I still have a lot to learn.

And honestly, that is one of the best outcomes any workshop can offer.

This experience opened up an entirely new dimension of photography for me. Coming from a sports and action photography background, learning studio portrait lighting has already started changing the way I observe light, shadows, and subjects.

I’m definitely looking forward to exploring this genre further and seeing how far I can push my creativity beyond my usual style of photography.