LEARN Gabriel Moses’ Lighting Style - MASTER Atmospheric STUDIO Techniques

Gabriel Moses has developed a distinctive approach to lighting, creating portraits with a strong sense of atmosphere and mood. In this video, we explore how he shapes light to build depth and texture, helping you experiment with similar techniques in your own studio work.
Using just two strobe lights, I’ll show you how to create a soft, layered top-light effect that serves as a foundation for strong and adaptable lighting setups. This video isn’t about replicating a look-it’s about understanding lighting choices and experimenting with ways to shape light in a meaningful way. This should create a strong starting point for learning and adapting your own lighting styles.
(note- weird fail on the export of this the background screen should be black not the purple that starts at 35s but I can live with it)
In this video, you’ll learn:
Layering techniques to build atmosphere and depth.
How to work with minimal equipment for professional results.
Tips for adapting Gabriel Moses’ lighting principles to your own projects.
Gabriel Moses’ work is striking in its intentional use of light and shadow. His portraits often feature controlled top-light, sculpted shadows, and a minimalist set, creating a quiet intensity that feels both natural and deliberate.
In this breakdown, we examine how light position, contrast, and layering contribute to his signature aesthetic.
00:20 Intro - Lighting Style
00:21 Strobe Set
00:30 Learning Style Insight
00:50 Virtual Studio
01:03 Studio Dimensions
01:20 Control The Light
01:38 First Light Position
01:42 OCTA
02:00 OCTA + GRID
02:12 Camera and OCTA Position
02:16 Camera Settings
02:38 Adding a Set or Backdrop
03:15 First Image preview
03:33 Trust The Process
03:41 Side By Side 01
03:57 Adding a Second Light
04:14 The Power (both Lights)
04:45 Side by Side 02
05:12 Light into the Eyes
05:30 Fill Light Height and Position
05:40 Control the Light - Negative Fill
06:04 Side by Side Compare 03
06:18 Toning the Light - GELS
06:42 Side by Side Image Compare 04
07:05 Controlling the Octa with Diffusion
07:33 Side by Side Image Compare 05
08:38 Top Flag
09:25 Side by Side Image Compare 06
09:58 Side by Side Image Compare 07 Summary so far
10:53 Side by Side Image Compare 08 Fill Light vs NO Fill Light
11:43 Increasing the Fill Light Power
11:50 Side by Side Image Compare 09
12:17 Removing the Octa Gel
12:29 Side by Side Image Compare 10 Gel vs No Gel
13:02 Using a front Fill Card
13:06 Side by Side Image Compare 11 Fill Cards vs Negative Fill
13:50 Model to Background Distance
14:06 Side by Side Image Compare 12
14:30 Turning the Octa angle
15:25 Angle of the Fill Light
16:07 Light Separation
16:24 Side by Side Image Compare 13
17:26 Light recap
17:34 Final Set up
18:26 Steps recap with Images
18:48 Final Images
19:00 Outro
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