03 Dec Purple Light Magic ✨
A Creative Gel Lighting Experiment with Mareme
I’ve been wanting to push myself creatively with gel lighting — to experiment, play, and see how far I could take color and mood in the studio. So I made a post on Instagram looking for a patient model who would let me build a lighting setup from scratch, and Mareme answered the call.
It took us a little while to land on a shoot date — fall season is always a busy time — but once we did, we dedicated the session to experimentation. We spent a long time trying out different lighting setups, tweaking and adjusting, searching for that elusive “aha” moment. And when it finally clicked, it felt like reaching the top of a steep hill and seeing the beautiful view waiting there.
My goal was to build a three-light setup, but I challenged myself to see how far I could push things with only two lights first. As soon as I added the third light, everything suddenly came together — and I understood firsthand why three-light setups are such a classic. This is exactly why I love creative shoots: they let me study light in real time, explore its possibilities, and learn what each setup can do.
Even though this was a creative experiment, I still wanted Mareme to leave with photos she’d love — and we absolutely nailed it. The final setup was a dramatic purple and fuchsia light combination, and it created such a bold, cinematic mood.
Mareme is a film photographer who specializes in landscape photography, and it was interesting to talk a bit about her perspective behind the camera. She’s a warm, down-to-earth person and the kind of model photographers dream of working with — patient, encouraging, and fully trusting of the creative process. That kind of trust is a real gift, especially when you’re experimenting and problem-solving on the fly.
Once the lighting was locked in, we focused on expression. I guided Mareme toward more inward, emotional expressions — moments that feel like you’re caught up in your own thoughts rather than posing for the camera. We did a mix of both, but those quiet, inward moments ended up being some of my favorites.
This shoot reminded me why I love what I do: the creative process isn’t always easy, but those breakthroughs — when everything suddenly works — are worth every minute. And when you get there, you only need a handful of frames, because every one of them feels alive.
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