Martin Hobby has been a photographer since he was 16. He started in weddings, transitioned into commercial headshots, and then, by working with makeup artistry students at a Manchester university, found the space to go completely wild with his creativity. The results have been turning heads at Flash Masters ever since.

In this energetic, fun and genuinely inspiring tutorial, Martin takes you into his creative process, the thinking behind his most striking studio portraits, the lighting setups he uses to create dramatic effects, and what he has learned from years of sharing this knowledge with other photographers. Alongside his son Ollie (assistant, third-generation photographer, and by all accounts a natural), Martin demonstrates that studio portrait photography doesn't have to be restrained. It can be bold. It can be dramatic. It can be exactly what you imagined it in your head.

The result? Studio portrait photography that stands out in every competition, every gallery and every portfolio. Martin's work doesn't blend in, and after this tutorial, neither will yours.

This is the tutorial that gives you permission to go for it. 🏆

Top 5 Things You Will Learn

1. Martin's approach to creative studio lighting: Learn how Martin builds dramatic lighting effects in a studio environment, the modifiers and setups he uses and the decisions that give his work its instantly recognisable look.
2. How to create strong, competition-worthy portraits: Understand what makes a studio portrait stand out in a competition setting, and how Martin applies that thinking to every shoot, not just the ones entered for awards.
3. Going from concept to image: Follow Martin's creative process from initial idea to final photograph, including how he deals with the gap between what he imagines and what he actually captures, and why that gap is part of the process.
4. Directing subjects for maximum creative impact: Discover how Martin works with his subjects to achieve the bold, expressive looks that define his work, including how he explains and communicates his vision to people who've never done anything like this before.
5. How to develop your own creative studio style: Take inspiration from Martin's journey from wedding photographer to award-winning studio portrait specialist, and understand the practical steps you can take to develop your own signature creative direction.

We cannot thank Martin enough for sharing so much with us in this tutorial. We are honoured to have him in the Flash Masters community. Not only is he an extremely talented photographer and educator, but he is also one of the nicest photographers in the industry.

For extra Martin Hobby content, please also check out the Snapshot , live stream and podcast he has recorded for us!

For more information on Martin and the photography education which he offers, please visit his website