Some photographs are nice. Some are good. And some make you stop completely, lean toward your screen and think, wow. Chris Benavides creates the third kind. And in this Las Vegas-based tutorial, he's showing you how.

Filmed on location in one of the world's most visually extraordinary cities, this tutorial follows Chris through a live shoot where he demonstrates his full creative and technical approach, from the gear he trusts (including his Canon R5, his 15-35mm workhorse lens and his Godox lights) to the creative decisions that make his images genuinely stand out. Chris brings a warmth and energy to every shoot that is infectious, and completely visible in his final images.

The result? A masterclass in creating photographs with genuine visual impact, the kind that grab attention, stay in the memory and make clients feel something. Whether you're shooting in a dramatic city location or a much more modest one, Chris's principles for creating impactful images apply everywhere.

This is the tutorial that makes you aim higher with every shot. 💥

Top 5 Things You Will Learn

1. Chris's full equipment setup and why he chooses it: Get a detailed look at the camera body, lenses, triggers and lighting Chris uses for this kind of shoot, and the thinking behind each choice that allows him to work fast without sacrificing quality.
2. How to create visual drama with off-camera flash: Learn how Chris uses his lights to build bold, directional, high-contrast images that command attention, and the specific setups he relies on for both his main and secondary lighting positions.
3. Creative decision-making in a real location: Follow Chris's thought process as he reads a location, finds its visual potential and makes creative choices in real time, including how he adapts when something doesn't work as planned.
4. Posing and direction for images that feel powerful: Discover how Chris directs his subjects to create poses that feel confident, natural and dynamic, and how his on-set energy and connection with subjects shapes the images he gets.
5. What makes an image have genuine impact: Understand the specific combination of light, composition, moment and intention that separates an impactful image from a forgettable one, and how to apply these principles to your own work.

Check out more of Chris' work on his website and his Instagram

Thank you so much again Chris, you are a rock star - VIVA LAS VEGAS!