Offering a streamlined approach to creating studio-quality images, from backdrops to lighting, Joe Farace instructs photographers on selecting the gear that provides the most value and requires only minimal storage space. Emphasizing portability and ease, Farace also provides techniques for using small flash units to create big portrait-lighting effects.

Also included is a demonstration on the use of green-screen technology to digitally superimpose on the image any desired type of background, thereby eliminating the need to buy and store dozens of unique backdrops. Once each piece of gear is finally in place, more advanced demonstrations include lighting placement, adjusting lights to suit each unique subject, and metering them for correct exposure. Lessons also include creating classic portrait-lighting effects and tips on posing subjects, as well as a final walk-through of the postproduction phase and troubleshooting common challenges.