Of all the genres I shoot, bridals are one of my favorites by a mile. I love the dresses. There are few things cooler than a super-ornate, well-fitted wedding gown and a happy, full-of-life bride who can’t wait to shoot.

I’m a big fan of great lighting, especially dramatic lighting. Fear not, all you lovers of supersoft light—I’ll be covering that as well in an upcoming issue. I write often about the different methods and tools used to create various lighting styles.

Each of the 10 looks demonstrated in this article were created using only one light and a Mola Demi beauty dish. Keep in mind that these techniques apply to just about any similarly sized light modifier, although the quality of light will differ.

When I decided I wanted to do studio stuff with artificial lighting, I turned my home theater room into my first little makeshift studio. I had two constant lights and a white sheet for a drop.

No matter how good you are, you’re only as good as your last shoot. That means you’d better get the shot. Being prepared for the unexpected will help you do this.

The prospect of adding a new modifier to your arsenal of light shaping tools is exciting. New modifiers carry with them the promise of new looks and techniques, broadened avenues of creative expression.