If you want your sports portraits to hit different, lighting is the secret sauce. Cameras don’t make magic — light does. Here’s the playbook: ⚡ Directional Light = Drama Side lighting adds muscle, texture, and intensity. Flat light is for ID photos… not athletes. ⚡ Hard vs Soft Light Hard light = gritty, ESPN vibes. Soft light = polished, magazine-ready. Pick your weapon wisely. ⚡ Background Matters Dark backgrounds = power and focus. Grungy textures = attitude. Don’t let clutter steal the spotlight. ⚡ One Light Setup = GOAT You don’t need 5 strobes. Master ONE light first. Placement > gear. ⚡ Pose With Purpose Athletic stance. Chest up. Chin down. Confidence sells the shot. Remember: You’re not just taking a photo… You’re building a hero poster. Drop your sports portraits below 👇 Let’s level them up together 💪📸 #SportsPortraits #StudioLighting #PhotographyTips #BehindTheScenes #PortraitAcademy #Lighting101