The Special FX Couples Portraits Workshop from SLR Lounge Workshops is an advanced, creative photography course designed specifically for portrait and wedding photographers looking to elevate their imagery with dramatic, signature looks. This workshop is part of SLR Lounge’s Premium library of courses — the same trusted educational platform used by photographers worldwide to improve both technical skills and creative vision.
At its core, this workshop teaches a curated set of special effects techniques that help photographers create visually striking couples portraits that stand out from standard portraiture. Each technique featured in the course is presented as a standalone tutorial, giving students the flexibility to follow the lessons in sequence or jump straight to the effects that best fit their creative goals.
The workshop has already launched a number of foundational videos, with more to be added over time. The first three techniques released include:
- Light vs. Dark (Basic): This lesson guides photographers on how to harness existing light without extra tools, teaching you how to use contrast and exposure creatively to craft dramatic portraits straight out of the camera.
- Day vs. Night (Advanced): A more advanced effect that shows how to capture both daylight and nightlight in a single image, blending exposures creatively. This technique can dramatically expand your range of expressive couples work.
- Flashed Ring of Fire (Advanced): Based on a technique popularized by Sam Hurd, this lesson explains how to use flashes to create a “ring of fire” effect — a high-impact visual tool for dramatic engagement or wedding portraits.
