A live online masterclass · November 14 · 11am – 2pm ET
Stop making pretty work you’re bored with.
Your work is good. That's the problem. Spend three hours with us live on the Evolve Masterclass to learn how to create editorial work with your vision.
Live online · 3 hours · Cat Ford-Coates + Leslie Andrews
Shadai Narrative
“This is the exact process I use with every client — whether we’re playing for creativity’s sake or planning a $40K international editorial project.”
Cat Ford-Coates
You know how to make a beautiful portrait.
You know your light. You know your angles. You can make almost anyone look good.
And then there's that moment after a session when you're scrolling through the images on the back of your camera.
They're beautiful. The client will love them.
But you've seen this photograph before.
You've made it a hundred times.
And somewhere beneath the satisfaction of getting the shot is the nagging realization that you're capable of something you haven't created yet.
I. The Problem
Cookie cutter is killing your creativity.
Congratulations. You've become very good at being predictable. How lovely for you.
You had an idea on the drive to the studio.
Something moodier. More dramatic. A portrait that actually says something.
Then the client walks in.
You pick up your camera. Find your familiar light. Give the same directions you gave last week.
And there it is.
Another beautiful portrait that could have been taken by anyone.
You didn't run out of creativity. You talked yourself out of using it.
"Pretty is not a point of view."
II. The Shift
The same subject. A completely different story.
An editorial portrait isn't luck. And it isn't gear.
It's what happens when you stop asking, “How do I make this person look good?” and start asking, “What do I want this image to say?”
Concept. Mood. Light. Direction.
Not more equipment. More intention.
November 14 · 11am – 2pm ET · Live online · Replay available
Imagine walking into your next session already knowing what you came to create.
You see the light falling across her cheek and know exactly what to do with it.
You adjust her shoulder. Turn her chin. Watch her entire presence change.
You're not cycling through poses hoping something extraordinary happens.
You're making decisions.
And when that image appears on the back of your camera, you don't have to convince yourself it's different.
You can see it.
Not because you got lucky.
Because you were bold enough to create it.
III. The Instructors
Two artists. Two approaches. One standard.
Creative Direction + Styling
Cat Ford-Coates
Fellow Master Photographer. Founder of Atelier Unforgettable and The Studio Takeover, and host of a top-ten-ranked photography podcast. Cat emboldens photographers to stop shooting like order takers and start creating with their heart and purpose.
Competition judge for ICON Awards and AIBP
Light + Direction
Leslie Andrews
Atlanta-based photographer, creative entrepreneur, and studio owner with more than a decade behind the camera. Founder of Midtown Collective Studios, a working studio and creative hub, and a CanvasRebel Magazine featured artist. Featured instructor on The Storyteller Network and official Profoto ambassador. Leslie teaches photographers to read light with intention and direct a subject into genuine presence.
IV. The Work
Nothing here happened by accident.
The work below showcases how each instructor brings their concepts to life — the lighting, wardrobe, shape, and expression are all ON PURPOSE. That is what each instructor brings to the room.
Cat Ford-Coates
Creative Direction + Styling
08 frames
Leslie Andrews
Light + Direction
08 frames
Testimonials
What photographers say after they've been in the room.
On learning light with Leslie
I’ve had the pleasure of attending several of Leslie’s lighting workshops, and I’ve walked away from each one with knowledge and techniques I could put into practice right away.
Leslie has a way of breaking down lighting that makes it easier to understand, no matter your experience level. She doesn’t just show you where to place a light — she explains why she’s making each decision and how small adjustments can completely change the look and feel of an image.
Learning from her has helped me become more confident and intentional with my lighting and has made a real difference in my work. Leslie is knowledgeable, patient, and generous with what she shares. She creates an environment where you feel comfortable asking questions and trying new things.
I highly recommend her workshops to any photographer looking to improve their lighting skills and grow creatively. You’ll leave inspired and ready to put what you’ve learned to work!
V. Contents
The Decisions Behind the Difference.
Because a signature style isn't something you stumble into. It's something you learn to create on purpose.
- 01
Creative Development
Walk into a session with a concept rather than a collection of Pinterest references.
Build a portrait concept to share a real story about your perspective and view. Distill it down to translate it into wardrobe, environment, presence, and expression.
- 02
Read the Light
Look at a scene and know where to place the light to create the mood she wants.
See exactly how direction, shadow, and contrast shape a portrait, and how one light creates three distinct moods.
- 03
Direct for Presence
Make small adjustments that change how a subject inhabits the frame.
The small adjustments in chin, shoulders, hands, and expression that separate a nice photo from a commanding one.
- 04
Live Critiques
Recognize what's keeping a portrait from saying what she intended.
Submit your portrait in advance. Selected images will be critiqued live, so you see the gap between where your work is and where it could go.
- 05
Where This Work Can Take You
Understand how a recognizable creative point of view can influence positioning and the clients she attracts.
Why editorial-level work changes who books you, and what that opens up for your business.
The Difference
What this is. What it is not.
What this IS
- A three-hour live masterclass with two working artists
- A framework for building concept, mood, light, and direction
- Real decisions behind real portraits, shown step by step
- A replay, so you can revisit every decision
What it is NOT
- A gear review or an equipment shopping list
- A preset pack or a posing template
- A beginner camera course
- A pep talk with nothing to apply on Monday
This is for you if
- You're technically skilled and creatively restless
- Your portfolio doesn't reflect what you're capable of
- You want to be booked for your vision, not your availability
- You know you're meant for more than "nice"
This is not for you if
- You're looking for a preset, a template, or a shortcut
- You're happy shooting what everyone else is shooting
- You're just learning how to use your camera
- You'd rather wait for inspiration than build a point of view
VI. What You Take Home
The Editorial Portrait Planning Kit
- —The Concept Design Workbook
- —Lighting diagrams for every mood demonstrated
- —The Posing + Presence Checklist
- —A seven-day challenge to create your first editorial portrait
What comes next
November changes how you see. January changes how you CREATE.
The masterclass gives you the creative framework. In January, we'll take it off the screen and into the studio.
The next experience will beed to masterclass attendees first
Make the work only you could have made.
Not another beautiful portrait.
A photograph with intention. With presence. With a point of view that belongs to you.
The kind of image that makes someone stop scrolling and look again.
You already know how to take a good photograph.
Now learn to make one that has something to say.
November 14 · 11am – 2pm ET · Live online
Questions
When is it?+
Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 11am to 2pm Eastern Time. Live online.
Will there be a replay?+
Yes. Replays are available.
What level is this for?+
Working photographers comfortable with their camera who want to elevate their creative and editorial work.
Do I need special gear?+
None needed. Come ready to take notes and bring one portrait you want help improving.
How do I submit a portrait for critique?+
Submission instructions are sent after registration.
What's your refund policy?+
All payments are final. No refunds.