Cog Creative Space

08/10/2026

Due to popular demand - our Hard Light educational workshop is back!

WED 21 OCT 6-8:30PM
$125 + GST
Booking link:

https://www.cogcreativespace.com/mastering-hard-light-with-shaun-li-workshop/

Ever wanted to work with hard light, but find it daunting, challenging and unforgiving? Our hard light workshop will guide you through the ins and outs of shooting with hard light, and get you familiar with a series of unique and dynamic lighting styles.

Place the date in your diary book in only 13 spots available!

Any questions - send us a DM!

Prior experience with studio or on location lighting is highly recommended for attendees of these workshops.

Hosted at COG Creative Space, this immersive in-studio workshop with commercial and portrait photographer Shaun Li of explores the creative power of hard light using the lighting system.

Designed for photographers looking to elevate their studio lighting skills, this session offers a behind-the-scenes look at how intentional hard light can be used to create striking, modern imagery for commercial, portrait, and editorial applications.

Shaun will demonstrate multiple hard-light setups live - from clean, sunlight-inspired looks to sculpted, cinematic portraits and contemporary editorial styles. Featuring some obvious and some not so obvious ways of utilising hard light

Please share this with any photographers who are still shying away from Hard Light or who need a brush up on studio lighting.

Workshop to be facilitated by
Location: 20 Boskenna avenue Norwood

06/08/2026

Are you our next creative...? Join and as our newest studio buddy! We have a space available in a shared office with so if you don't mind being in a glamorous office, reach out! Perfect for a makeup artist, photographer, designer, architect, videographer, producer, content creator...Available now! It's a large space so could accommodate more than one. We are looking for someone relaxed, sincere, fun, collaborative and friendly so if you like the idea of hanging out with other creatives in a relaxed shared space with great facilities and on-site parking in a TOP location please contact us by email at admin-at-cogcreativespace-dot-com. We cannot wait to meet our next creative!

16/07/2026

HARD LIGHT workshop:: Soft light is always nice, but then again nice lights always finish last 😉

BTS post 2 from our hard light workshop, hosted recently by our resident photographers and

Throughout the session, we guided our attendees through theory, the distinct modifiers you can utilise to create hard light, and their differences in quality of light.

We broke down the basics and characteristics of hard light and what to look out for and how to manage working with contrasty light with well defined shadows and highlights.

We demo’d a range of gear including B20s and D30s, beauty dish, zoom reflector/magnum/maxizoom reflector, fresnel and optical spot + the smoke ninja and with support by and .r.kennedyimaging

We’d like to thank all our attendees for bringing their passion and curiosity to our workshop and creating such a great night for all 🙏

A huge thank you to for sharing his insights into this trendy lighting choice, and for his patient and clear way of educating and inspiring the group, and to our amazing crew :).

Facilitator & Photographer:
Organisers: &
Talent:
BTS video: .bouwmeester
BTS Stills:
Styling:
Location:
Supported by: .r.kennedyimaging
Makeup & hair:

16/07/2026

HARD LIGHT workshop:: Soft light is always nice, but then again nice lights always finish last 😉

BTS post 1 from our hard light workshop, hosted recently by our resident photographers and

Throughout the session, we guided our attendees through theory, the distinct modifiers you can utilise to create hard light, and their differences in quality of light.

We broke down the basics and characteristics of hard light and what to look out for and how to manage working with contrasty light with well defined shadows and highlights.

We demo’d a range of gear including B20s and D30s, beauty dish, zoom reflector/magnum/maxizoom reflector, fresnel and optical spot + the smoke ninja and with support by and .r.kennedyimaging

We’d like to thank all our attendees for bringing their passion and curiosity to our workshop and creating such a great night for all 🙏

A huge thank you to for sharing his insights into this trendy lighting choice, and for his patient and clear way of educating and inspiring the group.

Facilitator & Photographer:
Organisers: &
Talent:
BTS video: .bouwmeester
BTS Stills:
Styling:
Location:
Supported by: .r.kennedyimaging
Makeup & hair:

15/07/2026

*WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT* - The Hand Coloured Photographic Print with Kate Breakey at our sister studio in the (only 4 spots still available)...

Join USA-based internationally acclaimed photographic hand colourist, Kate Breakey in the beautiful Adelaide Hills to learn hand colouring techniques using your own photographs.

This is a 4-day workshop commencing on 11 December 2026.

Beginning in the 19th century the earliest photographs were often tinted with paint, to make them more ‘life-like’. After the advent of colour film in the 1950’s this was no longer necessary, so hand-colouring photographs became an interpretive, expressive art form, to making photographs more compelling and unique.

In this workshop, you will be introduced to some digital techniques using Lightroom and Photoshop and output images on a variety of papers. You will be instructed in the application of oil paints, pigments, pencils, and inks or pastels in combination, to extend your photographic image. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Kate will inspire you to explore and experiment with a variety of materials and techniques and to find your own creative process.

Photography is a magical process, but the ‘hands on’ aspect of applying pigment is not only fun; it is a meditation on the joy of making something that comes from somewhere within.

This class is limited to a small group. Each day will consist of short slide shows, demonstrations, and supervised studio time with lots of individual one-on-one guidance. Macclesfield is in the Adelaide Hills only 15 mins from Mount Barker. Participants without a car can easily commute from Adelaide for morning pickups at the bus station in Mount Barker - or could make a holiday of it and stay at one of the B&Bs in the area. We are SO excited to host this workshop at Watermark Crossing and cannot wait!

Details via the Watermark Crossing Website at watermarkcrossingdotcom

08/07/2026

Ever been intimidated by hard light? Explore the creative power of hard light with commercial and portrait photographer (and Cog creative) Shaun Li Capture the Present Photography at this immersive in‑studio workshop TONIGHT!.

Profoto Mastering Hard Light Studio Tutorial with Shaun Li

Hosted at COG Creative Space, this immersive in‑studio workshop with commercial and portrait photographer Shaun Li explores the creative power of hard light using the Profoto lighting system.

Designed for photographers looking to elevate their studio lighting skills, this session offers a behind‑the‑scenes look at how intentional hard light can be used to create striking, modern imagery for commercial, portrait, and editorial applications.

Shaun will demonstrate multiple hard‑light setups live — from clean, sunlight‑inspired looks to sculpted, cinematic portraits and contemporary editorial styles. Featuring some obvious and some not so obvious ways of utilising hard light.

Attendees will gain a practical understanding of how light quality, contrast, and shadow shape mood, depth, and visual impact.

Using a range of Profoto modifiers, grids, reflectors, colour gels, and atmospheric tools, the workshop will focus on controlling light with purpose, rather than simply illuminating a subject. You’ll also gain insight into professional studio workflow, creative direction, and how subtle adjustments can dramatically change the final image.

This is a focused, educational session for photographers who want to deepen their lighting knowledge, refine their studio technique, and better understand how bold, high‑impact imagery is crafted using hard light.

Shaun Li is a commercial and portrait photographer based in Adelaide and the founder of Capture the Present. Known for his bold, intentional use of light, Shaun’s work blends strong visual storytelling with a cinematic edge, creating imagery that feels modern, emotive, and visually striking. His photography spans commercial, portrait, and creative projects, with a distinctive style rooted in contrast, atmosphere, and controlled lighting.

Shaun’s approach is highly considered and process‑driven, with a strong emphasis on understanding light quality and shaping it with purpose rather than relying on formulaic setups. In both his personal and client work, he focuses on creating images that feel deliberate, expressive, and technically refined.

Through workshops and education, Shaun shares a practical, hands‑on approach to lighting that helps photographers gain confidence in studio environments and develop a stronger creative voice.

Bookings have now closed but limited tickets may still be available - please contact us by email to enquire: [email protected] :)

10/06/2026

Last week, we had the privilege of hosting the incredibly talented for an inspiring fashion photography workshop!✨

Throughout the session, Weronika guided attendees through four distinct fashion lighting setups (plus variations), sharing the thought process behind each approach and demonstrated how lighting can completely transform the mood and impact of an image. Weronika had warned us beforehand of her speed in setting up, and she absolutely hammered home her point by smashing out the stunning lighting setups with precision 😁

Using a range of gear including d3’s and a beauty dish, magnum reflector and umbrellas + the smoke ninja and with support by and .r.kennedyimaging , Weronika generously offered a behind-the-scenes look into her creative workflow including:

- pre-production planning and shoot preparation
- colour theory
- styling decisions
- directing and posing models with purpose.

What made the workshop so valuable was the opportunity to watch a photographer who has truly mastered her craft work in real time, explaining not just what she does, but why she does it.

A huge thank you to Weronika for sharing her knowledge and experience with our community. And thank you to all the attendees on the night!

If you missed this workshop and would like to see it return OR if you wanna see more fashion photography education let us know in the comments below!

You can see LOTS more images from the event on our website: https://cogcreativespace.com/shooting-fashion-with-weronika-mamot-workshop/

Facilitator & Photographer:
Event organisers:
BTS Stills:
BTS video:
Assistants:
Location:
Supported by: .r.kennedyimaging
Makeup:
Hair:
Talent:

02/06/2026

We had the creatives from Detail Marketing Communications in Perth over for this shoot by local photographer Jack Wenby. It was for the Fremantle International Street Arts Festival, and was included as a feature story in the Sunday Times Magazine. Jack worked with Osadía, a street theatre company from Barcelona that performs ‘live hair art’ - they were in Adelaide for WOMADelaide. Jack shot in our Pro Studio and used a couple of our coloured paper backgrounds for these incredible images. Here are some BTS shots from our in-house photographer Sam Oster.

Talent:
Photographer:
Client: Fremantle International Street Arts Festival
Studio: Cog Creative Space
BTS: Silvertrace

20/05/2026

Step inside a real fashion and beauty shoot with internationally published photographer Weronika Mamot, presented in collaboration with Profoto and Diamonds Camera.

Hosted at COG Creative Space, this in‑studio tutorial offers a behind‑the‑scenes look at how Weronika creates polished, editorial fashion imagery using the Profoto D‑series lighting system. You’ll see her complete lighting workflow in action — from clean, minimal setups to more sculpted, directional looks — with a strong focus on precision, control, and creating images that feel modern, refined, and commercially relevant.

Weronika will demonstrate multiple lighting setups live, breaking down how she shapes light, builds depth, and creates atmosphere without distraction. The session will also include subtle use of atmospheric tools such as SmokeNinja, showing how effects can elevate an image when used with restraint and intention.

With a professional model and makeup artist on set, attendees will experience a true working studio environment and gain insight into professional pacing, communication, and creative decision‑making.

This is an educational, industry‑focused session designed for photographers who want to strengthen their lighting knowledge, refine their studio workflow, and better understand how high‑end fashion imagery is created.

Booking details:
https://cogcreativespace.com/profoto-shooting-fashion-studio-tutorial-with-weronika-mamot/

04/05/2026

We love this from our friends at Ilford...
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AzHiZW8Z8/

May the 4th be with you.

In a galaxy of instant everything, some still choose the slower path.

Film. Light. Time.

Trust your process.