Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The idea started with a simple question: Could I turn scrap materials from the studio into something visually striking? Using three A1 foam boards and strips of yellow paper from old seamless paper rolls, photographer Gavin Hoey created a triangular “tunnel” set designed to frame the subject and exaggerate perspective with a wide lens.
The real challenge for Gavin was lighting it. So he starts by lighting a model with one flash to show how a single key light can illuminate both the model and the background at the same time.
Then Gavin moves on to lighting the inside of the triangular tunnel and for that he sets up a large softbox directly in front of the tunnel and shows how, with the right exposure, it lights the tunnel and makes the colors pop.
After the photo session Gavin takes you deeper behind the scenes with an overview of how he fixed a few obvious joins caused by him being a good with a camera but not so great at crafting.
This is a great example of how creative portraits don’t require expensive sets or complicated builds, sometimes the most interesting ideas come from materials that you were about to be throw away.
Timestamps and Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:38 Camera settings and key light power
2:10 Adding a yellow background
3:19 Building the triangular tunnel
4:26 Lighting inside the triangular tunnel
5:44 What focal length works best
6:35 Photo session inside the triangular tunnel
7:18 Portrait session with a fisheye lens
7:45 Photoshop cropping and healing
8:38 Conclusions and Subscribe
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Save 5% Every Day† or Special Financing* On purchases of $199+ with the Adorama Edge Credit Card. Learn More: adorama.com/g/adorama-credit.
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✘ GEAR USED:
Flashpoint XPLOR 300 Pro II TTL R2 Outdoor Flash, Godox AD300pro II
adorama.com/flashpoint-xplor-300-pro-ii-ttl-r2-outdoor-flash-godox-ad300pro-ii/p/fplfx300piit
Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro II R2 TTL Pocket Flash , Godox AD200Pro II
adorama.com/flashpoint-evolv-200-pro-ii-r2-ttl-pocket-flash-godox-ad200pro-ii/p/fplfev200pii
Flashpoint R2 Pro Mark II
adorama.com/flashpoint-r2-pro-markii-wireless-flash-trigger-canon/p/fprrr2procii
Glow S2 Round Flash S-type Bowens Mount Bracket for Round Head Flashes (Godox S2)
adorama.com/glow-s2-round-flash-bracket-bowens-mount-godox/p/glbdsm02pro
Glow EZ Lock Collapsible Silver Beauty Dish (42")
adorama.com/glow-ez-lock-collapsible-beauty-dish-silver-42-inch-bowens-mount/p/glbdez42s
Glow EZ Lock 12x36" Quick Strip Rectangular Bowens Mount Softbox
adorama.com/glow-ez-lock-12-x-36-inch-quick-strip-bowens-softbox/p/glsbez1236
Flashpoint 10' C (Century) Light Stand on Turtle Base Kit w/40" Grip Arm & 2 Gobo Heads
adorama.com/flashpoint-10-foot-c-stand-turtle-base-kit-grip-arm-chrome/p/fplsc
Tether Tools TetherPro Optima 10G 15' USB-C Cable, Orange
adorama.com/tether-tools-tetherpro-optima-10g-15-ft-usb-c-right-angle-cable/p/ttcuc15rtg2o
Tether Tools TetherPro Optima 10G 15' USB-C Straight to USB-C Right Angle Cable, Orange
adorama.com/tether-tools-aerotrac-workstation-system-mounting-hardware/p/ttatws
OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II Mirrorless Camera
adorama.com/om-system-om-1-mark-ii-mirrorless-camera-body-only/p/iomom1m2
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO Lens for Micro Four Thirds, Black
adorama.com/l/?searchinfo=Olympus%20OM%20SYSTEM%20M.Zuiko%20Digital%20ED
OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye Pro Lens for Micro Four Thirds, Black
adorama.com/om-system-m-zuiko-ed-8-mm-f-1-8-fisheye-pro-lens/p/om818m
Adorama Seamless Background Paper
adorama.com/l/Photography/Lighting-and-Studio/Backgrounds-and-Supports/Adorama~Seamless-Paper-Backgrounds
#gavinhoey #portraitphotography #adorama
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Follow Gavin Hoey on
instagram.com/thegavinhoey
Model: Chloe Kerley
instagram.com/chloekmodel
__________________________________
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!
The idea started with a simple question: Could I turn scrap materials from the studio into something visually striking? Using three A1 foam boards and strips of yellow paper from old seamless paper rolls, photographer Gavin Hoey created a triangular “tunnel” set designed to frame the subject and exaggerate perspective with a wide lens.
The real challenge for Gavin was lighting it. So he starts by lighting a model with one flash to show how a single key light can illuminate both the model and the background at the same time.
Then Gavin moves on to lighting the inside of the triangular tunnel and for that he sets up a large softbox directly in front of the tunnel and shows how, with the right exposure, it lights the tunnel and makes the colors pop.
After the photo session Gavin takes you deeper behind the scenes with an overview of how he fixed a few obvious joins caused by him being a good with a camera but not so great at crafting.
This is a great example of how creative portraits don’t require expensive sets or complicated builds, sometimes the most interesting ideas come from materials that you were about to be throw away.
Timestamps and Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:38 Camera settings and key light power
2:10 Adding a yellow background
3:19 Building the triangular tunnel
4:26 Lighting inside the triangular tunnel
5:44 What focal length works best
6:35 Photo session inside the triangular tunnel
7:18 Portrait session with a fisheye lens
7:45 Photoshop cropping and healing
8:38 Conclusions and Subscribe
SUBSCRIBE AND BE PART OF THE ADORAMA FAMILY:
➥ youtube.com/user/adoramaTV
__________________________________
Be the first to shop our great deals and sales by signing up for emails from Adorama! adorama.com/MyAccount/Login
🔷
Save 5% Every Day† or Special Financing* On purchases of $199+ with the Adorama Edge Credit Card. Learn More: adorama.com/g/adorama-credit.
__________________________________
✘ GEAR USED:
Flashpoint XPLOR 300 Pro II TTL R2 Outdoor Flash, Godox AD300pro II
adorama.com/flashpoint-xplor-300-pro-ii-ttl-r2-outdoor-flash-godox-ad300pro-ii/p/fplfx300piit
Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro II R2 TTL Pocket Flash , Godox AD200Pro II
adorama.com/flashpoint-evolv-200-pro-ii-r2-ttl-pocket-flash-godox-ad200pro-ii/p/fplfev200pii
Flashpoint R2 Pro Mark II
adorama.com/flashpoint-r2-pro-markii-wireless-flash-trigger-canon/p/fprrr2procii
Glow S2 Round Flash S-type Bowens Mount Bracket for Round Head Flashes (Godox S2)
adorama.com/glow-s2-round-flash-bracket-bowens-mount-godox/p/glbdsm02pro
Glow EZ Lock Collapsible Silver Beauty Dish (42")
adorama.com/glow-ez-lock-collapsible-beauty-dish-silver-42-inch-bowens-mount/p/glbdez42s
Glow EZ Lock 12x36" Quick Strip Rectangular Bowens Mount Softbox
adorama.com/glow-ez-lock-12-x-36-inch-quick-strip-bowens-softbox/p/glsbez1236
Flashpoint 10' C (Century) Light Stand on Turtle Base Kit w/40" Grip Arm & 2 Gobo Heads
adorama.com/flashpoint-10-foot-c-stand-turtle-base-kit-grip-arm-chrome/p/fplsc
Tether Tools TetherPro Optima 10G 15' USB-C Cable, Orange
adorama.com/tether-tools-tetherpro-optima-10g-15-ft-usb-c-right-angle-cable/p/ttcuc15rtg2o
Tether Tools TetherPro Optima 10G 15' USB-C Straight to USB-C Right Angle Cable, Orange
adorama.com/tether-tools-aerotrac-workstation-system-mounting-hardware/p/ttatws
OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II Mirrorless Camera
adorama.com/om-system-om-1-mark-ii-mirrorless-camera-body-only/p/iomom1m2
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO Lens for Micro Four Thirds, Black
adorama.com/l/?searchinfo=Olympus%20OM%20SYSTEM%20M.Zuiko%20Digital%20ED
OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye Pro Lens for Micro Four Thirds, Black
adorama.com/om-system-m-zuiko-ed-8-mm-f-1-8-fisheye-pro-lens/p/om818m
Adorama Seamless Background Paper
adorama.com/l/Photography/Lighting-and-Studio/Backgrounds-and-Supports/Adorama~Seamless-Paper-Backgrounds
#gavinhoey #portraitphotography #adorama
__________________________________
❐ LET'S GET SOCIAL ❏
➥ TikTok tiktok.com/@adoramanyc
➥ Facebook facebook.com/adorama
➥ Instagram instagram.com/adorama
➥ X https://x.com/adorama
➥ Discord adorama.com/discord
❐ MORE ADORAMA ❏
➥ Shop adorama.com
➥ Blog adorama.com/alc
➥ Adorama Events youtube.com/@AdoramaEvents
__________________________________
Follow Gavin Hoey on
instagram.com/thegavinhoey
Model: Chloe Kerley
instagram.com/chloekmodel
__________________________________
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!
