Photo Assignment 2: Three Types of Light

Tessa Trivax, a junior at Southern Methodist University majoring in fashion media and journalism, photographs women during a private Pilates class at Niche in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. ©2025 Tessa Trivax/SMU

Tessa Trivax, a junior at Southern Methodist University majoring in fashion media and journalism, photographs a gifted box of Moroccan oil hair products on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. ©2025 Tessa Trivax/SMU

Tessa Trivax, a junior at Southern Methodist University majoring in fashion media and journalism, photographs a YSL handbag at her apartment in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. ©2025 Tessa Trivax/SMU

For the private pilates class at Niche, I leaned into natural light. I placed the camera so the window light fell across the women, which softened skin and reformers. I overexposed by about a stop on my first pass, which clipped highlights on the ceiling and mirrors. I fixed it by dropping exposure compensation to minus 0.7 and turning off the nearest ceiling cans to avoid mixed color. The result kept the airy feel and preserved detail in the bright areas.

For the Moroccan oil gift box, I built a clean product story with strong color harmony. The teal stripes and satin scarves gave me a clear palette and graphic lines. I shot with a small, hard light at first, which created harsh shadows and hot spots on the metal corners. I fixed it by enlarging the light source. I bounced the flash off a white wall and raised my ISO so ambient filled the background. The box read brighter, the details inside became legible, and the scene felt polished instead of harsh.

For the Saint Laurent bag, I wanted a focused, editorial look. I kept the background simple and let the bag sit centered and square. I shot under overhead panels, which gave me soft but flat light and a busy reflection on the patent leather. I fixed it by changing the angle and adding a white card to shape the highlight. I lowered ISO so I could stop down to keep the logo and handles sharp. The bag reads crisp and intentional.

I work at the intersection of fashion, fitness, and brand storytelling. The Moroccanoil box reflects my love of product styling and clean, graphic design. The Pilates image shows my connection to Niche and how I think about movement, form, and community. The YSL shot speaks to my fashion media focus and an eye for luxury details. Together they show how I balance commercial clarity with a lifestyle feel.

I chose these locations because they are my real spaces. Kappa’s gifting table is where I build partnerships and organize details. The Niche studio is where I spend time directing content and understanding how light shapes people. The bathroom cabinet and tile give the handbag scale and texture without distraction. 

Each element points back to who I am as a creative director and student journalist. I like controlled sets, natural light when it serves the story, and small technical tweaks that make the image look effortless.