Authors Joe Lavine and Brad Bartholomew, commercial photographers and instructors, offer a unique approach to teaching studio lighting to beginning and intermediate photographers. They start with a primer on equipment and terms, including color temperature, filters, flash duration, metering, and the histogram; and then dive into the philosophy of lighting, taking on the characteristics/purposes of using light (dimension, separation, drama, and texture), and then discussing how to approach the "building" of a shot. This is not a recipe book, but provides the necessary background and technical knowledge to create successful shots using the equipment and subjects that they have available. The book also covers practical aspects of starting a career and setting up a first studio at the $500 level, and how to build a studio at the $2,000 and $25,000 level as their clients and expertise grow.