Creative Still Life Flash Photography
A course by Nicolas Polli , Still Life Photographer
Master still-life photography with this course. From ideation to lighting and post-production, transform everyday objects into captivating compositions.
Discover the art of creative still life photography with flash alongside Nicolas Polli, a multidisciplinary photographer and graphic designer specializing in complex and DIY compositions.
You’ll explore lighting and composition techniques that transform everyday objects into captivating and original images with impressive depth and sharpness.
From planning with sketches and mood boards to post-production in Photoshop, each stage of the process will help you develop a unique and professional vision in the world of still life photography.
What will you learn in this online course?
19 lessons & 14 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (4)
- 479 students
- 19 lessons (1h 2m)
- 14 additional resources (2 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software & tools for this course
Adobe PhotoshopWhat is this course's project?
The final project involves creating a still life photograph using everyday objects and flashlight techniques.
You’ll learn to plan, compose, light, and retouch your image, applying the stacking technique to achieve perfect focus throughout the composition.
Who is this online course for?
This course is aimed at photographers, designers, and creatives interested in exploring still life photography with a DIY approach and creative lighting techniques.
It is ideal for those looking to transform everyday objects into attractive and professional visual compositions. No prior experience in still life photography is required.
Requirements and materials
You’ll need a camera, flashlights for lighting, and basic photography tools.
It is also recommended to have access to an image editing program like Photoshop and Helicon Focus to apply the stacking and retouching techniques.
Reviews
Nicolas Polli
A course by Nicolas Polli
Nicolas Polli is a talented Swiss photographer and graphic designer known for his work in still life photography. He is also the founder of his own publishing house, Ciao Press, and the creative director of the Images Vevey festival.
He has collaborated with renowned brands such as MDF Italia, Freitag, and Ovomaltine, and has worked for prestigious magazines like Wallpaper and Die Zeit.
His innovative approach and ability to combine aesthetics and functionality have earned him recognition at international exhibitions and awards such as the Swiss Design Award.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
First steps into your composition
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Plan your photo (sketch, moodboard and references)
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Behind the scenes of a composition
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Materials for the course
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Testing the light with a simple still life example composition 1
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Testing the light with a simple still life example composition 2
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Practicing flashlight with different materials
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Teaching about stacking with life example composition
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U3
Production and Shooting
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Scouting for materials (for the subject of your photo)
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Setting up your space for our Final Project and Building up your composition 1
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Setting up your space for our Final Project and Building up your composition 2
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Shooting our Final Project with stacking technique
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U4
Post-Production
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Selecting and analyzing the pictures (Adobe Bridge)
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Stacking technique (Helicon Focus software)
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Final touches (Photoshop) 1
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Final touches (Photoshop) 2
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Final touches (Photoshop) 3
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Final touches (Photoshop) 4
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FP
Final project
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Creative/High End Product Photography with dramatic flash
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this still life photography course is designed for intermediate-level photographers looking to advance their skills in composition, lighting, and creative set-building, both at home and in small studio spaces.
You’ll need a digital camera (DSLR or mirrorless), a tripod, basic lighting gear (flash, umbrellas, or reflectors), and access to image editing software like Photoshop, Lightroom, and Helicon Focus. Everyday objects for props are also recommended.
You’ll learn advanced still life composition, lighting techniques, prop selection, focus stacking, creative set-building, color planning, and post-production workflows using Photoshop and Helicon Focus, plus strategies for sharing your work and finding photography clients online.
Absolutely. The course covers how to build and photograph still life compositions in small or domestic spaces, using creative solutions and minimal equipment.
Yes, you’ll need image editing software such as Photoshop, Lightroom, and Helicon Focus to follow along with post-production, focus stacking, and compositing lessons.
Yes, the course teaches you how to transform routine kitchen elements and daily objects into compelling still life photographs through composition, color contrast, and lighting.
You’ll learn lighting setup with flash, umbrellas, softboxes, and reflectors, including how to achieve soft light, control reflections, and create dramatic effects for still life photography.
Adobe Photoshop
One word: Best!
El curso está muy bien explicado y se ofrecen muchos tips que te permiten tener un resultado muy profesional e ir buscando poco a poco tu estilo. La manera de explicar de Nicolas es genial, igual que sus fotografías!!! Muy recomendable para aquellos que quieran llevar la fotografía still life o de producto al siguiente nivel :D
Very inspiring course. I learned lots of techniques to create still lifes that are out of the ordinary. I recommend.
This course is easy to follow, I noticed that I can understand still-life lighting now after taking several courses in the past and not being able to follow.