Challenge

For this beauty editorial, photographer Kendra Rae Storm set out to create something that felt sculptural and graphic, using light as a compositional element rather than simply a means of illumination. Instead of relying on traditional beauty lighting, she wanted every beam of light to contribute to the final image, shaping both the subject and the environment through carefully controlled projection.

"The intention wasn't to light the subject in a conventional way," Kendra explains. "I wanted to build the image through projection and controlled light shaping."

Solution

To achieve that vision, she built the setup around a combination of Aputure fixtures, with the STORM 400x paired with the Spotlight Mount II serving as the primary creative tool. An LS 1200d Pro, bounced into a book light overhead, established a soft, consistent foundation that provided overall exposure while leaving room for the projected light to define the scene. An LS 600d fitted with a Spotlight Mount II and a 36° lens introduced broader projections onto the background, adding depth and separation without competing with the key light.

The STORM 400x, paired with the Spotlight Mount II and a 19° lens, became the focal point of the lighting design. Its output and precision allowed Kendra to place light exactly where it was needed, sculpting facial features while preserving texture and contrast.

"The 400x with the Spotlight Mount II gave me incredible precision," she says. "I could place light exactly where I wanted it while keeping all of the texture that makes beauty work feel natural."

Rather than rebuilding the lighting between setups, Kendra refined each composition by making subtle adjustments to the Spotlight Mount II. Rotating the projection barrel allowed her to reposition highlights and graphic shapes without moving the fixture itself, creating distinctly different looks while maintaining a consistent lighting foundation.

"Small changes in angle and rotation completely changed how the frame felt," she says. "I could shift the balance, contrast, and focus without having to relight the entire scene."

Results

This approach allowed the team to transition seamlessly between stills and motion while maintaining a cohesive visual language throughout the production. The soft overhead source remained constant, while the projected light evolved from frame to frame, making the setup both efficient and creatively flexible.

For Kendra, the project demonstrated how projection lighting can become an integral part of the creative process. Rather than functioning as a traditional modifier, the Spotlight Mount II became a tool for designing the frame itself, while the STORM 400x delivered the precision and consistency needed to bring that vision to life.

"The Spotlight Mount II became less of a modifier and more of a design tool," Kendra reflects. "It allowed me to shape the frame rather than simply light it."