We built a colorful subway set and took it to New York to shoot an episode of Lindsay Adler's Learn Plus, all about set design!
A few months ago, Lindsay reached out to us to film an episode for her Learn Plus platform, which was an exciting opportunity. We’ve admired her work for years—her technical skills and the way she shares her creative process have been a big influence on us as we shifted from wedding photography to more creative studio work. Being asked to collaborate on something like this felt like a full-circle moment.
Lindsay gave us full creative freedom to design any set we wanted and do three photoshoots. Instead of building three separate sets, we decided to build one set and photograph it in three completely different ways, showing how much you can transform a space through set design and perspective.
David designed and built a retro subway set that we could shoot from three different angles, and we drove it to Jersey City to shoot with Lindsay in her amazing studio. We did three shoots with two fantastic models, Dasha and Ciara, and Lindsay's incredible creative team helped with hair, makeup, and styling to bring our vision to life.
In this set design-focused episode of Learn Plus, we break down the concept behind each setup, go over our lighting approach, and you’ll get to watch the full photoshoots to see how we direct and execute the final images. You also get to see Lindsay shoot three DIY sets of her own and do three killer photoshoots.
What stood out most, beyond the photos themselves, was Lindsay’s generosity and approachability. She had a full creative team—hair, makeup, stylists, lighting assistants, you name it—ready to support us on the day of the shoot. It was an incredible experience to work with such a professional and collaborative team.
Lindsay's Learn Plus is like a monthly masterclass, where she explores different aspects of photography and often brings in guest photographers. Our lesson focused on set design, but she’s covered a wide range of topics like color theory, art movements, and creative maternity. It’s great to see how other photographers work and to learn new perspectives on creativity and technique.
We’re proud of the work we created during this shoot, and it was a fulfilling experience all around. Meeting someone you’ve looked up to for so long and collaborating with them can be a little nerve-wracking, but Lindsay was everything we hoped she’d be—professional, kind, and incredibly passionate about what she does.
Models: Dasha Gold + Ciara Simone
Makeup Artist: Grant Karpin
Hair: Linh Guyen
Stylist: The Cannon Media Group
Casting by: Bobby Gutierrez
