Cinematic Strings – Ian Greenberg, NZSO Musician

When Ian Greenberg walked into my studio, I immediately had a clear visual in mind. He has that striking kind of look that made me think, “this could be a Tom Ford campaign.” There’s elegance, confidence, and something quietly assured in the way he carries himself. That first impression led me to craft a cinematic and refined series of portraits that move between the orchestral and the editorial.

This shoot is part of a broader project photographing members of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra — a chance to spotlight the individuals behind the instruments and give them strong visual content for their own artistic identity.

The Concept and Collaboration

I sent Ian a mood board built around moody tones, classic portraiture, and golden-hour glamour inspired by vintage Hollywood and fashion photography. He was all in. We agreed he’d bring a range of outfits — suits, casual wear, and concert attire — and on the day, we built each look around what worked best for the light and space.

We started with the cello, pairing the instrument’s warm tones with sculpted light, and slowly shifted into solo portraits that explored both sides of his style: moody and structured, and clean and confident.

Look 1: Cinematic Performance

We kicked things off with a cinematic setup that leaned into Ian’s elegance and ease as a performer. He sat with his cello in full formalwear, framed by the glow of a Fresnel-style movie light. I mounted a flash with a CTO gel inside the Fresnel housing to mimic a warm tungsten glow. To add bloom and halation to the highlights, I placed a Pro Mist filter on the lens.

My key light was the 175cm Elinchrom Octabox off to camera left, positioned for loop lighting with a slight Rembrandt edge.

Lighting Setup

Editorial portraits of Ian Greenberg playing cello in moody backlight with dramatic spotlight atmosphere.

Lighting diagram showing cinematic backlight and side octabox setup for cello portrait of Ian Greenberg.

Look 2: Playing in Shadow

Next, we shifted into a more intimate variation: Ian playing the cello under spotlight conditions. We leaned into the moody feel by narrowing the light and letting more falloff shape the image.

Same gear as before, but now the light was carved tighter. The cello became a sculptural extension of Ian’s posture — his focus grounded the whole scene.

Frontal cello pose under spotlight

Look 3: Sculpted Suit Portraits

We stepped away from the cello and leaned into a clean, structured look with Ian wearing a suit and glasses. I repositioned the Octa for side-lighting — giving that perfect cheekbone carve. That created deep shadows and sculpted jawlines. These portraits felt like fashion meets classical music.

Lighting Setup

Refined portrait of Ian Greenberg in suit and glasses with cinematic side lighting and clean background.

Lighting setup diagram for moody suit portrait of Ian Greenberg using side octabox and black backdrop.

Look 4: High-Key Switch-Up

This look was totally unplanned — and it turned out to be one of the best. I saw Ian in a black t-shirt holding his cello and instantly knew we should do a high-key contrast setup. Using a bare bulb flash on a white background, we pushed into fashion territory: crisp lines, bold tones, and clean contrast.

Camera settings: ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/125s — the faster shutter helped eliminate ambient light for punchy highlights.

Lighting Setup

High-key editorial photos of NZSO cellist Ian Greenberg wearing black with cello against white background

High-key fashion lighting diagram for editorial cello portrait with white backdrop and bare bulb flash.

Unexpected Moments & Artistic Energy

This shoot started as a study in moody lighting, but it evolved. The high-key setup? That wasn’t even part of the original plan. But once I saw the tones and textures of Ian’s cello paired with a clean black tee, it felt like a fashion editorial — and it worked.

Ian was easygoing, responsive, and completely present — exactly the kind of subject who brings energy without ego. It’s not every day you get to hear cello played live during a shoot either. That part? Always magic.

What These Images Reveal

These portraits isolate one player from the collective power of the NZSO. They show a musician at rest and in flow, with elegance and edge. For Ian, they’re a personal branding tool — but for me, they’re about showing the face behind the music.

He’s calm, composed, and totally magnetic in front of the lens. I think the photos reflect that.

If you'd like to book your own cinematic portrait session — whether you're a musician, creative, or just someone who wants something a little more you — get in touch here.

Follow along on Instagram for lighting diagrams, behind-the-scenes, and more NZSO portrait stories.

Photography: Steve Montgomery – Profile Photos, Wellington, NZ.