New Frames: Fine Art Photography & Set Design Incubator

A 4-session journey in building custom sets, sculpting studio light, and directing live shoots in Limerick.

As a fine art photographer and set designer, my passion lies in creating atmospheric visual narratives that go beyond the traditional frame. Photography is an architectural and emotional craft—a process of sculpting light, building physical environments, and guiding talent toward authentic expression.

Through New Frames, an intensive creative programme facilitated by Artis Aura (co-founded with Avia Gurman Murphy), I mentored emerging photographers and students in Limerick through a 4-session studio incubator, moving from initial conceptual concepts to physical set builds and a full-scale professional shoot.

1. Bridging Fine Art Portraiture & Physical Set Building

In a digital-first world, emerging photographers often interact with images through screens before mastering physical space. The vision behind New Frames was to reconnect fine art portraiture with tangible craftsmanship.

My goal as a mentor was to equip artists with the technical and creative autonomy needed to construct their own cinematic environments. Over four intensive weekend sessions, we covered every stage of creative production—demonstrating how fine art concepts translate into physical sets, studio lighting architectures, and visual storytelling.

2. Inside the 4-Session Studio Incubator

Sessions 1 & 2: Concepts, Moodboarding & Studio Lighting

Every powerful fine art portrait begins with intention. In our opening sessions, I mentored participants through dissecting artistic references, creating narrative moodboards, and defining their personal visual language. We explored core themes of identity and atmosphere while introducing technical studio lighting—mastering key lights, fill, rim lighting, and color temperature.

Session 3: Set Construction & The Makers’ Lab

Translating an idea into a physical set requires structural planning and an eye for texture. In Session 3, during our Makers’ Lab, I led the physical construction of three custom studio sets. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with the participants, we built three-dimensional environments from scratch—transforming raw materials, backdrops, and props into tangible cinematic worlds.

Session 4: Live Studio Shoot with Professional Talent

The incubator reached its peak in Session 4 with a fast-paced studio shoot across our three custom sets. Participants stepped into the roles of lead photographer and art director, directing our three professional models: Miku, Sebi, and Anastasiia. Behind the lens, I provided real-time mentorship—coaching artists on directing talent, adjusting lighting setups, and capturing emotive moments.

3. Mentorship Takeaways for Emerging Artists

Intentional Pre-Production: Impactful fine art imagery is built through deliberate set design, prop selection, and atmospheric lighting.
Effective Art Direction: Clear, empathetic direction with models creates space for authentic emotive performance.
Spatial Mastery: Understanding how physical set construction interacts with studio lighting turns a portrait into a cinematic scene.

4. Culture Night Exhibition at People’s Museum Limerick

The work created during this incubator will culminate in New Frames: Imagined Worlds, an immersive exhibition in the Carriage Room at The People’s Museum of Limerick.

Opening on Culture Night (Friday, September 18th) and running through October 2nd, 2026, the showcase features fine art photography, physical set installations, costumes, and individual participant portfolios.

5. Acknowledgments & Project Partners

Sincere thanks to our key partners and collaborators:

Limerick Arts Office & Culture Night: For grant funding support under Culture Night 2026.
The People’s Museum of Limerick: For hosting our exhibition in the historic Carriage Room.
Artis Aura: Co-facilitated alongside Avia Gurman Murphy.
Models & Participants: To models Miku, Sebi, and Anastasiia, and our dedicated student photographers.

Ready to Dive In?

The success of this edition confirms our mission to keep surprising the creative community in Ireland. Spaces are strictly limited to maintain the quality of exchange.

Join the waitlist for our upcoming sessions Workshop Waiting List
Find out more about us: My Instagram and Artis Aura.

Stay tuned to discover more of our artistic adventures!

Behind the Project: Guiding the Artistic Journey

This initiative showcases the magic that unfolds when clear vision, technical precision, and dedicated teamwork converge to produce deeply expressive, high-impact visual art.

Céline Mermier is an acclaimed French Fine Art photographer living and working in Ireland. Renowned for her ethereal, narrative-driven aesthetic, she was awarded Dublin’s Photographer of the Year in 2024. In addition to creating her own fine art series, Céline acts as a photography lecturer at the College of FET, guiding emerging talent in the subtle arts of lighting, composition, and visual storytelling.

Avia Gurman Murphy, based in East Clare, is a multi-disciplinary visual artist whose practice weaves together fine art photography, performance, and ritualized themes of identity and human connection.

As facilitators and mentors, our shared vision is rooted in educational empowerment—inspiring artists to build evocative imagery, challenge traditional visual codes, and master the art of fine art creation.