Experiential Landscape Lighting Initiative

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Sacramento, CA
Experiential Landscape Lighting Initiative

ELLI serves 'To Educate & Separate' those seeking lighting design advancement.

I'm a professional landscape lighting designer-contractor with over 23 years or hands-on experience. I am working other dedicated and passionate individuals to provide advanced education in this discipline. Our short-term goal is to advance the professional practice, and our long-term goal is to provide proven content to show how 'good' lighting design can positively impact human health and well-b

eing. ELLI is a legacy project that we wish to pass on to the next generation of disciplined artisans. We are the only entity to offer concentrated training on lighting design--one that utilizes the principles of composition as its foundational building block. Advanced studies will explore deeper content as it relates to human perception and psychology. 'Affect' is the experience of feeling--this is the highest measure of success for any lighting designer to achieve.

08/07/2026

Friday Fails!

Here we go again, whether it's the DIY'er or the wannabe lighting designer attempting to illuminate a backyard space. Granted, this solution...the use of bistro lights definitely illuminates the property; it's overkill and a mood killer.

This is a perfect example of over-illumination. This level of lighting makes the space feel bland and without interest. How is one supposed to relax and enjoy the nighttime space when it looks like this?

One would think that consumers would learn after years or decades of seeing examples like this, but no...this practice continues to haunt our profession, as well as lighting design.

Anyway, here's your Friday Fail...have a great weekend.

07/24/2026

Friday Fails

It's my guess that this landscape lighting job was a combination of the landscaper doing the initial lighting in the front yard, and then the homeowner (DIY'er) doing some added work with the colored lights and festoon lighting. But, then again...in these times...nothing surprises me.

So, when I teach students about what the purpose of the front yard is, as it applies to lighting design, it should lead people to the front door (for residential work). Looking at this photo, does this do that? I would bet that most would say "no." This landscape lighting job is a mess--the nicest way to put it.

Without diving into composition too much, let me ask you this...where does your eye go when looking at this scene? Does it go to the garage doors with the matching sconce lights to each side? Does it go to the wood fence that has a red colored light on it and the linear display of festoon lights? Or, does it go to the uplit trees to the right? This is a big problem that causes mental confusion for the visitor.

The next part of this mess is why are there several glaring path lights placed to create 'hot-spots' in the landscape? What purpose do these really serve, other than adding to the confusion?

As a closing statement, this is why lighting design education is so important. "Design" and the teaching of landscape lighting design is almost non-existent today. Our lighting manufacturers and distributors only seem to care about selling products so they put little to no real effort into training people from this perspective. It's truly a shame. When you are ready to learn true skill proficiency in landscape lighting design...contact me/us at ELLI.

07/17/2026

Friday Fails

I wanted to share a photo that a fellow landscape lighting provider sent me, as it is another example of what is being done within our scope of work. We've all been exposed to this...the "electrician" performing landscape lighting work. These are the wrong people to employ for thoughtful design.

I'm not saying that this lighting layout is bad, but there are several things wrong with it. Here's what is wrong:

1) An old-school approach using whatever is shown in a catalog or whatever is on the shelf at the distributor. They use flood lights, up lights, and even pathlights/bollards for everything.

2) Over-sized fixtures in small spaces. This is what you see on most all commercial projects...think, Las Vegas or the shopping mall.

3) Overkill approach to illumination. Look at the flood lights within the "red" circles. One is aimed at the low wall, and the other is aimed at some small starter shrubs. Both of these are going to "flood" light out across the whole space, over the wall/shrubs, and beyond into the sky. In other words, it's all wasted illumination.

4) Lack of care for energy efficiency. Who knows what light sources they are using inside, but I can guarantee it's not as efficient as what a 12-v. a landscape lighting system could provide.

5) Rigidly installed and located light fixture positions. Although I am a fan of installing conduit, the systems must be flexible enough to relocate fixtures easily. Being that this lighting is 120-v. it is buried atleast 12" or more in the ground. This will make relocating fixtures more of a nightmare as these trees grow (see "yellow" circles for those up lights).

6) Up light positioning ("yellow" circles). What is the 'design intent' here? Each of the three trees has the same placement of up lights, so from one street (to the right or left) they will look stronger (intensity on the trunking) versus the streets at 90-degrees in either direction...less intense. This could have been designed to create more impact or depth (although limited) by positioning them differently.

It is highly likely that an engineer-type person, who has little to no experience in landscape lighting, has specified this job. However, because their company was awarded the line-voltage work on the job, they were awarded this work too.

When will our cities, government agencies, developers, etc. begin to realize what they are doing? They are NOT lighting designers, nor do they have the experience to know better.

07/10/2026

Friday Fails

Today's example of my Friday Fails post is a common problem seen by many landscape lighting providers. It has to do with no distinct purpose in the lighting other than just having light in the dark.

When we look at displays like this, and it happens a lot with larger homes or job sites...the landscape lighting provider doesn't think in terms of composition. However, in this scene, the provider somewhat achieved two things: the uniformity in this look (all the same), and the lighting of the plants becomes the pattern. This provides slight confusion to the mind because the eye doesn't know where to look.

What is the emphasis (focal point) in this scene? Nothing! The only depth in this scene is from the light glowing of the plants at the front hillside spilling onto parts of the home behind it. I'm not an architectural lighting fan, but why is the home not illuminated within this scene? If you look at the right side of the home, the sides of the garage are illuminated.

By illuminating each and every plant, as is mostly the case here, it makes the entire scene look "spotty". The only contrast is 'light' vs. 'no light'.

This is why our profession lacks professional respect...seriously, it's because the majority are not educated in design and composition. ELLI can teach you these things, as well as the differences between good and bad applications.

07/03/2026

Friday Fails!

Happy 4th, and may you all have a wonderful weekend. It's difficult to say what looks good about this landscape lighting display...maybe because the homeowner used a red-white-blue color theme for the holiday? However, it's the newly pathetic display of permanent holiday lighting used to avoid doing it right in the first place.

Let's break down why this looks poor: 1) Lack of proper emphasis (focal point), 2) Glare & hot-spots, 3) Separation of front landscape from the house structure, and 4) Color mash-up.

Where does your eye immediately go to? This is the emphasis--the closely lined, string lights on the trunks only of the Oak trees. The "glare bomb" (pilaster light) keeps the focus centered on the string light display.

How does one get to the entry (front door)? None of this is properly defined. Although we can see the overhead light at the front door behind the trees...at least it's illuminated. Then the color display...too many colors. You've got a 3000-4000K (neutral white) color at the pilaster light, a ~2700K (warm white) color at the string lights, and the colored lights running the roof line (red-white-blue...in this case). I'm sure the neighbors love it?

What makes all of this worse is that this location is set in a high-end, private community in my area. Get ready America, this is likely coming to your neighborhood soon with all the permanent holiday lighting guys flooding the market. Please consider how this will reflect on your home's value.

07/02/2026

Do We (Landscape Lighting Profession) Have Any Leaders?

If so, then I haven't seen it. What are we doing as a profession to truly advance ourselves? Where are we going, as a small industry? None of our so-called "leaders" has addressed any of this. Here is a simple question we all should be asking the leaders of the AOLP, ILLI, and even the IESNA: What is the Vision of our profession for the next 10 years, or even 5 years?

Most in these leadership positions will answer with broad, lame answers...to expand/grow our membership...to serve our members...to provide better standards and practices. But, none of these reasons addresses our "Vision" and future of this craft.

I just saw a post yesterday where the AOLP is all excited about their new relationship/partnership with a new management company. One of the things stated was "To advance the AOLP's strategic priorities." Does that mean providing more activities or fun for their annual social gathering...the annual conference? Does it mean increasing their social media presence to attempt to attract more members?

Again, I ask...what is the vision of this association's future? Is never addressed, and never has been in the 25 years it's been in existence.

Another statement I read in this AOLP post...that they are going "To strengthen industry partnerships." Essentially, this only serves to build membership. Membership is their main priority and goal, as with most of these organizations--what generates money to keep these entities alive?

So, here's a question: "Does this Industry Partnership include working directly with and supporting the likes of Landscape Lighting Secrets/Lighting For Profits?" Since this past year, this entity no longer serves the best interests of the landscape lighting profession. I say this because they are teaching new students concepts and principles that realistically counter the professionalism of the landscape lighting craft. In other words, it's all about making money and taking advantage of consumers.

Let's go back to those in a leadership position (board members, senior advisors, etc.) within the landscape lighting profession. What are these people doing about companies like L.L.S., especially when they are not in alignment with the advancement of our practices? The answer is...Absolutely Nothing! They all sit quietly about this problem because they all benefit from the membership or sale of products.

All of these people "talk" a big game about how they want to provide the best...be the voice for the industry or profession...raise-the-bar for professionalism, yet they do nothing when faced with a real-world challenge like this. It's disgraceful, to say the least.

06/26/2026

Friday Fails!

Here we go again with the inexperienced landscaper who installed lighting for a front yard package deal. This type of practice (to provide landscape lighting as an "add-on" component to the primary service) is becoming more common. The bad thing is that this only devalues the whole profession by providing poor lighting design.

So, what do we see here? There are 9-pathlights and 2-up lights used. As a professional landscape lighting designer-installer and educator, I always ask...what is the 'purpose' of this design? In other words, what is the 'Design Intent?'

Looking at this layout, I would say the only purpose is to provide circles of light throughout the whole space. How does this benefit the home and to direct traffic to the entry? Realistically, this lighting design separates the home from the landscape.

The up lights (in yellow circles), front light the two trees, which places more attention on them without any lighting on the home structure behind--this creates separation. The pathlights (in red circles) only provide circular pools of light at these locations--essentially, 'hot-spots' on the ground to make the landscape look spotty.

At today's prices, and considering this job was done by an inexperienced service provider, I'm guessing they charged the customer from $2500 to $4500 for this addition to the landscape contract. Let's just split it...$3500 for this installation mess. Is that what consumers want? Pretty pathetic.

This is why education and proper training are so important. There's a current trend out there right now where landscape lighting "coaches" are training new providers (holiday lighting & permanent holiday lighting guys, window cleaners, pressure washers guys, etc.) how to design-install jobs...all based around how many fixtures they can sell the homeowner. And this is the type of result you get!

Consumers...please start researching these companies and individuals before you throw your money down the drain.

06/19/2026

Friday Fails

I haven't done one of these in a while, but many have been asking for them again. So, here's one I just saw the other day.

It's a "fail" for several reasons: 1) Not to code (transformer not mounted at 12" minimum above grade), 2) Mounted in the middle of a lawn/turf area (highly susceptible to damage), and 3) An eyesore, to say the least.

Although these transformers are made to handle the exterior (rain, water spray, etc.), why locate it in the direct path of sprinklers? Also, why provide it as a target for the landscape maintenance crews (mowers ramming into it)?

The installer should have mounted it to the light post. They could have kept it above grade to the correct height...it would have been less visible...and it would be less likely to be damaged by crews.

Just another poor installation by those who don't know better or don't care. Sad to see.

06/15/2026

So Much For Professional Leadership!

It's been over a week since I posted about a marketing campaign that is being pushed onto the whole of the landscape lighting community. Many of you know who I'm talking about as it relates to "Mr. Secrets"...who is devaluing our trade craft, all to line his own pockets.

I won't repeat all of the problems associated with this, but I ask the simple question..."Where is our Leadership?" This includes the following:

* Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP)
* International Landscape Lighting Institute (ILLI)
* Janet L. Moyer (Internationally recognized landscape lighting designer)
* Patrick Harders (Sterling Lighting)
* Tom Garber (Emery-Allen)
* Any of the other manufacturers that support his agenda

Whether you are new to the profession or have been around for decades, it doesn't matter. Those serving this trade profession need to question what is really going on here. Our so-called "leaders" (those people or companies claiming to advance our cause...to set high standards of excellence...to act ethically) are all 'Missing-In-Action'!

The silence is deafening, and this only goes to show the landscape lighting world that they are not standing up for principles. It's too bad the 'Lemon Laws' don't apply to leadership actions.

We all know why these people and companies haven't said anything (they remain quiet)...it's because they have supported "Mr. Secrets" for several years now. I'm sure none of these entities figured that he would go off the rails to cheapen our profession. Also, I'm sure they were all fine with the fact that they received new customers to buy their products or new members to add to the bottom line. Are they all just selling their soul...to reap the initial monetary gain?

Yes, I'm being harsh in this conversation because it all needs to be addressed. We, as an art form/trade profession/craft, cannot sit idle and watch individuals like this destroy what has slowly been built over the past decades.

If you are a landscape lighting professional, then it's time to ask these questions. It's time to hold those in leadership positions accountable. What we are seeing right now is the same thing as Mayor Bass from Los Angeles...'Missing-In-Action' as the fire burns!

06/14/2026

Here's the guy who's selling out the landscape lighting profession. Consumers beware! Do you really want to work with anyone who has been trained by someone who is trained by a 'get rich quick' guy like this? This is what is happening.

Address

Sacramento, CA

Telephone

+19165329699

Website

https://www.landscapelightinginitiative.org/

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