The Lighting Coach

In this episode of The Lighting Coach, Patrick Harders, LC, sits down with longtime friend and respected landscape professional Dave Helpard, founder and owner of DH Custom Scapes. With over 30 years of experience building one of Northern Virginia’s premier landscape companies, Dave shares how he got his start, the lessons he’s learned, and the principles that have kept his business thriving while...

In this episode, Patrick Harders sits down with professional photographer Dave Battle, whose portfolio includes some of Dayloom’s most stunning nighttime reveals. Dave shares his process for capturing landscape lighting at its best. From dialing in the perfect light balance, to understanding the role of shadows, to using the natural transition from dusk to darkness for dramatic effect, Dave highli...

In this episode of The Lighting Coach, Patrick Harders, LC, sits down with Jon Tigges, owner of Zion Springs, a breathtaking wedding venue and bed and breakfast nestled in the heart of Hamilton, Virginia.  Jon shares how landscape lighting transformed the guest experience at his venue, elevating both safety and ambiance for evening events. From first impressions to lasting memories, lighting has p...

In this episode, Patrick Harders, LC, sits down with his longtime protégé and now award-winning designer, Andy Shumate. From humble beginnings as an installer to becoming one of the most respected lighting designers in the industry, Andy shares the real story of his journey—mistakes made, lessons learned, and the mindset shift that changed everything. If you're just getting started or wondering wh...

When Patrick Harders and Damien Sanchez started Sterling Lighting, they weren’t following a blueprint — they were building one from scratch. In this episode, Patrick sits down with Damien to share the story behind the man who helped shape Sterling into the trusted name it is today. Damien talks about his path from wildland firefighter to firefighter-EMT to entrepreneur, and how a few bold decision...

In this behind-the-scenes episode of The Lighting Coach Podcast, host Patrick Harders takes the guest seat, interviewed by Victor Rogers, Director of Marketing Operations at Sterling Lighting. Patrick shares his humble beginnings, how he found his way into the landscape lighting industry, the start-up and growth of Dayloom, and what ultimately inspired him to build Sterling Lighting—a brand design...

Game-changing designs. Award-winning projects. The power of professional-grade landscape lighting. In this exclusive interview from AOLP’s Illuminate 2025 Conference, Patrick Harders (CEO, Sterling Lighting and Owner of Dayloom) sits down with Chris Apfelstadt (President, Light Up Columbus) to talk about his Best in Show-winning project—and why Sterling Lighting luminaires are his go-to for high-i...