Captain Matt – America’s Lighting Designer. Mentor to the Industry. Artist Behind the Illumination.
Captain Matt is one of the most recognized names in outdoor lighting. More than a contractor, he’s a nationally known lighting artist, educator, and mentor trusted by elite homeowners, luxury builders, and top designers to transform outdoor spaces into illuminated works of art. His work has been featured on television, in national publications, and across hundreds of high-end properties from coast to coast.
Captain Matt Martoccio—known across the industry as simply “The Captain”—has always been obsessed with lighting and how it transforms the world around us. That obsession fueled his rise to becoming one of the most respected and award-winning lighting experts in the country.
The nickname “Captain Matt” came naturally—from leading crews to holding sky-high standards, working well past dark, and always seeing the big picture. Whether he’s lighting estates or teaching designers, he steers every project like a true captain. The tropical shirts and barefoot summers didn’t hurt the branding either.
From holiday lighting with The Christmas Guys, to year-round masterpieces with Barefoot Lighting, to full-scale designs across the country through Captain Matt Outdoors, Captain Matt has redefined how outdoor spaces should feel after dark. As an award-winning lighting expert, his work goes far beyond wiring and fixtures, every project is a carefully crafted illumination portrait designed to elevate the client’s lifestyle, safety, and property value.
- Founder, Barefoot Lighting
- Founder, The Christmas Guys
- Founder, Captain Matt Outdoors
- Host, Captain’s Quarters First Class Podcast
- Co-Host, The Lighting Trade School Podcast
- Co-Founder, The Lighting Trade School
- Certified Level 11 Lighting Designer (IAALL)
- Certified Visual Artist (IAALL)
- IAALL Board Member
- Voted Best in Outdoor Lighting – Capital Region (2022, 2023, 2024)
- Mentor to lighting pros nationwide
- Paid speaker and trainer at top industry events
My Lighting Philosophy:
Most people treat lighting like an afterthought. I treat it like art, because it is.
Lighting should do more than make a space usable. It should change how it feels. It should invite you outside, even if it’s just to sit and breathe. Whether you’re looking out a window or unwinding with a cocktail on the patio, the right lighting transforms the moment.
I don’t sell fixtures. I craft illumination portraits, artistic compositions that bring your property to life at night with custom lighting systems for estates and resorts. That’s why clients across the country trust me as their high-end outdoor lighting designer to design lighting that’s functional, emotional, and unforgettable.
Featured, Trusted, and Recognized By:
Captain Matt’s work has been:
- ABC, FOX, and CBS regional affiliates
- Top national lighting blogs and trade publications
- Upstate NY lifestyle magazines
- Hundreds of real estate portfolios and social media showcases
- Lighting for Profits podcast – Featured guest 3x
- Host of Captain’s Quarters First Class and Co-Host of The Lighting Trade School Podcast
- Mentor to some of the fastest-growing lighting companies in America
Brands and Partnerships:
- Barefoot Lighting – Artistic landscape and architectural lighting.
- The Christmas Guys – Premium seasonal displays & permanent RGB lighting.
- Captain Matt Outdoors – High-end lighting design for discerning clients, speaking engagements, and elite contractor mentorship nationwide.
- The Lighting Trade School – A national training hub for lighting professionals.
- Lifetime Lighting Systems – National Sales Representative and Design Partner.
Client Testimonial:
“Professional, timely and extremely responsive. I found their website while Googling one evening and he was at my house for an estimate within a day or so. Worked together to come up with a design that aligned with our vision and they were able to install it exactly as we had hoped.“
— Michael Esposito
Captain Matt launched his lighting career in 2009 with The Christmas Guys, offering premium holiday and event lighting that quickly gained a loyal following. As demand grew, he expanded into backyard transformations, wedding displays, and permanent soffit lighting. But when clients started asking about architectural and landscape lighting, he didn’t fake it—he studied relentlessly until he could deliver designs worthy of the nation’s most stunning homes.
He didn’t just pivot into landscape lighting—he mastered it. When clients asked for uplighting and design, he refused to fake it. Instead, he went underground, studying relentlessly, testing obsessively, and chasing the kind of mastery most contractors will never touch.
That’s when he met The Wizard—a lighting legend with 50+ patents and decades of illumination artistry behind some of the most iconic designs in the industry.
From sunrise to sunset, he worked, studied, and trained—not just in fixtures, but in the science and soul of lighting, mastering custom lighting systems for estates and resorts. When he returned to New York, he wasn’t just confident, he was transformed. Barefoot Lighting was born.
Today, Captain Matt’s work as a high-end outdoor lighting designer spans the U.S., from coastal estates to mountain retreats. He continues to mentor rising lighting professionals, design stunning properties, and challenge the industry to elevate what’s possible after dark.
Want to experience lighting that turns heads, stops people in their tracks, and completely redefines the feel of your home?
Visit Captain Matt Outdoors to explore mentorship, private design consulting, or book Captain Matt as your lighting artist.