About the DVDs and downloads

Over the years we’ve released a new instructional DVD almost every year.
Of course there are a lot of questions about the DVDs so I’ve decided to dedicate this blogpost to some of the FAQ (and some fun).

Let’s first look at which DVDs there are and in very short what they are about :

Workshop DVD
filmed live during a workshop.
This was the first DVD we created and it’s only available in Dutch.

Guide to modelphotography
After the totally unexpected success of the workshop DVD we created a more professional looking DVD. The DVD contains 50% studio work and 50% location work. The DVD is aimed at beginners and included topics like jumps, lighting a location in parts, outside strobe use, different light sources and shooting someone with glasses.

Inside Look 1 and 2
Backstage during real photoshoots, also includes app 50% studio and location work.
This DVD is more aimed at a wider group of photographers, both beginners and more advanced shooters. There is a lot of attention for the idea behind the shoots and of course the techniques used.

Light 1
Shot during the workshops in Los Angeles, so it includes this workshop in a segment, but much more.
Lots of attention for metering, setting up light setups and even a theory part with loads of information about using light meters, calculating backgrounds and ambient light and much more.

Light 2
Totally aimed at location photography with the Quadras and rangers from Elinchrom.
Lots of information about metering, manipulating ambient lights and includes the workshops we did in the UK/Ireland, also includes a theory part.

Light 3
Aimed mostly at shooting more creative setups, working with groups, working out a concept and of course also lots of technique and tips/tricks.

Live in Boston
Filmed during a 2 day workshop I taught in Boston. There really is way too much information on this one to post here, but let’s say it starts with a Q&A than goes into small flash (a first for me on a DVD) and than moves from inside locations to some of the most stunning outside locations I ever used on a DVD. MUCH information about metering and also using reflective metering for ambient and backgrounds in depth.

KelbyTraining
As most of you will already know I’ve been working with KelbyMediaGroup for some years now, at the moment they run 5 instructional videos from me online at www.kelbytraining.com including the “freezing motion” class which has also been released on DVD. The videos on KT are different from the DVDs and cover different topics so even if you own all the DVDs make sure to check out the KT classes. During this year there will be 2 more instructional videos on KT which will surprise you (I think 🙂 )

Part of the Light III DVD

FAQ
Are all the DVDs different? 
Yes, as most people I hate to spend money on 3 DVDs only to find out that they are actually all the same only with a different model. This is also why I only release one every year.

Are they all in Dutch or English?
All DVDs except the workshop one are released in BOTH Dutch and English, so when ordering make sure you get the right one. The downloads are all English.

How long do the DVDs actually run?
Well the running time of all DVDs is longer than one hour, however the “live in Boston” runs well over 2 hours.
And where some DVDs will give you 15 minutes of instructional material and fill the rest with a model video (seeing the model pose), I always try to go as quick as possible with the information, meaning you will have to use the pause and rewind buttons a lot, because it’s one stream of information…. some people even claim they worn out the DVDs. Oh and on most DVDs there is also a lot of extra material that we don’t even add to the running time.

Can I play the DVDs in the states?
Well yes of course, but you have to take care of one thing.
Make sure you own a modern player and display. The DVDs are not region protected but they are in the PAL system. For modern systems this is no problem at all, meaning if you own a flat panel display and a modern DVD/BD player you will not even notice a difference, with older CRT displays and old DVD players it can give you a notion of a problem. The solution is to use your PC or Mac which would play it without any problem. We are selling the DVDs worldwide for many years now and the last 3 years got no questions anymore about systems not playing the DVDs, all problems in the past were solved by running them from a PC or Mac.

Can I copy the DVDs and put them online?
Well probably you can but PLEASE don’t…..
We keep the prices very low (according to some ridiculously low) but the work we put into the DVDs is huge, meaning if we really want to make a profit we have to sell a lot, and when they are spread via newsgroups we don’t make any profit for sure, this also means we won’t make any new material any more, because although I love to teach I do have a family that I have to support…. And let’s be honest for the pricing we charge why not just buy the original and support our work…. some people even claim that we are too cheap and that people would actually buy the DVDs/downloads more if we would double the pricing…. but I want them to be available to everyone in every country in the world.

Is there nudity on the DVDs?
No, All the DVDs are viewable with your children or in whatever situation you are, in other words they are 100% work safe, although I do have to add that there always people that will take offense to almost anything, in that case, please browse through my portfolio on this site, if you find everything acceptable (except the glamour department) the DVDs are without a doubt no problem for you. We have had some problems with shipping the DVDs to certain countries due to the covers, on the cover some of the models show a neck that is not covered and for some countries this is reason to not ship the DVDs, if you think your country will be a problem choose the download or let us know and we will remove the covers.

Do they run on Android?
huh?
Well?
Of course they run on android, iPad etc. you just convert them to your mobile device and you can enjoy the material on the plane, boat or the restroom….

Will there be more DVDs in the future?
Well to be 100% honest I think the live in Boston will probably be the last one… but don’t panic.
We recently uploaded all our English DVDs (except the freezing motion) to a server and offer them as downloads to the public, this works flawless at the moment. For the customer this means they can get the material within a few hours without being charged for shipping, for us this means there is no investment in media, shipping and storing. Also online I can release smaller pieces, longer pieces and of course full HD without having to resort to the more expensive BD format (which for us at the moment for instructional material is not yet doable).

Can I also download the material?
Yes, as mentioned before we recently added all the English DVDs to the server so you can download them. When you order make sure that you go the section DOWNLOAD in the webstore.

Do you think I can learn something from your DVDs? 
Well, this is maybe the most ask question, and I think YES (actually I know almost 100% sure).
Even if you know all the theory, all the tips and tricks (which I highly doubt because I really jam a lot of them on each DVD) you will see some sets you probably will take as inspiration for your own work, maybe you see a use of a light source you never thought off etc… It’s one of the reason I also watch a lot of the video on for example Kelbytraining, just to be inspired, and I will ALWAYS pick up something.

I don’t shoot models do I have to buy your DVDs?
Well it’s all aimed at model/portrait photography, BUT…. when we look at the DVD Light 1 for example and Live in Boston there is also a lot of information about composition, lens choices, metering from ambient light etc. etc. these techniques are universal and work for EVERY form of photography. And although coaching a tree to move a bit more into an S-curve will not make much sense (although seeing you being escorted out in a straightjacket can make a good shot), the way of composing and using a meter for shadow/highlights metering can make your shots a bit better. And maybe….. maybe you will be inspired to pick up model photography 🙂

Is there a difference between your KelbyTraining material and the DVDs?
Yes. They are actually quite different. The KT material is all filmed live while the earlier DVDs are much more compacted with a voice over explaining the theory behind the shots this makes the DVDs a bit more higher paced. But as mentioned before I hate to repeat material meaning that even if you own all the DVDs (or seen all the KT videos) it’s still a totally different experience to see the other material.

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Even the pros get their inspiration from them 🙂