Re: Fstoppers Mike Kelley's Where Art Meets Architecture 2
Sheron Norsworthy
In this photography tutorial, Mike will explain each and every technique he uses to produce his stunning images. The full photography tutorial is broken down into three chapters, each covering the tools necessary to succeed in the different niche markets within the field of interior photography. So no matter if you are an experienced photographer or have never taken your camera out of auto mode, Mike will teach you the most basic steps to get started as well as walk you through some of his most complicated photo edits.
After years of perfecting his unique "light painting with speedlights" technique, Mike Kelley has quickly become one of the most sought after architecture and interior photographers around. Mixing artificial light, natural ambient light, and high powered strobe light, Mike's images create a hyper realistic mood that has become a staple in the commercial and advertising world. Unlike traditional techniques such as single long exposures or high dynamic range renders, Mike's light painting technique allows him to have the most amount of control over every light source seen in his images. It is only after you have seen Mike's before and after examples that you can really appreciate just how impressive his work truly is.
Fstoppers.com has teamed up with Mike Kelley to produce Where Art Meets Architecture, a 7 hour long digital download on how to photograph real estate, architecture, and interiors. In this photography tutorial, Mike will explain each and every technique he uses to produce his stunning images. The full photography tutorial is broken down into three chapters, each covering the tools necessary to succeed in the different niche markets within the field of interior photography. So no matter if you are an experienced photographer or have never taken your camera out of auto mode, Mike will teach you the most basic steps to get started as well as walk you through some of his most complicated photo edits. From simple on-camera Real Estate photographs, to twilight exteriors with 20 layers of Photoshop, this tutorial will help you get on the fast track to making your photos of homes and architecture look as good as those seen in publications and commercials.
Real Estate Photography: In the Real Estate section, Mike will teach you everything you need to know about this genre so you can kick start your career and start producing images for real estate agents, listing agents, and general property management. All of the basics will be covered in this chapter including:
In addition to "building your foundation", Mike also talks candidly about how he found success in the real estate market, and how you too can build a money making business shooting properties for sale.
Architecture and Interior Photography: This chapter focuses on how to create photographs for higher paying clients like architects, home builders, interior designers, and magazine editorials. With the ground work already laid down, Mike focuses on streamlining your workflow and pushing your images into actual works of art. While on location at an actual architect's personal home, Mike walks you through eight flagship images from initial capture all the way through the final photoshop editing process. We have also included a full Photoshop PSD file of a twilight exterior images so you can follow along as Mike teaches every step in creating his signature look.
Commercial and Advertising Photography: In this final section, Mike takes you on the set of two commercial spaces and demonstrates how to produce perfect images for restaurants, hotels, wedding venues, resorts, and other commercial clients. Emphasis will be placed on meeting your clients needs and lighting images according to the use of the space.
Additionally, Mike will also cover the business of commercial and advertising photography including how to market yourself, how to build residual income through image licensing, finding and maintaining clients, and pricing your work.
Since the release of Where Art Meets Architecture 1, Fstoppers has produced two new tutorials with Mike Kelley (WAMA II and III). These tutorials are MUCH more advanced and focus on very specific elements of the architecture photography market. If you are just getting started with real estate photography, lighting, and post production, we highly recommend watching WAMA 1 first, but we have also bundled all of the tutorials in this series at a discount if you want to learn everything Mike has to teach.
I have only one file, Twilight Photoshop Document.psd, which does a great job of showing how Mike used layers to create an image. I was hoping there would be other files so that I could follow along as he does his Photoshop demonstrations.
My girlfriend just purchased this for me. I was only able to download one chapter before the download screen disappeared. I have been emailing you guys for the last two days with no response. All I want is what she paid for please help.
$299 IS pretty steep, but then again, how much do you value YOUR time and effort to produce saleable material and artwork? I probably shouldn't be spending so much right before the holidays, but honestly, in this business, whether it's a lens, new body...tethering equipment, whatever, and I feel I need or could use it to make my job easier, or make better images...I get it and cut corners elsewhere. I've been waiting for this since it was announced (thought was to be a DVD) awhile ago, and will make those three bones back on my next shoot. If you want to learn to light paint like the pros...and produce all around exemplary polished images like Kelly, you got to learn from a pro like Kelly. just do it......IMHO....
Was looking at the price as I thought it was steep, but then decided to purchase it. All I can say is Wow!! Why did I hesitate at first? Mike you did a great job and I applaud to you and your work. Out side of my equipment, this was the best purchase so far!! Very Happy.
I'm shocked to see how many people are upset at the price figure. Can you guys not stop to think for a moment, what it has taken him to produce this kind of work? Hundreds and hundreds of hours in the field and in post. And don't forget the production value of the team producing this DVD. Mike's knowledge, time producing this video, equipment involved, production crew and hours involved, post production, DVD mass production. Thousands and thousands of dollars. We are lucky this is even an option to buy. It's an invesment. You don't buy this DVD to casually watch, you watch it to become better at your craft and gain clients in the real estate/architecture business.
You're totally right! I went to a photography college overseas for 2 years and I spent well over $70K to study and pay my bills during those two years. When I see people complaining about paying $299 for a chunk of the best and tested information, that targets the very topic you may be interested in, I, like you, scratch my head.
First off. The price is fine. If anything it should be more expensive. With what you are going to learn from these videos you should be able to pick up a few real-estate clients in even a "lower tier" real-estate location that should pay the $299 with ease.
Second off. The quality of the video work is quite good. Wouldn't say it's the best I've seen, but it is quite good. Definitely good enough. It's great to see a well thought out, nicely paced tutorial that is also interesting to watch.
Third off. I really appreciate how the whole thing is approached. Mike carefully walks you through each bit of information and technique that you need to know, he tells you how to do it and why you should do it "his way."
Fourth off. If I had one request or critique it would be about the business section. While Mike covered a lot of the basics of how he rebuilt his business from the ground up, twice, I'd love to have seen/heard more details added in there. Maybe because I'm in the middle of trying to do it myself... :)
Finally I'd like to say thanks! This video may have changed my life forever. Time will tell, but I believe if I am willing to put in the time and work my tail off, this type of photography will expand my ability to create images that help my clients sell their homes more quickly. At any rate, the stuff I learned throughout this video won't hold me back!
Hi Eldon! Thanks for the great review and kind words. I am glad you found it so useful. I too wish that I could have packed more into it, but of course we had to find a balance. I also wish I could share some big business 'secret' with you, but like anything, it was just a lot of hard work, late nights, and endless emails. So glad that it helped you out - and best of luck with the business!
your work is amazing and I think that the price is absolutely worth it, although I haven't done it yet. After reading on fstoppers and your blog, i know that you don't like HDR much, but does this Tutorial show something about HDR? I live in a really low income area (but the good thing is, that there are NO real estate photographers) and people do not pay much for this service, so i cannot spend hours getting the perfect shots and only get payed $100. Don't get me wrong, I do not want to make quick and easy money! I want to deliver good quality for a reasonable price, but i cannot deliver top of the range quality for that. So that is a point which keeps me off from buying this tut at the moment, cause i don't know whether this is good for my situation. Can you help me with these concerns?
I cannot consider moving in the next few years, because finishing my Uni-Degree over here in Germany is the most important thing and I want to earn a few extra $, but still want to become better (hopefully as good as you are some day ;-))!
Hi TJ, thanks for the kind words and feedback, we really appreciate it! As far as the HDR goes, I wouldn't sweat it - we provide plenty of information on how to create photos quickly that require very little post production. Of course you can do HDR (not that I'm saying my way is right or wrong, just different and more controllable) but I wouldn't be afraid of trying to light interiors for real estate instead of using HDR. With a little practice, you can light a house very quickly and efficiently and do minimal post to get them looking great.
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