Blogs and Posts about Lighting Essentials Workshops
We link them whether they are raves or not. If you have a review of a Lighting Essentials Workshop that I have not linked, please send it to me when you get a chance. Don, I just wanted to thank you for the Lighting Essentials Workshop you held on June 4th and 5th 2011 in NYC. It was such an incredible learning experience for me; particularly for lighting, and measuring light, as well as directing the model, and inner workings of the business. The wisdom and mentorship you shared during the workshop has proven to be of immeasurable benefit to me specifically as I am embarking down the path to becoming a Fashion/Beauty commercial photographer in this busy (and saturated) marketplace. Very enlightening, and encouraging. Not only was this workshop of the highest quality, but an amazing bargain as well. It is an unheard of price for a two day workshop of such great depth and content. Also, your policy of on going support and price fixing for attendees is a unique and most welcome bonus that everyone who takes your workshop should take advantage of. Thanks again, and I look forward to attending one of your advanced workshops in the future! Sincerely, - - - Hi Don, - - - "Just wanted to drop you a line and tell you
what a fantastic time I had at your workshop. I have been up the better
part of the night sorting pictures because I am so excited to see the
results of my two days of hard work and learning. The personal one on
one attention that you gave to each of us was terrific. I plan on taking
your workshop again and recommending it to all my photography friends.
It was hard work but so much fun that I felt like I was on vacation. Thanks
again for sharing all your valuable knowledge with us and feel free to
give out my e-mail address or phone number to anyone would needs a reference
for you workshop." --- Let me thank you again for an incredible workshop/weekend. It was EXACTLY what I needed. I didn’t consider myself a newbie when it came to lighting, but even when I thought I knew a subject well (modifiers, inverse square law, eg.) you hit me quickly with stuff I didn’t know or hadn’t thought of. Then you packed the sessions with whole areas of lighting technique I desperately needed education on (in most cases without knowing it). The subjects you taught were rich and dense with your obviously deep and decades-long experience in photography, and were very well taught. You were incredibly generous with your tips, techniques and experience throughout the weekend, and you were very hands-on the whole way through. What I really needed experience with was working with models, and this is where I got the most value from the workshop. I had never worked with a model before – nearly all my photos, however successful, have been with friends, family, and people I already otherwise knew. It was really well structured to give us a lot of time on both days with a variety of models – you really threw us into the swimming pool at the deep end! (But not without the right level of “water wing” sessions from you.) As the weekend progressed, there was a very real and tangible improvement in my comfort level directing and posing the models and getting them to follow my vision of the image I wanted. My images towards the end of Sunday turned out to be some of the best photos I’ve taken, largely because I was much more comfortable and successful in simultaneously negotiating the lighting, model posing and my environment, thanks to the structure of your workshop. When I got home and for days afterwards, my head was swimming with the new stuff I knew and the things I wanted to try. It was also great getting to know you a little bit; it’s always nice to get to know the real, living person behind the Internet personality you’ve known only through blog and flickr postings! Thanks again, and I look forward to the next time we meet. Ian (Hay). -------------------- I had a blast this weekend. Thanks so much for the workshop. -------------------- Wanted to thank you for a great workshop these last two days. I’ve taken quite a few workshops over the last few years, and am becoming a lot more selective to make sure I get some solid results from the time & money spent. And I did in the last two days. I wouldn’t have from just another model shoot. But working from a specific concept to a shot that represents that, is exactly what I need to get better at. I had the basics, but my shots were never as close to the concept as we got. And I had done some product/food stuff, but was missing a lot of the basics still. In the last two days I filled in a lot of gaps. And our various conversations from Friday, over dinner, and in studio helped me a lot sorting out some details in my plan and what I need to do over the next few months. Just as with the workshop I took with Melissa in LA, I know the gaps I just filled will be visible in my work soon with credit to your teachings. -- Jan (Seattle) ----------- On Saturday, June 23, 2007, I attended my first workshop at your
studio. I would like to thank you for your enthusiasm and willingness
to share your knowledge and experience with your students. I found
the class to be very informative and professional. I look forward to
attending another one of your workshops. ----------- Your workshop proved to be an exciting light trip to the highest
degree! Your expertise and insight as a teacher of photography demonstrates
again that everybody can learn! ----------- When it comes to photography, I am a definite newbie and Don's workshop
was my first. Words cannot describe how much I learned and took away
from that single day workshop. What I learned about lighting in one
day probably would have took me a couple of years to learn on my own,
reading books, etc and I probably still wouldn't have the same level
of understanding. Don is many things, but if I only had a couple of
words to describe him, it would be: easygoing, good-natured, respectful,
knowledgeable, a great teacher and most of all, generous (with only
2 registered photographers for our HOT July Phoenix workshop, Don could
have easily cancelled the workshop, but he didn't!!). What I got out
of the workshop was worth much more to me than the cost and as a poor
student, I cannot thank Don enough. The workshop itself was very hands
on, no lectures, plenty of time for questions (and answers). The models
were not only beautiful and professional, but incredibly patient with
us lighting *beginners*. I am forever grateful to Don, Michaila, and
Jazmin! -------------------------- "The lighting workshop was invaluable! As
the expression goes: you don't know what you don't know. I've
always felt good about my composition skills and ability to capture
images but lighting was completely foreign. Since attending the
workshop in January I have seen a hundredfold improvement in my images. I
am amazed by the results from inexpensive lighting equipment: vivitar
flashes and home depot worklights can get some amazing results! I'll
step up to pro lighting soon but what I learned about bouncing light,
v-cards, light placement (especially the value of a hair light,) and
some photoshop techniques has really sent my photography to a
new level. If you have a chance to learn from Don DON'T
MISS IT! " -------------------------- "Thank you so much for the Workshop last Saturday. I have never had so much fun nor have I learned so much in one single day!! You have really opened my eyes now, and my desire, to what I can do with photography going forward. Let me know if you have more workshops coming up in the future." --------------------------
Hi Don, -------------------------- "I had a great time at the workshop. You really
put it together well and with it being so hands on I was really able
to understand the different lighting techniques demonstrated. I enjoyed
the small class size. I am ordering another cactus wireless and a sekonic
lightmeter and some umbrellas. Those should be my biggest purchases
for a while. I was amazed on how much you can do with so little. I
am dreaming of a 70-200 L f/2.8 though...maybe sometime soon! -------------------------- "Be prepared to learn the flow of light...
what the camera is seeing... and how to work the elements for the best
image possible. I came to the workshop with a bundle of knowledge,
and Don applied it to various situations effortlessly; he turned my
head knowledge into heart knowledge. His passion for
creativity just overflowed. His refreshing encouragement to use
what you have, rather than you need to buy this is something I really
appreciated. He gladly shares his professional experience and situations
that makes learning fun. No question went unanswered, and the
structure of instruction really was customized for the needs of our
group. It just flowed well. I came home with some remarkable images,
and a new desire to modify and control the light in all of my projects." -------------------------- "Thanks again for a great workshop. I
definitely learned a great deal from you and the CD that you provided
was fantastic. Please let me know when you have additional
workshops scheduled, I would love to attend. Also, if it wouldn’t
be a bother I’d like to come down on a weekend or two and talk
to you a bit more and maybe watch you shoot - I’d like to learn
a little bit more on posing and lighting, plus you can get some free
labor from me. " -------------------------- "Hi Don, I just had to interrupt working at my "real job" to thank you again for a great weekend. The DVD's alone are worth the price of the seminar! I mean, holy sh*t, you just put it all out there: a treasure chest!! You have really re-inspired my passion to get better - I know now how to get to where I want to be, I think. Ashley thanks you, too. We have been getting shots from the other guys and this has really boosted her confidence. I hope the September meet works out. No matter what, I do plan to attend another workshop. Thank you so much for the hard work you put in to make this a great experience and fantastic value. Best wishes, -------------------------- "It was a great workshop. I feel that I gained a lot in working with lights and models. It was a nice intro for me into shooting models and seeing how a pro works with lights. It was very much worth my time and money to attend. Thanks for bringing your workshop to town and for letting my sign up on such late notice. I appreciate that. I've attached a photo of Claudia and it is straight out of the camera. This is one of my best from the first day and I thought before I did anything to it I'd let you have it just as is. Looking at it right now I don't believe I can make it any better. I believe you said to make them 700 pixels wide so that's what I've done. If I have that wrong please correct me. Thanks again and I hope to be hearing more from you. -- Mike" -------------------------- Hi Don Carmen - Atlanta
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What They Are Saying About LE Workshops
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