| The Big Day, The Lovegrove Way is a two-disc DVD | | | | so many individuals and changing variables on what is |
| set with one disc providing a documentary of a | | | | usually an emotional day means that anything can |
| real-life wedding shoot and the other demonstrating | | | | happen. The off-camera flash dusk set-up is |
| the post-processing of the day's photographs. The | | | | something which I've not seen before at a wedding |
| DVD set is aimed towards photographers who are | | | | and done correctly would add real value to any |
| new to wedding photography and wanting some | | | | wedding photographer's offer. |
| advice along with those who are established, but | | | | There are so many useful gems given throughout |
| wanting to gain some understanding of one of the | | | | the DVD that you really need to watch it a few |
| most successful wedding photography teams in the | | | | times to pick up on them all and that's what makes it |
| UK today. | | | | such great value. Any time you feel you need a |
| Disc One - The Shoot. | | | | refresher, say during the days leading up to a |
| The first DVD provides fly-on-the-wall coverage as | | | | wedding shoot, you can just relax with the DVD and |
| the video crew shadow husband and wife team, | | | | let it inspire you. |
| Damien and Julie Lovegrove, whilst they spend their | | | | In common with Damien's other DVDs, the |
| day and night as wedding photographers. The | | | | production quality is excellent. The video shows the |
| footage not only shows the photographs they take | | | | photographers and subjects from a variety of angles |
| throughout the day, but also the thought processes | | | | and the sound quality is excellent making it easy to |
| behind them and how the shots are set-up. | | | | understand what the situations are and hear the |
| What becomes apparent quite quickly is that Damien | | | | real-time commentary. |
| and Julie are used to working as a team as they | | | | Running time of disc one is 79 minutes and this |
| manage to shoot the day without needlessly | | | | includes a slideshow of over 200 shots from the day |
| duplicating shots. Starting off separately, Julie with | | | | at the end of the DVD. For those who like technical |
| the bride and Damien with the groom, they later | | | | details, the EXIF is provided for each of them. |
| converge as the ceremony gets under way. This | | | | Disc Two - Post Processing. |
| efficient team-working helps to ensure all of the | | | | The second DVD from the set runs for 70 minutes |
| important parts of the day are covered without | | | | and sees Damien processing a selection of |
| wasting time nor missing opportunities. Working | | | | photographs from the wedding day. It's split into two |
| together in this manner allows them to get the shots | | | | parts, covering Damien's preferred editing applications; |
| which are likely to be missed when just one | | | | Lightroom and Photoshop. |
| photographer is covering the day. As an example, | | | | Topics covered include: |
| being able to shoot the bride and groom getting | | | | - Enhancing and balancing exposure. |
| ready simultaneously, but obviously in separate | | | | - Cropping and rotating. |
| locations. | | | | - Correcting white balance. |
| The viewing sequence for the DVD: | | | | - Using keyboard shortcuts to speed up workflow. |
| - The bride and groom getting ready separately | | | | - Feathering selections to blend adjustments. |
| including their interaction with bridesmaids and | | | | - Applying localised curve adjustments. |
| groomsmen. | | | | - Understanding the value of shooting in raw. |
| - The church ceremony. | | | | Damien's post-processing workflow is very 'organic' in |
| - The reception through to the evening. | | | | its approach. It's processing by gut feel which can |
| - 2 weeks later - the preview and shot selection with | | | | mean he spends less than 60 seconds on the basic |
| the couple. | | | | editing on each photograph in Lightroom before going |
| - 4 weeks later - when the finished photo album | | | | into Photoshop for more detailed editing. This brevity |
| arrives. | | | | shouldn't be mistaken for a lack of due attention, but |
| As this DVD set is aimed at photographers rather | | | | is actually an efficient and established workflow. It |
| than their clients or the general public, lots of useful | | | | does what is required and prevents the processing of |
| commentary is provided throughout giving you a real | | | | a typically large number of images from becoming a |
| behind-the-scenes view into what Damien and Julie | | | | mammoth task. |
| are thinking and exactly why they're thinking it. | | | | If you've already grasped the basics of Lightroom |
| Understanding their thought processes means the | | | | functionality, but not sure how to incorporate it into |
| viewer can apply similar methodologies to a range of | | | | your workflow then this DVD will show you one way. |
| different wedding scenarios which is infinitely more | | | | Likewise, the same applies to Photoshop, but don't |
| useful than simply offering a list of shots to take. | | | | expect the full functionality of either application to be |
| As well as showing the practical side of the | | | | covered by this disc. To do that, you'd need much |
| photography, i.e. the shots, the set-up, the poses, | | | | more than this one DVD. Instead, Damien |
| the documentary also reveals the important human | | | | demonstrates how he works with only a subset of |
| element and the interaction with subjects in order to | | | | tools and shows just how powerful they can be. |
| put them at ease which in turn enables the | | | | In summary, this is another high quality, informative |
| photographer to get the best out of them. They also | | | | product from Lovegrove Consulting which is very |
| dispel the old myth about working with animals and | | | | easy for its target audience to consume. If you're a |
| children as they show how they work to get some | | | | budding wedding photographer and you want to |
| fantastic photographs of both. | | | | know what's involved in professional wedding |
| What I really like most about this DVD is seeing how | | | | photography then this DVD set is a valuable addition |
| Damien and Julie find the best locations for shots and | | | | for your reference library. |
| how they cope with the unpredictable. Working with | | | | |