After Geoffbâs review, here is my review of Joeyâs Complete Tutorial.
The short version : Itâs pricey, but itâs solid stuff.
The long version:
With the tutorial you get 9 lessons, on 9 topics that are individual steps in image editing. For example how to improve a photograph by playing with the S curve (and some more advanced ones). You also get 50+ high resolution textures, 10 Photoshop actions and a a few behind the scene videos on shoots set-up.
The videos explains fairly well the ideas, as long as you own and know how to use Photoshop. As Geoff pointed out, most of the time youâll get Joey telling you âdo this until it looks coolâ. But the truth is, did you expect this tutorial to make an artist out of you? Nah, youâll get the tool, what you make of it is up to you. Itâs up to you for example to decide if your image has more impact with more or less contrast here or there.
The video are of good (as in not amazing, but good enough) quality, except 2. For lessons relating using the picture of a beaten up guy and one with a man on a boat, the quality is poor. You see the picture being edited ok, but can only guess whatâs happening beside it. And you do get strange video artifacts that are not helping either. Now itâs annoying, but you can still understand whatâs happening. And this is only the case with 2 pictures being discussed while in each case, the lesson also discusses other pictures where the quality of the video is good. So all in all, a bit disappointing, but not terrible. So overall, no major problem with the video.
2 hours and 9 lessons are actually not a huge lot. But it is the right 9 lessons and 2 hours. If you are into portrait photography, and want to get inspiring editing techniques, youâll get them. This may have to be read in the context of my own level. I know some basic stuff in Photoshop, but I am still discovering some more advanced stuff, and Joey's tutorial fitted very my need.
So is it worth it? No straight answer IMHO. I do think that (some? all?) Pros can get their money back. For amateurs, thatâs a tougher call (hey Joey, what about doing a pro / amateur pricing?). You can get thousands of Photoshop techniques for free on the Internet, but here you get the Joey tried and tested ones. Proprietary material, from a (now) pro. Try ask Dave Hill how much he would charge you to get even 2-3 editing lessons.
You should buy this DVD if:
⢠youâre not short on cash, and/or you live in the Euro zone or in a country where you can benefit from the cheap US$.
⢠youâre into portrait photography
⢠youâre looking for a few, well selected, inspiring editing tools
⢠you own and know well how to use Photoshop, just need guidance on how to use it better
⢠youâre a pro and can improve your business this way
You should think twice if:
⢠youâre tight on cash
⢠you shoot macro or landscapes etc. Any photo can benefit from the featured techniques, but youâll probably get most of it with portrait photos (all the examples are portrait photos)
⢠you want an extensive library of Photoshop tools (better buy one of those excellent hundred pages Photoshop books for $30)
⢠"Photoshop, you mean Elements?"
⢠Youâre Dave Hill
What I really liked :
⢠Simple yet effective. It just sounds so easy. Most of those techniques can improve your picture without 10h of work
⢠Youâre not lost in such a long list of techniques that you just canât find your way, nor find the right one (nor find any really good one). Quality over Quantity
⢠The explanations are clear, although you must pay attention to details, sometimes barely or very quickly mentioned by Joey
What could have been improved
⢠Too bad about those 2 crappy video lessons parts
⢠Would have been great to have the original photos being discussed included to try yourself
⢠A couple of more lessons?
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