Images for DVD Covers at DVinfo.net

Cole Prine · September 3rd, 2014, 07:44 AM

So, I've gotten spoiled recently because I work quite frequently with several of the same photographers in the area. They always are easy to get in contact with and more than happy to send me some images to use on my DVD covers. Well, it may have back fired this time. I shot with a photog I haven't ever met before and now I can't get her to get back with me about getting some images. Lesson learned! I'll take a few of my own from now on... But any of you guys have any advice on how to design the dvd covers in this situation? I have pulled stills from the video before, but it never turns out as nice. But I may have no other options...

Suggestions??

Thanks!

Cole

Peter Rush · September 3rd, 2014, 08:51 AM

I always tell my couples that if their photographer takes a picture they really love then they can send it to me and I'll use that but they rarely do so I lift a still from the footage - HD is sufficient resolution for a 300dpi disc face print.

I keep thinking about taking a few stills of the couple on the day but I never seem to remember to do so with everything else I have to remember!

Pete

Barry Hunter · September 3rd, 2014, 09:21 AM

PixelMixer is a really good plug-in for Photoshop but not sure if it`s still available! I use it all the time to design my DVD Cases & Discs.

Cole Prine · September 3rd, 2014, 09:22 AM

Yeah, It's hard to remember that on top of everything else going on!

But I think I'll start trying to at least get a still of rings, dress, and/or location so I'll have a little something to work with.

Steven Davis · September 3rd, 2014, 09:25 AM

Cole,

You could do a collage for the disk cover if the images are not high enough resolution to use by themselves. And yep, that's the reason I never ever ever will depend on a photographer to take my own artwork.

Cole Prine · September 3rd, 2014, 09:38 AM

Good call, Steven!

James Manford · September 3rd, 2014, 12:38 PM

Whip out a small NEX camera to take a picture if you don't want to do a screengrab. Just buy yourself a NEX 3 or 5 which go for peanuts on ebay and keep it in the bag to take out at some stage for a quick shot.

Steve Bleasdale · September 3rd, 2014, 01:12 PM

Here is one from a 60d... Just manipulate in photshop

Craig McKenna · September 3rd, 2014, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Manford

Whip out a small NEX camera to take a picture if you don't want to do a screengrab. Just buy yourself a NEX 3 or 5 which go for peanuts on ebay and keep it in the bag to take out at some stage for a quick shot.

... or an EM10 with its IBIS, which is great for film.

Ultimately, I've shot two weddings and shot stills at the same time... if anything, I got some great shots, but I was frustrated by this as I should have captured film of this moment, as stills don't help!

After taking stills from my latest film, I'm happy with the quality for a DVD cover. When you consider that professional prints don't necessarily come out brilliantly anyways. I outsourced my last product and the print was darker than expected.

Chris Harding · September 4th, 2014, 07:12 PM

The photogs I work with always used to make promises to send me a few pics of the couple to use on the DVD covers but I have yet to find any that actually send me a pic so quite a while back I resorted to taking my own. At least that way I know I have decent stills to work with and don't need to rely on the photog to send me images. I have even had photogs who have taken pics of me in action and have said they would send them to me but that never materialised either.

Best to be self sufficient!! At least that way you know you have everything you need and don't have to sit and wait for a photog to send you pics or have to rely on frame grabs

Chris

Tim Bakland · September 5th, 2014, 10:57 AM

Most couples I'm finding are getting their photos in digital hi-res (along with albums) from their photographers. So I just always put it in the hands of the couples. If they are able and inclined to do so, they will send me their favorite photos taken by the photographer with the photographer's consent. It works 95% of the time. If not, my own still frames.

Leon Bailey · September 10th, 2014, 11:18 AM

I agree with what Peter Rush said!

Also, I have had this situation and had to just go the PS route as others have said.

But yes, for future reference, if your camera you are using to film is not a DSLR, then bring a small camera as others have said and snap a photo of them.

I use a DSLR so that is what I do now if I film a wedding without my company doing the photography as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Harding

The photogs I work with always used to make promises to send me a few pics of the couple to use on the DVD covers but I have yet to find any that actually send me a pic so quite a while back I resorted to taking my own. At least that way I know I have decent stills to work with and don't need to rely on the photog to send me images. I have even had photogs who have taken pics of me in action and have said they would send them to me but that never materialised either.

Best to be self sufficient!! At least that way you know you have everything you need and don't have to sit and wait for a photog to send you pics or have to rely on frame grabs

Chris

Yep! You know it!

Kyle Root · September 11th, 2014, 08:36 PM

I'd say 95% of the time photographers have been great about giving me their 5 or 6 best photos of the couple, which is usually what I ask for. Then I work around that in the designs.

For the other 5% it's usually me having to get creative. Normally, I'll contact the bride or mother of the bride and see what the status is on the images. If the photographer has given them an online like, I'll usually go there and download some for myself.

There was one instance where I could not get the photographer to give me any shots, and I didn't take any myself. It's not like he refused per se'... just never responded to any of my requests. I had to get super creative on that one.

Anyways, now I always bring my D90 and 17-55 and 70-200 and try to get some shots either before the ceremony or right after. Usually tagging along behind the photographer taking the same shots they are taking.

Leon Bailey · September 12th, 2014, 10:26 PM

I just remembered when I asked a photographer for photos to make the cover and he told me no and said "I hope you understand." Uh, what is there to understand? lol.

Noa Put · September 13th, 2014, 04:47 AM

ah, the joy of shooting with a 4K camera :) I have 2 options to get great frames for my dvd-covers, I either shoot with my gh4 or ax100, I increase the shutter so I won't get any motionblur and I just extract frames afterwards in post, the resolution is more then plenty to fill an entire dvdcover and the detail is comparable with a regular photo.

Or I shoot with my rx10 but use it to shoot pictures in raw in between, it's a bit of a hassle as I have to switch between video and photo all the time while with my 4K camera I can just concentrate on the content and worry about photos later in post, the difference of shooting video in 4K or shooting a picture in raw is quite substantial. I can manipulate those raw pictures much further the 4k frames, especially in high contrast scenes where I can get a lot detail back out apparently blown out skies and underexposed shadows.

September 3rd, 2014, 07:44 AM	#1
Cole Prine Regular Crew Join Date: May 2011 Location: West Monroe, Louisiana, USA Posts: 27	Images for DVD Covers So, I've gotten spoiled recently because I work quite frequently with several of the same photographers in the area. They always are easy to get in contact with and more than happy to send me some images to use on my DVD covers. Well, it may have back fired this time. I shot with a photog I haven't ever met before and now I can't get her to get back with me about getting some images. Lesson learned! I'll take a few of my own from now on... But any of you guys have any advice on how to design the dvd covers in this situation? I have pulled stills from the video before, but it never turns out as nice. But I may have no other options... Suggestions?? Thanks! Cole

September 3rd, 2014, 08:51 AM	#2
Peter Rush Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK/Yorkshire Posts: 2,069	Re: Images for DVD Covers I always tell my couples that if their photographer takes a picture they really love then they can send it to me and I'll use that but they rarely do so I lift a still from the footage - HD is sufficient resolution for a 300dpi disc face print. I keep thinking about taking a few stills of the couple on the day but I never seem to remember to do so with everything else I have to remember! Pete

September 3rd, 2014, 09:21 AM	#3
Barry Hunter Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Newton Abbot Devon Posts: 46	Re: Images for DVD Covers PixelMixer is a really good plug-in for Photoshop but not sure if it`s still available! I use it all the time to design my DVD Cases & Discs.

September 3rd, 2014, 09:22 AM	#4
Cole Prine Regular Crew Join Date: May 2011 Location: West Monroe, Louisiana, USA Posts: 27	Re: Images for DVD Covers Yeah, It's hard to remember that on top of everything else going on! But I think I'll start trying to at least get a still of rings, dress, and/or location so I'll have a little something to work with.

September 3rd, 2014, 09:25 AM	#5
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Re: Images for DVD Covers Cole, You could do a collage for the disk cover if the images are not high enough resolution to use by themselves. And yep, that's the reason I never ever ever will depend on a photographer to take my own artwork. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

September 3rd, 2014, 09:38 AM	#6
Cole Prine Regular Crew Join Date: May 2011 Location: West Monroe, Louisiana, USA Posts: 27	Re: Images for DVD Covers Good call, Steven!

September 3rd, 2014, 12:38 PM	#7
James Manford Trustee Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,393	Re: Images for DVD Covers Whip out a small NEX camera to take a picture if you don't want to do a screengrab. Just buy yourself a NEX 3 or 5 which go for peanuts on ebay and keep it in the bag to take out at some stage for a quick shot.

September 3rd, 2014, 01:12 PM	#8
Steve Bleasdale Trustee Join Date: May 2010 Location: England liverpool Posts: 1,343	Re: Images for DVD Covers Here is one from a 60d... Just manipulate in photshop Attached Thumbnails

September 4th, 2014, 07:12 PM	#10
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Images for DVD Covers The photogs I work with always used to make promises to send me a few pics of the couple to use on the DVD covers but I have yet to find any that actually send me a pic so quite a while back I resorted to taking my own. At least that way I know I have decent stills to work with and don't need to rely on the photog to send me images. I have even had photogs who have taken pics of me in action and have said they would send them to me but that never materialised either. Best to be self sufficient!! At least that way you know you have everything you need and don't have to sit and wait for a photog to send you pics or have to rely on frame grabs Chris

September 5th, 2014, 10:57 AM	#11
Tim Bakland Major Player Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Beverly, MA Posts: 512	Re: Images for DVD Covers Most couples I'm finding are getting their photos in digital hi-res (along with albums) from their photographers. So I just always put it in the hands of the couples. If they are able and inclined to do so, they will send me their favorite photos taken by the photographer with the photographer's consent. It works 95% of the time. If not, my own still frames. __________________ Event Videography, New England www.timothybakland.com

September 11th, 2014, 08:36 PM	#13
Kyle Root Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Decatur, AL Posts: 883	Re: Images for DVD Covers I'd say 95% of the time photographers have been great about giving me their 5 or 6 best photos of the couple, which is usually what I ask for. Then I work around that in the designs. For the other 5% it's usually me having to get creative. Normally, I'll contact the bride or mother of the bride and see what the status is on the images. If the photographer has given them an online like, I'll usually go there and download some for myself. There was one instance where I could not get the photographer to give me any shots, and I didn't take any myself. It's not like he refused per se'... just never responded to any of my requests. I had to get super creative on that one. Anyways, now I always bring my D90 and 17-55 and 70-200 and try to get some shots either before the ceremony or right after. Usually tagging along behind the photographer taking the same shots they are taking. __________________ Kyle KR Productions; www.kyleroot.com

September 12th, 2014, 10:26 PM	#14
Leon Bailey Regular Crew Join Date: May 2013 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 126	Re: Images for DVD Covers I just remembered when I asked a photographer for photos to make the cover and he told me no and said "I hope you understand." Uh, what is there to understand? lol.

September 13th, 2014, 04:47 AM	#15
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: Images for DVD Covers ah, the joy of shooting with a 4K camera :) I have 2 options to get great frames for my dvd-covers, I either shoot with my gh4 or ax100, I increase the shutter so I won't get any motionblur and I just extract frames afterwards in post, the resolution is more then plenty to fill an entire dvdcover and the detail is comparable with a regular photo. Or I shoot with my rx10 but use it to shoot pictures in raw in between, it's a bit of a hassle as I have to switch between video and photo all the time while with my 4K camera I can just concentrate on the content and worry about photos later in post, the difference of shooting video in 4K or shooting a picture in raw is quite substantial. I can manipulate those raw pictures much further the 4k frames, especially in high contrast scenes where I can get a lot detail back out apparently blown out skies and underexposed shadows.