Welcome Dreamlight to Renderosity!
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Sale ends 11:59 PM (CDT) Wednesday, September 2nd!
Read about Dreamlight below!
If you're looking to take your DAZ Studio / Lightwave 3D art (or income) to the next level, whether you're completely new or already an aspiring artist, then we've got something very special for you right now. Val Cameron from Dreamlight, bestselling 3D vendor, and coach shares some of his best tutorials for DAZ Studio ever created at a huge opening discount.
"Your class has improved both my understanding of 3D lighting, and my confidence in my ability to light my scenes and produce art I can be proud of. I have found your class to be well-designed, intelligent, and if you'll excuse the expression, illuminating."
Angela Knight - 3D artist, New York Times bestselling author
RO: Helping over 50,000 DAZ Studio / Lightwave artists create better art and income since 2005 and making over $1 million online from your 3D hobby... That doesn't happen every day... How did you end up here?
Dreamlight: That's a long story with many unusual twists... ;) I'm born poor, shy, with low confidence and was always picked by other children. The ugly old bike I had, the non modern clothes... You know, kids can be very mean. I come from a family where we didn't talk much. There was no pep-talk, no we support you and all that... So my computer and later video camera, became my best friends at an early age. That certainly helped with the scary new country move and a new language to learn at an age of 10.
I always had this weird feeling that I didn't belong to the circumstances or environments I was thrown into. I mean, at school, I was rather designing my own computer games and graphics than paying attention to the teacher. I even asked one of my classmates if what they did really made sense. They just laughed at me, like if I was some kind of alien.
I just felt I didn't belong in the herd and I didn't know why. I loved to design, create and be free, but that didn't seem an option at the time. People talked down every attempt about doing something art related and making a living out of my passion. And yet, I got A's in art and music. But somehow, nobody cared... Until one day.
There was this art class teacher. She met with me a beautiful autumn morning just outside campus, and told me: “If you're ever going to do anything in your life, ART is your way”. Still as of today, I can remember the warm sun hitting my face, the warm words... And her smile. She really meant it. But you know, being stuck in an environment that sucks you down every every single second of your life; and you BECOME the environment. So I just moved along the herd...
Later during high school, I kind of rebelled against the whole thing... The parental chosen path for me of becoming some kind of technical electrician; I just hated that. It wasn't my own path. Eventually, the day I turned 18, I was already spending more time at home than school and so I dropped out. With ZERO grades. I had to, since I didn't feel it was “me”... I had no plan, it was just a feeling...
Getting a good job and becoming like everybody else was my apparent destiny. And I hated it. All of it. I hated every single job I had. I hated being controlled by a clock and other people; do this, do that—and get back to the line... I didn't pay any attention, nor did I bother to. I just wanted to design, be free and creative. I also loved sharing my artistic knowledge with others, and helped many friends develop their programming, art and video filming and editing skills.
When I met Jeanette, I immediately sensed she was different than every other woman I've met before. She was a little older than me, more mature, stable, warm and highly intelligent. And yes, she was beautiful long haired blonde too... Well, she had these farting french bulldogs in my shiny black camaro on our first date, but that didn't stop the story... ;) Little did I know of the amazing venture that was just about to happen...
Buried in all that intelligence, she had a crazy and driven side to her. A side that didn't want to settle with the herd. She had already begun to search for a way out. She tried Network Marketing before we met, so it was just a natural extension to try and pursue it together.
At first, it was exciting and fun. We met a lot of successful people. Read books by Robert T. Kiyosaki (even played his “Cashflow” board game) , Donald Trump, Randy Gage and others. Books that truly widened our view of the world. We made a lot of money in that niche, and we lost a lot of money. It was a frustrating venture, with companies popping up, and disappearing months later. With intense team managing, calling people and all that. It turned out, it wasn't really me.
Well, I liked the idea of becoming independent, of being free, making money and doing what I love. Thing is, I wasn't doing what I loved. Further on, I wasn't doing in a WAY that I loved either... After five years in Network Marketing, I had an interesting conversation with my coach. He asked me if what I was doing made any sense. If I liked to do it. And if I liked the results. Well, I said no, of course. Then he asked me why I kept doing it anyway. A moment of silence followed... I didn't say a word. I didn't know what to say.
He broke the silence with words that would forever change my future: “It's time you move on, and do the things that come naturally to you... The things you've done in the past, they all had their own role. And time. Now... Art... Especially 3D art, that you talk so much about. I can really feel your passion there... That is where you belong and have always done. Computers and art.”
See, there I was—just having discovered DAZ Studio from DAZ 3D, and loved it so much but like anything art related I did prior to that, I just kept it as a hobby. While following the herd and trying things OUTSIDE that realm. I guess I didn't believe I could do anything with it, since I was told it was impossible. And I believed that to be true. As a kid you just suck it up and keep repeating forever... Until...
Something switched inside of my head that day. And things would never be the same again. Immediately I started to develop a light set for DAZ Studio. With my 20+ years experience in video filming, editing, lighting and programming—all the pieces just fell into place. For the first time ever, I felt I was doing what I was MADE to do.
Light Dome PRO went live in October 2005 and became an instant bestseller. It wasn't easy though. With my humble background, I wasn't used to making money online and being acknowledged by so many people. I remember seeing the sales getting in, and thinking well, if we celebrate with wine, we'll lose 7 sales. That's how limited my money awareness was at that time...
Society doesn't teach you how to make lots of money and keep it (or grow it). It teaches you to be scared, get it the line, work hard and spend all you earn. So that you'll fear not having money. I was afraid of money. Just like everybody else. So this journey became a lot more of an internal journey than I ever understood from the beginning. I mean, you start where you are, and you cannot understand the things that are too far away from you. So you can only move forward as much as your knowledge and experience allows you. Everything else is “unknown” and therefore “impossible” or even non existent. The trick is to always learn and keep moving.
Things went fast now. Product after product, I continued to create bestselling items and my confidence grew along with that. I started teaching DAZ Studio to fellow artists and opened the Dreamlight 3D Club back in 2007, where my marketing skills from Network Marketing really helped. We opened our own company, while I was still being employed. I reached a point where I made more money from my 3D hobby than from my job. I could no longer sustain that scenario. I remember being at my job, everybody else had already left for the night... I was doing boring repetitive video editing work. It was dark outside and I was just crying inside. I was SCREAMING. I wanted out. I wanted to be free, creative and design what I wanted to design. That night I had enough...
Shortly after, March 2008, I said to my boss that I needed more time for my own projects, and that I couldn't spend more time on his projects... I walked away from my job as a free man. I was no longer part of the herd. In the low economy, where people were fired all around me, I chose to quit my job. The feeling I had that day is something I cannot describe. It's like every cell in your body dances, you just feel alive... Being on your own path. You feel BOLD. You feel like a real man (or woman) that has the POWER to go their own path.
Well, reality kicked in, and I had a low income month. And another one. A new point of scarcity entered my reality. Survival. Taking care of my family. We had three dogs at that time, and being a good provider for my family was very important to me. At one point, we were close to file for bankruptcy. But I NEVER ever gave up. So I began to hunt for knowledge, and spent a lot of money and time learning and mastering online marketing.
I've worked with some of the best marketers out there, and took my calling very seriously. I increased production, created marketing material, created an online store and kept moving no matter what. Today, after lots of hard work, dedication, persistence and kicking fear in the face each and every day; I'm there. I'm free... I'm creative... And I design. Each day (I choose to).
At some point, it all becomes a huge business, with team members all over the world, money coming in, money going out, and you become an entrepreneur, business manager, artist and CEO in one. Suddenly, you have to learn people skills and it just grows each day in an organic fashion. When you reach a certain degree of success—it becomes natural that you want to share it with others. When you no longer need to fight for survival, when you get enough money to feed your family—suddenly your goals shift a little, and you become obsessed with SHARING what you've learned and experienced to help others.
I don't even have to work every day, money still keeps coming in, because of all the marketing built into the business. I make and manage more money in a month than I used to make in a year... It's all crazy and there are no limits but the ones we set up for ourselves. It's become a huge responsibility. But with that, also the freedom to choose. When life kicks in, people and pets start to get sick around you, you suddenly have more power to help. It's truly life changing.
So, that was a long story. I just felt I needed to share that, since today I can see all the dots connect. Today, I can see the LINE I was following from day one. That I never ever really gave up on me, I just didn't believe I could go all the way. Today, I really understand the power of one's beliefs. It was already within me. It was there all the time. I just needed to believe I could.
And today, I want you to follow YOUR own line. Your own calling. Your own DESTINY.
You can achieve wonderful things... No matter where you are, you can start walking today. I'm self made. I know it can be done. And if I can, so can you...
RO: Do you have some words for aspiring 3D artists or vendors that want to achieve higher levels of success or that are just starting out?
Dreamlight: Keep walking. I mean that literally. Don't run and rush into things. Keep a steady pace each day towards a single destination, and you'll reach your goals much faster and with more confidence. You know the turtle wins, and the rabbit loses, right? It's the same in life, 3D art or 3D business. A steady pace always wins, since you will have time to learn, to adjust, to grow and to expand. I was jumping like a rabbit in the beginning. And it took me nowhere. When I stopped jumping, and started walking in a single direction, things started to fall in place.
Follow your heart, but be ready for real fight. Life is tough. It will kick you down multiple times, and it will keep kicking you down when you're down. 3D art and business will be tough at times and you need to stand up each time you fall. Each time. There are no exceptions. Just get back into the game.
Understand that anything you want to achieve in your own life, is a combination of goals, that is knowing where you want to be... Extreme mind set, that you just KNOW you'll be there... without ANY doubt. Your health matters a lot, since if you're too tired or don't feel well or are depressed; guess what—you'll never have the stamina to reach your goals.
Take action each day. Make SOMETHING today that pulls you towards where you want to be. Doesn't matter if you go 10 inches or 50 inches. In a year, you're gonna cover 365 times that. Forget perfection. Aim for progress. Perfection is the bi-product of constant progress, not a destination.
Work on your mind and body more than you work on your art or business. You cannot do and achieve more than you think you can. So if you think you can achieve more, chances are you will, since you will keep walking. There is no luck... But hey, I feel more lucky the harder I work.
Be grateful for what you already have achieved. You're AWESOME. You're the best you've ever been. You're the closest to your goals TODAY, than ever before.
I discovered after years of trying to break my own goals, that I was halted by my own health, and especially mental health (ADD, bi-polar and depression). So now I'm on a more healthy diet and I meditate and exercise daily. It's ALL connected, every single part of your life... Mind, beliefs, thoughts, emotions, actions, results, reactions and health. Break the chain, and you lose the game. Most people stop learning after school. Don't do that. Keep learning. Keep listening. Keep your mind open. You will never know everything... It's unlimited.
There's a price to be paid. Everything ever worth achieving in your life, anything that means something to you; there's a price to be paid. Because you're usually afraid of going in that direction. Deep down in your heart, you know where that is. There's going to be some sacrifices. And you gotta pay up front... In full. If you're ready for that; if you're ready to FIGHT for your own destiny; I want to be there to support you in any way I can.
If you want to excel at 3D art, master lighting and camera. That will make ALL the difference. Art itself can be done whether you're down, depressed or up. Art simply follows your emotions... But it's a whole different game if you want to build a 3D business and make money.
If you want to excel as a vendor, master your mind and health. Product development comes second. Trust me, you think it's the other way, but it's not. When you got your coffee today, did you struggle to get it? It was easy, right? When you feel the same “easy” about what you do in your business, then it flows. If you do not like some part of the process, team up with someone that does. Don't let anything stop you.
If you want to take it one more step further and open your own online 3D store: Master your mind set and health, then online marketing—i.e. building a following (list of people) and learn to sell. Then focus on product development. It's not rocket science—I have ZERO degrees and I've built an online business past the $1 million mark in the last few years alone. It's truly is NOT rocket science. But it is an art on its own. And it takes a lot of balls, since you're going against pretty much everybody and everything in your life. People will think you're mad, insane and crazy. Some will even call it risky. I call risky being in the hands of other people that you work for (i.e. bosses). Well, I'm good with that. Matches the rebel within... I've learned that creative artists EXCEL at business building, since they are so creative.
Understand that you cannot know what you don't know, and your view (and therefore perceived possibilities) are limited by what you know. So keep learning so you can see things from multiple angles. That helps a LOT when you're feeling down. (and you will at times)
RO: What can artists expect from Dreamlight?
Dreamlight: Today, spending over a decade with DAZ Studio and Lightwave, I'm thrilled and humble to have been helping over 50,000 artists find new joy with their art. We've created over 230 products... So with that comes a lot of experience. The techniques I share are proven to work not only for me, but for everybody that tries them. I see the results on a daily basis, it's no theory.
If you get a video program from Dreamlight, you can expect it to be easy to digest, with lots of side-info, straight to the point, often with multiple approaches—but it doesn't stop there. You have to do it on your own. Knowledge is not power. Applied knowledge is power. So you need to stay in the game and keep tweaking. Keep walking. Just because you watch a video, doesn't mean you've absorbed the knowledge... You need to apply it.
Today, Dreamlight aims at improving the art and income of DAZ Studio artists, and we specialize in DAZ Studio video tutorials and especially lighting and camera, plus 3D modeling (Lightwave) and 3D animation (DAZ Studio). There's fun stuff, scary stuff, serious stuff—so you'll never run out of options, tools and techniques.
Can you as a Poser artist benefit from 3D Light Master? Sure you can, it's very generic in it's design, and shows examples in DAZ Studio and Lightwave. The Master series, including 3D Light Master, 3D Camera Master, 3D Model Master, 2D Postwork Master and 3D Animation Master are generic enough to appeal to most 3D applications, while the more DAZ Studio driven Iray series are meant for DAZ Studio only.
One thing is for sure: 3D Art and 3D business building is a lot easier with the right kind of help and can literally shave years of your own trial & error and frustrations.
RO: Any last words?
Dreamlight: Yes, I want to thank my family, Jeanette and our beautiful dogs for their support during an INSANE time of my life. I want to send out a big thanks to our incredible team; Melanie, Alex, Pierre, Jason, Mike and others... It would not be possible without you and your dedication.
I want to thank my dad who bought me my first computer and mom for making tasty food! My brother for all the years we've made cool movies together. Every single coach and mentor that I had and still have in my life; you mean a lot to me!
I want to thank Renderosity and DAZ 3D for being such amazing communities, with incredible people that make all this possible. And I want to extend a DEEP thanks to all our outstanding artists, that keep using our video tutorials & tools.
THANK YOU ALL!
Val Cameron, Dreamlight
What other's say about Dreamlight tutorials:
"Your class has improved both my understanding of 3D lighting, and my confidence in my ability to light my scenes and produce art I can be proud of. I have found your class to be well-designed, intelligent, and if you'll excuse the expression, illuminating."
Angela Knight - 3D artist, New York Times bestselling author
"Dreamlight's lighting training is exactly how I would teach someone to do lighting. The expert advice is obviously derived from years of practical experience. Having someone to show you how to light and then explain why things work is the fastest way to truly learn the in's and out's of this essential skill."
Michael Ambruso - Professional 3D Artist
"If we are lucky, in our lifetime we earn the privilege of getting to know and work with someone who can only be described as a genius. Since 2005 I have watched Val Cameron a.k.a. Waldemar B. share the incredible genius he has for 3D Art with countless others all over the world in way that allows them to learn and grow from his seemingly limitless experience and talent. His patient and caring coaching style has empowered others to expand their understanding of what is possible to a point where the impossible, suddenly becomes reality!"
Mike Lewis – Spain
I've made more progress in the last few months than in the
previous few years.
Thank you very much!
Kathleen
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