Aurélien Brion

Name: Aurélien Brion
Area of living: Strasbourg, France
Company: Working as freelancer 3D artist since 2006, in his company: Aurélien BRION Architecte /Graphiste Perspective Strasbourg
Expertise: Exterior, Interior
Project duration: 1 – 7 days per image
Software using: 3DsMax, Vray, Corona and Photoshop

– Every project starts from collecting materials and client’s wishes. How do you negotiate with clients? What do you ask for?

First of all, I talk about project type and number of views which client would like to have. Another important details is the presence of the 3D model: do I need to do it, or client already have it.

– How do you work: in your own style or under clients guidance?

I always try to have my style, but it is always under the client guidance. Sometimes such guidance can even destroy a render.

– How is you working process look like? How many revisions allowed to make?

All projects are different, there is no strict rules for me.

– Have you refused to do the project and if yes why?

Yes of course, many times. Most often reason, because i was too busy with other projects or because the project was too big.

– With what kind of client you will never do business again?

Will never work again with such type of clients who want a lot of things for nothing. The client who try always go down the price.

– How do you calculate/estimate project price?

First of all i need to know – do I need to create a 3d model or client already have it. The interiors renders are more expensive than the exteriors ones. In order to create interior renders, in my opinion, it is needed a lot more tests to create a great lighting, to have the best setting to avoid noise or other problems, than it is needed for exterior renders. And interior need a lot more time to render, especially if you need a 5000pix render image for competition.

– Do you charge for rendering?

It is included in the price.

– Do you have technical education? Does it helps in 3D?

I’m graduated from the Architectural School of Strasbourg since 2006. But 3D I studied myself, I’m a self-taught 3D artists.

– Client is nice, project agenda is clear, now you need inspiration to get started. What are your sources of inspiration?

I follow a lot of 3D artists on Behance, Pinterestand on the forums, for example 3dvf. It’s always a great source of inspiration. I like to take a look on photographer works too.

– Who is your favorite 3D artist or company?

I don’t have favorite, I follow Bertrand Benoit since I started, but this days lot of 3D artists are impressive.

– There are 2 types of visualizers: one who heavily rely on post-work (they do not render scene completely, but only parts of it, and one who try to get complete scene after render process and apply basic post-work) From which side you are and why?

It depend on the project and the client. It’s great to have all in 3D, but for this you need much more time to do it and after rendering it’s very difficult to change something. For the interiors view I have all in 3D. But for the exteriors I usually do in 3D buildings and vegetation only and other stuff in Photoshop. One of the reasons, why I’m doing this, is because if you have all the environment in 3D and a client say: “Please change this tree and make this one more transparent” you will need re-render everything, which takes time which you do not have in case of competition renders. Changing a tree need minutes in Photoshop and lot of time if you have to re-render it.

– How would you rate your level of expertise in 3D graphics on a scale 0 till 10. In what areas you would like to get more knowledge?

I can’t rate myself, this work is for my clients! 🙂 But unless i have clients and lots of things to do so I can say that my level is ok 🙂

– What software do you use/like the most? Why?

3D Studio Max and Vray since i started. Sometimes I use corona render (for interiors) and plugin like Forest, RailClone, etc…

– What were the main sources of training that you used if any? Which one you can recommend?

Maybe Bertrand’s tutorials or Peter Guthrie ones, but they are tons of other great tutorials online: Evermotion, Ronen Bekerman, Flying architecture

– Do you participate in contests?

I do some contest years ago, but actually i don’t have time to do it now.

– Do you have any personal ideas in 3D which you would like to realize (maybe someone has similar idea and later you can connect with each other in order to help accomplish an idea)?

I hope one day to go to one of such conferences and meet worldwide 3D artists to have a speak with them. I think it’s a really great experience!

– What is your greatest work that you have done? The most challenging project you have worked on?

The greatest project is a school without any client guidance, which I’ve done all by myself: colors, textures and etc… All projects are challenging and each time i ask myself: ” How it is possible to do in such a short deadline?”.

– What do you think about general 3D visualization level in your country

In France we have excellent artists, and really big studios. But there are lots of nice and great 3D artists in other parts of the world who do 3D just for fun!

– Market is overwhelmed with the low quality/price offers. There are many programs which allow creating simple 3D without any knowledge. Don’t you see a threat for your profession in near future?

Simple and low price software can’t fight with monsters like 3D Studio Max or Vray. That’s why low-priced software will be needed only for a quick view. I hope 3D artists still be needed in future of course, because of theirs really high quality renders and animations.

– What are your long-term goals or career plans?

I plan to enjoy creating beautiful interiors that people will enjoy living in for as long as I can. There’s no greater satisfaction than a happy client in a place designed by you.

Advice from Aurélien how to achieve high quality level in 3D visualization:

You have to take a look outside: how the light work, how the material play with light and shadows. Use your camera to explore, and try to have a real world based eyes when you use 3d. No super power, no secret here. I’m just trying to work with my eyes and look if my render looks good or not. Lots of training during night and weekends. And always, always try to do better and better!