Barefoot Landscape Lighting

Why we don't list the amount of fixtures you're getting on your proposal. How many lights am I getting with this proposal? "How many lights am I getting?" Captain Matt here with you, we just dealt with this the other day, and so I wanted to make a little video on it. When we do our proposal that's based on a phase, let's call it the structure of the home, the front landscaping, the backyard, the birch tree area, whatever the case may be, it's by areas which we call phases. Now we don't list out a specific number of lights, and the reason we do this is is twofold; one I look at it and I decide how many I think I'm going to need knowing that I always end up adding a few more at least than I think. If I give you, let's just say for an example, if I tell you it's going to be 20 lights and I give you a price, what happens then if I have to use 21, 22, or 23, or even 30 lights do I come back and have to do it work order? and change order with you

Captain Matt talks about over the ground installs for the winter. Spring Landscape Lighting Almost Filled Captain Matt here, as spring is almost filled up on the schedule for landscape lighting i just want to uh answer questions people ask me. "Is there anything we can do now?" the answer is yes we can do what we call an "over the ground install", and what that is is we place the lights where they are going to go on the permanent installation, but because the ground is frozen and the snow is out there we can't bury the wires yet, however we can hook up the system and let it light up. Now, for the structure of the home and front landscaping, that's really easy because typically is going to be mulched or stone, so he's not going to have any lawn mowing in that area when it comes to like further out in the yard, trees in the back or the front that can be set up so that as soon as it thaws we can get them plugged in and get them working quicker. However we w

Captain Matt's proposal process. Does my budget change your design process? Question Captain Matt, how do you do a proposal and design? Does my budget have a factor? No, your budget doesn't have a factor in my design, simply because when I'm designing something as a lighting designer I'm designing to its full potential what it could be, understanding that that's not always in the budget that very time, but I need to design its full potential. I mean I think you want my full potential, rather than just lackluster,  right? So the designs are always made to full potential, keep in mind though talk to us. If you tell us your budget we'll still give you the full potential, but if we need to scale it back there are some things sometimes that we can do that'll still look amazing, and you'll just have to do another phase, maybe next year, the year after that to bring that landscaping to its full potential. That is my proposal process in terms of design and bu

What is moonlighting? What does it do? 🌛 What is moon lighting, besides amazing eye candy? 👀🍭 Captain Matt here, I want to tell you what moonlighting is. So a lot of times on proposals or during demos, or when we're just meeting up and discussing things I'll mention moonlights and one of my jobs as a lighting designer is to make sure that you become a lighting critic, and that you understand the different aspects to a lighting project, it's more than just putting a light on a tree and calling it a day. So one of the things I absolutely love is called moonlighting, moonlighting is when you have, typically a tree, but in a tree you have lights that are actually shining down. Those lights are shining on the branches, and during the spring, summer, and fall shines on the leaves and the vegetation, it creates really cool shadows it gives you a nice ambiance when you walk near or underneath that tree, and it's just not as bright though , there's a difference between d

The difference between lighting can make to your outdoor space. You’re not using your space…why? Bad lighting design Captain Matt here, wanted to talk to you about lighting design and what the difference is between like lighting contractors, or just putting a light in the ground and actually designing a portrait for you, a living illumination portrait of your property. So I will ask you when I meet you, or one of my designers meet you, "how do you use your property right now now?". It is something that we take into consideration, but in all honesty it doesn't really matter how you use it right now because once we design the project and is installed it's going to change how you use your property. It changes it every single time because there's so many areas in your yard that you will not be able to conceive of actually using it, like "why would it be there what would be the purpose there", but as the lighting portrait will draw your eyes to your house and

The difference lighting can make to your interior. Increase your interior space with outdoor lighting?! How? Why? Captain Matt here with a little lighting tip to show you in the daytime the difference lighting can make. So a lot of times we talk about bringing the outdoors in so you have you know outdoor living inside. What's also really important, and if you talk to your interior designer you know continuing your interior to the outside makes a huge difference. One of the biggest things here to consider is that say you have your sitting room, or your kitchen, or your living room and you're sitting there when it's nighttime especially in the winter time. Once we have more darkness than we do light when you look out the window it ends, it's just a black window at that point there's nothing beyond that because there's no light. So adding strategic lighting out there to bring your eyes to something actually expands even your inside it makes your mind think that tha

Many people tell me they don't want their homes looking like Disneyland I don't want my house looking like a stadium or Disneyland! Captain Matt here with Barefoot Lighting. Many people say "Matt, I don't want my yard looking like a stadium, I don't want my yard looking like Disneyland". That's usually the first thing they say when I arrive and they see all these cases of lights about to get a demo when I'm about to drop 60 lights on their property to give them a a small glimpse of what I have in my mind for their property. It won't , I know it sounds like a lot but there's a difference, the lighting I use some lights will throw it higher, some lights will throw it further, some lights are a little bit less output so they're not as bright. So if you look at a total number of lights you're going to think it looks like a stadium or Disneyland until you see it in person, or you see some of our pictures on our portfolio, when you realize ou

Captain Matt with another video talking about the safety landscape lighting provides. Stop Risking Your Parents Health! Captain Matt with another importance of lighting video. Many of my clients have stairs they have these gorgeous patios, and gorgeous entryways, and stairs that you can't see in the dark. You know how dangerous that is? So many of our clients say "well when my in-laws come over or my parents come over I'm nervous because I know my friends trip there, or my friends trip over there. Oh, this one over here you got to see, we always trip on this one." so it becomes a safety hazard. You have a gorgeous patio, a gorgeous entryway, you put time money and energy into these things. It's time to allow yourself to see them and be able to use them no matter what time of day or night it is, and that's the importance of landscape lighting. I'm Captain Matt, and I'll talk to you later. https://barefootlighting.com/?p=408

Captain Matt talks about why our landscape lighting is expensive. How Expensive is Landscape Lighting? Captain Matt Talks about Pricing for your Project Hey it's Captain Matt here with barefoot lighting Elfperts Inc. I just want to talk to you about something that we have heard definitely throughout the years, and we still hear it is you're too expensive. I guess the question would be then is that we have to agree on what expensive is, because hiring us to give you this experience and transform your backyard or your front yard or side yard is an investment into your home. It is considered a capital improvement project and it does increase your property value. So, yes if your sole deciding factor is going to be on price we should not talk to each other because we're just gonna be wasting each other's time. So, like if you have three people there, and there's the lowest bid gets it, or the medium is bid gets it, and that's the only deciding factor we're not t

Captain Matt answers "What is a Landscape Lighting Demo?" What Is A Landscape Lighting Demo and What To Expect with Captain Matt Captain Matt with Barefoot Lighting here. I want to talk to you about what is a demo? The lighting demo is done at night, or in the wintertime it can be done like a four, but it's done in the dark, well done right before dark. We meet with you, we walk your property, we make it a good time. A lot of times I bring drinks, you'll see some maybe some corona lights there for you, or some rum drinks, it's really a whole thing, it's a whole vibe. I know some people haven't been comfortable with that, well I'm letting you know now that's what we do so if you're not comfortable with it we're not a good fit, let's not waste each other's time. We are a good time company that's what we're selling is the vibe that we're going to give to you, that backyard resort vibe, and at a resort you're on vacation

Captain Matt importance of lighting video. Dangerous Walkways at your home! Captain Matt on Landscape Lighting You get home at night, you pull in your car your wife your husband and "I got to get to the front door!", and it's so dark that it's actually scary to arrive home because you have to go from your car up your stairs down the pathway to the front door. Now yeah, your front door might have some lights on it to come on with the motion, just forget that for the moment, in fact that they're ugly and they shouldn't you know be used for actual setting of an atmosphere, but they do work in terms of lighting it so that when you walk close, but from that, from your car, to when that light turns on it's literally scary, and it feels dangerous. With proper area illumination you can walk from destination to destination without the fear and knowing exactly where you're going and what's right in front of you. https://barefootlighting.com/?p=398

Captain Matt talks about the problems with landscape lighting demos. The Problem With Landscape Lighting Demos with Captain Matt The problems with demos, I'm Captain Matt with Barefoot Lighting, Elfperts Inc., Christmas Guys. Now, with demos when we come to your house and we give you a live presentation of our lighting, some of the things and, our vision for your property with real lights on your property. You can actually see what it's going to look like before moving forward with the project. Now, the problem with the demo is we can only do one a day, and so many times I've wasted my time doing a demo for somebody who was never going to close. Now, that's not their fault, that's my fault but that's the problem with the demo many times when we qualify we'll tell the person this is our average and they're down for whatever and then we go into a demo and all of a sudden they're not down for it. So, that is the problem with demo. People, when we give

Captain Matt talks about Side Hustle Johnny's vs. Professional Lighting Designers Side Hustle Johnny and the investment into your property | Captain Matt on Landscape Lighting Captain Matt here with Barefoot Lighting. I want to talk to you about something when it comes to landscape lighting illumination portraits of your property. Everybody is shocked by the price, it's a guarantee you know? When I do a hundred thousand dollar project the guys like "I thought it was gonna be twenty (thousand)". When I do a twenty thousand dollar project the guys like "I thought it was going to be five (thousand)". So, it doesn't matter where on the spectrum, you know what size budget, whether you have, you know, a five or ten thousand dollar budget, or a hundred or two hundred thousand dollar, budget you are always shocked by the price, it's a guarantee. One thing to keep in mind is when you buy a house, unless you've built a house from scratch and paid each indi

Captain Matt here to talk about The Pink Ribbon Project The Pink Ribbon Garden Project Captain Matt here with The Christmas Guys, Elfperts Inc., Barefoot Lighting. Why do I say all three? Because it must be confusing to you, it's a little confusing to me, but people don't want to hear the word Christmas when it's not Christmas time. So, anyway just want to talk to you a little bit about The Pink Ribbon project. We were able to do some cool things with Christmas Land out in Altamont, they have a pink ribbon garden out there, it's like a garden shaped like a ribbon. We were able to go out there and be a part of that opening ceremony I think it was three years ago maybe four I don't know two years back, but that was another thing there's a bunch of, you know, sponsors there breaking ground on it, and I just really want to encourage everybody whether you know you have a company or just you can find some free time to get out there and and give some of your talents o

Captain Matt here, talking about pricing. I Want a Deal | Lighting Prices with Captain Matt People call or say "I want a deal!". I know that we all do, no matter what industry, no matter who you are, you always want to pay the least amount possible for the best product or experience that you can get. Our pricing is based off of what we know it's going to take us, you know, our overhead, our workers comp insurance, our liability insurance, our commercial auto insurance, the lights, the wire especially now with the price of copper, and then, you know, I also have to make some money, you know, my son needs to eat. So, there's a lot that goes into it rather than just randomly making up a price and throwing it out. So the deal is you are going to get the most amazing experience by the best lighting professionals in the industry. Talk to you soon, I'm Captain Matt. https://barefootlighting.com/?p=386

Hey guys Captain Matt here with another video about the importance of lighting. Afraid of the Dark | Landscape Lighting with Captain Matt When it comes to your landscape lighting we often call it an illumination portrait of your property, because it is so much more than just putting a light, that doesn't make sense right? Every light should have a purpose, because the importance of lighting is it can take a backyard that feels scary, that no one wants to be in and make it come to life, like a backyard resort that everybody wants to be in. It's the difference of when you, or your wife or your husband, gets home and you run into the house because it's too dark out and there's no lights up there, you have a motion light that's above the front door maybe that doesn't come on until you get close enough, so it's literally scary. That's the importance of lighting with proper illumination, you can walk from point A to point B without fear of getting mugged, and

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Captain Matt here with a video to talk about the importance of lighting, Without Light There Is No Space | Landscape Lighting with Captain Matt Many times we show up for landscape lighting people are just expecting "oh i want you know a spotlight on my tree". I'm using this video as an example, one, see the shadow behind me? you know is that good is that bad? I guess it depends on what the purpose of the video is. i'm gonna show you the importance of lighting, and I don't need to talk really anymore. I'm gonna go ahead and shut off my camera light - what a difference that made! I'm gonna go ahead and shut the room light off - what a difference that made! Now, with these phones as you can see there's that small second where it made me brighter, there's also a window behind me so there is some natural light coming in. That's the importance of lighting, you would never buy a house with a room that didn't have a light in it, because without li

Captain Matt here, going to talk about the power of a demo and why we do them sometimes. You can get JUST lighting, JUST about anywhere | Landscape Lighting with Captain Matt So a demo allows you to see what our vision of lighting is going to look like in real life versus just dots on a paper that you'll see sometimes. This is us bringing actual lights actual bulbs and putting them on your actual property and your trees, and you get to see the difference. And you know we'll move around you'll get to see how the shadowing changes and that that you never want just one light on a tree, unless it's a very thin tree, but rule of thumb is you don't ever want just one light. This is not because we're just trying to use more lights and and sell you more lights, this is because we're giving you the lighting project that you deserve. You know maybe you can get other companies out here to give you a level eight level nine maybe even a level 10 lighting project but you

Captain Matt here again Barefoot Lighting, I'm going to talk to you a little bit about landscape lighting. Stay Away From Lighting Contractors with Captain Matt | Landscape Lighting So what's the difference between an illumination artist and a lighting contractor? The name alone kind of says it right? But, a lighting contractor is like, you know, bidding jobs. You think of them as as not really focusing on lighting it's typically a landscaper, a hardscaper, or power washer. Whatever the case may be but lighting is not their core, lighting is not their strength, and lighting is not their focus. illumination artists we actually study the science of lighting, we fly out to California, we go to other places in the country to meet with other illumination artists to study what they're doing see how they're doing, and see how light plays on different objects, different trees, different heights, and different wattages. There's so much to it, so much more than just going

Hey guys Captain Matt here out in vermont on a landscape lighting job, we're uh trenching and running wire all day yesterday. So much work but I don’t have any lights yet? Why?! We've got a cool little machine we're trying out we're running wire all day again today. We'll be running wires some of the day tomorrow and so I just want to talk about that. As a client when you see the guys out there I understand how frustrating it must be that you see us out there all day two days in a row and you're not seeing any lights on yet. The most time-consuming part of any landscape lighting job is the trenching, is the running the wires, because when we get here we already have the design and the plan, but then tree roots and rocks and all that can really get in the way and delay it. Plus the most physical labor is the trenching of all the wires right I mean we're trenching all the way down to there all the way back up to there a lot ,a lot of hundreds probably thous

Captain Matt with the Christmas Guys, Elfperts inc, Barefoot lighting, just wanted to show you something I just picked up at this auction. Auctions and Buying Seemingly Random Things for Decorating I won them online I didn't exactly know exactly what they're going to look like but I saw the little picture of them I loved them. They're made of fiberglass and they used to be in the theme park. Clearly, this one was most likely some indian stuff I'd imagine based on the paintings on it and these were probably at one point, look like palm trees or something similar to that, and in an elephant enclosure, I got about eight of them, pretty cool. Some of them are 12 feet ,some of them are probably eight feet and yeah just wanted to give a little peek into some of the things that I do that you guys don't see. It has nothing to do with lighting, obviously has to do with decorating. Sometimes I see these cool things I don't even know exactly what I'm going to do w