WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN ITALY

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #77

2010-10-11T09:10:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #76

2010-10-04T09:53:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #75

2010-09-27T09:27:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #74

2010-09-20T09:34:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #73

2010-09-13T09:00:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #72

2010-09-05T09:36:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #71

2010-08-30T09:29:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #70

2010-08-23T09:33:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #69

2010-08-16T09:33:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #68

2010-08-09T09:32:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #67

2010-08-02T09:42:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #66

2010-07-26T09:18:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #65

2010-07-19T09:50:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #64

2010-07-12T08:57:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #63

2010-07-07T09:22:00.002+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #62

2010-06-28T09:39:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #61

2010-06-21T09:21:00.000+01:00

What is the first thing you look at when you look at a photograph?

2010-06-17T08:45:00.002+01:00

When you look at a photograph of yourself, what is the very first thing you check? Be really honest with yourself and we me. If you are like me and most people you will check that you look good. No matter how special the moment you will not choose a photograph if you look bad. For example when you have a double chin or a side profile if you do not like you nose. How many photographs of yourself have you thrown away because you did not like them? Most of those were taken spontaneously and if they were posed, they were badly posed. Correct?

I want to start a revolution. I would like you to reconsider the ideas you have about wedding photography. I know exactly what kind of pictures you will say you want for your wedding photography; natural and spontaneous. The ideas, which I will present to you over the next few pages, I know many of you will not like. Many will find my ideas scandalous. I am positive that I will horrify, irritate and even anger many of you. I ask you to listen with an open mind for the sake of your wedding photography. No other photographer in Italy, to my knowledge, is doing anything similar. The rest of the world is unfortunately ahead. It’s something completely new and the same way it took reportage a little time to catch on, I am sure one day this way of shooting will be as popular as reportage is today in Italy.

When I first started shooting weddings I only shot reportage images. Often brides were really disappointed with their portraits. At every wedding I beg the couples to let me do a few portraits and these always end up being the favourite images. ALWAYS! SO please read careful and logically consider what I am suggesting. Because if I can get you to understand my points;

Every person has and angle and light source that is both forgiving and flattering. Reportage or spontaneous photography is great but not flattering. To take a picture that makes you look your best you need to be posed. I am not talking about embarrassing and horrible poses from the eights. I am talking about fresh, free, exciting poses. Poses which don’t look posed taking inspiration from fashion photography. The aim of these poses are to make you look your best. They don’t take long and we have a huge amount of fun creating them.

your pictures will be better

you will ike your portraits

it will be quicker if I don’t have to explain all this on the day

we will both have allot more fun

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #60

2010-06-14T10:26:00.000+01:00

What you need to ensure great wedding photographers.

2010-06-07T16:37:00.008+01:00

Give your photographer plenty of time to work
Do not be late, ever
Make sure you like your photographer and they like you
Have a clear idea about what you want with regards to your pictures
Be as co-operative as you can with your photographer – after all they are just trying to do their job
Do not behave badly – bridezillias are very hard to shoot
Don’t have a list of more than around 12 group photographs – or you will be sorry and your guests will hate you
Don’t get drunk the night before
Everybody is more beautiful after a good nights sleep, that is why it’s called beauty sleep
Make sure you eat during the day, there are never any good pictures when the bride passes out
Hire a wedding planner, it takes away a lot of the stress

Book Presentation & Exhibition: Ravello - A Photographic Love Poem di JoAnne Dunn & Giovanni Di Natale

2010-05-31T16:24:00.000+01:00

Date: 6 June 2010
Time: 5pm
Location: The tea garden, Villa Cimbrone, Ravello, Italy

Presentation by: Guiseppe Mascolo
By invitation only, please contact Kim if you would like to receive an invitation : kim@joannedunn.it

Cocktails “sul prato”

Featuring: Natalie Kane & Paul Tacori

2010-05-24T14:58:00.008+01:00

Date: 09 May 2010
Planner: Anna Sorrentino 335 5715586 anna@acva.it
Location: Hotel Caruso – Ravello – Italy
Photography: JoAnne Dunn Photography – JoAnne & Kim

Key Suppliers: For further information contact Anna Sorrentino
- Flowers: Malafronte Floral Design - Armando Malafronte
- DJ & Music Entertainment – Wedding Music by Marco Cantarella
- Hair – Total Hair design by Gerardo
- Make-up: Enza – Frai Form

The Finer Details:
Bridal Accessories: personally designed by Tacori www.tacori.com
Items of amore - Bride’s Shoes by Manolo Blahnik shoes

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #59

2010-05-24T09:09:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #58

2010-05-17T10:11:00.000+01:00

Featuring: Nicole Lawson & Alan Cairns

2010-05-10T13:16:00.005+01:00

Date: 28 April 2010
Planner: The Amalfi Experience – Jacquie Coppola –(0039) 089 873 091 or (0039) 347 385 4555
Location: Villa Cimbrone – Ravello – Italy.
Photography: JoAnne Dunn Photography – JoAnne & Francesco

Key Suppliers: For further information contact Jacquie Coppola
Flowers: Malafronte Floral Design - Armando Malafronte
DJ & Music Entertainment: Wedding Music by Marco Cantarella
Hair: Total Hair design by Gerardo

Make-up: By the bride

The Finer Details:
Colour scheme – Pinks & Lavender
Bride’s Dress by Monique L’Hulier
Groom’s Suit by Richard James
Bridal Accessories by Jenny Peckham
Objects of amore
- Bride’s Shoes by Louboutin Bridal Shoes
- Groom’s ‘made to measure’ shoes by Jeffery West Shoes

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #57

2010-05-10T09:34:00.000+01:00

Help your photographer to understand you better.

2010-05-03T09:37:00.000+01:00

It is only natural that the better your photographer understands you and your wants, the better your photos will be. You can help your photographer to understand you in several ways…a few ideas to start with ..

1) Be available to meet with them before your big day for a coffee and a chat. This gives you key bonding time! Bonding is vitally important, after all you will be spending a lot of time together with your photographer on the most important day of your live.

2) Bombard them with information about yourselves. Your story, your tastes, your dreams, desires and fantasies. The more you talk about yourselves the more familiar your photographer will be with you.

3) Make a collection of personal photos that you love, or photos/poses that have caught your eye from fashion or bridal magazines. Ask also to see their portfolios and work examples. Show them which images, styles and poses that you like the best. This gives a great idea of your tastes and how you want your wedding images. Tell them what your must have pictures are.

4) Tell them about your complexes and pet hates. If a photographer knows in advance what you feel sensitive and shy about, they will know how to avoid and work around these.

5) Find them on Facebook and connect your profiles. The information on your profile will tell your photographer a lot about who you are.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #56

2010-04-26T09:33:00.000+01:00

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY #55

2010-04-19T09:29:00.002+01:00

Want to drastically decrease stress levels on your wedding day?

2010-04-13T11:44:00.000+01:00

What I am about to suggest is probably going to make you all shriek in horror. However one of the most stressful moments on a wedding day is the time just after the ceremony, so much to do with so little time to do it in. You need to get a hug and kiss from all the guests, groups, cocktails, get to the venue and then still take great pictures together. This all usually has to be done in about an hour but extra pressure is added with late ceremonies and long travelling distances. Solution? Do your portraits individually and together before the ceremony. Or better yet on a separate day. I can hear the Italian brides shrieking in horror.

Few of us are virgins when we walk down the isle, why let another tradition stand in the way of your fun and great pictures.

Baby Dior

2010-04-11T11:37:00.002+01:00

Baby Dior.

Please help. My sister’s baby who was born just a few days ago is
not managing to breathe. I would like to ask all my friends, family,
colleges and clients to light a candle for her. Please could you ask friends
& family to help us shine light and love. No matter what you believe.
Sending love is enough, I believe in the power of love in massive doses.
Thank you.

Piccola Dior.

Per favore aiutatemi. La bambina di mia sorella più piccola ,che è nato solo
pochi giorni fa è non riesce a respirare. Vorrei chiedere a tutti i miei
amici, clienti e famiglie di accendere una candela per lei. Diffondete e
fatelo girare anche dai vostri amici. Non importa quello che credi. Invio di
amore è abbastanza…io credo nel potere dell'amore Grazie.

Reasons to get married during weekdays and why to avoid Saturdays & Sundays part ten

2010-04-09T10:00:00.004+01:00

If you are considering eloping then I recommend you only consider a weekday wedding for a mixture of all ten reasons put together. You need to choose a day where you can get the most out of your special, intimate day together, and choosing to pass a quite intimate day together on a Saturday or Sunday is never going to work. If you want to share a quiet prosecco together in the piazza, or an ice cream on the beach you will less flustered by crowds during the week.

Reasons to get married during weekdays and why to avoid Saturdays & Sundays part nine

2010-04-07T10:00:00.004+01:00

Anyone who knows Italian roads, rules (or lack of them) and Italian transportation systems will know what I am talking about here. Traffic and public transportation on Saturdays/Sundays and particularly public holidays should be avoided like the plague. Roads are blocked, trains run late and buses can be jam packed to the doors. Think about a week day for your wedding, and you immediately have less chance of traffic problems and running late because of them.

Reasons to get married during weekdays and why to avoid Saturdays & Sundays part eight

2010-04-05T10:00:00.004+01:00

We all want to feel like the only girl in white on OUR own BIG DAY, but if you choose a popular location to get married in, given any Saturday or Sunday during spring/summer, it is highly likely that there will be more than one wedding going on. By choosing a day in the beginning or middle of the week you are less likely to cross paths with another bride and groom in the same place or piazza.

Reasons to get married during weekdays and why to avoid Saturdays & Sundays part seven

2010-04-02T10:00:00.004+01:00

Quieter surroundings in tourist areas in high season. Remember to consider this if you are getting married in public gardens, a public church, or any area which might be open to the public at the same time as your ceremony. Ceremony grounds need to be prepared for set up (chairs, flowers, sound systems etc etc), and they can only start preparing when the grounds are not flooded with tourist crowds. Although during your ceremony, public access can usually be denied, venue grounds may restrict ceremo ny times, especially during the weekends, allowing time to clear the public out.

Reasons to get married during weekdays and why to avoid Saturdays & Sundays part six

2010-03-31T10:25:00.004+01:00

Public church/religious ceremony schedules are naturally heavier during the weekends. Priests, Churches and Civil ceremony grounds are extremely busy on Saturdays and Sundays and usually take on double bookings. This means often you can be (diplomatically) rushed out of a church/religious location after your service, as another ceremony is waiting to start. Choosing a weekeday avoids this problem and also gives you more chance of finding your first choice of Church or Religious venue grounds.

Reasons to get married during weekdays and why to avoid Saturdays & Sundays part five

2010-03-29T10:09:00.004+01:00

Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts and Residences are also more likely to have availability for both yourselves and your guests during the week. This is particularly important if you have a large guest list, and are looking to create a holiday group feeling, with all your guests staying in the same hotels and close by to you. Some places also offer group booking specials, and considering a week day might help you to get all your guests into the same places.

Reasons to get married during weekdays and why to avoid Saturdays & Sundays part four

2010-03-27T10:12:00.005Z

There are more and cheaper flights available. This isn't as silly as it sounds. Especially for those who are looking for flight availability on the low cost airlines like Easyjet, Ryanair and Flybaboo. Flight schedules with these airlines are often operated Monday - Friday, and during these days great flight deals can be found. It is important to consider this especially for your guests, who will be travelling, to help them also keep costs down.

Reasons to get married during weekdays and why to avoid Saturdays & Sundays part three

2010-03-25T10:07:00.004Z

Larger suppliers like florists, musicians and caterers that have the capacity to take on more than one booking during one day, are less likely to have double bookings during the week. Whilst this is not to say that when there is a double booking on your wedding day, your level of service is anything less than 110%, it just means that during the week you will are more likely to get 200% undivided attention.

Reasons to get married during weekdays and why to avoid Saturdays & Sundays part two

2010-03-23T10:00:00.001Z

You 've chosen a weekend, but aren't an early bird that caught the worm, and then you find your dream venue, planner, florist or photographer just six months out from the big day. If they are good more than likely they will already be booked, which might break your heart. Consider a week day around the same period and you might just find your luck. Monday to Thursdays are more likely to have schedule gaps.

Reasons to get married during weekdays and why to avoid Saturdays & Sundays part one

2010-03-21T10:00:00.001Z

Choosing a weekday in the beginning might seem like a crazy idea, but nowadays it really isn't that mad. If you think you can cope with a weekday, you will have access to a larger range of the best service providers. Usually weekends (especially those with public holidays tagged on either side) are booked out a year or so in advance, so if you aren't one of these early birds your choice is immediately cut in half.

A thousand flowers in one promise - Armando Malafronte

2010-03-19T08:38:00.006Z

Locally and Internationally famed, Ravello Floral designer, Armando Malafronte recently reached a new level of success in the publishing of his divine book.

Armando "A magical floral designer capable of realizing magnificent floral creations", recently released his first book 'Mille fiori in una promessa'. The book, enriched with fabulous colours and floral compositions, leaves you with an inspiration and admiration for flower design that is hard to find elsewhere. It is nothing but a true reflection and appraisal of this man’s unique talent and incredible green fingers.

You think you are ugly.

2010-03-17T10:06:00.005Z

Why is it that us girls have to wait till we get old and wrinkled to realise how beautiful we were? Anyway, you think you are ugly and there is nothing I can say or do to change that. You can however adapt your wedding outfit to conceal to be your worst points and accentuate your best points. It’s all about balance. For example;

You don’t like your face?

Wear a nineteen twenties box hat or a broach hair slide with a short net covering half your face. The broach can be a beautiful focal point. If you have a long neck, wear long chandelier ears, which will again draw attention away from your face.

You have flabby arms?

Flabby arms but your shoulders are your best feature? You wear something off shoulder with off shoulder drapery sleeves (1970s) or carry a delicious shawl.

You are very short?

You need a short twinkly wedding dress with slinky shoes and your hair should be worn up.

Flowers in your hair.

2010-03-16T10:03:00.007Z

If you are getting married in June I do not recommend you put real flowers in your hair. By the end of the evening they will look very sad. Tiny roses seem to hold up, as long as they are not white or cream since they will go brown. Peonies are very popular but if it’s hot and they are exposed to a lot of sun they will droop. I promise. If you absolutely insist on real flowers keep them hydrated in the fridge till the very last minute. If you want orchids in your hair, I would highly recommend you look for a good quality fake variety. I know you have seen the fashion shoots with fresh flowers in their hair but those flowers only had to look good for an hour maximum. Another option is to have replacements at hand but it also means you need a hairdresser or reliable friend.

Why do Italians seem so rude?

2010-03-15T10:00:00.003Z

From Rome down, Italians can be quite rude as seen from an English cultural position. It’s the great cultural divide that I married into. Italians do not like to decorate their requests and acknowledgments with pleases and thank yous. Especially if they are your friends (or work in public service.) Between friends they find it too formal and if you say thank you to a good Neapolitan friend, they will reply that there is no need for a formal thank you. They believe thank you and please are too formal for good friends who understand each other. When in Italy their apparent rudeness is just due to cultural differences so try not to take it personally.

How to order food like an Italian in Italy.

2010-03-14T09:55:00.006Z

Basic Rules: Part 02

8.Ask for recommendations; Italians love giving their opinions on just about everything, but food questions will be tackled with the seriousness of a political debate. “what would you recommend?” works better than “what is good?” “Everything is good!” they will reply, like I said tread lightly food is serious business.

9.Most Italians (especially in South Italy) will have; anti-pasta, pasta, secondo, fruita, dolce and café. If you want to try so much food once in your life I recommend you don’t eat too much pasta and avoid the bread. Or you may just pop.

10.Never ever in your whole life, even if your life depends on it order a cappuccino after a big meal. Everybody in the place, who is Italian, will naturally assume that you are foreign and “don’t understand anything about food.” Unfortunately they have brainwashed me and I too now believe that milk after fish is not so hot.

1.Look for places filled with locals and ask about dishes you see passing by.

2.Try to always order local wine and often house wine which can be home made wine. It’s a little rough round the edges and lighter in alcohol but once you get the taste for it there is no going back. Especially since the price is right and the hangover is low key.

How to order food like an Italian in Italy.

2010-03-13T09:51:00.006Z

Basic Rules: Part 01

1.The shorter the menu the more likely you are to get good quality fresh food.

2.The more dishes offered with ingredients, which are in season, the better the food will be.

3. In Italy ingredients, which are frozen have to be indicated on the menu, so look out for those little stars on the right.

4.Water is always ordered at the beginning of the meal, a lightly fizzy is recommended to clean the palate especially if you will be eating rich food.

5.If you start with fish or meat, you should stick with the theme or have lemon sorbet between courses.

6.Avoid anything labelled tourist menu or you will end up with fish fingers for your main.

7. It’s good to know what different areas are famous for e.g. Naples has mozzarella, Rome the Amatriciana, Tuscany has it’s Fiorentina and Genova has pesto. But these are just the obvious, Italians can be so passionate about their way of making a certain pasta that they will talk about the people in the next town who don’t know how to cook because they add onions. They will discuss these onion lovers as though they come from a far off land.

Finding a good Italian Restaurant in Italy.

2010-03-12T09:48:00.003Z

Food is Italy’s religion and it is taken very seriously. Regular worship and ceremonial rituals are performed by ninety five percent of the population. The five percent who do not take part are homeless or have an eating disorder. So if you need to know where to eat, anywhere in Italy, you just need to spot the right person to ask. The right person will be slightly to very overweight and have a good watch and an expensive pair of shoes. Particularly businessmen in their fifties who eat out a lot and have no interest in sending you to their Aunty Maria’s trattoria. If there are no such men about, ask a local. It is completely useless asking an Italian Mamma who is overloaded with grocery shopping, though it may get you an invitation to lunch, especially in south Italy.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Four: The Beautician Part seven

2010-03-11T09:45:00.006Z

What to order?
A few days before:

6.Eyelash extension

“What no mascara?!” I hear you gasp. For an extra sexy but surprisingly natural look, try eyelash extensions. They look six thousand times better than normal fake lashes. Eyelash extensions don’t lash very long but they look AMAZING. The last long enough for a party and a honeymoon, a girl doesn’t need them to last much longer than that.

7.Pedicure & Manicure

Please can you all stop with the porno star French Manicure. Please. A French mani can look cute if you don’t have those dangerously long nails porno stars insist on sporting. Personally I find such long nails completely unsuitable considering their line or work. Not that I would like to compare brides to porno stars. My point is that if it looks trashy on someone who is trying to look trashy, imagine what it looks like on a bride.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Four: The Beautician Part six

2010-03-10T09:44:00.005Z

What to order?
A few days before:

3.Nourishing or Cleansing facial

This should be at least your second facial when preparing for your big day. Your facial should include exfoliating, cleansing and nourishing. If you can get a little face, head, neck and shoulder massaging with the package it will make all the difference.

4.Eyebrow shaping (don’t think this needs much explaining)

5.Eyebrow & eyelash dying

You know how mascara can give you two back eyes at the sea or if it withstands the pool, it will probably be very difficult to get off. By dying your eyebrows and lashes you can withstand the pool test and the effect is flatteringly natural.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Four: The Beautician Part five

2010-03-09T09:27:00.006Z

What to order?
A few days before:

2.Total wax

This form of torture needs little introduction. It’s a form of torture for women by woman and those glossy magazines. You know the kind, which tell us that being the way we were born is just not good enough. Anyway as you can tell I feel it’s us who should be paid for this pain. I will also admit to a sick pleasure, which descends right after having your body hair pulled out by the roots. Not indifferent to the euphoria one feels after a tattoo. And if you are brave enough for a Brazilian version be prepared for quite a surprise and a crazy itch afterwards but hey you only get married once.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Four: The Beautician Part four

2010-03-08T09:06:00.004Z

What to order?
A few days before:

1.Full body polish

This treatment will leave you with a glossy, smooth and soft skin. It involves; a wash, a steam, a salt rub, a rinse and a rub with oil. If you want to try a home version, mix half a cup of coarse salt with half a cup of your favourite massage oil. Good oils to use are grape seed oil and almond oil. First you soak in a hot bath for ten minutes, to soften dead skin, then wash your skin with a good cleanser. Now rub your oil & salt mixture all over your body. Pay special attention to trouble areas like elbows, bottoms and feet. Rinse well with warm water and if you have very dry skin apply more oil.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Four: The Beautician - Part three

2010-03-07T09:05:00.003Z

What to order?
Two weeks before:

2.Individual selected Body Wrap

Body wraps are great for working on cellulite, skin condition and for detoxing. Once again it’s important that your beautician helps you select one that satisfies your needs. If you have problem skin on your back, as few as two wraps or peelings can completely clear problem skin.

3.Lymphatic Drainage massage

My preference for this kind of massage is a Presso-massage. It involves getting into a space suit and basically it squeezes you like a tube of toothpaste. If you are already small you may find the suit can’t reach an adequate amount of pressure. It’s a wonderfully effective and relaxing massage. The Human version of the lymphatic drainage massage is good too but be sure you find someone strong, patient and informed.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Four: The Beautician - Part two

2010-03-06T09:04:00.001Z

What to order?
Two weeks before:

1.Individual selected Facial

It’s best to make an appointment just to discuss what you will need. Everybody’s face is different and benefits from different kinds of products. It is important not to have your first facial too soon before your wedding. Usually one really starts to see the benefits of facials once you have had at least two. I recommend a deep cleanse and a nourishing facial for the first one. Do not be tempted to shape your eyebrows etc. You need all facial hair to be clear for the day of your wedding and so you need to do so just three or so days before your wedding. Bleach any stray hairs in the mean while to avoid embarrassment; personally I just don’t leave the house. (Please can someone make moustaches on woman fashionable – Please, we can’t seem to get rid of them).

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Four: The Beautician - Part one

2010-03-05T09:02:00.002Z

What to order?

Electro Stimulation – every day if possible (is this or is this not an emergency)

Now I know this sounds scary girls but it’s less painful than it sounds and very effective. Electro stimulation is particularly effective for difficult to work on muscles, like bottoms. Basically they strap your body with little electro pads, which send little shocks to your muscles. This causes the muscles to contract, the way they would if you were exercising. The stronger you can take the shock the better it works. If you are starting an exercise routine, these little electro sessions will really help you. You will see the benefits of both much quicker since they compliment each other.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Four: Daily Responsibilities

2010-03-04T09:00:00.005Z

1. Drink at least two litres of water
2. No drinking coffee or alcohol
3. Avoid salts, artificial additives, preservatives, colorants – basically toxins
4. Go to bed early, try to have at least eight hours sleep a day
5. Keeping to a healthy routine will restore your body and mind
6. Workout a lot and rest a lot
7. Apply a hardcore anti cellulite cream twice daily, massaging the way you wish your beautician would.
8. If you can get anywhere near a sauna or a steam room make your body sweat but drink extra water.
9. Walk whenever you can, stairs are especially good for bottoms
10. Be extra good to yourself, give yourself non food rewards e.g facials, pedicures, a small lie in.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Three: Exercise – part six

2010-03-03T08:59:00.001Z

Tricks to help you get into exercise C

5.Music

There is absolutely no way I can do any form of exercise without music. If my iPod is flat, I don’t work out. It’s also about the only chance I get to hear some really great music. It’s so easy to hear and purchase individual songs from the Internet.

6.Spending money on exercising

Guilt has been our chain and shackles for years. For the first time guilt can be used to one’s advantage. Not sure about you but I hate wasting money. If I spend money on new sexy exercise gear, a gym contract and a fab baby blue gym bag, I am more likely to go to gym. I just can’t bear letting the money go to waste. Strange how I don’t see it as my body going to waste or if I do, I really do not seem to care.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Three: Exercise – part five

2010-03-02T08:55:00.001Z

Tricks to help you get into exercise B

3.Espresso & chocolate before you work out

Now I’m breaking some rules here, and going against my advice of avoiding caffeine & chocolate, but we can always make exceptions when we must, and if I just can’t get going then an espresso and a small piece of chocolate help me to start exercising. They encourage me and give me a little rocket boost of energy to tackle the hardest part, the beginning. A small piece of a Mars bar or such has between 200 to 300 calories. About half an hour’s worth of workout will burn a small bar of chocolate but you will need to sweat.

4.Working off the stress with visualisation

If you are angry, stressed or worried about anything, get on the treadmill. First you warm up, then visualise the problem in front of you. For example, picture the guy who ran over your cat and scream at him in your head. You will be surprised how fast you can go. Keep going till you feel no anger, depending how much you have. Not only will you exercise harder for longer you will also get rid of unwanted feelings by burning them off. Double bonus.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Three: Exercise – part four

2010-03-01T08:46:00.001Z

Tricks to help you get into exercise A

1.Get an instructor or exercising partner.

This is a commitment on your part and you will be far less likely that you will skip a session if it means letting someone else down. You are also less likely to hurt yourself with an instructor and they can help you work on your weak points.

2.Consider step or dance classes

Personally I always stuck my nose up at any form of exercise class. Shying away because I thought I would be useless due to my lack of coordination. But who said the point was to be the best pupil in the class. Once I gave lessons a chance, I found that I was so busy concentrating on the steps that I broke a sweat without realising. I find distractions like people and music are most helpful in breaking through the pain barrier. I once had an aerobics teacher who picked on me non stop, on all of us actually. His intension was to make us angry because when one is angry the energy levels go way up. I often left the class wondering what his problem was. Two years down the line I consider the man a genius.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Three: Exercise – part three

2010-02-28T10:00:00.003Z

“I hate exercise”

Girls often tell me that they hate exercise. I hated exercise too, until I finally gave it a chance. The secret is not to be doing it to get thin but rather for the act of exercise its self. One needs to tune into one’s body when one exercises. Stop repeating to yourself that you hate exercising.

Instead notice your feelings; tired, pain, uncomfortable, bored and keep pushing. See if you can challenge those feelings keep going, focusing on getting plenty of oxygen into the trouble stops. Imagine breathing oxygen into your brain, legs and tummy. Feel the oxygen creating the burn, burning the fat, creating energy. Just when you want to give up, do another five minutes. Then one day (depending on how unfit you are) after fifteen minutes of suffering it all lifts and something magical happens. Your body and breathing go on auto and you feel like you are flying.

You will feel happier because your body is being pumped full of endorphins. Then as the added bonus you will start to look great. But if you do it for the effect, you will give up before you start. You need to get into doing exercise for the sake of the exercise itself.

I know I go on and on about exercise but I cannot help it. More than once I have been very overweight, and I have tried every diet available. I promise you with my heart and thighs; diets make you fat. The only way to stay slim and healthy is by doing regular exercise. Besides I prefer to workout and be able to eat what I fancy with no guilt.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Three: Exercise – part three

2010-02-27T10:00:00.001Z

Stretching

Stretching does wonderful things to one’s muscles. Other than making them supple, stretching also tones your muscles. The act of stretching is a quiet, slow action, which does wonders for the stress levels. Once you start stretching, notice that it soon becomes something you feel the need to do. Yoga is the ultimate form of stretching since it often incorporates meditation. Meditation and stretching are two excellent ways to fight the effects of stress. Stress makes you ugly and sick. Stretching is very important before and after exercise. Doing it before ensures you do not hurt yourself during your workout. If you stretch afterwards it can help avoid stiffness. Exercise and stretching should be started gradually or you will hurt yourself and have to stop. Which would put a dramatic stop on your beauty plan.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Three: Exercise – part two

2010-02-26T10:00:00.001Z

Feeling strong energised and happy is the best feeling in the world. The human body is a machine, which loves to be used. The more you use it the stronger it gets, the longer it lasts, the happier it is and the better it looks. Exercise is the ultimate drug, offers immediate gratification during exercise with delicious endorphins and then the bonus after effects on your body and mood. You can’t beat it. Exercise is the cheapest and most dramatic of all the strategies to reform your body. It’s just starting that is difficult.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Three: Exercise – part one

2010-02-25T10:00:00.005Z

A challenge, choose a day you are feeling sluggish, swollen and generally ugly. Look at yourself in the mirror, take careful note of the way you look and how you feel. Go for an hour’s worth of hard exercise. The most strenuous you can manage; push yourself as much as you can. Now go and have a look at yourself in the mirror. Everything will instantly look and feel better.
The biggest difference will be the way you feel. You will feel positive and energised but also oddly relaxed. The harder you push the more the difference. All the oxygen, which has been pumped into your skin, will make it glow. Your muscles will have been filled with blood, so your body will be firmer and smoother. You will be more relaxed, sleep better and become regular. All of which will make you your most beautiful.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy Two: Supplements

2010-02-24T10:00:00.004Z

Vitamin & detoxifying supplements

Vitamin C allows toxins to be broken down and discarded by the body. So a good vitamin plan would be a good Multivitamin and maybe a little extra Vitamin C. Vitamin B is very good when combating the effects of stress. A natural immune booster will ensure your good health when you are travelling and experiencing stress. Stress places havoc on your skin and hair, a course of vitamins, which are geared towards nourishing hair, and skin can also be a good idea. I also like tonics, which are added to water and help clean out the system. I recommend using only natural supplements and make sure you are not over doing some vitamins like Vitamin D.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy One: DIET– part ten

2010-02-23T09:00:00.001Z

Metabolism Stimulating Diet

A Word on Dieting Tablets:

Just don’t go there! They make you moody, emotional and in the long run they destroy your metabolism. So one day when you eventually have to stop them or you loose a kidney, you will have no metabolism and have no hope of ever getting to the right weight. Trust me on this; any metabolism stimulating and appetite suppressing drugs bought in the pharmacy are no different to amphetamines they sell in discos around the world. They will not keep you thin since the second you stop taking them you will be hungrier than you have ever been before and with a huge new tendency to put on weight. And if they don’t destroy your body they will make you so irritable that everybody will hate you. Enough said.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan - Strategy One: DIET– part nine

2010-02-22T09:17:00.006Z

Metabolism Stimulating Diet

If you MUST have chocolate because you are a chocoholic, it’s not a problem. For every one hundred grams of chocolate you need to do one hour of exercise, the sweaty kind. SO you do the maths, personally I am prepared to do three hours a day, everyday. As I have mentioned before it’s just really important to balance what goes in with what goes out. If you fall off the wagon and over do the energy intake time to going dancing all night long.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan - Strategy One: DIET– part eight

2010-02-21T09:14:00.006Z

This is going to make me hugely unpopular but you know it’s an emergency girl, so cope. Alcohol. It’s a waste of calories, which need to be dedicated to nurturing your hair and skin. It stops you from exercising the next day, fills your liver with toxins and slows everything down.
You have to because of some party? Stick to spritz’s and champagne. The calories are slightly less than those in hard spirits, beers and liquors. Not to mention that they work faster and better thanks to those bubbles, which means you need to drink less.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy One: DIET– part seven

2010-02-20T09:12:00.002Z

Metabolism Stimulating Diet

Our aim is not to suddenly drop huge amounts of weight but to detoxify, stimulate your metabolism and nourish your body. This will not only improve the way you look, but it will drastically improve your state of mind and energy levels. Instead of focusing on what we are not allowed, we need to focus on adding things to our diet. A good step is to include as many detoxifying and nutritious ingredients possible into your diet. The good news is the more the merrier.

Foods which help you to detoxify your body:

1. Fruits
2. Green Foods
3. Lemons, Oranges & Limes
(Note: start each day with a warm cup of water and lemon juice to clean your liver)
4. Garlic
5. Broccoli Sprouts
6. Green Tea
7. Raw or juiced Vegetables
8. Seeds & Nuts (no butters or salted nuts)
9. Omega-3 Oils

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan - Strategy One : DIET– part six

2010-02-19T09:10:00.002Z

Metabolism Stimulating Diet

It would shock you to know how much weight you would loose just by getting rid of the excess water you are retaining. The number one substance, which aggravates water retention, is sodium. The number one weapon against water retention is water. Flood your body and it lets go of its reserves. But this takes one to two days to kick in. Water retention is also effectively reduced with exercise, saunas, steam rooms and massages. And if you are prone to swelling in general avoid all alcohol for at least three days before your wedding.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan Strategy One : DIET– part five

2010-02-18T09:08:00.001Z

Metabolism Stimulating Diet

Then there is the most difficult but most important rule of all; try not to eat after seven (if you go to bed at ten). Most of the weight we put on we do so when we eat and go to bed. The same goes for afternoon naps. If you have a little binge, no need to panic, just go for a long walk. Try to see your body as a machine and try to balance what goes in and out. Eating an hour before exercise is ideal and not napping before a three hour time period has passed since your last meal. If you manage nothing else at all this is guaranteed to help you loose around a kilo in a week.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan - Strategy One : DIET– part four

2010-02-17T09:07:00.002Z

Metabolism Stimulating Diet

If we have our carbohydrates for breakfast, we need to stock up on proteins during the other two main meals. So lunch and dinner you will eat baked, boiled, steamed or grilled proteins with loads of fresh fruit and vegetables. Proteins are eggs, beans, nuts, meat, fish, chicken and hard cheeses. They are essential for increasing muscle mass. The higher your muscle mass the more fat you burn. A telltale sign of bad dieting is a thin person who is bone and fat with their skin hanging off their body. Proteins are essential for reshaping your body. Limit salt, oils, fats and dairy. Except for low fat live yogurts. Make chicken, fish, tofu, beans or lentils tasty with spices. Eat your fruit first and wait fifteen minutes, this will ensure minimum absorption of fat.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan - Strategy One : DIET– part three

2010-02-16T09:05:00.003Z

Metabolism Stimulating Diet

I am not a fan of low carbohydrate diets because they sap your energy levels and can be dangerous for kidney and liver functions. So I recommend having your carbohydrates in the morning for energy and you will have the whole day to burn off the sugar. I highly recommend unrefined cooked oats. They are slow burning carbohydrates and being unrefined they will keep hunger away and stimulate metabolism. This is because your metabolism will have to work hard to digest the unrefined oats. (Note: A helpful hint is always to choose unrefined wholegrain when ever choosing rice, pasta or bread.) Wholegrain rice is a good substitute for the oats. I know it’s not exactly what you imagined for breakfast but this is an emergency plan.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan - Strategy One : DIET- part two

2010-02-15T08:58:00.003Z

Metabolism Stimulating Diet

Add as much fruit to your diet as you can bear. Even if you like just one kind of fruit, it’s important to give your metabolism a lot to work with. When we starve ourselves we slow down our metabolisms and when we start to eat again the body takes precautions against the famine it has been experiencing. The precautions involve storing everything you eat as fat. So a good trick is to eat a lot of that, which does not make you fat. Good examples are watermelons, lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, spinach; basically raw fruit and vegetables. They will fill you up, detoxify you, nourish you, keep your metabolism up, quench you, drench you and the fact you don’t have to limit your intake will help with compulsive eating urges one experiences when dieting.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan - Strategy One : DIET– part one

2010-02-14T10:47:00.005Z

Metabolism Stimulating Diet

Say the word diet to me and I instantly get hungry. I am just not one for sacrifice. I prefer to add things than to take them away. I do feel quite an expert in the field of dieting. I have lost and gained more kilograms than I care to share with you. I know drastic diets defeat themselves; they actually make you fat, especially when they starve you. They make your hair and skin look awful. So my diet is quite free and healthy. The key principle is metabolism stimulation with increased quantities of nourishing food. Being healthy makes you not only look your sexiest and most beautiful, it makes you feel it to.

Bridal Beauty Emergency Plan – The Introduction

2010-02-13T10:41:00.003Z

You have suddenly realised you are getting married in two weeks. Where have the last six months gone? You have been caught up in plans and no doubt neglected your beauty plan. Never mind let’s make use of what we have. The suggestions I have made may need to be toned down a little if you are very unfit. If you are more than ten kilograms overweight I recommend you see a doctor before you follow my “Bridal Beauty Plan”. Unfortunately like most things in life the more money you throw at the problem the better the outcome. However no high tech massage can ever compete with a dedicated run. Clearly if you wake up a little earlier than two weeks before your wedding all the better.

The plan is divided into different strategies, which each require dedication and determination. The results will be evident from the first day. Especially psychologically, since the exercise will instantly increase your endorphin levels. Although one may experience a light headache and a little tiredness from the detox, it will be short lived. Unless you have been bombing your body with toxins for years. For this reason I recommend starting the plan on a Saturday.

Often the assistants take the best images

2010-02-12T10:20:00.006Z

It often happens that I will be stuck upon the alter during the rings with the strictest priest known to the Vatican and someone in the front row will begin to sob. I can’t move unless I want to donate my liver to the priest for his dinner. So I have to do what a good team player does and pass the ball. With a quick flick of my eye, my assistant will realise that their job depends on pouncing on the moment. The result, they get to shoot all the juicy bits, they wonder round happily hunting carefree without any responsibilities. Sometimes at the start of the day I will give them a brief framework but mostly they are a happy go lucky tribe who have it way to good.

I have including a whole bunch of my favourite pictures from Francesco, Kim & Zoë’s portfolios.

In twenty years from now.

2010-02-11T10:16:00.007Z

Your wedding photography will increase its value as the years pass. Many women and brides are not happy about the way they look. When brides cry out that they are hideous, I tell them that I promise that in twenty years from now they will not feel the same way. Just think of yourself twenty years ago, no doubt you think you were beautiful then. It’s youth, it’s only once it’s gone that we realise how beautiful it was and how we just did not appreciate it. So for the person you will be in twenty years time, take the time to take some portraits on your wedding day, to remember how beautiful you were.

Changing who we are and retouching

2010-02-10T10:14:00.004Z

If you ask us to completely change the way you look in your wedding pictures, you better be prepared for a long debate. It is my opinion that it will be very sad to completely change the way you look. One day, when you look back at those pictures of “you”, you will wonder what you really looked like and you will have no record of who you were. I am not talking about teeth whitening, skin clearing or wing clipping, I am talking about short, dark, overweight girls who want to be tall, fair and skinny. While this can sometimes be difficult (especially when they are marrying a tall, fair, skinny guy) it’s not impossible with Photoshop. But how sad if the only real element of you in the portrait will be your insecurities.

Wedding Music - Marco Canterella

2010-02-09T10:12:00.005Z

How to describe Marco? Marco’s group of musicians play most of the music you will hear on the Amalfi coast. But like all artistic geniuses he is eccentric. How eccentric? He does not own a cell phone. How does he do all the organising? Email and a lot of running up and down the stairs. Although this may not seem like a very good introduction but I cannot recommend his services highly enough. The added bonus is that you will have your very own “Puck” for your “Midsummer’s Nights Dream”. Soul, Jazz, disco, swing, rock ‘n roll, classical to folk and everything in between. Marco and his musicians are based in Ravello but will travel just about anywhere.

info@weddingmusic.it

A very subjective and overly simplified summary of the evolution of wedding photography - part six

2010-02-08T09:12:00.003Z

Crudely put, if a photographer is suspiciously cheap and busy, it’s because there is a crisis on. Good photographers are never cheap, unless they are just starting out. Like five star hotels anywhere in the world charge more or less the same fees, it can be said that you can judge a photographer by their fees. If they are charging a lot and you can’t get a booking, you can bet your last euro that they will be worth the money. It stands to logic, especially when there is a financial crisis on the go.

A very subjective and overly simplified summary of the evolution of wedding photography - part five

2010-02-07T09:10:00.005Z

The financial crisis and the growing supply of new wedding photographers have had a huge effect on the wedding photography market. They have divided the wedding photographers into two distinct groups; wedding photographers who can charge what ever they like because they had so many requests and limit the amount of weddings they accept. Then there are those wedding photographers who have to offer special deals to “catch” clients.
The later try to do as many weddings as they can by charging ridiculously low fees. This is to their detriment and to the detriment of their clients. They don’t have time or capital to improve their skills, equipment, knowledge or services. Their systems are factory-like and the images all look much the same. They take little time to understand the wishes of their clients and are not terribly concerned with the quality of the end product.

A very subjective and overly simplified summary of the evolution of wedding photography - part four

2010-02-06T09:07:00.004Z

All of a sudden everybody who worked in the wedding industry realised wedding photography was the place to be. Everybody who ever had the vaguest interest in wedding photography bought a camera and started shooting weddings. I even know a waiter who decided it was time to open a photography studio on the Amalfi coast. These new photographers charge ridiculously low prices to make up for their lack of experience. Have you ever been caught by those signs outside restaurants in Venice, “Tourist Menu?” If you have, you will know they offer you a five course meal for five euro. And how do you think that meal will taste?

Then came the economic crisis and well the party was closed down. The bandwagon broke from being over loaded with photographers.

A very subjective and overly simplified summary of the evolution of wedding photography - part three

2010-02-05T09:03:00.004Z

So where were we? Right wedding photography had become trendy. But something was missing. Sometimes weddings were, well, a little boring and there were not that many earth shattering moments.

Then Jerry Ghionis arrives on the scene, claiming to be tired of waiting for the action to happen and preferring to go out and make magic happen. He declares his main mission was to make his clients beautiful, a highly unpopular opinion according to the moment worshippers.

His work also includes reportage images but his focus is once again on the portrait side of wedding photography. And although he has this in common with the cheesy wedding photographers from the eighties, the similarities stop there. His work is fresh and exciting. Finally a breath of fresh air for wedding photography which had been so concentrated on being natural and obeying rules that it had gotten way too serious and rigid.

A very subjective and overly simplified summary of the evolution of wedding photography - part two

2010-02-04T09:01:00.003Z

After Joe Buissink revolutionised the whole wedding world, we all jumped on a very comfortable bandwagon. All of a sudden wedding photography was not so frowned upon, mostly because it was so lucrative. Everybody did and everybody wanted only reportage.

Crazy women all over the world were paying ridiculous amounts of money to have the photographer of their choice shoot their wedding, even if it meant flying them in. The destination-wedding photographer was born. Brides began saying things like, “from the minute I saw their pictures I knew they were the one, and I could have no one else”. Brides began to select their wedding photographers as carefully as they selected their husbands. Wedding photography became a priority for the wedding budget. And many destination-wedding photographers still lead the life of rock stars; flying all over the world to party and make huge amounts of cash at the same time.

A very subjective and overly simplified summary of the evolution of wedding photography - part one

2010-02-03T08:59:00.003Z

Not too long ago wedding photography was absolutely the most uncool and lowly photography career you could ever choose. Many photography students have sworn on their dog’s grave never to stoop to such levels. I am one such student who now has to eat her words.

Thanks to the great Joe Buissink, all that has now changed. Twelve years ago Joe Buissink showed the wedding world a new freer approach to wedding photography. The man took exception to being paid less than what was paid for the cake since the photography was the only investment, which lasts past the wedding day. He introduced the world to reportage and gave little thought to traditional rules of wedding photography. He was willing to pay the price of grain for the beauty of the moment and natural light. He focused on the moment but not being a purist he also shot portraits. For the first time wedding portraits were influenced by both fine art and fashion photography.

He is rumoured to charge ten thousand dollars just to pitch and then all orders are extras. Joe Buissink forever changed the lives of wedding photographers the world.

What every Bride really wants on her wedding day - part three

2010-02-02T08:42:00.000Z

There are times when retouching can really save the day. One poor bride I shot last year broke out in acne (for the first time in her life) five days before her wedding. Solution? Make sure your photographer can touch up.
We completely removed that poor dears acne and she nearly cried when she saw the album. She no longer has acne and for privacy reasons we do not show before and after pictures of our clients. But take a look at these examples using models.

What every Bride really wants on her wedding day - part two

2010-02-01T09:21:00.008Z

We have established that all girls want to be perfectly beautiful on their wedding day and that perfection does not exist in reality. Which spells disaster. So.. what can go wrong? The list is endless and you should expect the unexpected.

Due to stress, girls loose and pick up weight. Okay, few of us want to gain weight but why would it be upsetting if we loose weight? Well because if you are wearing a strapless dress, the dress will fall down. But it could be a number of things, which can turn a blushing bride into a raging bull. Solution? Make sure your photographer can touch up, be realistic and develop a sense of humour.

What every Bride really wants on her wedding day - part one

2010-01-31T09:19:00.004Z

Each and every time a bride has ever had a nuclear melt down it has been because she did not like something about her appearance. She may have tried to cover up seeking a scapegoat like the colour of the flowers but nearly always it’s because of insecurity.

Brides fantasise about how they will look down to the finest details. In fantasies things can be perfect and in reality they cannot. Naturally this nearly leads to great disappointment. Every bride, even if she will not admit it, wants to be perfectly beautiful.

My Favourite restaurants on the Amalfi Coast - part two

2010-01-30T09:17:00.001Z

I repeat: Please note that if your restaurant is not on my list this may be only because I have not had a chance to eat there yet. And would probably love a chance to see if you make the list.

Ristorante Al Palazzo
via dei Mulini, 23 84017 POSITANO (+39) 089 875 177

La Tagliata
via Tagliata, 22, 84017 Positano (+39) 089 875 872

Acquapazza
Corso Garibaldi, 36, 84010 Cetara (+39) 0892.61606

Le Palme Ristorante Pizzeria
Via Supportico Marinella, Atrani (+39) 089871495

Al Pesce D'Oro
Via Giovanni Agustariccio, Amalfi (+39) 089-831231

Ristorante San Pietro
Piazzetta San Francesco 2, 84010 Cetara (+39) 089261091

Le Terrazze
Via grotte dell’incanto, 51 84017 POSITANO (+39) 089 875 874

My Favourite restaurants on the Amalfi Coast - part one

2010-01-29T09:15:00.002Z

Please note that if your restaurant is not on my list this may be only because I have not had a chance to eat there yet. Either that or you gave me food poisoning. Or you may be in part two.

Restaurant Villa Cimbrone
Via Santa Chiara 26, 84010 Ravello (+39) 089 85 80 72

Rossellinis – Palazzo Sasso
Via San Giovanni del Toro, 27, Ravello (+ 39) 089 818181

Restaurant Hotel Palumbo
Via San Giovanni del Toro, 16  84010 Ravello  Phone: +39(089)857244

Ristorante Marina Grande
Viale della Regione, 4, 84011 Amalfi (+39) 089871129

Salvatore
Via della Repubbliche 2, Ravello, (+39) 089-857227

“Mamma Agata” - cooking school - Ravello

2010-01-28T09:12:00.005Z

Mamma Agata was voted the number one thing to do on the Amalfi coast by “Tripadvisor”. “Tripadvisor” is a site which rates travel services purely on public ratings.

“Mamma Agata” is like a character out of an Italian art movie. Chiara & “Mamma Agata” run a fun cooking school for anyone who wants to better their Italian cuisine techniques. They have also published their first cookbook, which means you can take home these culinary spells. They are delightful and full of juicy titbits to enrich your visit to Ravello. One has the impression that they adore sharing their kitchen with new visitors.

Italians are a tribe of pleasure seekers and their number one drug of choice is food. Mamma Agata’s cooking school is about more than just cooking; it’s about pleasure too. Oh and they also do intimate weddings for clients who share their choice of pleasure.

Piazza S. Cosma, 9, 84010 Ravello, Italy tel +39 089 857019

Wedding Photography in Italy - part two

2010-01-27T09:09:00.008Z

Australian and American wedding photographers are exploring all sorts of new ways to go about wedding photography. Some of the best reportage wedding photographers in the world come from Italy. Italian photographers are masters of technique but they are a little resistant to change and new ideas. We are yet to see new and original ideas that push the boundaries a bit. Hang in there they are coming soon to an Italian Wedding Photographer near you.

If I have offended any Italian wedding photographer, I apologise and humbly request you have a look at the winning pictures on the “International Society for Professional Wedding Photographers”. Then I hope you will feel stimulated instead of irritated. And you will note there are a few Italians among them, though always doing reportage.

Wedding Photography in Italy - part one

2010-01-26T08:57:00.007Z

Firstly I want to make it quite clear that Italian wedding photographers are the best in the world. The below, in no way disputes this fact, I know what a touchy bunch artists are. All clear? Good. (Please don’t slash my car tyres.)

I hate to say it, but during the eighties and nineties wedding photography in Italy was really scary or at best, embarrassing. You can see the after effects of the torture inflicted in the eyes of young Italian couples. “PLEASE, no posing,” they beg. So naturally everybody flung themselves onto the other side of the scales. Reportage is the only style most Italian photographers and clients want to see. There are very few who are mixing reportage with fashion and portraiture photography.

What makes JoAnne Dunn Photographers Different?

2010-01-25T09:07:00.003Z

They treat each wedding they way they would treat a commercial assignment. We seek direction from the client and do not limit ourselves to only one style of photography. The couple are sent a form about a week before their wedding. This will be their brief to us describing their vision and fancies. Each wedding is approached individually to make sure the results are as individual as our clients. After the wedding we send you around nine hundred great pictures to choose from. You send us your choices and we create your album. We then put the album on line for you to approve. The clients are involved in the creative process and their album creation from beginning to the end. JoAnne Dunn Photographer's are different because they understand their clients are all different and want different things. We are different because we put your vision before our own.

Let's talk a little about bridal make-up

2010-01-24T09:05:00.004Z

Unless you are a child bride, stay way from crystally shimmery powders if you want to look young and dewy. They are the number one wrinkle enhancer. Today women are getting married later in life and need to look fresh and smooth. Choose matt soft pinks for cheeks and eyes. Instead of false eyelashes get eyelash extensions. They look much better and no yucky glue. You know the rules; eyes are accentuated or the lips, never both. Personally I prefer a thin black or brown line on the upper eyelid and a naked pink on the lips. But if you have a red bouquet naturally you need red lips and very little else. Choose a long lasting stain to achieve the red or all the kissing will leave you looking like someone punched you in the mouth.

The Relationship between the photographer and her subject

2010-01-23T09:02:00.004Z

The relationship the photographer has with their subject will hugely influence the results of the shoot. Basically if your photographer can't bear you, then their pictures will reflect that. This can be used to your advantage, taking the time to bond with your photographer before or on the day will radically improve your pictures. Never choose someone who you feel you can't trust. Trust is vital if you are to be yourself in front of the lense. Because you will need to let your photographer into your world and because you will need to follow their suggestions, you will need to trust them. So it's a two way street, you have to also really like and trust your photographer to get great pictures.

Posing for Bridal Boudoir Photography – part 04

2010-01-22T09:14:00.004Z

Oil has always been used to accentuate the body. But unless you have rippling muscles and even then, I highly recommend you go easy on the oil. Sprinkling water over andoiled body can look good but again only if you are not too bumpy and dimply.

Here we go again with the tanning debate. Yes during the day on the beach we do look better with a bit of colour. And although I generally prefer models who are not too tanned, a little colour with boudoir photography is acceptable. But I generally prefer working with the skin colour girls are born with. The reason is that the camera tends to accentuate the uneven skin tones caused by sun tanning. The older you are the greater these differences are. There are some girls who can tan evenly but there is one in every hundred I shoot.

Posing for Bridal Boudoir Photography – part 03

2010-01-21T09:13:00.004Z

Another trick is to be lying down. We all look a lot better on our backs. Seriously, gravity pulls all the extra bits down and even the face become more attractive. The floor also offers a great prop for creating sexy lines like those produced by an arching back.

High heels are another great way to improve your boudoir images. High heels not only give your legs more length, they also give your great calf muscles and make you walk up straight.

Posing for Bridal Boudoir Photography – part 02

2010-01-20T09:11:00.004Z

Practise, practise, practise makes perfect. They day of the shoot is the wrong day to try out new poses. You need to keep a scarp book of poses you like, taking into consideration your complexes.

What exactly is good posture? Well we are not talking about the posture you do in finishing school. Bottom and breasts out, tummy in and head lift as though it’s been pulled by a cord at the base of the neck. Nearly everybody benefits from lifting their chin a little, it removes annoying double chins.

Posing for Bridal Boudoir Photography – part 01

2010-01-19T09:00:00.003Z

When I was a young struggling photographer, I earned a little cash on the side by doing portfolios for strippers in London. They taught me so much about posing. The most important thing I learnt was about posture. There is not a single thing which will improve your looks as quickly as standing correctly.

Stretching your body and accentuating the S shape of your body will pull your curves into position. It will also smooth out lumps and bumps.

Very few humans have breasts which look good dangling down when you are on all fours. Maybe if you are wearing a push up bra it could work but if you are naked they tend to look silly. Instead lie on your tummy, support yourself on your elbows , bend your knees and cross your ankles. This is a very flattering pose and modest too.