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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.