Monday, 23 July 2018

Accessories for the bride’s hair

For the day of the wedding, the brides take pains to get the perfect dress, the most glamorous shoes, the most precious jewels … but what about the hair? For years the most common option was to pick it up in a classic bow with a fork that adorns and holds the veil. But things have changed, and a lot, now there are a thousand and one options of hairstyles for brides, from more classic to more risky depending on the style of the wedding and the tastes of the protagonist. Here are some options to decorate the hair on the big day:
flowers
Did you know that this tradition was initiated by the Arabs? Spain has had its influence for centuries and that is why, in ancient times, when women married, their hair was adorned with leaves and orange blossom, this symbolized purity, chastity and happiness. About five years ago, the fever began with the wreaths at weddings, bigger, smaller, showy, romantic, hippy, boho-chic … etc. Endless possibilities. And although this trend seems to be maintained for decades, this season is more the discreet natural adornments, distributed by the hair, like little flowers caught in braids. You can choose silk flowers, preserved, natural, tulle … always in line with the dress and the bouquet. The results are precious.
Pins or appliqués
These precious accessories of rhinestones bring the touch of grace to the hair without recharging. They are a perfect choice for vintage weddings and the most appropriate solution to hold the veil, although you do not need to wear it to look a nice pin. Decorated with flowers, with precious stones, swarovski, or the trend that has returned this 2018: the pearls to decorate manes and collected.
Tiaras and headbands
As we said above, the wreaths are not worn as much, but the fine tiaras and tiaras to beautify hairstyles and collected. They remain beautiful in very short haircuts like the pixie or the bob, leaving it loose. In natural motifs with flowers and leaves, made in copper tones or complement-jewel type, they are very versatile and easily combinable. Choose the one that best suits your style and the theme of the wedding.
Ties
A must of this season are the ties, they have jumped from the catwalks to streetstyle and from there to the nuptial world. They are used to decorate pigtails, braids or hold semi-collected, favoring the feminine and coquettish side of the bride who wears it. A simple a priori complement but with which an effect is achieved that does not happen at all unnoticed. There are various materials and different colors but white silk is very romantic and fine.
The very elaborate and striking headdresses, the hats and hats have been thrown aside both in brides and in guests. The freshness, simplicity and delicacy will send these next seasons.

Origin of some wedding traditions

In previous posts we talked about how to organize the honeymoon , to choose the wedding cake, the types of bridal bouquets … we even did an infographic with peculiar customs of different countries and cultures . But today we want to ask ourselves where these traditions that we have most deeply rooted in our culture come from and which we consider normal in the celebration of weddings in Spain.
The new, the old, the blue and the borrowed . Let’s start with something very common, surely of this you already know the meaning. It is said that on the day of the wedding, the bride must wear something new, for the new stage that begins; something old, for what it leaves behind, the past life; something blue, because it is associated with fidelity and commitment; and something borrowed, which must be from some other nearby woman who is happily married and with some symbolism to give her luck.
Blue handbag with embroidered detail
Throw the bouquet. Some people place their origin in the Arab culture where the white flowers of the bouquet were given as a symbol of fertility and other versions believe that it may come from a French tradition of the fifteenth century in which it was believed that it was lucky to take a piece of the dress of the girlfriend. The current symbolism is clear, it is about “passing on the witness” and choosing who will be the next to marry. There is someone who throws it or who prefers to hand it directly to a specific person.
Organize a wedding Throw the bouquet
Throw rice. In this case it is agreed that the tradition would have its origin in the East where rice is the mainstay of their diet and also a symbol of prosperity and fertility. So when we throw rice to the bride and groom on their way out as husband and wife, we are wishing them good luck and a prosperous life. More recent is the custom of throwing flower petals but it also has a similar meaning since they are related to happiness.
Throw rice
White dress. The meaning of this tradition is known by almost all, formerly associated with the bride came virgin to marriage and the white represented its purity. That in Western or Christian countries because in Islam black is the color that purity represents and in oriental countries like Japan or India it is traditional for the bride to wear red.
Bridal fashion
Types of wedding dresses
The veil. Dressing this accessory could respond to a superstition if we go back to ancient Rome. then it was believed that it frightened the evil spirits away from the bride because they would be jealous of their happiness.
Original weddings
The wedding cake Another tradition that could come from the Romans, it seems that in classical Rome was custom to break a bread on the head of the bride to wish happiness, then the guests ate the pieces. Later, in some parts of Europe such as France and England, the guests brought sweets for the bride and groom as an offering, they blessed them and then shared them among all present.
Cut the cake
Exchange of alliances. A beautiful custom that also comes from many years ago, it is believed that the Egyptians already “sealed” the union in marriage with rings as a symbol of love, dedication and fidelity. The fact of placing them in the ring is believed to come from the Greeks since according to them that finger communicated directly with the heart.
Exchange of rings
Honeymoon. It could have two explanations, the first and simplest is that it is the first night of weddings and should be associated with a sweet moment, like honey. But the origin could be due to the Teutons (Celts who lived in Germany in the Middle Ages) who celebrated weddings at night with great parties under the light of the moon and, to recover from the dreaded hangover, they took water with honey as a remedy.
Honey moon trip
On the left. Maybe you have overlooked it but the bride should always sit to the left of the groom, either at a church or civil wedding. A possible explanation comes from the medieval era, when the couple kidnapped the ladies. They needed to have their right hand free and ready to wield the sword and get up to fight if the family of the bride came to rescue her.

Wednesday, 27 June 2018

8 things to be selfish with on the day of your marriage

8 things to be selfish with on the day of your marriage


It sounds strong, but yes, in some cases it is allowed to be. And is that, although they want, can not be the most generous boyfriends in the world, as this will complicate the organization. Many times being practical and a bit selfish can be the solution.

When they plan the day of their marriage they do so thinking about pleasing most people, and they make a great effort so that everyone can enjoy and feel comfortable. They look for the most cozy decoration possible marriage, the most beautiful and tasty wedding cake and the bride cares to look beautiful with a wonderful wedding dress that she has chosen delicately. But to consent to everyone is impossible and can be exhausting. In addition, there are some things in which it is permissible to be selfish on the day of your marriage, and this attitude can greatly ease the burden on the organization of marriage.

Civil marriage, non-religious

This is a subject that only you should resolve. Although many people in your family oppose you to decide for a civil marriage instead of religious, here you must be selfish and always opt for what they have agreed behind closed doors . Also, wearing a nice wedding dress for the civilian will be just as exciting for the bride as if they were married in the Church. The symbolism you bring , not the place.

Children in marriage

Perhaps for many of your guests it is easier and more convenient to invite them with their children to the marriage, but this can mean an extra expense that they do not have considered, because if there are many, they should hire a person to take care of them and rent games to that are entertained. All this can complicate a little more than the account, so it is a good reason to be selfish and choose to make a marriage without children.

Marriage away

Maybe they dream of a marriage outside the city, in case they live in it. You will hear many suggestions about getting married nearby to facilitate the transfer and not make an extra expense. But in this case they have every right to be selfish, since this is their big day and they deserve to do it in a locality that meets their expectations.

If what they have always wanted is a country wedding decoration , then the place indicated is the field although it does not please all its neighbors; the same happens if they get married on the beach. Turn a deaf ear to such a suggestion and opt for that place in which you have always dreamed of setting up your marriage.

Theme

Whether inspired by the sea, romantic or Chilean, the theme of the event should be exclusively the taste of the couple , because they are celebrated. You can fill the decoration as you like, play with some wedding decorations , and the colors that represent them and decide how you will decorate the bride and groom's cup and not your family and friends.

Guests with or without a partner

Another good reason to be selfish, since inviting everyone with a partner can be twice as expensive, so if you want to lower costs a good alternative is to invite single friends without a partner, and thus build a good single table and, by the way, blind dates.

Wedding dress and groom's suit

It is you who should feel comfortable with what you will use that day, no one else. If a wedding dress without back is not what your neighbors expect, do not give up, since it is your chance to look like you always dreamed . And if the groom wants to wear an elegant black tuxedo with a humita and be the most distinguished of the party, then everyone should accept it and not comment on it.

Being selfish does not mean that you do not care about your guests, but that you are being generous with yourselves in some specific topics such as the design of the marriage rings that will be exchanged or the meaning of the love phrases that will be spoken at the time of the vows, in other aspects. It is time to start worrying about you and that is what you should keep in mind for the day of your marriage.

Monday, 11 June 2018

4 things you should keep in mind for your wedding makeup

A marriage is a very important event for most women , so they want that day to be perfect and look more beautiful than they are, but how to achieve that? Well, everything is in the makeup .

Knowing that, lines below we tell you some things that you should keep in mind so that you look fabulous that day:

1.- Prepare your skin
To make your complexion look beautiful in that event, it is ideal that two weeks before you perform a facial that helps exfoliate your face.

2.- Analyze the station
It is important to take into account the weather, because this way the person in charge of makeup will know how to choose the ideal base, concealer and powder.

3.- Do not try new products
In your wedding it is important that you feel comfortable and the best way to get it is using lipsticks and other things that you feel comfortable with.

4.- Mascara
For that event you will need a waterproof one anyway and to make sure you do not cause problems it is recommended that you do a makeup test weeks before.

Sunday, 10 June 2018

How much do I have to spend on a wedding gift?

The new weddings have made us rethink the formula of ‘cover the price of the roof’ that became fashionable in the 90s
Among the different things that can make us ‘look bad’ in a wedding , one of the most often concern the guests is to fall short with the amount of the gift of the couple, whether it is a gift chosen from a wedding list or a bank transfer. A formula that is often used, for the bulk of guests who do not have a very close relationship with the couple, is to cover the value of the cover to help reduce the total expenses of the wedding and more specifically the treat that usually takes the biggest pinch of the budget.
Now, how do we calculate the value of the cover? Spain is one of the most generous countries when it comes to giving a couple who marries (according to a study by American Express, in the United States the average is usually around € 80, the same number as other European countries such as Holland according to a 2012 ssweddingphotography report ), although, unless you possess extraordinary detective skills, this calculation is usually more of an approximation than an exact figure; the price of the menu varies ostensibly from one ceremony to another even within the same space of celebration, and the way to calculate it without asking indiscreet questions usually begins by knowing where the courses of the celebration will go with the invitation, which usually marks the style, label and even dress code of the wedding.
In spite of everything, the total cost of the banquet is variable: it influences the number of guests but also if the price of alcohol and free bar are included, as well as the cocktail and the recipe, the valet, the decoration and the quality of the food. In Spain, the economic comeback of weddings has grown exponentially in the last three years: according to the Millennial Brides report prepared by the IESE Business School for Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, in 2014 Spanish couples went back to spending the same as in 2010 at their weddings, surpassing the € 16,500 total expense, 31% more than the previous year, although still far from the more than 20,000 we spent at the beginning of the 00s. Of that average amount, approximately half would be the cost total of the banquet: the individual price of the cover is usually between 100 and 150 €.
This amount should be analyzed with certain reservations, since not all the guests spend the same, nor are they expected to do so. Pulling up, those who usually exceed that number are close relatives, especially parents (often the most generous with their gifts), and also uncles and brothers, or close friends of the couple. In these cases, the value of the gift can exceed € 200 or, depending on the region, the 300. On the low side would be, for example, relatives with children(four guests, at € 150 the covered, raise the total gift to the not inconsiderable amount of € 600 for the whole family), the younger guests and guests who come from a different city, adding the cost of the trip and the accommodation of the party dress and the gift of the bride and groom; In all these cases, the value of each guest’s gift may be a little lower, although it is advisable not to fall below the minimum price of the cover. That is, € 100.
And what about alternative weddings? This is one of the main problems of following the tradition of making a gift equivalent to the price of the cutlery: today there are many ways to get married, and this applies to all aspects of the wedding, including the way in which it is celebrated. . From intimate weddings with few guests, to express weddings, weddings that are practically held in the living room of our house(ours or someone else’s), or destination weddings that take us to the other end of the world: in many of these cases, the rule of ‘cover price’ is not applicable and what comes into play is the relationship with the couple and the personal situation. In general, the closer, more disbursed: think of the four basic types of wedding guests (1. coworkers, 2. friends, 3. close friends, and 4. family), and adjust your budget depending on what place on the scale you are

7 things that every woman should do before getting married


We are sure, that before joining your life with the person you love, you can enjoy your life alone to the fullest. Take advantage of every moment you can live to put a different flavor to your life is essential to feel full and happy. Look at these 7 things that every woman should do before getting married . Take them into account!

1. Traveling alone
Anywhere in the world! This will show you that you are able to survive without the help of any person, which will give you security and, therefore, your personality will be reinforced to undertake any personal challenge. It is essential that you achieve to enjoy yourself, to know yourself, to know what you like, what scares you and how you see yourself in your life. It’s a great survival test. Dare to do it! Know the reasons why getting married is a great idea after living together .
2. Be clear about your goals in life
It is important that you stop for a moment and begin to think about all those dreams you have in mind to fulfill. Surely many of them you can do as a couple, but there will be others that you would like to do alone. These objectives must be clear and know that once step is taken, you will not be able to turn back. So do not let something like that cause you frustration. Venture to fulfill your dreams!
3. Live alone (at least for a while)
Before getting married, you must know yourself and know how to react to certain types of situations, which you will not be able to face except living alone. With this experience you will gain an unparalleled experience, and that is that you will leave your comfort zone to face the reality: cooking, washing clothes, laying the bed, paying the bills, etc. Many of the women skip this step, but those who have lived it know that independence is the best thing that can exist in this world. We recommend you read the experiences you should have with your partner before having children .
4. Close possible sentimental circles
Before a woman marries, it is important that the love relationships of the past are completely closed . Do not be afraid to solve any problem that has been left unresolved to forget them completely. Because you should not carry with you memories of the past, since it can prevent you from enjoying your married life to the fullest. If you have nothing to clarify, do not waste your time and concentrate on your new life. You may be interested in reading about the promises that every woman should make if or if before marriage .
5. Cooking (the basics, at least)
You do not have to become a professional chef, but you do start experimenting in the kitchen and start creating delicious dishes. At this point, you can lean on technology, where there are thousands of recipes and tutorials to make exquisite recipes . In this way, you will find the point and you may even like it.
6. Understand that there are no fairy tales
It is important to be clear that movie relationships do not exist, and that you will encounter problems that you will have to overcome. You must create a happy ending every day and appreciate the moments you spend with your partner. Loving yourself is the first thing you must cultivate so that you can be happy and have a lasting relationship. You may be interested in the promises that every woman should make to her husband: you will be surprised .
7. Have control over finances
Control spending according to the income you receive. Stop spending on things that you may not need and that you can invest in something more productive. Be clear on what you spend your money and how much you save. Thus, you can know how you handle money and in your married life will be a plus without a doubt. You may be interested in reading about the times when you must remove the engagement ring .

Tuesday, 22 May 2018

10 Steps to Becoming a Full Time Photographer

How on Earth, when everyone is now a photographer, are you going to become a full time professional?

That was a question I posed to myself about 5 years ago. Fast-forward to today and I have just succeeded in making that leap. It has been a wonderful and difficult journey so I wanted to share 10 lessons that I learned along the way.

1. You gotta love it
I have never been very good at job interviews. I do not like explaining myself and I was never passionate about the job. The feedback was always something like ‘that was great Adam but Paul/Charlotte/Greg/Olivia wanted it more’. People always know when we do not love it. Faking it for a while might be possible; but eventually you will let your guard down and get found out. It has never been more important to be genuine, honest and transparent. When a photography journey starts as a hobby and a passion, the credibility will shine through and connect with people.

2. Video

Filming ‘Conquering the Camera Settings’. Ranked No.1 for ‘landscape photography’ on YouTube
Video is at number 2 for a reason. There might still be professional photographers out there who make a living only taking pictures, but there are not many new ones. I just can not see anyway in which a photographer in 10–15 years time is not doing video in addition to stills. Thankfully a photographer has a head start. They understand composition, light, exposure and the gear. Capturing great sound is equally, if not more, important than good footage. Sound is probably one of the biggest challenges for photographers moving into video. Once mastered it will quickly elevate your work. People probably won’t notice, but your films and movies will have a more professional feel.

3. Build a brand
How you brand yourself is a personal choice. Many photographers use their own name for their business. This is fine but be aware of your long term goals. To have the option of selling your business in future, avoid using your own name. My brand is First Man Photography. I use this because when people read my Polish surname, they always get it wrong. The little practicalities are worth thinking about from early on.

Most photographers, whether they are full time or not, are all looking to build a brand. When we dedicate time and energy and pour our souls into our work, we want someone else to see it at the end. We therefore need to draw attention to our work, have people remember it, and remember us once they see it.


Sandsend. Long exposure photography is a key focus of my work
Marketing and branding is a key element to the success of every full time photographer. Choosing to ignore tools like Instagram, facebook, websites, email lists, Youtube, Snapchat, Medium, Podcasts, etc could be a terminal mistake for a business. Even if the business survives on the all important word of mouth and reputation, it will be even bigger with a solid social media strategy.

Building and maintaining a brand never stops. Being a good person who is hardworking, honest, open and approachable, supportive and possesses a little bit of talent will mean there is nothing to fear.

4. Find your niche

A colourful and interesting niche
Life does not reward a jack of all trades. I have learned this the hard way. My interests are wide and varied and my photography is no different. When photography was just my hobby I explored absolutely all genres of the art. Even when I started my YouTube channel the videos I created mirrored this natural mindset. However people like to associate a specialism with a particular photographer so there are not many successful ‘all rounder’ photographers out there. Try and focus your brand down onto one or two genres. I am known for my landscape photography and macro water drop shots and I try to maintain focus on that. It is however possible to run more than one brand where you can expand your business or interests. The wedding side of my business, for example, does not feature on my YouTube channel and sits on a separate website.

5. Ignore conservative photographer
Conservative Photographer is a character to represent photographers who succeed by putting people down. I have written about him in detail before but he will do everything he can to stand in your way and make life difficult. He will appear supportive, whilst ripping your work apart under the banner of “critique”. He will comment negatively about your work or style without directly mentioning your name. He will run Google Adwords on your name so his website appears above yours when people search for you (this is a modern day equivalent of sticking your flyer over the top of the competition’s). He will call you naive to discourage you from trying. He is rude, unpleasant, dishonest and does not particularly care about his clients.


The lonely struggle against Conservative Photographer.
The good news is conservative photographer can be easily handled if you know a few other things about him. He is scared, he likes the status quo, he thinks his experience entitles him to continued success. He is afraid you will be better than him, he does not want to work as hard as you and he is also stuck in his ways.

Ignore him, do your own thing and send a little pity his way. Conservative Photographer, your time is done.

6. Figure out your USP
Figuring out what makes you special as a photographer is an important step. What separates you from everyone else and makes you stand out from the crowd? It is a completely personal thing and will be discovered by exploring self-awareness.

Thanks to the twice weekly schedule on my Youtube channel and hundreds of videos uploaded, I became very proficient at turning out 10 minute videos in double quick time. It has allowed me to offer an additional video package to my wedding clients on top of the photographs. The extra work is manageable for me and results in extra revenue from a single client whilst saving them the cost of paying for a full time videographer for the day. It is a unique selling point that has proved very successful so far.


Secondly I pride myself on being a pretty good guy. Having a stream of people in your wake that respect you and want to work with you again is pretty much the key to life. I share knowledge, I am kind, I work hard, I have a modicum of talent, I am interested in you, I am interested in the client and I build and maintain relationships. I want to succeed from a base of positivity and without sticking a knife in anyone else’s back. I am convinced this new social era is when nice guys start to finish first.

7. Ignore the criticism but listen to the market
People are happy to dish out feedback and criticism freely and cheaply. You see it all the time both good and bad. An image is posted on social media and a few people say ‘great shot’. It does not necessarily mean it is. Likewise people attend camera clubs and have their images pulled to pieces by people who take one photograph per month. Both things are completely irrelevant.


The Isle of Mull
Giving feedback properly is an art form. In photography it rarely benefits the photographer by pointing out what is not to like about the image. When dishing out feedback, firstly your intentions should be true. The feedback should not be about you in anyway. What you say should not make you feel better about yourself. Sadly this happens nearly all the time. Focus your feedback on the good points and suggest different things someone could try and be positive overall. If someone asks for your critique it is also a good tactic to ask what they think of their own image. They will often point out all the negatives in their own work for you. It is then just a case of gently agreeing with them and pointing out a few positives, leaving them feeling good.