Saturday, February 5, 2011

Wedding Photography


Choosing a quality professional requires patience and research. Skill, creativity and a passion to frame memories and take pictures with class and style is the heart of wedding photography. Ideally, you will find a wedding photographer with much experience, credentials, a great portfolio and affordable pricing.

An extremely important detail for the couple to look into when planning their special day - from the ceremony all through the reception - is the wedding photography. Since the photographs are what capture the day’s events for posterity reasons, it is crucial that the right photographer is chosen and the perfect
photos are taken. There are a few factors which the couple should consider when choosing their photographer and thinking about the stylistic elements of the wedding ceremony and reception.
What Is Included


When selecting a photographer to handle the details, it is pertinent to know what is included with the package. Items such as the person, staff, equipment rental and photographs may be included in a set wedding photography package. It is important to know what the photographer will include in the wedding package and the hours in which they will be providing their services. Some photographers also provide wedding videography so it is wise to enquire about this is a wedding video / DVD is something you want to have completed.

Financial Issues

The next factor to consider with regard to wedding photography is how much everything will cost the future bride and groom. Since many engaged couples are on a strict wedding budget, they need to be able to allot a certain amount of money for each wedding item. By asking about price up front, the couple can ensure that the particular photographer whom they contacted is within their price range and not waste anymore time with the individual should the price not be right.

Types of Photographs Offered

Every wedding photographer is different when it comes to the variety and style of photographs for weddings which they produce. If the couple is looking for a certain style, such as black and white prints, it is important to ensure up front that the photographer who they are speaking with handles photography of that type. Another important factor to conside ris what type of pictures they take, i.e., mostly the couple or a little bit of everyone attending the special event.

Personality and Flexibility of the Wedding Photographer

It is also important to take notice of the personality and overall flexibility of the wedding photographer that is being consulted to take photographs on the big day. Since this is a special day for the bride and groom and they are the ones who should be catered to throughout the whole time, it is important that the wedding photographers and their staff have a pleasant and agreeable demeanor. This will help to ensure that the day goes as smoothly as possible.

Perusing wedding photography choices is an extremely important part of the wedding planning process. The couple wants to ensure that the photographer perfectly captures the ambience of the day and takes the best photographs possible as these will be reminders to the couple for the rest of their lives as to the special aspects of their wedding day.
House With Contemporary Arts Decoration














Seductive Smokey Eyes Tutorial

MEHNDI NIGHT

The mehndi (henna) ceremony is a pre-bridal ceremony in which the Pakistani bride has mehndi (henna) designs drawn on her hands and feet. The mehndi night can be considered as a Pakistani version of the bridal shower.

While the Pakistani bride gets her mehndi designs done, her guests (usually female relatives and female friends) will entertain her with songs and dances. Traditionally, the mehndi (henna) night is only for the females. But in some Pakistani families, the mehndi night is also open to the male relatives and friends.
One of the more important decisions for the bride in planning for her mehndi is to select a professional
henna artist who will give her the bridal designs she wants.
Here are some advice on picking a suitable henna artist:

Bridal consultation. Set up an appointment to have a bridal consultation with them. This should be available for you at no charge. You will go over henna designs that you like, browse over their professional portfolio book, discuss the date, and times you would need them for, and receive a free henna design sampling. This sample will allow you to see how well they work, smell their henna paste (yes, some henna pastes do stink!) and to view the stain results of their henna paste on your skin. Remember that you will have guests at your wedding, and you can use this consultation to decide if you need 1 or more henna artists at your mehndi night.

Do they double book? Make sure that your mehndi artist is not booking you, and another client on the same day. This practice is not fair to you. Having them well rested, and not rushing to get to the next job will ensure that you will get the service that you deserve.

Freshly made henna paste. Never hire a henna artist who does not make their own henna paste. You are taking a HUGE risk in doing so. Pre-made cones out of the stores are not guaranteed to have good staining results, and they contain additives and preservatives in them. Natural freshly made henna paste will not last out on the shelf or in the fridge for too long. The dye demises within a few days. Most professional mehndi artists either make small batches of fresh henna paste for their clients, or make large batches of henna, and store it in the freezer (only up to 6 months). Make sure to take a good sniff of their henna paste (don’t worry you won’t have to take their henna cone/bottle to your nose. When they are applying your sample design at your consultation, you will be able to smell it). Everyone has their own unique recipe, and therefore each person’s henna smells different. Make sure you like the scent of it because that henna will be on your skin for many hours on your henna night.

Guests. The henna night is especially exciting for guests, and especially if this will be their first experience getting henna done. The best package you will get will have an hourly rate, where you can get as many guests done in an hour. This is usually between 10-13 people, as the average is about 5 minutes each (this is based on one design each). Whereas, giving designs to choose from is ideal to a professional henna artist, as we want each and every person to be happy with the design that they would like to have, it is not always practical. When people have too many choices to make, it takes a lot more time, and that will cost you more. So use your best judgement. You know your guests best, so try to be moderate. Have the artist bring a small selection of designs and allow your guests to choose from those. If you are very concerned with the time, then ask the artist not to bring any design books, and have them work that way. Keep in mind that not all henna artists are capable of working without design books. Make sure you inquire as to how many years experience the henna artist has. At least 3 or more years is ideal. A very good henna artist will be able to work without design books, and get one design done in about 4-5 mins.

Bridal contract. The mehndi artist should provide a bridal contract in which you have laid out the terms of your agreement, and the final pricing. This makes sure you are both on the same page, and that no changes can be made unless both parties agree. Sometimes travel fees might apply. Be prepared to leave a deposit if you decide to book with them. This will secure your date.


Bridal Mehndi Aftercare. What kind of care should you expect after your mehndi has been applied? Your mehndi artist should definitely provide lemon-sugar to dab/mist onto your henna after the paste has dried. This will further seal in your henna, and give it better chances of staining dark. Once that dries, wrapping your designs up would ensure that none of the paste falls off. Wrist, ankles, and any points of bending will possibly lift the henna paste up where it could fall off. We want to make sure your henna stays on for at least 4-6 hours (overnight for best results). Do not wrap your designs in plastic because this will cause too much sweating, and the designs will run into one big muddy mess. When it’s time to take off the paste, you should moisturize all those areas, and apply aftercare henna balm to protect your henna from wear and tear, and water. You will want to avoid water for the first 24 hours, as best as possible. Inquire to see what aftercare your henna artist offers.

Excerpted Source: http://hennablogspot.com

Mehndi Bridal Designs








Friday, February 4, 2011

Choosing Eyeliner



Many brands offer a variety of hues, textures and types of eyeliners; ideally suited for different situations, weather conditions, shape and color of the eyes. Eyes are quite delicate and need to be handled with care. Soft eyeliner pencils, liquid eyeliner, felt tip eyeliner that works like the liquid one and the cake eyeliners are the most common types available in the market. Pencils and felt tips must glide easily on the eyelid area and must not require pressure. Using eyeliner properly needs a lot of practice and a steady hand to avoid smudging it. Pencil and felt tip eyeliners are easier to control as you can use them like pens to sketch the desired look and define your eyes while liquid eyeliners need more practice just like using pointed brushes in painting and may smudge easily but they make better, brighter and clearer lines.

Cake eyeliners were previously considered an asset for professional makeup artists but women have picked up the trend and are now using them increasingly. Eyeshadows can also be used effectively as eyeliners and in fact offer many more colors and shades to experiment with. Eye pencil is perhaps the easiest to apply and to make the application easier, it wise to open one's mouth slightly so that muscles of eyes get telexed and one does not have to pull the lid for lining it. It is also advisable to line the lid as close to the lashes as possible to avoid a white line in between. The earliest archaeological evidence of using an eyeliner as a cosmetic, can be traced back to Egyptian and southern Iraqi women. They used to paint kohl, a thick black ointment, around their eyes to make them look larger. It was also believed to have powers to ward off evil eye.

Sometimes, eyeliner looks too sharp or harsh for our taste, especially when we are try to achieve smoky eye effect. In such a case, you can soften it by dusting a powder shadow of similar shade on your eyeliner using the eye shadow brush. Eyeliner plays a great role in creating optical illusions to give a new shape and size to your eyes. Gray, black and brown liners can be used to line outer third of upper lids of the close set eyes and then smudged gently. Liner of a lighter shade should be used at the inner side of the eye to add the look of the width between eyes. Small eyes can be opened up by lining them with a dark shade that thickens at the outer edge of the eye. Under lower lash, line with a very light shade such as gold, silver and white. Deep-set eyes can be controlled by lining the upper lash line with pale shade that shimmers while the outer edge of the lower lash should be lined with soft and neutral colors such as gray or taupe.
 
 


To add brightness to the drooping and tired eyes, line the outer third of eye almost touching the lashes and sweeping the liner slightly up at the corner of the eye. There is a procedure that can define your eyes permanently called micro pigmentation, also known as permanent eyeliner. Here, an organic pigment is embedded beneath the skin using a hand-held device that punctures the skin hundreds of times per minute with a very thin needle and pushes the pigment into the desired location. This procedure is also used to shape your eyebrows, color lips and add blush to your cheeks permanently. It can also be used to wear a permanent eye shadow. However, as this procedure is more painful and costly, most women prefer to do makeup instead of going for permanent procedures.
Face Packs For Fairness


Fair and olive skin are two skin colours which can wear off any colour beautifully. With the rising pollution and faulty lifestyle, the common complain is that of tanning, dark patches and pigmentation. These skin problems make your skin colour dark and also many skin infections erupt. If it is left unattended, the skin colour is destroyed forever and the dark patch becomes worse with time.

Here are some face packs for fairness -


1.The first best face pack for fairness is the almond face pack. Soak 8-10 almond overnight. Grind it and mix it with milk. Apply this everyday to your skin and scrub it off after 15 minutes.

2.Another face pack for with assured fairness is to blend cucumber juice, rose water and lemon juice together and apply it twice a day everyday. Apply three layers at a time and wash it off on drying.

3.Mix sandal wood powder, grind turmeric, rosewater and neem power in equal quantity. Take a spoon full of this and mix it with a spoon of honey and rose water. Apply this everyday and keep it on till the time it dries off. Wash it off with cold water.

4.The best face pack for fairness is to mix milk cream with turmeric and flour. Apply this on the face and keep for twenty minutes. Scrub it off later with dry flour and water.

5.Curb, honey and rose water also make a great face pack for fairness. This should be used at alternative days to prevent dryness.

These five face packs for fairness nourish the skin with all the lost nutrient. These face packs bring on fairness by cleaning the skin of dead skin, of pigmentation, dirt etc. These face packs remove the excess concentration of melanin, thus, making the skin look fair.
Valentine's Day Fashion Tips


Fashion, the term seems to make it's own position in every special day and when it's the most romantic day of the year – Valentine's Day, it is of utmost importance. Now, there will be people who say, love is not based on external looks but the truth is that if one comes specially dressed for you and wears your favourite colour, it adds on to the mood of the day. Thus, fashion is the need of the hour, as cupid is just round the corner.
Fashion Tips For Valentine's Day This day is a the day you spend together and are in complete ease, away from the hustle and the tensions of life. Thus, flashy fashion is not for Valentines Day's. Be yourself, wear some thing cute. A T and a skirt, a frock, a pair of jeans with a cute top etc. Look feminine with your cute dress and relive the admiration of the first day once again.

2.Accessories – Simple and sleek jewelery will suit your cute dress the best. A bracelet which rests elegantly on your wrist and a chain which lays beautifully around your neck, adds on to your delicate beauty. Jewelery brands have loads to offer this season. Accessories both for hair and matching your dress is now available.

3.Footwear – Footwear fashion tip for Valentine's Day is to follow the high heels trend. Heels make you look elegant and also matches your cute dress. Footwear's are also going retro this season. Polka dots, strips, bright colours include in the fashion tip for Valentine's Day.

4.Hit The Beach – The best place to be on this day is on a romantic beach. Wear hot pants, with a tuck in shirt, shades and red jewelery. Look stylish, sexy and cool on the beach with your guy holding your hand beside you.

5.Light Make-up – The last but not the least fashion tip is to be yourself. Flaunt your natural beauty and preserve it from all the heat and sun, with a light makeup. Keep your make up to the minimum. As for lip colour, stick on to a light colour lip gloss. The lip colours in trend are peach, pink etc. Nude Make-up is the fashion tip this Valentine's Day.

Follow these fashion tips this Valentine's Day and dress your best on this day for your loved one. Get ready for the most romantic day.


1.A Cute Dress –

What to Wear Valentine's Day: Plus Size Fashion

Great Clothes, Colors and Accessories for Plus Size Women



Plus size women should try a bustier underneath and something dramatically different on top when deciding what to wear on Valentine's Day.
Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to 'wear' different persona,” advises Sherri Appleby of Plussizefashion.ca. “If your style is big and bold, try a more demure style. If you typically wear your hair up, let it down.”

Selecting Plus Size Clothes for Valentines Day: How to Decide What to Wear

Besides size, a woman must also consider what her Valentine’s Day will involve. Will it be a long day at work followed by a Valentine’s Day party? Will it be an intimate dinner or will it involve time in the great outdoors? “A long walk on the beach may not be conducive to high heels,” points out Appleby. “Dress accordingly.”
Plus size clothes or not, the finished outfit must make a woman feel comfortable and confident. “You need to answer some questions honestly,” advises Appleby. “Does this outfit emphasize my best features? Am I comfortable? Do I feel sexy? Is it the correct size? If you answer yes to all of these questions you have the perfect outfit.”

Valentine’s Day Fashion Must-Haves: Bustiers and Other Flattering Plus Size Clothes

Appleby says there is no one style that is flattering to all plus size women. “Plus size or not, we all have body parts that we like to emphasize and others that we would prefer to hide,” she says. “That being said, some styles work better than others.” Appleby recommends four pieces of clothing plus size women should consider when deciding what to wear:
  • Bustier: “I have never known a bustier that didn’t flatter a plus size woman,” says Appleby. “It cinches at the waist and emphasizes our assets.”
  • Baby Doll Shirt: “Baby doll shirts are great for emphasizing your bust while minimizing your waist.”
  • Tailored Jacket: “A nice tailored jacket will create a beautifully shaped silhouette,” advises Appleby.
  • Wide Legged Pants: “Wide legged pants do wonders to hide thighs, calves and booty, while creating a longer, slimmer look.”

Valentine’s Day Colors and Accessories for the Plus-Size Woman

When picking out what colors to wear, Appleby recommends corals and pinks in the appropriate shade to give skin a beautiful healthy glow. “A deep rich purple is fantastic and you can never go wrong with black,” she adds.
Appleby, who also designs the Beingme line of jewelery, has one word when it comes to accessories: “Diamond, diamonds, diamonds! Now, if you are expecting to receive diamonds that night something simple and sparkly works just as well. Keep your accessories understated, so your beauty and confidence is what shines.”

What to Wear: Valentine’s Day Outfits for the Plus Size Woman

Plussizefashion.ca has a list of online retailers specializing in plus size clothes. Appleby recommends choosing an outfit that will take a woman from dinner to dimmed lights. “So, something like a sexy bustier under a jacket with a skirt, maybe a patterned stocking and high leather boots. No matter what she is wearing, as long as a woman feels sexy and confident she will be ready for a big Valentine’s night out.”