Wedding Photography Techniques - Bride, Groom and Groups

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Always Keep the Bride and Groom to the Front

Remember, the Bride and Groom should be most prominently portrayed in every shot. When posing groups you should try to avoid placing anyone directly in front of or behind the Bride and Groom. The only exception to this is when using steps to compose very large groups.

Height Difference

Another potential problem with groups is height difference. Use the potential problem of height difference to your advantage. If there are steps available you can use them to elevate the smaller people, if not then you must arrange the group in a composition which pleases the eye.

You can however often use height difference to your advantage, use it by carefully positioning subjects so that their faces, when viewed together run in a smooth flowing composition. Do not be afraid to use the ground as a starting point for posing Bridal party group shots.

Bridesmaids are often asked to pose on the ground in front of the rest of the group. You can then build up the composition by placing any smaller children next to the Bridesmaids and eventually working upwards using smooth flowing lines toward adults in a standing position.

Some photographers will always position taller people near the center and taper off to smaller people at the ends. I prefer to work on a flexible basis and treat each situation independently sometimes using smaller people near the Bride and Groom and working towards the edges with taller people. This approach can give more emphasis and prominence to the Bride and Groom.

Positioning the smaller of the two nearest the camera can compensate for height difference between the Bride and Groom. This technique, in the Brides case, will not be required too often; society readily accepts that on average females are smaller than males. However you may encounter, as I once did, a couple where the Bride was taller and had specifically asked to be made to look smaller, even if it meant posing her husband on a step!

The Bride

Pay particular attention throughout the day to the Brides appearance. She is the most important person in your photographs. Before firing the shutter always check that she is looking her best.

Pay specific attention to the stance of the Bride. She should be posed by asking her to stand at a slight angle to the camera. The foot nearest to the camera should be extended forward three or four inches towards the camera with the knee slightly bent. Now ask her to transfer her weight to the foot farthest away from the camera.

Her head should be turned towards the camera and tilted slightly. Avoid straight limbs, for example arms and wrists should always suggest a gentle curving, almost flowing movement.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have written a comprehensive guide on wedding and group photography.

Visit my site for more information Wedding and Group Photography Guide

Bobby is a photographer and author. He has been commissioned to shoot thousands of events, including weddings.

Mother of the Bride Dresses - Top 5 Trends

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Gone are the stodgy old ideas about how a Mother of the Bride should dress.  Here are the top trends in Mother of the Bride Dresses that give us hope!

1) Bright Colors

It used to be that Mother of the Bride dresses only came in four colors: blah, boring, beige, and blech.  Pastels and navy blue are only part of the selection nowadays! Finally, the industry is starting to show a spectrum of different colors, from spring greens to royal purples.  Whether you love bold jewel tones or lean towards rich earth tones, there will be something out there for you.  Since more saturated colors are better for aging, pale skin tones, liven up your look by choosing a color with some pizzazz!

2) Bolero Jackets

You may be sick of those boring Mother of the Bride jacket dresses, but the good news is there's finally a fresh new take on them! Designers have addressed the need for a removable jacket to cover the arms that is also very fashionable.  The bolero jacket, with different sleeve lengths, is in. It's elegant and practical. Take it off when you're hot, and you will still have a great dress underneath. Wear it to cover up during the ceremony - no one will guess you're trying to cover those wobbly chicken wings under your arms!

3) Tiered Dresses and Skirts

Tiered skirts are showing up in stores this season and are especially appropriate for formal wear for the over-40 set.  They're modern and feminine and can be very flattering if they are not too frilly. Try one before you buy, and make sure it suits your body. With all that extra material, this Mother of the Bride style is not for everyone!

4) New  Lengths

Say goodbye to floor length when it come to Mother of the Bride Dresses. Plenty of different hemlines are popping up, mainly due to the huge variety of different wedding styles and venues these days.  We're seeing plenty of cocktail-length, knee-length, and handkerchief hems, as well as hi-lo dress lengths.  (High in the front, long in the back).  At the knee, or slightly above the knee is as high as you want to go. Remember: All these new hemlines give you one more reason to wear some fabulous, head-turning  shoes!

5) "Green" Fabrics  (no, we don't mean color!)

Environmentally responsible weddings are all the rage.  Couples are using recycled materials for invitations and donating to charity instead of offering plastic, landfill bound favors to their guests. The "green" theme even reaches all the way down to wedding attire.  You may have to explore specialty stores, but organic cotton and silk dresses are growing in popularity.  The best part about them is because the dresses are made with natural fibers, they are more comfortable and breathable.  When you're outside at an August wedding, you'll appreciate why this is so necessary!

(c) 2009, Boland-Tyler Productions.  All rights reserved.  Article may be reprinted so long as text and by-line are reprinted intact and all links made live.

Deborah Boland and JoJami Tyler (The Glam Gals) are Image and Style Experts specializing in helping women 40 plus look and feel fabulous. They are the authors of the book, The Glam Plan ~ 12 Simple Steps to Take You from Frumpy to Fabulous, as well as coaches for their Tweak Your Chic(TM), Image make-over program. To learn more tips about choosing your mother of the bride (or groom) dress visit http://www.fabulousafter40.com/ebooks/mother-of-the-bride/, sign up for their bi-weekly newsletter and visit Worth The Splurge to see 100 Style Links Women Will Love.

Bride Hairstyles - Secrets Revealed For Your Perfect Wedding Hair

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After you have chosen your wedding theme and the perfect wedding dress for your special occasion, you should start planning your special bride hairstyle that is complimentary to you and your wedding dress. It is wise to plan carefully for this, as the brides hairstyle is one of the most important of all the presentations on your wedding day.

You will want to decide if you will have your hair cut, or get a perm or perhaps colored to achieve the look you want for your wedding. You should be planning your bridal hairstyle months in advance, so you have time to try different ideas and make up your mind about the issues that stem from producing your prefect look.

Important Bride Hairstyles Tips!

In the six months prior to your wedding, you should have your hair trimmed regularly to protect your hair from split ends. Also, avoid unnecessary use of styling aids and heated hair appliances. Hot oil treatments and head massages are good for conditioning your hair. However, if your hair has been chemically treated, you should take special care to use the right kind of shampoo and conditioner to bring out the best condition of your hair.

In the three-month period before your wedding, you will need to locate a good hairstylist to do your bridal hairstyle. If you already have a regular hairstylist, it is best to stick with her or him since she or he already is familiar with you and your hair. If you do not have a regular hair stylist, it is best for you to ask around, find out what others have experienced with their own hairstylists. Once you have chosen the hairstylist that is best for you, you then should make an appointment with your stylist for a wedding hair plan.

Be sure to have a look at current pictures of hairstyles with your stylist to help you choose the bridal hairstyle that fits perfectly with you and your wedding dress.

Tips For Getting Bride Hairstyle Results:

1. Be sure to wash your hair the night before the wedding rather than the day of your wedding since freshly washed hair is much harder to work with.

2. Arrive at your hairstyling appointment on time no matter what else is going on, so that there is plenty of time for your hairstylist to do his or her job.

3. Try to be natural in the appearance of your bridal hairstyle rather than to be outrageous or difficult.

4. On the day of your wedding, with your beautiful creation of beauty in gown and hair, remember to smile.

With these tips your bride hairstyle will certainly be something to remember.

See what YOU look like with the latest celebrity hairstyles - view them on your own uploaded photo now!Try On 5,000 Hairstyles! FREE Demo
http://hairstylesthatwork.com

Tips For the Brother of the Bride

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If you are the brother of the bride, you may not think that you have much of a role to play in the upcoming wedding, but that is not true. There are plenty of ways in which you can participate and share in the excitement. Here are some tips on how to be a great brother of the bride.

A lot of guys are not really that "into" weddings, and unless it is your wedding, that is just fine. You may think that your sister and mom are going absolutely crazy over this whole wedding thing (especially if you are the younger, unmarried brother of the bride), and it may even be true. However, you will do yourself no favors by sharing that opinion with your sister, for whom the wedding is probably one of the biggest days of her entire life. A better tactic when your sister starts going on about the wedding is just to smile and nod while she talks; she may not even notice that your eyes have glazed over!

Most brothers of the bride will be asked to participate in the ceremony in some way. You will probably be asked to serve as a groomsman, and your duties will be much the same as those of the rest of the groomsmen. You get to help with the bachelor party, be fitted for a tuxedo, receive one of the groomsmen gifts, attend the rehearsal and dinner afterwards, and stand up with the groom during the marriage service. Single brothers will be pleased to hear that they are also responsible for escorting a pretty young bridesmaid up the aisle during the recessional.

As a member of the family, it would be nice for the bride's brother to go above and beyond what the other groomsmen may offer to do. It is a nice gesture towards the groom, and a way to help welcome him into your family. For instance, you might assist the groom in finding the perfect groomsmen gifts, as well as a wedding day gift for his sister (usually jewelry). You can also help with planning the bachelor party or guys' weekend away. And finally, the bride's brother can give the groom the inside scoop on the rest of the members of his family.

Speaking of the bachelor party, even though you are the bride's brother, you are there as a friend to the groom, so it is your duty to keep your lips sealed about what went on, unless something terribly inappropriate took place. You wouldn't be the first brother of the bride to be besieged by questions from a curious sister, but really all you should tell her is that everyone had a great time and that it was good clean fun. This will help to put her mind at ease, while also showing the groom that his future brother-in-law is a real buddy, not a spy for his sister.

At times the brother of the bride might end up taking on a more important role in the wedding. If their father has passed away, it would be very appropriate and touching for the bride's brother to be the one to walk her down the aisle and give her away. It is also very nice if you give a brief toast at the reception. Keep it brief and congratulatory; you surely know all sorts of embarrassing stories about your sister, but the wedding toast is not the time to bring them up!

With a little more involvement, the bride's brother might actually find that her wedding can be a good time. You also have the pleasure of gaining a new brother, and if you are single, meeting some attractive women (weddings often breed more weddings, you know). In the end, you might just come to discover that being the brother of the bride is not so bad after all.

Guy has been writing about society and weddings for a long time. If you have a topic you would like to know about. Let us know at SilverlandJewelry.com. Thank your attendants for being in your wedding with handsome groomsmen gifts.

Online Single Dating - The Secrets Of Overseas Brides

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Online Single Dating sites are the easiest way for men to communicate with prospective Russian brides. If you have already delved into the world of online dating, you have probably at least heard about Russian Brides. At first glance, it might seem very strange that so many men are prepared to spend thousands, to bring a foreign wife to their country and struggle with all the differences of language and culture. If you are looking for a Russian lady it is very important to collect as much information as possible about her and her culture. This is essential if you are to have a serious relationship with a Russian woman and you both have decided to stay with each other with the intention to marry? The better dating sites organize everything that you need passports ,visa, translators and much more. So you can rest assured that if you go down this process there is help at every stage of the way.

Believe it or not, the majority of women we referred to as "Russian Brides" are genuine, real, warm-blooded human beings. Looking for a better lifestyle that is available through the internet. With 10 million more women to men in former Soviet Union it's also a question of where can I find a partner. With most Russian women their expectations of their partners age is a lot higher than that of the west. It's not unusual to find a twenty year old woman looking for a male partner 40 -50 years of age. That is just the way of life in Russia and is not to be viewed as desperation on the part of the woman.

You may have seen the newspapers, various scams operated by Russian women. When American men lost their hearts and a lot of money when chasing their dream. Don not be put off and focus on the negative put it in perspective. The truth is that there are hundreds of successful marriages every year compared to the disappointments.

Realize what you may be worth to a woman who appreciates your kindness, intelligence, and warmth. The key to a successful online romance is to have patience and you will find the perfect match.

Most Online Single Dating sites have started offering a free registration on their Web sites so it is easy to get started. View the sites and take the leap. Happiness could be just around the corner!

The internet is an ideal medium to get to know people living in a remote world.

Want to read more free information about dating? Click here for more free Online Single Dating advice: http://www.kiss-kiss-dating.com

Elaine Olden is a respected author offering advice and reviews of Online Single Dating.

9 Secrets About Romanian Brides

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Almost all foreign bride sites tell you about the women which are in their database that are:

"gentle, respectful, and loving"

"strongly maternal and family-oriented"

"plays a subordinate role to men in both the public and private spheres"

"a mail order bride does not really ask for a lot"

I am sure that you have read these facts about women who are seeking a western man for marriage or friendship. But how can we classify thousands of women just in a few words?

The scarcity of suitable husbands in Romania has led many marriage-minded Romanian women to explore the possibility of pursuing a Western man.

1. Romanian mail order brides are not character-less toy dolls. She needs what every woman needs: a good husband.

While there is no denial that a substantial number of foreign brides hope to live a better life in a western culture, it is just as legitimate to argue that a fat bank account does not top the list of qualities that these women look for in a man.

What women want is a man who is honest, loyal, sincere, respectful, and able to provide for her children basic needs. The same happens with western women too.

2. A Romanian bride does not harbor the illusion of landing a millionaire for a husband, but instead pins her hopes on finding a man with strength of character, a shared respect for family values, and the financial means to adequately support a family.

Romanian woman perceive Western men as decent, responsible, easy going guys who know how to treat their women well.

3. Because she is a healthy balance of traditional values and a modern, tolerant outlook, the Romanian brides possesses the intelligence and sensibility to adapt to a western environment without sacrificing her norms and customs.

4. Most of the ladies who apply to dating agencies can at least read and understand English.There are doctors, lawyers, teachers, government employees, sales clerks with ages ranging from 18 to 40-plus.

5. A Romanian bride is just seeking the man of his life. Are You the one?

If you believe in destiny you should check out some Romanian brides. Your soulmate can be right there.

6. Just BE YOURSELF when you get in touch with these women and you will be surprised to see the success you'll have.

7. NEVER try impersonate someone you are not. Not only will you come across as insincere, but you will also feel uncomfortable and make others feel this way right along with you.
8. Never tell lies to your date or pretend anything about your life that isn't true. If this is your perfect match for God's sake do not allow it to be ruined by some silly lie told early on.
Trying to be cool, aggressive generally just makes you awkward and unapproachable. Relax, be natural, be the you that your friends and others who know and like you, see and appreciate.

9. Show Enthusiasm but stop acting like Kiss-Ass Wussbags. Romanian Brides are looking for someone that would ADD VALUE to their lives!

And don't forget that you don't have to impress all the women, only those which are things in common with you: same goals, same interests. You have to know what are you looking for.

Just try, maybe you are single only because you haven't searched in the right place yet. :)

Visit the largest database of Romanian brides at http://www.eBridex.com

Bride Hairstyles - Secrets Revealed For Your Perfect Wedding Hair

Image : http://www.flickr.com

After you have chosen your wedding theme and the perfect wedding dress for your special occasion, you should start planning your special bride hairstyle that is complimentary to you and your wedding dress. It is wise to plan carefully for this, as the brides hairstyle is one of the most important of all the presentations on your wedding day.

You will want to decide if you will have your hair cut, or get a perm or perhaps colored to achieve the look you want for your wedding. You should be planning your bridal hairstyle months in advance, so you have time to try different ideas and make up your mind about the issues that stem from producing your prefect look.

Important Bride Hairstyles Tips!

In the six months prior to your wedding, you should have your hair trimmed regularly to protect your hair from split ends. Also, avoid unnecessary use of styling aids and heated hair appliances. Hot oil treatments and head massages are good for conditioning your hair. However, if your hair has been chemically treated, you should take special care to use the right kind of shampoo and conditioner to bring out the best condition of your hair.

In the three-month period before your wedding, you will need to locate a good hairstylist to do your bridal hairstyle. If you already have a regular hairstylist, it is best to stick with her or him since she or he already is familiar with you and your hair. If you do not have a regular hair stylist, it is best for you to ask around, find out what others have experienced with their own hairstylists. Once you have chosen the hairstylist that is best for you, you then should make an appointment with your stylist for a wedding hair plan.

Be sure to have a look at current pictures of hairstyles with your stylist to help you choose the bridal hairstyle that fits perfectly with you and your wedding dress.

Tips For Getting Bride Hairstyle Results:

1. Be sure to wash your hair the night before the wedding rather than the day of your wedding since freshly washed hair is much harder to work with.

2. Arrive at your hairstyling appointment on time no matter what else is going on, so that there is plenty of time for your hairstylist to do his or her job.

3. Try to be natural in the appearance of your bridal hairstyle rather than to be outrageous or difficult.

4. On the day of your wedding, with your beautiful creation of beauty in gown and hair, remember to smile.

With these tips your bride hairstyle will certainly be something to remember.

See what YOU look like with the latest celebrity hairstyles - view them on your own uploaded photo now! Try On 5,000 Hairstyles! FREE Demo
http://www.thehairstyler.com