Ways To Cut Costs on Your Maternity Shoot

With a baby on the way, a lot of us cannot afford to splurge our money on a maternity shoot. Thankfully, there are ways to get around that limitation.

1.) Find photographer friends who are willing to take your photos.

In my case, my husband takes great photos! (Plus he knows a lot of people who are into photography) For our photoshoot, he invited his friend, Orland Larsen. 

Having my husband take my photos was not only more comfortable for me, but also very practical. The only down side to this was that there were only a few shots of us together (all taken by Orly.) Granted, hubby didn’t actually want a lot of photos with him in it. (He did not feel like having his photos taken.)

2.) Lighting is key. 

Take outside photos during the golden hour (around 5:00 pm in the Philippines, if it’s not cloudy). A little editing will also make the photos look better. 

3.) Find a good location that does not charge a fee for photoshoots. (Even better if the location is completely free.)

For our first location, we went to Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife because I wanted an outdoor shoot. The entrance fee was only 45 pesos per person and 15 pesos for parking. There are no extra fees for non-commercial photoshoots. (Just don’t lug around big and heavy equipment to avoid any questions.) Those living in the province could probably find better spots without having to pay for anything. Just make sure you don’t need a permit to shoot there!

4.) If you do not want to spend on the location, get creative! 

Shots by the window always look great! Take advantage of the windows of your home or an entryway while there is light out or the roof top of your condominium! You can even use your baby’s new room (or your own room), complete with his/her new things, as your location. Not only would it look extra cute, it would be good for memories too!

5.) If you want to make an impact, choose the right dress. 

A dress that is flattering to your body shape or an infinity dress with a chiffon trail like the Monica Infinity dress from Cruella & Co would be a great option. But if budget is really tight, you can always opt to wear the cutest maternity clothes you own.

6.) Go bold (literally) and just come as you are. 

Show off that pregnancy body, mommy! You can use a fancy robe (maybe your wedding prep robe?) or a big piece of lace or a nice blanket to cover parts that shouldn’t be seen. You can even wear an oversized sweater! But of course, this is best done in a private location. (This one’s not for me though! I’m too conservative for boudoir types of photoshoots.)

7.) Do your own make up. 

As long as the lighting is good, even mediocre make-up skills would do. YouTube tutorials is a good place to learn how to do maternity shoot make-up. (And if you mess up, you can always use make-up apps for Instagrammable photos. Lol!)

8.) Use your baby shower gifts as props.

If you can’t spend on your outfit or the location, then use baby’s gifts as props and just wear the nicest maternity clothes you own (make sure they look good up close)! There are a lot of cute maternity shoot ideas out there that involve the use of props. Try it out!

9.) Edit your photos!

A little editing won’t hurt, especially if you’re going for a certain look. Plus you can be as creative as you want to be!

10.) Just be yourself.

A beautiful dress or cute props or even a picturesque location are all nice to have. But the best way to get great maternity photos is to just let yourselves shine through and have someone capture those beautiful moments.

I hope some of these tips would be able to help you get really nice maternity photos! 

Do you have your own maternity photos that you would like to share? Please leave the link in the comment section below, I would love to check them out!

For more maternity photoshoot ideas, you can follow me (Kalq Calaquian) and my Maternity Shoot Ideas board on Pinterest.

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5 Pregnancy Symptoms Nobody Warned Me About

Before you read this list, please be forewarned that I have a tendency to traumatize people whenever I talk to them about pregnancy. (Children like asking me about a lot of things, and since I am pregnant right now, they like asking me what it was like to have a baby in my tummy. Our conversations usually end with a "I don't want to be a mom anymore!" or "I never want to get married!") So I thought maybe this happens because I talked about pregnancy in such a way that would make people scared of it. So if you are quite sure you still want to continue, then read on!

1.) Morning sickness is a joke. (More like all day sickness!)

I don't really talk to my mother about things like this, so I had this silly impression that nausea only happens in the morning. (Probably because of all the movies I watched.) Turns out it wasn't true at all! The nausea can strike at any time of the day (particularly during the first trimester) and I had a hard time eating as a result.

2.) Gas or baby?

Being a first time mom, it was hard for me to tell at first whether I was already feeling my baby move or I just had a bad case of gas. It took some experience for me to be able to tell the difference. (Speaking of gas... well... let's just say you would need to master the art of releasing gas discreetly.)

3.) Seeing your lopsided tummy for the first time.

One of the experiences that freaked me out the most was seeing my belly literally rise like a mountain whenever I stretched. It was bizarre and I had to show this to my husband the first time it happened (just so we could share the weird moment together.)

4.) The belly gymnastics doesn't always hurt. But it can freak you out sometimes.

Now that I'm in the last stretch of the third trimester, it is not unusual for me to see my belly moving on its own. Kicks, punches, short vibrating pulses (baby's hiccups), crawling sensations and small waves (baby switching positions inside). It literally feels like (and actually is) another living being thriving inside my belly. But the movements can get a little freaky, and sometimes, can even look like something that came out of a horror movie.

5.) Feeling like your baby is always messing with your internal organs (especially the bladder!)

Yes, it just literally feels like that.

To be honest, I was not really prepared for pregnancy. And somehow, I feel like such an amateur. But experiencing pregnancy gave me the emotional perspective of a parent that I lacked before and made me look at babies differently.

The journey to motherhood is tough, but what they say IS true - everything is truly worth it. It was only now that I fully understand (and even felt) the emotions trying to be evoked during that scene where Arwen (from The Lord of the Rings) saw the future where she and Aragorn had a son.

Thinking about my own baby, it was a feeling that the risk would be worth it, especially if it meant meeting and giving life to that child in the vision.


Pregnancy changed my perspective.


Now, thinking about fetuses and how it must have been for them (and how helpless they really are) while they are being aborted turns me into an emotional wreck.

Now, I could empathize how difficult it must have been for women who did not have the support of their family because their pregnancy was not planned.

Now, I could fully appreciate just how bad ass the pregnant lady in Train to Busan was.



The journey to motherhood is not yet over for me, but it changed me for the better and I would always be grateful to God for giving me and my husband this little one at this point in our lives.

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E-Session with Manny and April Photography + Ten Franco HMUA

More than the amazing photos taken that day, it was the memories of the photo shoot that lingered in our hearts.

Couples often become so wrapped up with all the nitty gritty while preparing for their engagement shoots that they forget something very important. Something often overlooked.

You are not there just to take nice photos. You are making memories, too!

Think of it this way --- when you look back at your photos, would you really want to remember how your stylist failed to bring that vintage typewriter you wanted? Or how uncomfortable you felt wearing that gown in the middle of the desert? Or even how you and your fiancé almost got into a fight because he didn't want to wear what was picked out for him?

Of course not!

When you look at your photos, you'd want to look back happily at how wonderful the experience was! (Never mind all the body contortions done to get that perfect pose! Hihi!)

To make this happen, getting the right people is key.

What I mean is, you would have to choose people who are not just passionate about what they do, but also people who actually care enough to give more than what you paid for.

And this is exactly what happened during our engagement shoot!

I would have to say that we were fortunate to have what I now dubbed as "The Dream Team."

Let me begin with the gorgeous hair and make-up done by Miss Ten Franco.

Not one who always gets the chance to wear make-up (my fiancé hates make-up because of the smell, haha!), I was very ecstatic to have Ten do my airbrush make-up for the prenup shoot.

Her touch was as light as a feather and her fun personality made me feel quite at ease despite being painfully shy towards other people.

Ten is a talented artist with a good heart. She gives her all to her craft, even going as far as assisting her clients in every way possible during a photo shoot. Personal yet professional.

We didn't have a prenup stylist, nor did we have anyone else with us during the photo shoot. So having Ten by our side that day was such a blessing to us and I am really grateful for her generous heart.

FYI: If you're reading this Ten, I'm officially making myself the president of your fan club! Okay? Okay! (Creepster lang ang peg! Hahaha!)

And of course, there's the talented couple photographers of Manny and April Photography.

Manny and April was actually the first wedding supplier we booked after the church and reception venue. We've seen their work through mutual friends who got married and we instantly fell in love with their style of photography. And because getting one of the best wedding photographers was our non-negotiable, we booked them without any second thought. We knew in our hearts that we could trust them to capture our memories, and our trust was well rewarded!

Manny and my fiancé hit it off right away, both being quite infatuated with photography gear. (April and I could only look on while shaking our heads. Hahaha!) And after talking with April about what we needed for the wedding, everything else just fell into place for us despite the year-long hiatus from wedding preparations. (Thank you so much for that much needed push btw, April! Hihi! Photographer na, coordinator pa! Ayiii!)

Needless to say, our photos are enough to showcase the incredible talent these two have! They did exactly what we wanted, and delivered so much more!

What I loved even more about Manny and April is that they are able to make couples feel at ease during the photo shoot (based on our own experience and the reviews we've read). So even though you are not used to getting your photos taken, they will definitely find a way to bring out the real you during the photo shoot.

And they were really fun to shoot with to boot!

If you would ask me right now who you should get for your wedding, I do not even have to think about it. Just go and get the Dream Team! :D

But of course, don't just take my word for it! It is your photoshoot, after all! Just like everything else during wedding preparations, you really need to think about what would be the "right fit" for you and your future husband.

For starters, find a photographer that has the same style as that incredible photo you fell in love with on Pinterest. If you really must, go ahead and get that vintage typewriter by all means possible! And if you absolutely have to wear that gorgeous gown despite the scorching heat of the desert --- you have every right to do so!

But please NEVER forget to enjoy every minute of the experience! (And writing this, I realized the same goes for the wedding itself too!)

This way, you could relive wonderful memories with each and every photo taken!

Say cheese, guys! Hihi! :)

Photography: Manny and April Photography
Hair and Make-up: Ten Franco Hair and Make-up Artist
Prenup Venue: Pinto Art Museum
Outfit Styling: Me


Please visit Manny and April Photography to see more photos of our engagement session! :)

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Dealing With IG Trolls: 16 Types of Trolls You Meet On Instagram

Let’s face it. They’re everywhere on the Internet.

Whether they are trolling on you or somebody else, it almost always sends negative vibes to the IG community. So what do we do then?

Personally speaking, I realized that categorizing such things help a lot in trying to understand or deal with negativity. (I blame that on my background and experience in Psychology.) Plus, it helps us see the humor in what these trolls do or say!

This list is partly based on Buzzfeed.com’s article “13 Types of Trolls You’ll Meet On The Internet” written by Robin Edds. I edited and added a few of my own types to his list, and I also copied his tone of writing. (Just in case you noticed the similarity.)

Here’s my version of the list:

16 Types of Trolls You’ll Meet On Instagram

1.    The Spammer.

·      Usually leaves comments that are copy pasted to every public account they could find;

·      Contains self-promotion or chain letter type messages;

·      Sometimes accompanied by positive comments about your photo;

·      The most common kind of Instagram troll;

·      Beware of hashtags.

How to deal with them: Usually harmless; if they annoy you, simply delete and block, don’t use hashtags, and when all else fails, turn your IG account private.

2.    The Trololololol.

·      They are bored… really bored;

·      Likes provoking other people for fun (especially die-hard fans);

·      Wants someone to notice them;

·      Otherwise reasonable people fueled by Internet anonymity.

 

How to deal with them: In this case, “don’t feed the troll” applies; if they persist due to constant feeding by other users, blatantly point it out to spoil their game then direct their attention to something else (They ARE bored after all, give them something to do!)

3.    The Jealous Troll.

·      Jealous of you but would never admit that they are;

·      Usually someone you know;

·      Often checks your page and sometimes talks s**t about you behind your back;

·      Never likes and comments on your photos but follows your posts religiously.

How to deal with them: Do nothing; continue being your fab self and relish in the fact that they put you on a pedestal (even though they would never admit that they do!)

4.    The Lurker.

·      They lie in wait, and strike the moment they find the opportunity.

How to deal with them: Be flattered. After all, they did spend a lot of time paying attention to everything you post. Best follower ever!

5.    The Tagger.

·      Keeps tagging random users on unwanted photos;

·      Possibly a bot or a random IGer (that doesn’t even follow you back) trying to either gain more followers or win an Instagram contest/giveaway.

How to deal with them: Depending on your level of tolerance, these types can be easily ignored. But if you must, you can easily block them too.

6.    The Noob

·      Leaves comments like “Spam for spam? Recent for recent? Like for Like? Comment for comment? Follow for follow? Row for row?” on your photos;

·      The type that follows to unfollow;

·      Also a very common type of Instagram troll.

How to deal with them: Best ignored. Unless of course you want to play their game, in which case, go ahead! (I do sometimes, lol!) Besides, some of them are really nice and even stay as your IG friend! (In which case, they’d no longer be a troll, hihi!)

7.    The Fisher.

·      Leaves random comments on photos or videos to gain followers;

·      Quick to change their username;

·      Sometimes doesn’t even wait for the photo or video to load before making their comment.

How to deal with them: Usually the type of troll that’s fun to troll back!

8.    The Whiner.

·      Easily offended;

·      Takes everything as a personal assault;

·      If they cannot feel offended directly, they will read through comments and find a way to be offended on other people’s behalf.

How to deal with them: Ignore them for 10 minutes. They’ll find something else to feel offended about.

9.    The Point Misser.

·      A form of Whiner that lacks the ability to detect humor or sarcasm;

·      Usually emerges during comment battles.

How to deal with them: Put emoticons to good use. Add a winky face or sarcastic face to everything you write so they know you're joking or being sarcastic.

10.  The Critic.

·      Never satisfied; they say you’re too thin, too fat, too whiny, too stupid, too smart, too sexy, too real, too nice, etc.

·      Under the delusion that their opinions matter;

·      Their choice of words often provoke Whiners;

·      Online anonymity makes them think that the usual rules of society don't apply; forgets that there’s a person behind every IG account.

How to deal with them: They are simply not worth the worry. Best ignored or blocked because a lot of times, nothing we say would change their mind. (Unless of course they’re youngsters simply trying to express themselves --- in which case, we would have to teach them how to state their opinion in a constructive and polite manner.)

11.  The Hater.

·      Moves from victim to victim saying mean things to people;

·      They don’t need a reason to hate – they just do!

·      Can’t be bothered to capitalize letters (and when they do, they usually capitalize everything and turns into a Shouter – see number 13);

·      Often neglects the proper use of punctuations, spacing, grammar and spelling;

·      Often seen trolling on big IG accounts.

At least this one tried to spell better. Sort of...

Nice try, though!

How to deal with them: Haters gonna hate. Potatoes gonna potate.

12.  The Line Crosser.

·      Just like a Pokemon evolves to its advanced form, the Line Crosser is the evolved form of the Hater;

·      One of the worst types found on Instagram;

·      Their weapon of choice includes gender, race, religion, body image, personal lifestyle attacks, psychological disorders, death, suicide, rape, etc.

How to deal with them: Karma’s a b***h. Let her do the rest. 

  

13.  The Shouter.

·      They are either very angry random users or very excited fan girls;

·      It doesn't matter what you say or do, they are easily angered or excited by anything and everything;

·      Sometimes spawns from comment battles instigated by the Trololololols or Haters.

How to deal with them: Steal their Caps Lock key. And their Shift keys (just in case.)

14.  The Grammar Nazi.

·      Fairly uncommon kind of IG troll (since IG followers rarely read captions anyway);

·      Usually seen replying to Haters or Shouters.

How to deal with them: Proof read everything you post (or suffer their wrath!)

15.  The Creep.

·      Whether it’s your chest, your legs, your feet or your hairy nostril, these guys are always turned on by your posts;

·      Sometimes uses the Direct Message feature to send inappropriate photos;

·      Usually found lurking in IG accounts featuring photos of hot girls.

How to deal with them: Meet the block button. It will be your best friend.

16.  The Poser.

·      The most dangerous kind of Instagram troll;

·       Steals your identity to satisfy their own needs or uses your identity to troll other people.

How to deal with them: Enlist the help of other people to report that account. Let the Instagram administrators do something about it. NEVER TOLERATE THE POSER! (Their thoughtless actions could potentially snowball into something that is irreparable.)

Whatever kind of troll we encounter online, the best arsenal we could ever have against them is HUMOR! ^_^

This attitude works best with the knowledge that these trolls do not know us and that we can’t always please everybody.

Easier said than done, right?

This is why it is important to connect with people who can relate with our feelings so that we won’t have to feel alone.

It is NEVER a good feeling to have mean trolls attack you. 

In fact, the initial sting hurts.

A LOT.

So much so that we might even be tempted to respond to these trolls with overwhelming emotion.

But believe me when I say it won't make us feel any better. It won't make us look like the better person either.

So stop and take a deep breath.

Step back a bit and think, "Is this person really talking about me? Or are the words being thrown at me right now simply a reflection of their own issues and limited view of the world?"

Most likely, we would realize that the answer to this question would be "yes."

Once we understand this, healing would come quicker for us, and we can move on with our head held high.

Who knows? We might even find ourselves laughing at these trolls some day!

And also, remember to accept the support being given by the people whose opinion actually matters – the ones who actually know and care about us! 

And as for the trolls out there…

Please feel free to leave a comment below! I would love to read your thoughts and feelings on my latest post! Tweet, like, or share this article to those who need it today!

Thank you so much for reading and have a troll-free day! ^_^

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