PROMO OFFER: Buy any of the Rainbow Magazine Formats ($0.99 or $2.50) and win up to N20,000 ($65).

Hello readers,

Rainbow Magazine is a Nigerian Based Events, Lifestyle, Fashion and Entertainment Magazine Publication of Rainbow Projects NG.

After Two FREE issues in 2015, and one in 2016, the editorial crew have decided to resume sales of the magazine. The Magazine boasts of the best articles and lots of entertaining contents which will suit all kind of audience.

Annie Idibia Covers For Rainbow Magazine

If you are not in Nigeria, this magazine shows you the best places you can visit if you wish to come on tour. From the beautiful history of Owo monarchy to the great walls of Kano State and the high life of Lagos, this magazine is designed to give you the best of entertainment.

HOW TO WIN:
1. Purchase your copy (Soft or Hard) below.

Select Product Type

Soft Copy $0.99 USD Hard Copy $2.50 USD

  (if you don't have a PayPal account, after clicking the 'buy now" button, click on 'don't have a PayPal account?' on the page that loads and enter your card details, click on 'pay')

or pay via vogue pay below

(use this button for soft copy)

(use this button for hard copy)

2. On the Form Page Enter Your Full Name
3. Expect A confirmation Mail which contains your raffle ticket.
4. Raffle Draw will be announced and broadcasted on YouTube.

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO WIN GIFT CARDS, AIRTIME AND A CASH PRICE OF UP TO N20,000 ($65).

NOTE: YOU CAN ALSO EARN FROM REFERRALS. TO GET REFERRAL CODE AND HOW TO IMPLEMENT IT KINDLY SEND AN EMAIL TO INFO@RAINBOWMAGAZINENG.COM and RAINBOWPROJECTSNG@GMAIL.COM

 

Falz Covers For Rainbow Magazine

Laura Ikeji Covers For Rainbow Magazine

Tolufame Covers For Rainbow Magazine

 

Read More

5 Pointers for Picking the Perfect Wedding Photographer

In the past, most people didn’t put so much thoughts and organisation into wedding planning and photography like they do today. One could usually just pick a random photographer to document such beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. It usually went that if we probably had a friend or someone that knew someone that had a camera or that could take photos, he was usually enlisted for our big day and didn’t necessarily have to be a professional. Today on the other hand, wedding planning has graduated to such another level, anything short of perfection is frowned at.

One of your most important vendor choices is who will capture the events of your wedding. This simple guide will help you decide how to hire the perfect wedding photographer. 

This compilation was done by interviewing dozens of photographers and has been narrowed down the most important factors for selecting great wedding photographers for one of your most memorable days.

To help ensure that you’ll find a great fit when you pick your photographer, here are the five areas of consideration for you to rate and then compare.

1. Portfolio

Each photographer is only going to show their favourite photos online, so when viewing galleries, a great question to ask yourself is, ‘How happy would I be if that photo were in my wedding album?’

It’s always important to let photographers know exactly what you are hoping for, but first ask your candidate photographers (or judge for yourself) what style they typically work in. To understand their answer, here’s a list of photography styles for you and your partner to read and decide which appeals the most.

• Traditional: In this ‘classic-style’ the photographer works from a “shot list,” ensuring he or she covers all the standard elements that are typically requested.

• Photojournalistic: These are candid or spontaneous pictures of people and decor and you’ll rarely see people posing for the camera.  These types of pictures capture the genuine moments and should tell a story. Photographers who shoot well in this style may often have skills of blending into the crowd, but always being where the action is. 

• Portraiture: These are posed shots of the two of you, your friends, and your family. Sometimes photographers will treat your wedding reception as if it is a group photo session. Be aware that certain photographers may by default begin put you and your partner in all the traditional places and formal poses.

• Illustrative: This style is often used for engagement photos and is a blend of traditional and photojournalistic, with an emphasis on composition, lighting, and background. The photographer finds interesting environments and encourages the couple to relax and interact. The benefit of the illustrative motif is that it seems to have the spontaneity of candids, while it actually offers the technical control of portraiture.

• Natural Light: Rather than using flashes, photographers utilize the natural light found in a setting, usually daylight. The feel of natural light is warm and muted. For this style to work, you must have a technically skilled photographer who knows how to deal with lighting challenges.

When reviewing a photographer’s portfolio in person, it is natural to want to be nice and make them feel good about their work, even if it’s mediocre. That is okay but don’t sell yourself short. Keep an eye open for the quality of the prints, as they will likely use the same printer for you.  Ask yourself, “Have they captured moments in a way that I’d want in my future album?

2.       PERSONALITY

You’ve selected several photographers online or maybe on  http://bit.ly/1QMondI  and narrowed down your search even further by checking their availability for your wedding date. Now, it is time to meet them in person.

Since every professional photographer has a different style and personality, you’ll be best to make sure that you interview and connect with the one who will be present at your wedding.

Having a compatible personality with your wedding vendors plays a surprisingly large role in setting the mood for your special day. Listen to your gut feelings while you assess how well you mesh together. How comfortable do you feel around them? Do you and your partner like, trust, and get along well with them? 

3. Professionalism

How would you rate each professional you meet in terms of expertise?  Remember, you’ll want to make sure your photographer is easy to be around while still being bold enough to go out and capture lasting images. The photographer(s) will be shadowing your every move, and the more comfortable both of you are together, the better the photos will be. You don’t want the photographer to annoy or block any guests’ views, but instead work in an unobtrusive, professional manner.

A professional has all of the bases covered; including specific stipulations in the contract about who will cover for the photographer should something happen on your wedding day. Professional photographers often are connected to many other wedding professionals and may make recommendations.  That is not a bad thing if they work in a similar style.

4. Planning

One standard that we believe distinguishes great photographers is their ability to prepare with the future couple. That could mean setting a date in advance of the wedding to visit the site to discuss what backgrounds or angles you are hoping for.

It’s important you prepare a list of the people and moments you want captured, and if you intend to have group photos. Then create an easy to reference breakdown of each shot or group that you want included. Another important list to create is one of all the people who you’ll want to give photographs and albums to as gifts.

Do they provide you with any material which helps you better understand what you can expect?  Do they provide you with tools to help you plan?

5. Package Pricing

People who have asked their amateur photographer friends to take their photos for free, or hired college students to shoot their weddings for small bucks may have regretted doing so because well, maybe the picture didn’t turn out so great. Remember pictures make memories last forever?  Decisions like this will often end with regret. I believe you’ll get what you paid for!

In professional photography, services and packages are broken down into four basic categories: budget, moderate, upscale and luxury. 

When interviewing wedding photography candidates, ask for a general range based on their standard hourly fee, then look at their packages and special offers. Ask about their standard rates for the type of album you think you’ll want. 

You may want your photographer to be there for your full wedding day. There are many special moments that tell your whole story. From when you both start getting ready until after you’ve made your grand exit.

In Conclusion

It may seem obvious that your methods for choosing your wedding photographer(s), along with deciding on all your other vendors, is most likely going to be based on the balance of value judgments between you and your life partner. While nobody other than you can make this choice, we hope this guide made it an easier and more informed decision by sharing these six simple parameters for choosing the best fit.Congratulations in advance, we hope you have the wedding of your dreams and will remember it well!

Sources: 54artistry.com

1. http://www.ppa.com/competitions/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1792

2. http://www.herecomestheguide.com/wedding-party-ideas/detail/photography-style-glossary/,

3. http://www.ppa.com/

4. http://www.americanphotographyassociation.org/

5. http://www.wppionline.com/

6. http://weddings.costhelper.com/wedding-photographer.html

Read More

14 Things To Do To Be A Great Writer

Here are some tips shared by various established authors all over the world. Read and enjoy!

1. Write every day

The idea of sitting down every single day and writing profound literary prose can be overwhelming. In reality, it’s much simpler to write every day. One of my writer friends works as an administrative assistant, and every day she writes for 15 minutes before work and for 15 minutes during her lunch break. You can talk about all of the great ideas you have for novels or screenplays all day long, but the number one way to be a writer is to sit down and actually write.

2. Keep a journal

Even for non-writers, a journal is a great tool for self-development. It gives you a place to document your life, process your emotions, and work out important decisions. In addition, goof writers always have journals to record any ideas that may come to them and a place to practice writing.

3. Look for lessons in everything

When something “bad” happens in your life, this gives you an excellent opportunity. Ask yourself how you can re-frame this seemingly negative event and use it for a basis for your writing. We all experience tragedies, but a skilled writer will be able to find a use for some of them.

4. Silence your inner critic

The critical voices in your head like to run wild when you sit down to write. “This is stupid.” “No one’s going to read this.” “Where is this going?” Don’t listen to them. They will stifle your creativity if you let them, so learn how to shut them up. Don’t judge yourself or limit your creativity.

5. Read as much as you can

Read the kind of books you want to write. Read books that excite you and make you feel passionate about storytelling. Learn from different writers by reading their work. Even if you read a book that you find to be poorly written, ask yourself what you can learn from it.

6. Embrace rejection and criticism

Understand that all art is subjective. Getting rejected means you are putting yourself out there, which is great. I see so many writers who are incredibly talented but they never do anything with their work because they are afraid of rejection. Make a collage out of your rejection letters, and be proud of them. Every rejection you get represents a time when you tried,which is much more than a lot of people can say.

7. Try new things

Learn new skills, participate in new hobbies, go new places. See the world in as many different ways as possible. New activities, new locations, new people, new cultures, all of these things will inspire you to think of new stories.

8. Pay attention to the writing in your life

TV shows, films, even e-mails and social media updates can teach yousomething about writing. What did you think worked from a storytelling standpoint about that episode of Game of Thrones? Have you noticed a friend who uses poor grammar in his tweets? Are there ways your boss could have structured that e-mail better?

9. Always find ways to grow

Don’t ever think you have reached perfection as a writer. No matter what level you are at, there’s always something to learn. You should always strive to improve

10. Listen to other writers

In line with #9, some of the ways you can strive to improve and to always be learning are to take writing classes, read writing craft books, read writing blogs, follow writers on social media, etc. Learn from the wisdom of the writers you admire.

11. Challenge yourself

Nothing is too ambitious. Don’t tell yourself you can’t write a science fiction novel or that you can’t write a novel in a month. Allow yourself to go for it.

12. Experience art

Go to museums, go to concerts, go see films, go see live theatre… Always look for new ways to be inspired and support other artists. You never know when a painting, a photograph, a song, or a film will inspire your next story.

13. Follow your obsessions

Write what you want to write, not what your parents or your friends or anyone else want you to write. Don’t write what you think will sell or what you think publishers want to see. Write about the things that make you excited. Write about the things you are passionate about. Write the stories you would love to read.

14. Value your own voice

Don’t compare yourself to other writers. Don’t try to be the next Chimamanda Adichie. Everyone has their own unique experiences, their own perspective. No two writers will have the same stories inside of them or tell stories in the same way. Find the stories only you can tell, and write them down. And when you’ve done that, keep writing.

If you enjoyed this article, please share so other aspiring writers can benefit from it.

source: 54artistry.com

Read More

23 Ways to Rejuvenate Your Creativity

23 Ways to Rejuvenate Your Creativity

• 22nd October, 2015
• By 54artistry Admin

Recently, we asked a couple of people what their tips for staying creative were. Sometimes creativity flows from the heavens, but other times, as we all know, it’s like drawing water from a stone. The following are a compilation of tips we received;

1. Surround yourself with creative people; Hang out with writers, musicians, poets and artists. Often, just being in a creative environment will inspire you and refresh your creative mind.

2. Start somewhere; If you create a load of crap for a few pages, whether it’s creative writing in Word or sheet music, the brain loosens up and it’s easier to break through the barrier and come up with ideas.

3. Expose yourself; Not after too much vodka. Expose yourself to new art – books, music, paintings – all the time.If you’re a crime writer, read fantasy. If you’re a productivity writer, read something about slacking off.

4. Use GTD (Getting Things Done) techniques – free up your mind from the hassles of life by doing an info-dump so your head is clear enough to create instead of worry. GTD techniques help you clear out your head by recording your tasks and projects externally and then breaking them into actionable work items.

5. Never stop learning.

6. Imitate the real world – find beauty (or the ugly, depending on what inspires you) and try to extract the essence of it into your work. This may lead you to what you need to create, or it may just warm up the muse.

7. Do something new - Play chess. Read a book if you watch television and watch television if you read. Go outside. Sing in the shower.

8. Don’t be too precious about your work - Being inspired by ‘the muse’ is important, but if the doctor and the garbage man can do their jobs every day, then those in a creative line of work can too. Change your attitude towards your work.

9. Based on the theory- that everything that can be created has been and creation is simply a process of combining existing ideas, consume information by the bucket load. The more you know, the more you can create from that knowledge.

10. Meet new people- from different walks of life. Gain insight into their perspectives on life. Strike up a conversation on the bus.It has been advised to have a friend from each age bracket that is outside of yours. You can/will learn a different thing from each of these people and see/experience things a new! Ask a four year old what he thinks about a new idea you have. You’ll be amazed.

11. Shut out the world- Instead of sucking in new information, sit quietly, go to sleep, or meditate. Stop thinking and clear your mind so that the clutter doesn’t get in the way of your thoughts.

12. Carry a camera with you- and look for interesting things in your every day scenerythat you had probably overlooked or hadn’t taken note of before. Hadn’t noticed that crack in the path before? Then it’ll do. Set a quota and force yourself to make it. Don’t go to new places to do this – force yourself to find new perspectives on old knowledge.It’ll broaden your mind.

13. Creativity is like a muscle- Exercise it daily – if you only need to create once a week, your muscles may have atrophied (big word)if you don’t do it just because you don’t have to.

14. Carry a notebook everywhere- Or a PDA.Or guess what, you have your phone with you all the time, write under notes! Just always note something down.

15. Write down a list of ideas- and draw random arrows between them. For instance, if you’re a blogger, write down everything in your Categories list and draw lines to connect unusual ideas. If you had the categories “Relationships” and “Management” and randomly connected them you’d have an interesting article idea to work with.

16. If you’re not on a tight deadline- walk away and do something completely unrelated. Don’t let yourself spend that time stressing about what you need to do.

17. Remove obstacles to creativity- That friend who calls to complain about their life can wait until you can afford to get stressed about their problems.

18. Don’t judge your ideas until you have plenty to judge- Don’t be embarrassed by yourself – just write them all down! Even if you start with the “stupidest” idea, just write it down.

19. Keep a journal- It can get your mind working, and in a month, or a year, when you’ve gained some distance from what you’ve written it can give you new ideas.

20. Stop telling yourself you’re not creative- If you tell yourself not to come up with ideas, then you probably won’t – no matter how hard you try.

21. Treat creativity like an enemy- in a strategy game; if one thing isn’t working, don’t keep trying until you give up. Try a new strategy. Run through the whole list, not just the first tip.

22. Choose a topic- and write about it as wonderfully or badly as you possibly can. Then edit it as ruthlessly as a newspaper editor who has thousands of words to edit in the next hour and doesn’t care what gets lost in the process. At the end you might have something decent to use as a starting point.

23. Exercise every day,- before you sit down to be creative. If you exercise afterwards you’ll get the creative burst – just too late.

sourec: 54artistry.com

Read More

Fashion 101: How To Improve Your Style

Fashion 101: How To Improve Your Style

• 24th October, 2015
• By 54artistry Admin

The continuous boom and trend in the fashion industry tells us one thing: Everyone wants to look good and people invest a lot in doing so. This is also simply because people would rather listen to and give their money to a man in a good looking suit believing that their money will be safe than a guy in bad looking jeans or just casual clothes because let’s face it, appearance matters!

Yes, you might have heard this a thousand times, but this gospel is ever true and needs to be preached all the time. Other times, our wardrobes are filled with thousands of clothes and when there is an event or a date or we simply need to go to work, we never know what to wear and spend hours upon hours changing in and out of clothes.

So We have compiled and simplified five very helpful tips to help improve your style whether you just want to look good or you’re a professional stylist.

1. De Clutter Your Wardrobe

You know you’ve had that very tight skirt that doesn’t fit. Or that over –sized blouse or T-shirt that we promised ourselves that we will take to the tailor to amend, but that we haven’t really gotten around to doing. Now is the time! Take it out. Typically, the advice is that if you haven’t used it in year, GET RID OF IT!

But many of us are so sentimental about things and then we believe that once we get rid of it, we might need it. Truth is more often than not, we never really need it. It is very necessary to de-clutter your wardrobe so that you can see and evaluate what you have and work more efficiently with it.

Advisably, it is better to have ten best fashion pieces that you can work with and that you always look good in than a wardrobe full of clutter that you don’t know what to do with. Once you’ve de-cluttered, this will help to draw a clear picture of what you have and don't have in your wardrobe.

This eliminates the money-draining impulse shopping sprees that result in ending up buying stuff you already have plenty of or don't really need. It also gives you more control of the clothes and accessories you've purchased over the past few years. 

2. Gain Fashion Knowledge and Develop a Personal Style

Learn about wardrobe organizing, about your body type. Except you invest your time in learning how to look good, and what works for you, no magic is going to happen. So as much as you can, read fashion magazine and develop a personal style by knowing, learning and understanding what works for you, your body shape/type, colors, scale, size and proportions.

So you ask questions like what body shape am I? Sure, an Hourglass has an amazing waist. But a Pear has beautiful curves, while an Apple has great legs and arms. Not to mention that a Rectangle can get away with most trends and clothes. Also, an Inverted Triangle has strong super-model shoulders and nice legs as well.

So find out and dress accordingly. Sometimes, you can also find out that even if you have hot legs, you might not feel very comfortable wearing very short things so you learn to keep them midi or knee length and still look great. Discover your fashion persona, are you Classic, Trendy, Dramatic, Natural, Romantic, Creative, Bohemian  or Urban ?. This will guide you when you want to buy new items to add to your wardrobe. 

3. Create a Shopping Pattern, Budget and Stick to it: We are usually lazy when we set target/budgets for ourselves. So advisably, get a friend that you can be accountable to. Yes that friend that wouldn’t let you get away with shopping excessively impulsively. Also try to shop on sales and as much as you can, try not to buy impulsively, chances are we would usually buy things that we don’t need or things that we already have a lot of. Having a shopping budget also ensures that you don’t buy things that are unnecessary.

4. Get the Staples and the Essentials:

Now that we’ve built a budget, get the essentials, clothing and accessories. Wardrobe essentials are the building blocks to a solid and functional style. Examples of wardrobe staples are for females: the basic v-neck tee, a black tank top, little black dress, dark wash jeans and a black blazer.

For guys: a solid white button down shirt, a solid white t-shirt, a pair of sneakers.  They're simple, versatile and can be worn with almost anything, at any time of the year!  Now keep in mind that the wardrobe essentials-checklist is just a minimum. Depending on your taste, style and location, add as many as you like!

Depending on your lifestyle, taste create a wardrobe essential checklist for yourself.Also, there are hundreds of different styles on "the Little Black dress". Choose the ones that appeal to you and most importantly, choose the ones that you feel most comfortable in. Nothing beats style with confidence!

5. A-C-C-E-S-O-R-I-Z-E:

After all of the above, it's time to put it all together! This is where you get your creative juices flowing. Playing it safe by relying on the basics won't get your image and style anywhere. Now it's the time for you to be creative and bold.

Experiment with fashion, accessorize! Have fun! Sometimes, just accessories can take a very simple and plain outfit to VA- VA- VOOM! if you know how to accessorize properly. Especially if you wear the same outfit over and with a new necklace, bangle, shoes, belts, bags, purses and hairbandsit will look different. 

SOURCE: 54artistry.com

Read More

Make Up Essentials: Ten Items for A Complete Make up Kit

Make Up Essentials: Ten Items for A Complete Make up Kit

• 29th October, 2015
• By 54artistry Admin

A woman’s makeup kit is one of her most prized possessions.  For a makeup artist, it’s a beauty arsenal. Whether it's a small makeup bag or a suitcase of beauty weapons, many secrets are held within it. How do lashes get so long? (Falsies!) Did you lose some weight? (Contouring palette!) How did you get that glow? (Highlighter!)

Here, we've compiled a list of essential items that every woman and makeup artist needs in her (or his) vanity pack. Fora beginner, start with a simple foundation and build up your arsenal with time to always get that perfect look/finish.

These basics should be the foundation of your beauty arsenal. Consider this the ultimate basic makeup kit.

1.      Concealer:

Concealer is the only way to get rid of dark circles and cover blemishes. And while it may just be a temporary fix, with the right technique you can hide them completely.

Tip: Apply a non-creasy eye cream, then use your ring finger to gently dab concealer onto dark areas. Allow it a minute to be absorbed, then carefully blend the edges into skin. The key is light pressure—if you rub too hard, you'll actually rub the product off.

2.      Foundation:

Get a no-show foundation. The best way to find your perfect match is to leave it to the professionals. Stores usually have products for testing that you can try to find your perfect shade.

Tip: Try swiping a few colors vertically across your jawline, and whichever one is barely visible is your best bet. Foundation should be applied with your fingers. It's quicker and easier than using a sponge or brush. Simply dab the foundation onto the areas that need it most (ruddy cheeks, dark circles, uneven spots) and blend gently.

3.      Blush:

Look for a warm tone to add a pop of colour to the apples of your cheeks. a natural blush. The right shade of blush will make you look like you're blushing, not like you're wearing blush.

Tip: For a natural look, start with lighter shades, and skip any with shimmer. Use a blush brush to swipe a small amount of color across the apples of your cheeks (the round section that sticks out when you smile). If you can see clearly where the blush begins or ends, you've used too much or the color is too dark.

4.      Mascara:

A clump-free mascara is always a necessity. There’s no better way to define your eyes than by enhancing your lashes. For conservatives (or beginners), you can stick with basic black (or dark brown). Mascara thickens as it's exposed to air over time, which leads to clumps. If yours is sticky, throw it away! Or try a different brand.

Tip: To get the best out of mascara’s they should be change as often as every six months. Curl lashes first, then press the mascara wand against your lashes, steering clear of lids. As you move the wand up toward the lash tips, gently wiggle it back and forth in a zigzag motion, which helps ensure you hit every lash.

5.      Eye Liner

Eyes are sensitive, and probably don't take kindly to us slathering them with makeup—especially on the sensitive rims and inner lash lines. Always use a soft pencil that glides on without any pressure or tugging, and be sure the product is labeled as ophthalmologist-tested.

Tip: You can use your darker shade of eye shadow as a liner along the lashes – or use a dark brown or black pencil to create a thin line that will define and enhance your eyes. When lining your upper lash line, press a finger gently against your brow bone to pull up the lid slightly. This makes the skin slightly taught and helps you get closer to the lashes. Use your other hand to "dot" the liner across the tops of lashes.

6.      Lipstick

How about some color? Lipstick (or gloss, if you are conservative, gives your look a VA-VA- VOOM!

Tip: Chapped lips should be taken care of before you even think of applying lipstick. Wear a thick layer to bed and wake up to softer lips in the morning.

7.      Eyeshadow

Neutral or defining eyeshadow basic, flattering eyeshadow should be part of your arsenal! Some eyeshadows barely show up; others make us look like you’re headed to a circus, choose wisely! The perfect everyday shadow is just a few shades darker than your skin tone — think a soft plum or light brown for darker skin, a taupey-gray or golden beige for medium skin, or light apricot for fair skin.

Tip: Use a soft eyeshadow brush to sweep shadow across lids, blending into and just above creases. Make sure to use light, feathery strokes so that there are no hard lines.

8.      A Good set of Brushes

With the right brush for the job, you can perform makeup miracles. (You don't see professional makeup artists using the tiny sponge applicators that come with the products!) Invest in a good brush set.

Tip: Remember to clean brushes every so often to keep bacteria at bay and makeup colors fresh. You can buy brush cleaners at department and cosmetic stores, or dilute a gentle soap or baby shampoo in warm water and soak brushes in that.

9.      An allover highlighter

A slightly shimmery cream highlighter has many uses—from lifting your brows to slimming your nose to sculpting your cheeks. Choose a soft nude, peach, or pink for the most versatility.

Tip: To visually slim your nose, use your pinky to trace a thin line of highlighter down the length of the bone, then blend. To make cheekbones pop, gently blend highlighter across the tops of your cheeks, right above your blush

10.  Tweezers

Clean up any stray hairs around your brows that sprout up in between brow appointments. You could learn to sharpen your brows yourself.

Tip: On the other hand, many women and Make Up artists use blades. Choose what works for you.

Extra Tip: Translucent powder: A quick, light dusting of powder sets makeup and controls shine.

Image Credit: Google images 

source: 54artistry.com

Read More