Getting Old

Getting Old

As Western cultures, we live in fault based societies. We are thought to seek out our imperfections in order to improve on them. In an age where companies spend more on advertising than research and development, we are forced to believe that young, slim and beautiful is perfect. Anything else needs to be changed. 

This video from US Coast Guard movie The Guardian was something that struck me when i saw it first and has stayed with me. I photograph people less than 5 feet in front of my camera. So many struggle with their image from facial features to ageing. 

Getting old. It's earned. 

Ireland My Ireland

Ireland My Ireland

Sure you have your faults and flaws, who doesn't. You have your trials and tribulations. Anger and hate. But Ireland your charm is something to behold. 

We are a nation of celebrators not celebrities. Sharing our pride in our countrymen and women should they win or not. All the while not letting them get too ahead of themselves with a gentle begrudgery.

We are a nation of mild. From the weather never being too hot, or too cold. The sun never lasting too long and even the big snows only lasting for a few days. We have this magical ability to get fed up with the change at hyper speed. Yet still muster up enough tolerance to holiday in Spain for two weeks, only complaining it wasn't long enough when we come home. 

We brush over some of the worst aspects of life and history with fleeting regard. The famine in the 1840's killed over a million souls. We refer to it simply as "The Hunger". People with mental health issues simply "Suffer with their nerves".

Nothing though prepares visitors for your splendour. 

From your glorious golden sunsets.

To your ever changing landscape of spectacular colour tones. The greenest of greens and bluest of blues. Something we only as locals appreciate on an unusually beautiful day or when we entertain guests from abroad. 

Where else in the world can you randomly meet the President for a chat while out walking your parrot in the sun. Or get photo bombed by him walking his dogs. 

For everything the land gives us, the people are where Ireland truly shines. 

From the Irish soccer fans who cleaned up after themselves, changed car tyres and brought so much good feeling to France in such a difficult time, to bus driver Christy Carey who despite language barrier made the people of Kathmandu along with everyone in Ireland fall in love with him. 

Ireland is like your childhood. We do a lot of moaning about it when we are too close or living it. The older you get the better your childhood gets. Just like our amazing country. 

Sláinte

Be Kind To Yourself

Be Kind To Yourself, Your Kids are listening

As humans in a western world, we grow up in fault based societies, Thought to seek out our imperfections in order to improve on them. 

When we are very young. We are limitless. Ask a group of four year old kids who the strongest, or fastest in the group is, every hand will go up. Ask again when they are seven and the magic of their unbounded inner superhero has all but gone. We, as adults are the only ones to blame. 

I think the cover frame of the video above says it all. Imagine being that girl. No more than 10 years old. Imagine now that she looks like her mother and is repeating in the video what her mother says about her forty something year old face. They have the same nose, by self deprecating her own mother who sees no fault in the child, is telling her that her face is not okay. It is not okay to look like that. 

If you are looking at the outside as a gauge for how great you are as a person. You are looking in the wrong place. Try looking a little deeper. When you find what you are looking for. Share it with the rest of us.  

How you walk in the skin you wear is your decision. Why not embrace it? What other choice you you have?

Stress of being Photographed

The Stress of Being Photographed

I read this brilliant article today on headstuff.org by actor, writer and comedian Tara Flynn.

Dont Shoot: Lights, Camera, Anxiety - Headstuff

In it she goes talks quite candidly about the stress of being photographed. Not that I am trying to steer people away from having their photograph taken, quite the opposite. We all have our stresses when it comes to having a camera shoved in our faces. See my post on why we feel so uncomfortable in front of a camera here.

You can follow Tara @TaraFlynn 
You can follow Headstuff @ThisHeadStuff
You can follow me @jmphotodub

Every Generation can effect change

Every Generation has the chance to change the world

This morning, as with most mornings I get a notification from Facebook telling me what i was up to this day every year since I signed up. Funny to think it was this month 2 years ago when our generation changed Ireland for the better. Here is what i wrote.

This is kinda of a spilt post so bare with me. 

On May 22nd we the Irish people will be asked to vote in a referendum on Marriage Equality. 

As educated, civilised people, we will be asked to make an informed decision to either, accept, or reject a motion to allow people to marry others of the same sex. 

I will be voting Yes. 
I will be voting Yes, not because i feel it is the right thing to do.
I will be voting Yes, not to spite those who choose to vote No.
I will be voting Yes, not to spite those who do not believe in or support homosexuality.
I will be voting Yes, simply to practice what I preach. 
I will be voting Yes because I reject labels. 
I will be voting Yes so that others may live without discrimination

I will vote yes, to lose the label of a White, catholic or Straight. 
I, am merely John. The only labels I hold are Son, Brother, Uncle, Nephew and Boyfriend to Vivienne Prete. 
I vote yes so that others may lose the labels they carry, labels of race, religious belief or sexual orientation. 
I vote yes so that some day, we may all be seen as individuals contributing to the common good. 

I vote yes, so that friends, colleagues and strangers might enjoy the same rights I have and the rights their parents never dreamed they would be excluded from.

I would also like to drop a nod to Brendan O'Carroll of Mrs Brown's Boys TV Series. Rory Cowan if you wouldn't mind passing along. 

I grew up in the 80's and 90's, I remember the people from back then.
The neighbours who fed the entire street, the scores of kids out playing together, all sharing the one kids ball or someone else's skateboard. I remember the common site of 2 kids, sharing one set of roller skates, when having, and not having were the same thing. 

I remember Italia '90 when the whole country was filled with pride, even when the team didn't win. I remember people painting street curbs and houses in the colours of the flag, even though the team might never see it. 

I remember the people, even though they didn't have much, always willing to share what was there with others because it was the right and charitable thing to do. The Irish, thing to do. 

Thank you Brendan O'Carroll, for bringing those values, that humour and the memories back to us for 30 minutes at a time. 

Thank you for giving us the gift of who we are and the view of where we have come from. The communities who stood together to fight drug dealing, who had street parties and summer projects for the kids in the time when searching for a friend, meant trying their house, their grannies house, the playground, the football pitch and the abandoned warehouse you knew the way into.

Thank you for showing us the good inside, when the not having much, meant we had all we needed. When being poor meant you took the bus, made the most of a pot of coddle or stew. 

And most of all. Thank you for making my mammy laugh. for that, i am eternally grateful.

Body Shopping & Our Own Image

Body Shopping & Our Own Image

RTE have started a new TV series fronted by Dr. Ciara Kelly called Body Shopping. The show follows men and women before, during and after cosmetic surgery procedures. The aim to explore the reasons why, and to find out if it truly makes them happier. 

The show begins with a Orla from Edenderry Co. Offaly who wants to travel to Lithuania for rhinoplasty (Nose Job). Orla became self conscious seeing her nose in photographs when she was socialising with friends. So much so, she covers her nose in photographs with her hands or drinks. She isn't alone. Her mother and sister both state they hate their noses too. 

In the same way children adopt phobias of spiders etc. from parents. It is easy to see from their mothers experience of bullying, where they have fostered this awareness of their own nose shapes.

We as humans have unique, individual relationships with our own appearance. How we feel about our image is something only we can decide. 
In the same way we respond to fear from dangerous situations. Our minds respond to uncomfortable situations in the same way. Case in point, having a photograph taken. 

See my post on why being photographed makes us feel so uncomfortable here.

Essentially when Orla sees herself in photographs, it doesn't look like the Orla she sees in the mirror. Her brain wants to know why and scans her face in the image. In every photograph we all go to one thing that explains it. The one thing we hate about ourselves in photos and makes us uncomfortable. The more we see it, the more it cements in our minds. 

During the show, we hear people a number of times telling Orla they don't see the problem. That she is perfect as she is. 

At the end of the show, Dr. Kelly recaps and says despite being initially happy with the nose job now isn't happy at all with it. What does that show. The issue isn't the nose. It is her own sense of self. The is caught in the gap between how she thinks she looks, and how she thinks the rest of the world sees her.

This basic fact is the same for everyone on the show. How they see themselves is tainted by how they believe the rest of the world sees them. 

You don't need to change your face or your physical appearance, you need to change your mind. My post on getting out of your own funk is here. 
Okay, so my face, my headshot. 

Image by Peter Hurley

My headshot above, straight from the camera. So what do you see. Truth is you saw a face. Two eye a nose and a mouth. Looking fairy happy with myself being photographed by the worlds top headshot photographer. 
Now look again. Did you see my left eyelid is heavier than the right? How about the hair follicle causing a bump between my eyebrows? Ears are big enough you had to have noticed them? How about the missing chunk from my right ear? My nose is bent and has a bump on the side you saw that?
Truth be told, the only thing I see in photographs is that the left side of my mouth, is slightly lower than the right. You didn't see that either. 

How you walk in the skin you wear is your decision. Why not embrace it? What other choice do you have?

 

10 Reasons your team needs headshots

The Top 10 Reasons Your Team Needs Headshots:

1. A great headshot shows you are invested

They say a picture speaks a thousand words, and they'd be right. Having a professional headshot, shows not only that you are invested in yourself, it shows you will be invested in your clients.

2. A great headshot makes connections

Science shows we form opinions of the people we meet in the first 0.9 seconds. There are 1.8 Billion photographs uploaded to the internet daily. Almost all of the images we see have become nothing more than social media noise. Make people connect by having a stand out image

3. Your headshot tells your story

Over 70% of all human communication is based on body language and facial expression. Your headshot is the first time someone meets you. It should tell them everything they need to know, without you ever speaking a word.

4. The team building event

I regularly shoot for large clients. Shooting upwards of 50 or 60 team members. Taking something that by it's very nature creates fear, turning it into a fun social experience and creating an environment where staff are sharing tips and compliments over each others images.

5. Team headshots show consistency

When your customers look at your team headshots or about us page, what do they see? Do they see cohesive, uniform headshots that show consistency in your brand?, or do they see a mix and match of images that subconsciously communicate inconsistency in standards? Can you afford to not have it done?

6. Team Headshots = Social Media Content

Nowadays branding is much more than a logo. We see faces like Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk. We instantly associate it with their brands. We look beyond the walls and see brands from the inside out. Most companies have social media. Headshots are a great way to share your staff stories and success with your clients and followers with strong, consistent imagery.

7. Team headshots, build bonds

Okay, so having your headshot can be stressful. After all we are pointing a camera at the gap between how you feel you look, and what you think the rest of the world expects. Having team headshots done creates conversation, improved morale, social interactions, compliments which increase dopamine releases from validation (similar to getting Facebook likes or Retweets) and opens your staff up to taking more calculated risks and challenges. 

8. Uniformity, Uniformity, Uniformity.

For centuries uniformity has been used by the military, police, medical professionals and fire and rescue services to show consistency and gain trust. Children wear school uniforms to show them they come from something bigger than themselves. Having uniform headshots, not only shows staff they belong to something bigger. It shows your clients they are buying into something strong, consistent and trust worthy.

9. Ease of repetition 

A business is very much a life form. It will grow when nurtured, staff will come and go. Having headshots professionally shot means it is easy to shoot new faces as they come through the doors, seamlessly adding them to your online presence without the need to shoot the whole team again or compromise the brand image with poor quality or inconsistent imagery.

10. Stand Out!

Again, 1.8 BILLION Images on the internet daily. Most of it fodder. Your image needs to make you stand out. It needs to draw attention and make people sit up and look. People buy from people. We all know this. Isn't it time we acted on it. 

How you walk in the skin you wear is your decision. Why not embrace it? What other choice do you have. 

For more information and to book your session. Get in touch here

Target McConnells SafeFood Campaign

Target McConnells Wins Safefood’s Childhood Obesity Business

Target McConnells Managing Director Abi Moran

Huge congratulations yet again to Target McConnells on winning the contract to front Safefood's childhood obesity campaign. It's always great to see a great company, and great people being rewarded for their efforts. 

You can read the Adworld article here.

How far is too far?

How Far is Too Far?

www.her.ie article linked to picture. 

Just saw this shared by Her.ie

So this guy last year got a hair transplant, now he has had a beard transplant. Now I know each to their own, we all have the right to make decisions on how we look and if we want to go down this route or not.

What are you fighting in doing this?
What is prompting or causing this sort of behaviour in our society?

Okay so genetically we are preconditioned to present ourselves in order to meet a strong mate, reproduce strong offspring.

So are we to cheat our prospective mate? Make them think we won't go bald or we have suspiciously perfect skin or facial hair? Huge lips with no natural lines or at 40, have had such a perfect life your face has just realised and gone into a state of shock?

Come on people. What you were born with is what you have, those are the cards you were dealt.

The features you have are not yours and yours alone. They are on loan from those who came before you. From your mother, father, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

They are on loan to you so that you can pass them on to someone else. So that they may pass them on. The lips that kissed you goodnight, the eyes you stared into as a child and the ears that listened to your first words.

In changing these things not only are you insulting those who passed them to you, but telling your children, those who come after you, that these features are not good enough.

Are your beautiful children ugly? Are they to change their features?

Get a grip people!

How you walk in the skin you wear is your decision. Why not embrace it? What other choice do you have?

Get Out of Your Funk, Just Change Your Mind!

Get Out of Your Funk, Just Change Your Mind!

This post is inspired by a number of Facebook posts and situations happening with friends of mine. It got me thinking about getting stuck in a rut. We all do it, but why? And, what if anything we can do to change it? 

We can all get stuck in a rut, fact is most of us go through stages of self doubt, at work, or in life we have just hit a plateau and there doesn't seem to be a next step, or next level. One Headshot Crew colleague of mine based in Canada recently remarked "Sometimes I need to remind myself I am a good Photographer". Questioning his own skill level showing self doubt. In essence changing his mind, from a negative mindset, to a more assuring one.

The difference between creatives and people in standard jobs is we have our own physical images as a gauge to look at. Not only that, it's always previous work, and probably a session we learned something from. So each session after it is better and now all we see are faults the previous work.. 

I remember my mentor, the worlds leading headshot photographer, Peter Hurley talking about when he photographed Mikhail Baryshnikov the famous ballet dancer and freaked out when he heard the last person the dancer, who is very rarely photographed was shot by was Annie Leibovitz. He took the bull by the balls and did it anyway.
Remember we are talking about someone voted one of the Top 10 Living Photographers, and one of the Top 20 Most inspirational Photographers to have ever lived. If Peter gets nervous before doing something new or outside of his comfort zone, I think any of us can be forgiven for having the same nerves. Letting self doubt become crippling self doubt is something we cannot allow.

"Courage is not the absence of fear. It is taking action despite it".


The Science Bit.
Neuroscience says "Repetition dulls the mind". So by performing the same actions, over and over we become bored and lazy and it is easy to get into a funk and it can be very difficult to get out of it because each of those thoughts, is two neurons firing together. The more you think those thoughts, the stronger the bond between those neurons becomes. 

The Brain.
We have 3 Brains developed over our evolution. The NeoCortex, The Limbic Brain and the Cerebellum. The NeoCortex is the walnut bit. The Limbic Brain in the centre looks like a lemon and the Cerebellum (reptilian brain) is the oldest part evolutionarily speaking, sits at the back underneath. 

The Walnut, is where we think and learn. Each new thought is neurons connecting together, the more we have that thought, the stronger this new "Synaptic" connection becomes.

i.e. Having your photograph taken. 

Nobody ever walks into me in studio and says, "John, you're gonna have to dial it down a bit here. I am gonna rock it, so just to keep order in society, we will bring me back down to general mankind level". Everybody comes in with the same nerves. 

Even though it's only having your photograph taken, and it hasn't happened yet, the sensation and feelings you get from seeing other photographs you have hated of yourself come flooding back. Your body does not know the difference between real danger like a Lion, or just the thoughts of that situation. 
 

So what is happening here is your body does not know the difference between an interview and a lion. It just knows stress. 

Your "Walnut" is saying this is bad, the "Lemon" is releasing hormone codes to the Reptillian brain (which runs the rest of the body) to say it's get out of here time. These hormones cause things like your pupils to dilate, blood to rush to your arms and legs in order to run away or fight, your blood pressure goes up as does your heart rate and breath rate. Now is not the time for answering questions. That is why you are blank. 

Breaking the Cycle!

Okay so we said repetition dulls the mind. So by practicing over and over we become accustom to the sensation of this fear. We become practiced at our own response to it and over time it lessens. 

To break that cycle we need to act, despite the fear. Deciding that instead of fear or anger, we will show compassion or understanding. In deciding this we are creating new Synaptic connections, the physical act of changing our minds. The more we reenforce these new connections with the same thoughts, the stronger theses new bonds become, weakening the old thoughts until they barely exist. This is true of any practice. Remember how stressful it was learning to drive? With practice the nerves all but vanished, or learning to ride a bike, riding a roller coaster for the first time or even falling in love.  

Courage is not the absence of fear, it is taking action despite it!

24Hrs Of Views

Some of the Visitors over past 24hrs

As anybody in business will testify. It is good to know your audience and where they are looking in from. I have put together a small map of some of the locations people have looked in on the website in the past 24hrs. 

If you see yourself. Get in touch. 

Treat yourself

Taste of The High Life without the cost

Image © www.avenue.ie

So you work 40+ hours a week, get paid and watch it all vanish on bills and responsibilities. A little disheartening when you think of the reality. So many of us worry about spoiling ourselves, the sheer selfishness of going out for a fancy meal. 

The being caught to go shopping at the weekend and searching the city centre for something edible that won't break the bank and make you want to miss weight watchers or slimming world next week to hide your indiscretions. 

You certainly judging by the prices in Temple Bar and having any sense go anywhere near. That is until you walk down Crow Street. 

When we think of restaurants or entertainment in Dublin City Centre we get very caught up in the preconceived notions it's expensive and conceited. If it's good, it's for special occasions and if it's cheap it's not great.

How about having the best of both worlds. 

This afternoon in the sun we took a trip down to pool beg lighthouse. One of the to do things for Dublin people on a sunny day. Followed by some lunch in Avenue by Nick Munier. (click either of the pictures to go to www.avenue.ie)

With set menus for lunch 1 Course €9.95, 2 Course €13.95 or 3 Course €17.95 and a 3 Course Kids Menu for €12.50. You seriously cannot go wrong. Eating in a Michelin recommended restaurant that is stylish and comfortable with great food without paying over the odds. A welcome change. 

The first thing that strikes you coming in is the style, the huge artworks on the walls created by Nick Munier himself and the crispness of the place. A far cry from what you expect in the Temple Bar area. 
The next thing you notice is how friendly and attentive the staff are, non pretentious and give you plenty of space to enjoy your meal and drinks in private, but at the same time ready to make sure your feel like you have your own personal butlers. 

The food, as you would expect in a Michelin recommended restaurant was fantastic. The French Onion Soup, Served with Gruyère Crouton and Sour Dough Bread and butter was like silk. Absolutely fantastic. 

The Mains, I had Buttered Poached Hake, White Bean and Chorizo Cassoulet, Roast Pepper Puree, Basil Oil. As a fish lover it was the only choice for me. Beautiful flakey fish, with clams in shell around the edges for garnish, the cassoulet and roast pepper puree giving the whole thing a smokey kind of smell as you eat. Amazing. 

Vivienne had the Soya Marinated Chicken, Asparagus, Broad Beans, Peas, Chestnut Mushroom Jus, Balsamic Reduction and raved about the moistness of the chicken and how the mushroom jus stayed with you. 

Deserts, Why not. While treating ones self. We both had the Cinnamon Shortbread, Mascarpone, Mango Mousse, Mango Coulis and Basil followed by Espresso coffees. I even ate the basil leaves. Sceptical at first about basil leaves but it made sense. 

No matter what I write or how I rant and rave about how great it was, it will never give the sense of being there. The amazing smells, the looks on peoples faces as they see Nick Munier walking around, meeting them and chatting with them with seamless charm.
The respect and attention paid to each person at each table by the staff and the warmth. This overwhelming sense of welcoming into their own little secret in the heart of the city. 

Judgement. I know we loved it. I think everyone should taste the high life without having to worry about the cost. With places like this in the city there is really no excuse for McDonalds and Chicken Fillet Rolls. 

Avenue by Nick Munier is located at 1/1A Crow Street (Just off Dame Street) Dublin 2. 
www.avenue.ie, (01) 6455 102 info@avenue.ie 

Mind Your Audience

Mind Your Audience, They might be listening.

I wouldn't consider myself prudish in any way, I have quite a dark sense of humour and I've been known to open my mouth at the wrong time and definitely say the wrong things. But this is a new one on me. 

Today, I walked into a local shop (Supermarket Format) to be met in the middle of the floor on walking in by two members of staff with a mobile phone held up like they were taking a selfie. Phone on the shop floor pulling attention away from the customers, rude but it's only a selfie right? Morale is important. Leave them at it. 

So they ignored me walking in. No hello, no effort to hide the phone. They looked at me and continued on. I did say hello. Okay, now I'm thinking thats wrong. 

I walk passed them and hear one of the lads talking about what i assume they were looking at on the phone. Now it's getting to all manner of wrong. "Yeah, she is bleedin' deadly" I hear. Then "Her Box was bleedin' deadly". WHAT!!!!!! Did I really just hear that in a shop. From the staff?

I frequent another shop around the corner too, not in a million years would you hear the young lad who works there discuss this sort of thing, or have his phone out while dealing with customers. 

Has the store size, and the fact it is part of a chain diminished the personalisation or the community feel you should get walking into a store.
As a business owner, I know i have thought about every stage and step from looking at my website, walking through the studio door to receiving their images, even after the fact has been thought of. Making sure my clients have not only a positive, but the best experience I can deliver. 

For the sake of convenience and saving a few cent on products we buy is it really worth it to lose the sense of appreciation from the stores we buy in, or who we buy from?

Maybe it's time for people and companies to remind their staff, the logo on the door is not the brand. Your brand is anything associated with you. Including your staff. Make sure they put the best face forward.

Your Face Here

Afternoon Headshot Session

 Available Thursday 30th March. 

One of the most important things is for people to know who they are talking to. 
Your headshot is the first meeting with people via your Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter or your own website. 

Put your best face forward because first impressions last. 

Uniformity

When looking at the about us, or meet the team section on your website. It is hugely important all of the images match and look consistent. Some shot on phones, some professional headshots in colour and some in black and white, subconsciously reads as inconsistency through your service and standards. 

Don't lose clients because of a poor set of images. 

Magic of Laughter

There is very little in the world better than kindness and laughter. 

This video from Strike It Rich in the 1990s shows how amazing laughter can be. 
Michael Barrymore rubbing the tears from Erics face is just a fantastic moment. 

Happy Monday

Beauty in recruitment

Join the team. Provided you're hot!

So many times I have stated "It's what is on the inside that counts. It might sound a bit strange coming from a photographer. Especially someone who specialises in taking photographs of the face. As such, people tend to think of me when they see things like this. 

Twice within a few minutes today this was sent to me. A tweet from a restaurant in Dublin city centre looking to hire staff. This is of course brilliant news in any day and age. Companies growing. Taking on staff. There is a crux though.

Management from this restaurant in Dublin City, stated at the launch of Dine in Dublin, Their front of house staff were "just Legs (women) & Arms (men)". Sexually objectifying young men and women and as it would appear, hiring them based on or, at least swayed by how they look. 

In this tweet they are asking for a CV & a photo. While yes, I often shoot headshots for people applying for jobs. Very rarely do jobs other than Acting or Modelling require an image of the candidate before they apply. 

Are we really at that stage in this day and age, where we are now more focused on what is on the outside? As a society are we really allowed to objectify young men and women to keep the restaurant pretty? Rewarding winners of a genetic lottery who may or may not have the skill level and passion of people who might not be as aesthetically pleasing. 

A very good friend of mine, successful business man who has run multiple award winning businesses in retail and hospitality once told me "Look after your customers and the tills will look after themselves". Focusing on what is important. Making people feel good. 

Reward passion, dedication, hard work and team spirit. Hire people based on hunger for the role. 

Front of house staff in hospitality need to have strong skills, way beyond how they look. 

Legs and Arms. Disgusting!

Music for Concentration.

Some Music to help you concentrate

On a little bit of a run here today with the music theme. Everyone i've shot headshots for knows that music plays a part. I love having music in the background. Usually Guardians of the Galaxy Movie Soundtrack, Grand Theft Auto Vice City Soundtrack or some good old fashioned happy music. 

I have spent the majority of this week writing and working on stuff behind the scenes. Trying to concentrate and write about the inner workings of the human psyche just doesn't work while howling out I-I-I-I'm STUCK ON A FEELIN'!! 

So I went a little deeper. Thankfully Spotify has a menu for this kinda thing. I found a soundtrack called Music for reading. The first song in it was "Time" by Hans Zimmer. The guy who wrote the score for Gladiator and Inception amongst many other Hollywood amazing soundtracks.

If you have 4mins to spare and need to switch off. This is the song for it. With a beautifully cut together video. 
 

The Full Spotify soundtrack is linked below. 

Chuck Berry R.I.P

Chuck Berry R.I.P.

Something we don't often think about is the relationship between sound and our own emotions. For years shopping centres have been using music pumped out over the speakers after studies showed people spend more when music is played. There are even studies that show music played to plants can help them grow faster and stronger. 

Think about how music makes you feel and can change your moods. Moments where a song has meant something to you. Made you feel happy when you needed it, or made you cry just when you needed that cathartic boost to bawl. 

Today Chuck Berry died. The man who wrote and performed Roll over Beethoven and Jonnie Be Good amongst many many more. Music that makes you feel full of life. Even if Marty McFly did get some strange looks in Back to the Future for playing it at the high school dance. 

Rest in peace Chuck Berry. Thanks for the lift!

March Bookings

March Booking Discount

Am I Ugly?

Am I Ugly?

How, In an age where we are so privileged to have the knowledge of the world at our fingertips has it come to this. We are more in tune with psychology, we are better educated and we are better equipped as kids and adults to deal with adversity and challenges. The world is changing.

Youtube quite literally has videos for everything. Instructional videos teaching us how to light a fire, unblock a drain or perform surgery. There is a downside. Almost 7.5 Million Videos with people of all ages asking "Am I Ugly?" 

What could be worse than feeling that you are not good enough based on how you think you look? Having the need within yourself to reach out to people you don't know to find that answer often to be the target of trolls and keyboard warriors hiding behind anonymous avatars saying things like "Just go and die" or "They should have aborted you"

Tens of Thousands of people Searching Google every month, People Googling terms like Is My Daughter Fat, ProAna and Thigh Gap. 

Isn't it time we stopped searching for the answers to being perfect on the Internet and started searching within ourselves. 

How you walk in the skin you wear is your decision. Why not embrace it? What other choice do you have?