Whether weddings are large or small, you want to have the best possible photos taken to remember your special day. There is no better way to remember the happiness and love you shared on your special day than with photos. Talking with your photographer and making a list of special photos you would like taken is the best way to capture all the magic of the day.

Before the Ceremony

Your photos should start before the marriage ceremony. Getting ready for the big day is one part of the fun you will want to have captured on film. A close-up of the bride’s dress as it lies over a chair makes a wonderful shot. Photos of the bride as she is having her hair and makeup done are fun photo ideas. You will want photos of the bridesmaids getting ready, the mother of the bride helping with the bride’s dress, and mother and daughter captured in a quiet moment.

Photos of the groom and groomsmen getting ready are also must have photos of the big day. A photo of the groom having his father help with his tie is a nice idea. Photos of the groomsmen adjusting their ties and jackets make nice photos. A shot of the groomsmen surrounding the groom and the groom with his father in a quiet moment make good photos for weddings.

The Ceremony

Photos of the mothers being seated are nice photos to have. Capturing photos of the wedding party at the altar make wonderful shots. The groom as he sees his bride for the first time and the bride as she begins walking down the aisle are definite must have shots of the big day. Photos would not be complete without one of the first kiss.

After the Ceremony

When the ceremony is over a must have photo is of the bride and groom as they walk out together. This is a time for fun shots of the groom lifting the bride or the couple in a relaxed shot kissing. Candid shots are wonderful additions to any marriage album. Before and during the reception there are many opportunities for fun photos to be taken. Shots of the cake and the couple cutting the cake are must have photos. Pictures of toasts being made, the first dance, the couple dancing with parents, and other guests dancing are photos that will show the happiness of the day. Read the rest of this entry »

For years, Australia’s gambling market has been limited to land-based casinos and gaming clubs. In recent years, many countries around the world have liberated their online gambling markets, but Australia has yet to jump on the bandwagon. Politicians have resisted the idea of licensing international online casino operators – but a review of the country’s Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) could change everything.

The review process began in 2011, when the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy released a discussion paper. It listed the topics that would be considered by the review, including the development of new gaming technology, problem gambling, licensing and enforcement of the IGA. It has been over a year since the discussion paper was released, and gaming experts predict that there are significant changes on the horizon.

One recommendation that was made during the review procession was a potential trial of online poker regulation. Reports state that the trial would last for five years, giving Australian politicians time to determine the social and financial impact this type of regulation would have on the community.

Online poker is usually the first step for any country looking into online gambling regulation for the first time. This is because poker is regarded as a game of skill; its definition as such makes its regulation more palatable for responsible gambling advocates.

Australia is also likely to make more changes to its online betting market. Previously, local operators were the only companies allowed to offer online betting to residents. For quite some time, only SportingBet and TabCorp were licensed to do so, but Australian politicians opened up the market last year by granting bet365 an online gambling license. The move resulted in a generous increase in gaming tax profits, so it is likely that more international operators will receive online sportsbetting licenses this year. Read the rest of this entry »

This article is for the recreational poker player that aspires to become a full-time professional.

Poker may seem like a cool job with a glamorous lifestyle, but is that really the case? Read on to see if you are ready to turn pro.

The Benefits of Playing Poker for a Living

First, let’s start with why anyone would want to become a professional poker player. If this is obvious to you then skip to the next section!

• Choose your own hours – if you don’t feel like working today, you don’t have to!

• You are your own boss – there is no one ordering you around.

• You get all the freedom that you want – it is possible to wake up whenever you feel like it.

• You can make more money than people your age, with relatively less effort.

• There aren’t many jobs in the world that are as fun as poker.

• You can make huge sums of money in a very short period of time – everyone loves a quick buck!

• If you move to somewhere like the UK, poker is completely legal and you don’t have to pay any taxes on your winnings.

• You can be lazy and disorganized, yet still make a fortune! This is something you simply can’t get away with in the real world.

• You are able to fulfill your dreams. In life, you should do what you enjoy the most. Most people grow up wanting to be an actor, tennis player, singer etc. Professional poker is an alternate route to one of those glamorous careers.

How Much Do You Really Enjoy Poker?

OK let’s begin!

If you are reading this, you have probably played poker ‘a bunch’ and are quite enjoying it. But do you want to play poker 5-6 times a week for the rest of your life? It may seem like poker is the only thing you want to do right now, but in a few years’ time you may think otherwise!

Also take into account the variance involved. It is possible that you may have been running above expectation. In poker, downswings are inevitable and you have to be able to handle it. Downswings can be very tough and cruel. Be prepared for them, because no matter how good you are, it will happen to you.

You need to be completely immersed in poker and know about pretty much everything related to poker. You need to have that urge to play poker every single day if you want to become a professional poker player.

What Skills Are Required To Become a Professional Poker Player?

Another factor to consider is how good you really are at poker. Are you really cut out for it? Most people aren’t. Here are some of the qualities that you need to become a successful professional poker player:

• Have good temperament, discipline and self-control.

• You need to be fairly intelligent. You don’t need to be a genius, but if you are always bottom of your Math’s class then reconsider your career.

• Have a reasonable mathematical background – you need a general understanding of odds and variance.

• You need to be competitive, but at the same time be able to put your ego aside.

• Good analytical skills.

• Good at reading people.

• Have a good knack for games and gambling. This is similar to in business where people talk about having a good ‘business acumen’ – the term sounds a lot like bulls*** but in fact it matters enormously!

• You should generally be a positive person.

• Able to handle pressure.

• Be able to pick yourself up during bad times.

The Realities of Life as a Professional Poker Player

When you turn pro, you need to keep improving constantly. Most professional poker players keep on improving after they have turned pro. You need to constantly put in the hours and keep studying the game.

Generally, poker and social life do not go hand in hand. But if you can find the right balance between poker and life then that is a bonus. You need to ask yourself how you will be viewed by your family, friends and the community in which you live in. Ignore this last advice if you don’t care about what others think of you!

Forget about what you see on TV. Life of the average professional poker player is not quite like the poker players that you see on the World Poker Tour or the World Series of Poker. Prepare for a long grind. Read the rest of this entry »