School Colour Runs - How To Organise
Colour runs are a super fun way to raise money for any number of causes such as charities, hospices, retirement homes or your local community. They emphasise fun over competition and as such, attract a larger number of participants who just want to have a fun day taking part in a bit of exercise whilst getting covered in colour powder! Sounds fun doesn’t it?
We’ve written a guide previously on how to organise a colour run in general which features lots of super helpful tips and advice, but today we’re concentrating on organising a colour run specifically for children at school and how the event could differ from a more ‘traditional’ colour run.
Pre-Colour Run
Choose A Fundraising Cause
Before looking to plan your school colour run, you need to choose what cause will be benefiting from your fundraising efforts. Whether that be a national or local charity, a deserving hospice or even just your local community in general, identify the fundraising goal early so that materials such as leaflets, newsletters, emails etc can be made to inform everyone on what it is that they’re raising money for.
Come Up With Further Fundraising Ideas
The colour run itself is of course the main fundraising drive, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be the only one. Depending on how big you want the event to be, you could invite parents or people from the local community to donate items for a raffle to raise further funds for your chosen cause. Or you could encourage students or volunteers to bake items for a bake sale too, a rather yummy way to raise more money!
Create Promotional Materials
The more you shout about your event, the likelihood of raising even more money increases (which is fantastic!). So include it in any regular materials that are sent to parents and if possible create materials specifically to raise awareness of the colour run too. From email campaigns to leaflets, whichever works best for you. It’s a great opportunity to ask for help from any parents too who may want to get involved.
Advise Parents on What Children Should Wear
Understandably one of the concerns for most parents will be ‘will the colour powder stain my child’s clothes?’ Our advice is to dress for the mess, however, our colour powders will wash out of most materials when used correctly. Plus we even have plain white t-shirts that are perfect for the day if parents don’t want to risk the chance of staining their kid’s clothes. One further piece of advice would be to advise the students to wear glasses of some kind, just in case. We’ve got parents covered there too with sunglasses available in various crazy colours that their kids are sure to love!
Plan Our The Course
When it comes to planning the colour run course for little ones, it’s a great idea to get even more creative to make it as fun as possible! So alongside multiple colour powder stations where teachers or volunteers will cover students in colour powder as the students run past, why not introduce additional playful elements too (budget permitting) such as;
Inflatables - Hiring an inflatable section for the day would certainly bring something different to the course and it’s sure to be a big hit with the kids. Or maybe even just an inflatable arch for the finish line would be pretty cool!
Slime - Alongside covering them in colour powder, squirting slime at the colour run participants will make things even messier! Which kids love! The slime will help the colour powder to stick even more too!
Bubbles - Having teachers, volunteers or even a dedicated bubble machine blowing bubbles towards the course just adds an extra element of fun to the run.
Foam - A foam pit would be another fun addition to your colour run and you could even use our colour powder to make the foam different colours too!
Tyres/inflatable rings/hurdles - Why not add another hurdle (sorry for the pun) for the little ones to face by adding obstacles such as tyres, inflatable rings or even small hurdles for them to jump over.
It’s also important to ensure the course is age-appropriate in terms of its length. Make sure all participants are able to complete the course and then you can add on an extra lap for those who want to run further.
On The Day Of The Colour Run
Brief Teachers & Volunteers On Their Roles
To ensure the event goes as smoothly as possible, make sure teachers and volunteers know exactly what they’re doing on the day. Equip them with the right gear to cover participants in colour powder, slime or foam (whatever you choose) and instruct them on how to safely do it. We recommend putting the colour powder into buckets and then using your hands, plastic cups or bowls (get raiding the school kitchen) to scoop the powder out to throw at runners. Also make sure they’re on the lookout for any safety issues and have a reporting procedure in place for such events.
Strategically Place Colour Powder Throwing Stations
You’ll want to space these out throughout the course to ensure that participants get covered in colour powder throughout the run. Our colour fountains are ideal for the starting line with their blast of colour and 20m reach, they're sure to get everyone covered in colour and ready to run! If you do introduce other elements to the colour run such as slime and foam, then placing throwing stations directly after these will ensure that the powder sticks even more!
You’ll also want to create a special moment at the finish line as this is where parents will be getting most of their photos! So make sure you have enough colour powder and volunteers to create a colour spectacle as runners cross the finish line. Our individual 100g bags are the ideal size for each runner to throw some powder in the air to create a colour cloud at the finish line! They’re perfect for a little colour fight afterwards too!
Post Colour Run
Colour Powder Cleaning Instructions
As mentioned earlier, parents will be understandably concerned about how to clean it off their child’s clothes and potentially the safety of the powder too. We recommend you print out our downloadable safety guide PDF and provide it to parents on the day. It’s also a good idea to share the link with all parents prior to the event too to set their mind at ease.
Let Everyone Know How Much Was Raised
Finally when the dust (or colour powder) has settled on the event and the donations have been counted up, make sure you share with everyone how much was raised! People want to know and it’s always a great feeling knowing that you’ve helped a good cause.
Hopefully our guide has helped you to plan your school colour run and you’re on course (sorry, another pun) to have a fun filled day to remember. Because after all, that’s what’s most important!
If you need any help in choosing the right products for your colour run, our team of experts will be happy to help, just use our contact form or call us on 0330 321 3996.
Leeds Holi Festival 2023
The morning of Saturday 11th March was an exciting one, although my mind was racing all morning with worries... Would Ada behave for Liam? (It was the first time he'd be looking after her during the day on his own and his plans had fallen through due to the snow, so it was just going to be the 2 of them and she had just levelled up to 'terrible 2s' status!)
I was thinking there'd still be snow in Leeds and so layered up with three pairs of socks, leggings under jeans, the works! I had an overwhelming feeling that people weren't going to turn up because of the weather! Well, in true English Weather fashion, it was a stark difference from the day before...
I was picked up at 09:30 from the main road near my house, as my road was still impassable for cars due to black ice! We set off on our adventure to Leeds to go to the Beaver Works. The sun was shining down on us, melting all of the snow! It was starting to feel like it was going to be a wonderful day🌞
After a quick pit stop at McDonald's for coffee and hash browns (my fave), we were on to the M62 and en route to Leeds Holi Festival!
We arrived at the event around 10am and the energy was already high. The Beaver Works staff were busy making sure the venue was set for the 2500 attendees that would soon be coming through the gates. It was really bizarre being behind the scenes of an event like this, I'd only been to Beaver Works once in the past and it was dark, loud and very busy! A completely different feeling being there during the day.
Once we had got our bearings and familiarised ourselves with the area, we quickly set to work unloading the van to move everything to our stall.
The stall was situated in a small through-room at the top of a set of stairs, leading into a big area full of old arcade machines and a yellow submarine! We had to remove the doors from the room to make sure our customers could reach us! Boxes upon boxes of colour powder,sunglasses, floral leis, whistles, headbands and drawstring bags filled the small room.
Chloe and I were both convinced we'd brought too much stock, it really felt like we'd overestimated how much we would sell. How wrong we were 😂😂
When the gates opened at 12:30, it didn't take long for a sea of excited faces to flood the venue. Everyone who bought a ticket received 2 complimentary bags of colour powder, but that didn't stop them from buying plenty more from our stall! We were so busy for the full day, right up until closing, people were going crazy for our vibrant colour powders!
The sound of music and laughter filled the air, and colour clouds were drifting through the sky. Also, the smells... Oh my goodness the gorgeous aroma of Indian street food was just irresistible. When we finally got a break, Nigel very kindly offered to get a selection of goodies to share. We had chicken curry and a soft bread type wrap filled with spiced paneer and vegetable. It was the most delicious food ever and I've eaten at a LOT of Indian restaurants! Definitely check out Punjabi Heaven in Leeds if you get the chance, out of this world food!
Everyone was so happy, it felt like winter was really over and spring was finally here!
Throughout the event, I was constantly inspired by the sense of community and togetherness that permeated the air. People were dancing and laughing, throwing colour powder at one another and enjoying the music. It was a truly magical experience and I felt so grateful to be a part of it.
The day wouldn't have been possible without Nigel! As much as he can drive Chloe and I up the wall, he really is brilliant and knows what he's doing! I'm very grateful for such a fun boss!
Leeds Holi Festival was a really inclusive day where everyone was made to feel welcome. Holi Festival, also known as the Festival of Colours, is a joyous celebration of peace, love, happiness, equality and the triumph of good over evil through live music, food and bright colours.
Another thing that I loved about the day was spending time with my colleagues out of the usual work setting. It was a great opportunity to celebrate our successes and discuss how we are going to make 2023 our best year yet! I'm so grateful for such an amazing team, you guys are the best <3
Abi & Chloe at Leeds Holi
When we had the opportunity, Chloe and I were keen to get into the mix! As you can see, we fully immersed ourselves and got covered in colours. The event was so busy, at times it was difficult to navigate through the crowds, but it was such a great experience and we all really enjoyed the day! The highlight of the day for me, was seeing Eshaan (the organiser of Leeds Holi Festival), letting off our colour fountains! They offer such an amazing visual impact, it really gets the party going!
We'd love to get out and about to more events, to see our fabulous colour powders in different settings. If you think your event would make a good feature for our blogs, get in touch hello@ministryofcolours.com
or give us a call on 0330 321 3996!
Thanks for reading :)
Abi xo
King Charles' Coronation
We’re super excited for the King’s Coronation on Saturday 6th May, Chloe has her Union Jack mug out in preparation, Nigel’s been raving about the street party he’ll be attending, whilst I’ve had my eye on our new Union Jack sunglasses for a while now.
That’s right, we’ve released a brand new Coronation product range that’ll help you to celebrate King Charles’ Coronation with all the pomp and pageantry it deserves. Alongside launching the new range, I’ve been looking further into the King’s upcoming coronation, what’s planned for the day and how different the country was the last time we hosted such an event.
What Life Was Like During The Last Coronation
It’s been so long since Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation back in 1953 (70 years!) and the country and the world as a whole has changed a lot in that time. But just how different was it back then? I’ve gathered a few interesting facts that highlight just how times have changed!
Everyone Huddled Around The TV
The Queen’s Coronation was one of the first big events to be broadcast live on television and is widely heralded as the event that ushered in television becoming more mainstream. Many people decided to rent or buy television sets for the Coronation and the number of licence holders doubled from approximately 1.5 million to 3 million. Compare that to the 25 million approximate licence holders in the UK today and you can see how television has become increasingly integral to our day to day lives.
Food Rationing Was Still in Place
At the start of the Second World War, Britain was importing a large amount of its food (we actually import a smaller percentage today) and one of the strategies of the Germans was to attack supply ships to try and starve Britain into submission. As a result of these shortages, the British Government brought in rationing for various products to make sure everyone had enough of everything to get by.
By 1953, there was still rationing in place on a number of items such as sugar, meat and coal, whilst just before the Queen’s coronation, the rationing of sweets and chocolate ended. I’m not going to lie, I wouldn’t have coped without my choccie!
Fourth Coronation in Just Over 30 Years
We were so used to Queen Elizabeth II being our Queen that we forget that it hasn’t always been so commonplace to have the same Monarch for so long. There will have been many people at her coronation that were witnessing their fourth that century! Elizabeth’s in 1953 followed on from King Edward VII’s in 1902, King George V’s in 1911 and King George VI’s in 1937.
Homosexuality Was Illegal
Now this is awful and almost impossible to believe but unfortunately, homosexuality was indeed illegal back in 1953 and would be so in England until 1967. Compare that with today where same-sex marriage is commonplace and there are numerous fantastic Pride events celebrated worldwide! We’re a proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and believe that love comes in every colour, so the world is a better place today in this regard for sure!
There Were No Motorways
The first motorway, The Preston bypass which is now part of the M6 was built in 1958. So during the Queen’s coronation, everyone was getting around on A and B roads. Can you imagine how long it would have taken to go on holiday to the seaside back then? It’s long enough now!
What’s Planned For King Charles’ Coronation?
Saturday 6th May
- King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach as part of the King’s Procession to Westminster Abbey in time for the service to start at 11am.
- During the ceremony the monarch will pledge to be the ‘defender of the faith’ but the coronation oath will be updated to reflect the Britain of today.
- The Archbishop will then anoint, bless and consecrate Charles and he’ll be given the orb and sceptre before St Edward’s Crown is placed upon his head, officially making him King Charles III.
- King Charles III and Queen Camilla will then return to the palace in the same Gold State Coach that his Mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II travelled in during her Coronation. Hopefully he won’t need a hot water bottle like her Majesty did back in 1953!
- Then to conclude the day’s events, various members of the Royal Family will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in front of the vast crowds that will no doubt gather below them.
Sunday 7th May
- A special Coronation Concert will take place at Windsor Castle and will be broadcast live by the BBC.
- The concert will see a world class orchestra play interpretations of musical favourites whilst the stars that made them perform. It’s all very hush hush in regards to who will be performing though, I wonder who will be there!
- Neighbours and communities are encouraged to get together and take part in the Coronation Big Lunch. Street parties are highly encouraged, but so is a nice cuppa tea with your next door neighbour, whatever takes your fancy.
Monday 8th May
- Everyone is encouraged to take part in ‘The Big Help Out’ and try out some volunteering for themselves. If you’re looking to help some good causes, check out their website and download their app to see what is being organised near you.
- The extra bank holiday this year is much appreciated, your Majesty. Let’s hope we get some lovely sunshine to enjoy too!
Looking To Organise Your Own King’s Coronation Event?
If you’re looking to take part in the celebrations and the Coronation Big Lunch, our Coronation range has a number of items to help you celebrate in style.
Why not incorporate some colour powder into your celebrations? Our safe to use powder is available in Regal Red and Royal Blue (amongst other colours) so it’s the perfect addition to your celebration. Just maybe wait until everyone is finished eating their food!
We also have a number of Union Jack themed products such as flags, whistles and sunglasses which will help everyone to get in the mood.
You know what, I’ve decided that I’m definitely going to grab myself some of those sunglasses, they’re so cool! Enjoy the celebrations guys!
What Are The Colours of Holi?
Holi, otherwise known as ‘the festival of colours’ is an ancient Hindu tradition that celebrates a variety of things such as the eternal and divine love of Radha Krishna, the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring.
During the festival, everyone participates in the ‘throwing of colours’ which involves exactly that. As well as throwing the colours, festival goers rub the colour powder onto each others faces - an act of love and friendship.
Traditionally only the colour red was utilised during Holi celebrations, however as time has passed, more and more colours have been added to the rainbow of colours used. The colour choices aren’t just because they’re pretty though, they all have a meaning associated with them too. So we thought we’d provide a brief description of why each colour is important and what they represent.
Red
The colour red is associated with a number of traditions in India. Brides and married women wear red and it’s also the colour of weddings and life in general. Not just for Hindus, but for Muslims, Buddhists and Jains too.
When a married woman passes away, her body is traditionally covered in a red cloth, however when a woman becomes a widow, she symbolically never wears red again and at her death is instead covered in white (to signify purity and renunciation).
Many people in India also mark their forehead with a red dot known as a tilak. This is to remind them that the body is a temple and that everyone and everything on the planet is sacred. It also signifies which Hindu religious group the person is part of and is said to bring the wearer good luck and ensure their health and safety.
Blue
In Hinduism there are three main deities: Shiva The Destroyer, Brahma The Creator and Vishnu The Preserver. Vishnu spends eternity sleeping until they are called upon when a crisis occurs. They then appear as one of their ten avatars and proceed to save the world. Vishnu’s blue skin is one of the major inspirations for this choice of colour.
Green
Green represents the celebration of nature and happiness and is also the colour associated with one of Vishnu’s avatars, Rama, who spent the majority of their life in exile in the forest. In certain areas of central India, married women often wear green bangles and saris in Rama’s honour. However a widow would never wear green.
Yellow
The sacred colour of India, yellow is the colour of sunshine and happiness. Many of the gods such as Vishnu and Krishna are often depicted wearing yellow and the colour itself is actually believed to have healing powers. This is probably due to its association with turmeric, which has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries within India.
Pink
This is an innocent and cheerful colour that symbolises youth and playfulness. It’s a more recent addition to Holi celebrations and can often be seen in the clouds of colour powder that smother the streets of India during the celebration. It’s also not associated with either gender within India, so is a colour of choice for everyone.
Orange
Orange is associated with strength and is a sacred colour in many Eastern religions, Hinduism included. Hindu monks wear orange robes and bright saffron turbans. Orange also represents the sacral chakra, which is the energy centre of one’s self. Whilst the usage of the colour orange in the flag of India represents the strength and courage of the Indian people.
Purple
Purple is a combination of the passion of red and the calmness of blue and is often associated with royalty, power and wealth within India. It’s also the colour of the crown chakra, which is the seventh chakra that is located at the top of the head. It’s believed that with a balanced crown chakra, you’ll find increased synergy between your physical self and the spiritual realm. It’s often seen as a bridge to the cosmos itself.
As you can see, there’s a variety of colours used during the festival and each and every one has a meaning or two associated with it. Something to think about the next time you celebrate Holi.
Here at Ministry of Colours, we stock each and every one of these colours in our colour powder range, which are perfect for Holi celebrations and colour powder parties in general. Our clever calculator will help you to determine how much powder you’ll need based on the number of people attending too, so you’ll be celebrating in no time.
What is Holi? The Ultimate Guide
Holi, otherwise known as ‘the festival of colours’ is a vibrant Hindu festival that welcomes in the season of spring. But how exactly did this festival originate and how is it celebrated?
We’ve taken a look into this wonderful celebration to provide you with everything you need to know about this colourful festival.
What is Holi?
The ‘festival of colours’ is an ancient Hindu tradition and one of the most celebrated Hindu festivals, not just in India, but throughout the world. The festival celebrates the blossoming of love, happiness, new life and the arrival of spring, but traditionally the festival celebrates two unique legends in particular.
The Legend of Radha Krishna and Their Eternal Love
The legend behind this particular aspect of the celebration is that in his youth, Krishna was worried that the fair-skinned Radha wouldn’t like him due to his dark skin colour. His mother intervened and asked him to approach Radha and ask her to colour his face in any colour that she wished. She accepted his offer and they became a couple.
Ever since, the playful colouring of one’s face has been celebrated during Holi, as has their divine and eternal love for one another.
King Hiranyakashipu & The Triumph of Good Over Evil
King Hiranyakashipu had become virtually indestructible due to a boon granted to him and in turn, demanded that everyone worship only him. However his son Prahlada, who was devoted to Vishn, disagreed.
The King proceeded to subject his son to various cruel punishments, which didn’t break his resolve. Eventually he asked his evil sister Holika for help, who proceeded to trick Prahlada into sitting on a pyr. However, due to her evil intentions and Prahlada’s devotion to Vishnu, her fire resistant cloak protected him instead, once the pyre was set alight.
This event is still celebrated to this day as Holika Dahan the night before Holi begins, whilst the triumph of good over evil is one of the main celebrations during Holi.
When is Holi?
The celebration of Holi varies each and every year, due to the fact that Holi is celebrated on the last full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar calendar month. In 2023, Holi will be celebrated on Wednesday 8th March.
How is Holi Celebrated?
Once the ritual of Holika Dahan is completed, the celebration of Holi or Rangwali Holi as it’s also known, begins. The celebration of Holi is a joyous one, featuring parties, music, special food and the traditional throwing of colours.
A mix of dry colour powder, water guns and water balloons are used to cover their targets with colour. Everyone in open areas such as streets and parks is fair game, which results in an explosion of colour in the streets of India.
Traditionally only the colour red was used during the festival, but today a wide array of colours are used and each one has a meaning associated with it. For example, red is associated with the tilak, blue is connected with Vishnu, whilst orange represents the strength of the Indian people.
After playing with the colours, everyone heads home to clean up, before heading out to visit relatives and friends to exchange sweets, such as Gujiya. This traditional sweet of Holi consists of a dumpling filled with khoya (a dairy product made exclusively with milk) and dried fruits.
This and various street foods such as Samosa Chaat, Kadhi Kachori and Pani Puri are consumed too. Whilst the customary drink of the festival is Thandai, a traditional Indian cold drink made from milk, nuts, seeds and spices.
How Do I Celebrate Holi in the UK?
Holi has become a really popular celebration within the UK, with Hindus looking to celebrate the festival of colours in line with their traditions and religious beliefs.
Here at Ministry of Colours we love to join in on the fun and we’re sponsoring both Rangeela 2023, London’s biggest Holi celebration and Leeds Holi Festival at Beaver Works this year. Whilst our colour powder will also be provided to event attendees at London ki Holi, which we’re really excited about.
But if you can’t make it to a large organised event, you could always throw a colour powder party for you and your friends. Our colour powders are the perfect choice if you’re looking to celebrate Holi in a smaller setting.
Made from natural ingredients, our colour powders are non toxic, ensuring that you can party safely.
If you’re thinking of planning a colour powder party and you need help choosing the right products, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. A member of our team will be more than happy to help you find the right type of powder for your event.
Alternatively, take a look at our FAQs to find out more or use our calculator to see how much powder you might need for your event.
Colour powder, Holi powder & Gulal: What's the difference?
They look the same, feel the same and even throw the same, but what’s the deal with all of these powders? It’s less complicated than you may think… they’re actually the same product! Colour powder comes with many names that have evolved over time as the popularity of colour powder has risen. Let’s go back to the beginning...
Gulal is the original name given to the coloured powder used during Hindu celebrations and religious rituals as well as during Holi, the Festival of Colours. Our colour powder builds upon tradition by still being manufactured in India whilst following modern processes to ensure the safety of the colour powder. Fancy a behind the scenes look at our powders being created? Have a nosey here.
Traditionally, Gulal was made from natural colourings from spring flowers, berries, spices and other plants, adopting the name Herbal Gulal, as the ingredients tended to be very beneficial for the skin.
As Holi festivals gained popularity and colour powder was in higher demand, Gulal adopted the name Holi powder, as people associated Gulal with Holi. Higher demand also meant naturally sourced colourings were replaced with synthetic colourings, which were easier to manufacture in bulk. Our colour powder is made from non-toxic food grade dyes, making Ministry of Colours one of the safest colour powder suppliers in the UK.
Colour powder is a term that is used when not referring to Hindu festivals or celebrations, such as colour runs, colour parties, gender reveals and pet photoshoots.
If you’d like to celebrate a Hindu festival with some Gulal or Holi powder, or if you’d like to use colour powder in your next event, don’t hesitate to get in touch for the best quality supplies.
How To Do Powder Photography - Pet Edition!
abigWe all love taking cute photos of our pets, but have you ever thought of taking your photography skills a step further and conducting a colour powder photoshoot? Our pets love to play, so experimenting with the dynamic properties of colour powder can produce some amazing action photography. On a typical photoshoot, colour powder is usually added to the back of the animal’s fur as they sit still, before releasing to create a big colour blast effect! Sounds simple, right? Wrong! They always say to never work with animals, but we’re here to give you the best head start so your photoshoot can go as smoothly as possible!
Before the shoot:
1. Location, location, location!
Firstly, decide on the location of your colour powder photoshoot. If you choose an outdoor location, it will be much easier to clean up, however you have less control over the background and lighting of your shots. Staying indoors or in a studio will be a whole lot messier, but will give you a lot more control over the background and lighting, producing better quality photos - remember, indoor venues must be well ventilated. A black background with backlighting will definitely produce the best results, just take a look at Jess Bell’s incredible work!
2. Bring along an extra pair of hands... or two!
If you think this is a one man job, think again! There are so many elements to a pet colour powder photoshoot, the more help the better! Your photoshoot team must consist of one photographer, at least one colour powder applier and at least one ball thrower/treat giver - preferably more!
3. It’s all fun and games!
Remember to pack something to play catch with, like a frisbee or tennis ball. The coolest action shots are typically captured when the animal is jumping in mid air! They’re also at their happiest when playing with their favourite toys, and photos of happy dogs are definitely what we want to capture in our pet photoshoot.
4. Leap of faith!
Set up obstacles for your pet to jump over. You don’t need to set up a whole agility course, just set up one obstacle right in front of the camera to capture those big leaps and cool shapes!
5. Works a treat!
This one is pretty important - bring lots of treats! You can’t expect your pet to be the perfect model if they’re not being rewarded! Keeping your pet stimulated with incentives is the best way to ensure your photoshoot will run as smoothly as possible.
During the shoot:
6. Speed it up!
Animals move pretty fast, so you’re going to need to use a camera with a fast shutter speed and burst mode. Only taking one photo per leap gives you a slim chance of capturing the perfect action shot, and will quickly tire your pet out, no matter how many treats you have on hand. If you’re using a smartphone, there are plenty of apps you can download that will give you all the tools of a high quality digital camera.
7. Get low!
It’s common photography 101 to know that shots at your subject’s eye level will have the most impact, especially when shooting portrait photography. If you hadn’t noticed, most pets are a lot smaller than us, so be prepared to get yourself low, hold your toys low and deliver your treats low.
After the shoot:
8. Add the finishing touches!
Some colours like yellow and green may not show up too well in outdoor photoshoots, and darker shades of purple and blue may disappear into a dark background. It would be a miracle if the end results of your photoshoot turned out exactly how you envisioned, but in the likely case there’s a little something missing from your photos, you can always fall back on an editing tool. Edit your shots to make your colour powder pop and remove any background distractions. Photoshop would be our first choice but you can also use a number of free editing apps on your smartphone that do a fantastic job.
9. Clean as a whistle!
You’ve finished your photoshoot, the studio is a mess and your pet currently resembles a peacock. But whatever you do, don’t bathe your pet straight away! This will strip the oils from their fur which makes it more adhesive and will run the risk of staining their coat. Before any water is introduced, remove loose powder with brushes, hair dryers and towels. Only once you’ve thoroughly removed all loose powder should you bathe your pets, before promptly feeding them the rest of the treat supply!
10. Sharing is caring!
You’re telling us you’ve captured some fabulous shots of your adorable pets and you haven’t posted them online for us to enjoy?! We love seeing your colourful creations so tag us in any of your photos for a chance to be featured on our social media!
If you’d like to conduct your own pet colour powder photoshoot, why not mix and match our super vibrant colour powder in 7 different colours for maximum rainbow results?
David Ross Education Trust sees the school year off with a blast… of colour!
With the 2020/2021 academic year bringing so much disruption and so many challenges, the David Ross Education Trust decided their pupils needed to release some of that pent up lockdown energy… in the form of a colour powder party! At Ministry of Colours, we believe the only way to truly celebrate such a crazy year is to throw an equally crazy end of year party!
The David Ross Education Trust - or DRET, as they’re more commonly referred to - is a diverse network of 34 academies spanning across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and more recently, London. Committed to providing their 12,000 students with a world class education and unrivalled opportunities, DRET are well on their way to becoming one of the highest performing multi-academy trusts in the UK.
At one lucky school, pupils and teachers were provided with heaps of our fantastic holi powder in seven bold colours, and handed the brilliant power of showering their classmates in as much colour as possible - no rules allowed! Pupils were covered head to toe in a rainbow of colours, adorning their snazzy colour party sunglasses for that extra cool factor.
Across other schools in the trust, more exciting colour events are scheduled for September as an engaging way of welcoming pupils back to school after the summer holidays. These events will act as a great team building activity to help ease back-to-school anxiety, as well as something to look forward to after a nice and relaxing break.
If you’d like to throw a party as colourtastic as this, don’t hesitate to get in touch for the best quality supplies!
How To Preserve Your Colour Run T-Shirt
You’ve completed your colour run, had the best day ever and now you want a keepsake to remember how much fun you had?
Why not keep your colour blasted t-shirt as a souvenir? You could display it in a frame as your very own personal trophy or even add it to your wardrobe as a trendy, fashionable one-off design! Either way, it’s super easy to preserve your colourful tee - here’s how!
Step 1: No shaking!
We know how exciting it is finishing a colour fun run, but in order to keep as much of that bright colour powder on your top as possible, it’s best to keep the crazy dance moves for later! Avoid brushing and dusting off your t-shirt too, you want to keep the colour on your shirt, not your hands!
Step 2: Spray your shirt down with white vinegar
Make sure your tee is on a flat surface for this step. Even though dripping colours may be a cool look, the likelihood is they’ll muddle together to create a not so cool brown mess! Spray down every inch of your t-shirt in white vinegar until it’s properly soaked.
Step 3: Give your t-shirt an iron
Allow the white vinegar to partly dry before this step, and place an old sheet between your colour t-shirt and the iron to prevent any fabric burns. The heat and pressure from the iron helps to really sink that wonderful colour powder into the fibres of your tee.
Step 4: Pop your top in the dryer
Finish your masterpiece by throwing your vinegar soaked, crisply ironed tee into a hot dryer for 10 minutes. If you don’t have access to a tumble dryer, blast your shirt with a hairdryer until it’s dry. This allows the t-shirt to further absorb those colours, and keep them locked in!
You now have your very own unique keepsake to remember just how fun your colour run was! Remember to wash at 30℃ to prevent significant colour loss, although with every wash, your lovely colours will unfortunately start to dim. That’s the trouble with our completely washable colour powder - it’s both a blessing and a curse!
If you decide to try out this fun tip, tag us in your photos! We love seeing our social feed full of colour! Don't forget to follow us :)