It's funny that these nowadays fortune cookies aren't what they used to be.

I guess they've run out of ways to say "Luck will come your way." Instead, fortune writers are turning to nonsensical words of wisdom like "It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end." ........ WHAT???? O.o

 But tonight, I got a very appropriate note from my little yummy treat. 

Profound isn't it?

So since I'm in some weird "Confucius say:" mood, I will write my post in good ole' fortune cookie fashion...

Some of these are plain and simple, but most have a hidden, epiphanic, mind-blowing, WHOA.... type moment, so take the time to think and if you figure me out... AwEsomEnEss! :) Hope you get something out of it!

What does this have to do with photography? well... your mindset and philosophies manifest in your performance and art.

1. Count your blessings.
2. If you think you have the most horrible life, just remember that you're not living in (insert 3rd world country here)  fighting for your own life let alone basic human rights.
3. There's always someone out there who will be ahead of you... except if you turn the other direction and pull out a mirror they will always be behind.
4. Success isn't tangible. It's a journey with no final destination.
5. If you think you're doing fine, you're not. If you think you're doing bad, you're not.
6. Everything can be answered by this one equation, E = MC squared.... a child who can say "mom" or dad" knows this.
7. Failure is when you've accepted something is impossible. 
8. Be  _______________.
9. A 'To do' list... is transactional, but a 'STOP doing' list, is transformational.
10. You can have it all, you just can't have it all at once.

Rob

As most of you know, I have a slight obsession for love and weddings.  I think my love affair with weddings began way back when I was ten years old and watched "Father of the Bride" for the first time- probably even before that.

This love affair was painfully obvious to everyone around me by high school.  In the 12^th grade, one of our projects, as part of a life long learning class, was to plan our own wedding.  Apparently, we were just supposed to cover the basics.  Most of my classmates turned in 2 or 3 page reports.  I, on the other hand, made a custom wedding album covered in silk and lace with a place to insert a photo of me and my then high school boyfriend on the front.  I made a bridal bouquet and a garter, I picked out the pattern for my flower girl dresses, I cut swatches for the bridesmaids gowns, and more- but you get the point.

I guess I might have scared that high school boyfriend a little- he broke up with me shortly thereafter.

As the years went by I kept adding to this album.  I would tear out pages from magazines to keep as inspiration for my own wedding many years later.  However, there was one magazine that I could never bring myself to tear the pages out of.  The magazine was just too gorgeous to even think of tearing a page from it.  So I kept them all. 

As luck would have it, the Editor-in-Chief of this magazine had been "tearing" out the pages for me all this time.  She collected all of her favorites from the past 10 years and assembled them into a book.  Who is she you ask?  She, is the one and only: Grace Ormonde.  The book is "Being in Love Never Goes Out of Style."  What a fantastic title! I couldn't agree more.

And now.... A Winter Romance- When Vintage Meets Modern....

I'm going to have to break these photos up into a couple of posts, since there are so many to share.  Check back soon for more photos and to learn about the vision behind the theme, the set design, and the floral design.  A very special thanks to Rebecca Salimpour of Natural Charms for the stunning floral design.  We must also thank Andre Movesesyan for assisting us in this challenging shoot.  Cinematic footage from Step 1 Productions coming soon!

If you are a bride looking for inspiration, make sure to purchase Grace's new book here: http://graceormondebook.com/ .

The book also makes a fabulous gift for brides to be.

Ken Rockwell. Ken Rockwell. Ken Rockwell. You have to know of him already; he's on every page of Google! (and I have to add, his name is awesome! It rings celebrity all over it... adult film perhaps?) But if you went to www.kenrockwell.com you won't arrive at some photographer's portfolio trying to sell you on his awesome photography. No, this guy sells his work with words. He primarily uses his site to post camera equipment reviews and does an AWESOME job of doing it objectively. What I love about him the most is that anyone, EVERY type of photographer, can relate to his recomendations. He goes beyond the "yes" or "no", 'two thumbs up' suggestion; he takes the advantages of that piece of equipment and matches it up to who it would be ideal for- That's what matters the most!

Next week: Nikon vs Canon - I know, that's like talking about universal health care to republicans, stem cells to republicans, or anything related to sex to republicans... hm, I'm predicting flames in my near future.... so not feeling PC today.

Rob

The other "Jessica Elizabeth"