LOVE IT: What We Think Of You

As a portrait photographer and occasional boudoir photographer, I resonate with all of the things that a makeup artist experiences when working with other women on their image....



How important is it to be confident with what we have and honor where we are right now?  The Atlantic recently did an article on how our own self-sabatoge is affecting our ability to lead and inspire others, it's time for a change in how we approach ourselves....
The Confidence Gap:
http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/04/the-confidence-gap/359815/

LOVE IT: Farideh Ceaser Music Videos for Business

Once in a while, you come across someone that's just so awesome you have to blog about it.  Today, that is Farideh Ceaser, taking what we think in our heads and turning it into a song.  I don't think I need to say anymore because she won't need any further introduction after this goes viral..

14 Creative Things To Do Together Tonight

Whether your relationship is a new fling, or tried and true spouses, make the journey more fun by doing things outside of the box from your regular routine.  Here are a few things to create a unique and fun memory together:

1. Try a new recipe together.  Get adventurous and pick an exotic recipe neither of you have made before.
2. Draw each other.  If you're both horrible at drawing, you can at least laugh at your creations together.  Of course, there's also a chance that one or both of you are brilliant artists, and that you'll end up with something worthy of a frame.  Either way, it's a simple way to create a unique keepsake together.
3. Learn to sing a Karaoke song together.  There are plenty of YouTube-style-karaoke examples you can practice at home- just pick one you can practice over and over together and if you feel really daring, take it on the Karaoke circuit to try it in front of a live audience!
4. Divide a deck of cards in half and write out 26 things you love about each other on the face of each card and then play a game like war, and read them back and forth to one another over a bottle of wine.
5. Create a favorite dance mix together and then use it to dance to in your living room.
6. Create a painting together.  Get a canvas, pick out two colors and take turns adding paint to the canvas to create something original and unique for your collaboration.  If canvas and paints are out of the budget, paper, markers, and pens work just as well.
7. Reenact a famous movie scene together and record it.  No one else needs to see it, unless you feel like you have some star potential, but now you'll have something to relive over and over together.
8. Write a poem together.  Trade off line by line and see how long you can keep it going.
9. Make a snow creature or a sand creature together (or play dough creature!)  Dragon, teddy bear, shark, koala- the options are only limited by your imagination.
10. Take a hike and find a good hiding place to start a new Geocache together.
11. Learn a dance together so that the two of you can really take the dance floor with confidence as a couple at your next social gathering like a wedding or holiday party.
12. Sit across from each other and give each other foot massages at the same time, of course you may not want to stop at the ankles.
13. Go through random photos you have of each other and print them out to create an album of shared memories together.
14. Create a vision board together, imagining a life that's even more wonderful than you have now.

LOVE IT: Real Beauty Sketches

This video series, produced by Dove, speaks directly to what I experience when I photograph people and hear how they see themselves.  Most often, when I'm doing headshots, I end up hearing everything that people hate about themselves.  I hear things come out of people's mouths that I never would have noticed or even perceived to be a problem.  Things which I consider to be part of someone's beauty, they consider to be ugly or unfavorable.  The fact is, we are the worst critics of how we look.  To everyone else in the world, we may be beautiful and lovely just as we are, but if we have a negative self-image, we end up closing ourselves off to our own greater beauty.  This video is a great illustration of the differences we have in how we perceive ourself versus how others see us...



To see the entire series, visit: http://realbeautysketches.dove.us

LOVE IT: Marina Abramovic & Ulay

This is one of those unforgettable moments of life- that took a lifetime to create anticipation for and now that it has happened, it can never be replicated again.  Marina & Ulay shared a love adventure over 30 years ago, ending their relationship by walking the great wall from opposite ends and seeing each other for the last time in the middle, never to speak again.  Marina, as part of her art exhibit, shares a moment of silence with strangers one by one who sit in front of her.  Then, Ulay sits down....


http://zengarage.com.au/2013/03/marina-abramovic-and-ulay/

LOVE IT: Our Wedding Song

One of my FAVORITE things about weddings is getting to meet couples who have been together forever and who still dance together, hold one another, and show affection after years of experiencing the ups and downs of life together.  I sincerely hope to be these people when I grow up... (click play on the video below to watch)


(Thanks to Maura for the share)

LOVE IT: Take a deep breath

Deep breath in....



Long breath out....



Repeat 5 times.


(Captured while flying between Brisbane and Melbourne, Australia.)

LOVE IT: Caine's Arcade

Build it, create it, love it, don't give up on it, and they will come...



What's even more amazing than the story itself is the power of imagery, film, and social media to spread this story. Combined with the power of people connecting to his story and being inspired to give, viewers have contributed over $50,000 to support a college education fund and trust for Caine's future. We'll have to check back in 30 years and see how he changes the world. In many ways, he's already made more of a national impact than most children his age. What did you want to spend all of your time doing when you were his age? It's never too late to start pursuing your passion right now.

LOVE IT: Love Song Mixtape

Photo from anneruthmann Instagram feed.

Love has always been important to me. When I was a pre-teen living in Arizona and had to give a speech for an Optimist Oratorical Contest with the starting phrase "What if...", I turned to poetry and lyrics to help me describe love. I wish I still had a copy of that speech so I could read it again and see what, if anything, has changed about my idea of love. I remember mentioning in my speech that I knew I seemed young to an audience of middle-aged adults to really know anything about love. However, I now believe that children know the most about love- because they have not had any reason to doubt, distrust, or guard against other people's love.

I wish we could all return to that child-like place of all-accepting love. Love without discrimination, reservation, religious separation, or judgement toward others. Until we can heal ourselves and return to that place of fullness in our own love, we can at least indulge in music that reminds us a little bit of what that love feels like.

What song in your playlist reminds you of love? Comment below and share your favorites! I love discovering new music!

Here are a few of mine (click to preview this playlist in iTunes):

LOVE IT: Independent Bookshops

My bohemian friend, writer, and bookseller Alise Hamilton shared this lovely clip on Facebook last weekend and I couldn't help but fall in love and share it with you. While traveling to other countries, it's the little independent bookshop that draws me in with its unique expressions of what a culture wants and is drawn to. Here in Australia, the independent bookshops tell me of a longing to travel to distant places, of not taking life too seriously, and of honoring the indigenous culture. If you're looking for a little adventure this weekend, how about visiting your local independent bookshop?

LOVE IT: The Most Astounding Fact

Click play in the video below to watch & listen to astrophysicist Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson's simple response to the most astounding fact about our universe...



(Music: "To Build A Home" by Cinematic Orchestra)

This resonates with me because I feel a strong connection to everything around me. Perhaps this is why I also feel so strongly about the concept of love and practicing it toward others as often as possible. To love others is to love ourselves. To forgive others is to forgive ourselves. By being open to others, their ideas, their criticisms, and their worldview, we can begin to understand ourself and our universe more fully.

LOVE IT: Save-ouring Every Moment

This perfectly explains what I love about photography and why I call myself a photographer. I can't help but "save-our" every meaningful or even small but significant moment that I get to experience- in my life, and in the lives of others....

LOVE IT: Zee Avi

Part island breeze, part folk acoustic, take a moment to let Zee Avi take your ears and mind to another place...

If you can't see or play the YouTube video above, [click here].

LOVE IT: Boston Flash Mob Wedding

This totally combines ALL of my favorite things: singing, public displays of affection, element of surprise, wedding loveliness, theatrical display of awesomeness, and LOVE... rock on John & Caroline. You are officially the most awesome couple to ever get married at the Prudential Center!! And the officiant's speech?! I'm seriously in tears right now....

... if you plan to do this for your wedding... please call me so I can get some amazing photos of it!!

LOVE IT: 100 New Yorkers Engagement Proposal

When I saw this video, it filled my heart with warm fuzzies and I just had to share it with you. I think I will always be in awe when it comes to little acts of love. I found myself pausing the video frequently just so I could read each page! There are some really funny and wise quotes among the many photos.. you just have to see it for yourself! Click play to watch the youtube video below:


To read more about the story behind this video, visit: A Special Marriage Proposal from New York and Seoul

Thanks to Sheng Chen for sharing it!

LOVE IT: Daily Affirmation

This morning, I woke up feeling a lot like Jessica (Click play to watch):


I believe she starts off the video by saying, "Look, I can be a Sark!" If you don't know of Sark, well, here's where Jessica may have attained her inspiration, and could be another full Love It post for me: Planet Sark

LOVE IT: Bottle

A little slice of inspiration for your imagination... and your heart. Click play to watch (5 min).

Bottle from Kirsten Lepore on Vimeo.

LOVE IT: The Swapaholics

The Swapaholics combine three of my favorite things: fashion, recycling, and an amazing deal! If you've never been to a Swapaholic event, there's no better time than during Boston Fashion Week to check out their Sip & Swap this Thursday at Arts at the Armory in Somerville! Founders Amy Lynn Chase, owner of Haberdash Vintage, and Melissa Massello, creator of Shoestring Magazine, make a powerful pair of fearless fashion finders, bringing their  expertise together for the benefit of lucky swappers. Armed with an impressive team of volunteers, each event provides an opportunity to trade in your less-wanted items for something you'll love more! The best part? You know the entire stash is fresh that day direct from other swappers just like you, and whatever doesn't go home- doesn't come back- it heads off to Salvation Army where the less informed can wade through racks of unwanted clothing and pay more for one piece than you traded for all you can carry!  Want to be in the know before you go?  Check out these  6 Tips for Becoming an Expert Swapaholic!

I had a ton of fun documenting the Canal District Clothing Swap earlier this year, and even did a mini-fashion shoot with Jen Loves Kev and Orchid Grey, who are part of the Delightful Dozen collective of fashion bloggers who trade fashion pieces and interpret them in new ways.





Click play on the slideshow below to see my coverage of the entire swap!

LOVE IT: Random Moments

Alex and I were waiting for a ferry in Brisbane, Australia and the only other person at the terminal was a skateboarder who was attempting tricks off the bench in front of us. It was a completely ordinary moment and yet I was captivated. I decided to capture it in the abstract way that I was sensing it- just a bench, a board, a body, a trick, and a return. Inspiration can come from anywhere. Click play below to watch the video:

LOVE IT: someecards

My love for the irreverent, paired with a special occasion or a random media story, helps someecards continually put a smile on my face. I also love that I can just share the link on a facebook page, or embed here on my blog instead of needing to send them via email, which means instant smiles for anyone I want to share with. Here are just a few of my favorites du jour:

This one is video: