Instead, I have had plenty of time to surf the web in preparation for my daughter’s wedding next month. One of the greatest finds I have made has been OUR BEST BITES – a fabulous cooking blog put together by Sara Wells and Kate Jones.

Sara and Kate are both stay at home moms and have been blogigng about food since 2008 and have recently published a fabulous book: Our Best Bites – Mormon Moms in the Kitchen. 

I can not wait to get back on my feet and try these wonderful recipes out.  The photos are great (of course I would comment on the photos) and the recipes are tried and true.

This would be a perfect gift for those seniors who will be heading to college in a few months – let me know if you get it and try some of the recipes!

Your clothing should reflect your style at this time of your life. Your accessories, too.

This is the note that I got from Sarah’s mom when she told me what Sarah would be wearing for her yearbook photos:
“Sarah will be wearing earrings I wore my senior year and the necklace that was my mother’s string of pearls she wore her senior year and that I wore in my wedding…sigh….sniff..sniff”

Mom got a little teary as we took these photos – as I did when I thought Sarah’s choice to wear jewelry that is so meaningful.

For her senior session, Sarah chose to go to a park on the campus of where he father works as one of her locations. How sweet is that? My hope is that she will look back on these photos 10 or 20 years from now and remember this day with fondness. I know that *I* will remember HER with fondness!!!

Meet Jessica Deane of Jessica Deane Photography in Madison, Virgina. Her work can be found at on her BLOG or on FACEBOOK.

About the image…
1. Why do you love this image?
I love that this image tells me about a little girl….. who loves her big sister…. and a big sister who adores her little sister. I caught them doing “airplane”….. saw the light behind them.. and knew it was a perfect moment…. I just had to get my camera.

2. What were your settings with this image?
1/125 1.6 ISO 400

About Photography…
3. What do you love about Photography?
I love that it remembers everything….. When my children are grown and I have forgotten the little pieces of their childhood… those moments are forever captured.

4. What type of Photography do you specialize in and why?
Children! I love that each one is different. I love the little things that make them each unique….. whether they are shy…. if they suck their thumb… if their hair is full of curls…. or thin and whispy. I love the challenge of getting them to let me into their little world……and then telling their story… the way I see them.

About your life?
5. What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?
Well… besides photography? I have taken a liking to knitting. I love pretty much anything crafty.

6. Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by the everyday little moments…. My children are the reason I decided to start this journey. My desire to capture their childhood in a magical way.

7. Who are some of your favorite singers/bands?
Well- I only listen to Christian music. A few of my favs are… JJ Heller, Addison Road, Casting Crowns, Need to breathe and Mercy Me.

8. What is your favorite movie of all time?
I would have said Dirty Dancing… until I watched the Notebook. LOVE that movie.

9. What would your ideal day be like?
My ideal day would include perfect weather… a field…or the beach…..beautiful light… my children playing (without fighting .. hehe) and me with my camera to capture it.

10. If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue?
Oh man! This is a toughie… I honestly do not know. I always said this is what I wanted to do…. but when I was little little… I always wanted to be a Psychiatrist for Drug & Alcoholic abusers. I think I like my job much more though.

She has some new ventures coming up in the near future. And I can’t wait to see where they lead her. She is an amazing woman and deserves only the best! Love you, girl!!!

Meet Sylvia Borgo of Sylvia Borgo Photography in San Diego, California. If you want to see her incredible work visit her WEBSITE, her BLOG, or her FACEBOOK PAGE.

About the image…
Why do you love this image?
My first love is photojournalism, and even though my work has become more leaned towards traditional portraiture these last few years, I feel like I try to fuse the two genres in my work. This little girl came into a coffee shop with her family. I was shooting in this coffee shop for a special feature, but since I’m so drawn to the energy of a family, I gravitated towards them. She was very, very shy so I was able to snap only one pic of her before she grabbed Babar for comfort and climbed into her mother’s lap.

What were your settings with this image?
I used my 35mm lens. ISO 500, SS 1/250, f2.0

What do you love about Photography?
I love that photography captures a very specific moment in time. I love how, if done well and with sincerity, you can really capture the essence of the moment and a person. I love it when parents say, “You captured him so perfectly,” or “You really ‘got us’ as a family.”

What type of Photography do you specialize in and why?
I love photographing families, children, babies and most recently, I’ve photographed several teens and High School Seniors.About your life?

What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?
I love to read. I love to listen to music. I love doing yoga (it is so relaxing and energizing at the same time). I also love to travel, but haven’t done too much of it these last few years. I’ve been all across the US and Europe, made it to Central America and had the extreme pleasure of traveling in Southern Africa for a whole month! Next stops, S. E. Asia and Australia.

Who or what inspires you?
I’m inspired by dedication. Whether it be a teacher in the classroom, a mother, a dancer, another photographer, or my sons playing a sport – I’m inspired by the commitment it takes to focus on a goal, a skill, a craft.

Who are some of your favorite singers/bands?
Oh, man – don’t even get me started!!! I love, love, love music and have lots of faves. I acquired my early musical tastes in the 80s. LOL! So if there is a question about a band or a song or a musical event that took place in the 80s, I bet you that I know ALL about it. LOL! I’m trying to stay hip with music and hopefully by liking Radiohead, U2, The Killers, Modest Mouse, Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, Foo Fighters, The Kooks, and Vampire Weekend I can still be classified as musically cool. What is your favorite movie of all time?
I took a class in college that introduced us to the revolutionary works in movie-making history. But I’m going to have to go with Ferris Beuller’s Day Off. It definitely wouldn’t be classified as “revolutionary,” but I love that movie!

What would your ideal day be like?
I would wake up late – we are talking, like, 8:30am. LOL! Then I would have a giant breakfast and then head off to the zoo with my family. Then I we would have a delish lunch and I would take a loooooooonnnnng nap. In the afternoon, I’d try to carve out some time for just myself and maybe read a magazine. We would go out to dinner (nothing fancy) and then come home to read to my boys, cuddle with them, and tuck them in to bed. 10) If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue? I would love to work for a design firm. I think I’m just fascinated by imagery and the power of design and the print/visual media. Or, no, no . . . I would love to be a restaurant critic or professional food taster. WOW! To eat all that delish food. YES! That would be my other dream job!

So. First time that I met Cari, she told me that she wanted me to be her big sister. Isn’t that the sweetest compliment? Of course I love her to death!!!

Talented, sweet, creative Cari Enticknap is the owner of Cari Berry Photography in Enumclaw, Washington. See her work on her WEBSITE, BLOG, or on her FACEBOOK PAGE.

About the image…
1. Why do you love this image?
First because that’s my baby

6. Who or what inspires you?
I’m very inspired by other photographers. There is such incredible talent out there, and also generosity and hard work. I’m inspired by gorgeous light – that hour before sunset on a summer day especially. I find nature very inspiring – moonlight on a river or fog on an open field at dawn always inspire me to pick up my camera…

7. Who are some of your favorite singers/bands?
Right now I am reallly loving One Republic. Can’t get enough of them. But I’m a big fan of the cheesy classics too – like New Kids on the Block, lol.

8. What is your favorite movie of all time?
That’s tough. There’s no way I can pick just one. Off the top of my head, I’d say some of my faves are the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Shakespeare in Love, and Shawshank Redemption.

9. What would your ideal day be like?
Sunny!!! Living in Seattle, I’ve got a mad craving for sunshine – we don’t get enough of it!!! The perfect day would be warm and bright, spent exploring the beach with my husband and kids, and my camera of course!

10. If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue?
Before I was a photographer, I was a teacher. If I couldn’t take pictures, I’d like to work with kids again in some capacity. Or maybe I’d be a florist. Or a travel writer.

Kari Wright owns and operates Modern Heartwork by Kari Wright Photography in Smithton, MO. Enjoy looking at her photos on her WEBSITE, her BLOG, or on her FACEBOOK PAGE.

About the image…
1. Why do you love this image?
I love everything about shooting newborns. Well, maybe EVERYTHING is an exaggeration – I don’t like getting peed on.

2. What were your settings with this image?
Aperture 4.0, Shutter Speed 1/125, ISO 100

About Photography…
3. What do you love about Photography?
It would be easier to answer what I DON’T love about photography (editing,hee hee). I love making people look their best by using great light. I love getting boxes of prints from my lab and seeing my work in print – it’s like Christmas every time the UPS guy comes.

4. What type of Photography do you specialize in and why?
Children’s. I love kids! I have six of my own and LOVE to make kids smile.

About your life?
5. What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?
I love to read. I knit, sew, crochet and do about anything crafty. I love to roller skate and still play the Limbo every time I take my kids skating.

6. Who or what inspires you?
My kids originally inspired my love for photography. I get inspired everyday by my photographer friends, we push each other to be our best.

7. Who are some of your favorite singers/bands?
I am very fickle when it comes to music, my tastes are always changing. Right now on my MP3 the songs range from Lady Gaga, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Rascal Flatts to the Spice Girls (don’t judge!).

8. What is your favorite movie of all time?
I don’t really have a favorite but I love romantic comedies.

9. What would your ideal day be like?
Warm, sunny, the beach, a nanny…

10. If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue?
I always thought that I would like to be a Radiologist but I think I would be bored with that now.

About the image…
1. Why do you love this image?
A majority of my photography sessions are based on play, not the clock. Babies don’t work the camera on demand and you have to engage them. Baby H came to see me after his parents had a bad experience at a chain photography studio. Our session was relaxed and the flow went largely according to his mood – taking breaks when necessary and moving onto different activities as needed. We had a tremendous amount of fun and at the end of our session, his parents were so appreciative of the experience we had together and I know the real proof was in our resulting images. Custom photography isn’t just about an image, it’s an experience – it’s about capturing a little bit of personality and emotion in all that light and color.

2. What were your settings with this image?
ISO 200 F 6.3 SS 1/200 Studio Lighting

About Photography…
3. What do you love about Photography?
The emotion, the details, the truth, the way it helps you remember. Life goes by so quickly – especially with children! They grow and change so much from helpless newborn to strong willed toddler. I love how you can watch a baby grow through a series of images.

4. What type of Photography do you specialize in and why?
I tend to work with the 1 and under crowd. I love capturing the details of a tiny newborn, but my absolute favorite age to photograph is around 6-7 months. The personality really starts to emerge, you get these gorgeous smiles with big eyes and baby is able to maintain a variety of poses without running away. Well, sometimes they crawl away…

About your life?
5. What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?
Playing with my son, photography & travel

6. Who or what inspires you?
My 3 year old son Wesley. Becoming a parent is hands down the best thing that has ever happened to me. I adore this little man so much and I would love to find a way to stop time! My attempts to document his every experience has played a major role in my journey as a photographer. I love watching him grow, but I want to remember every minute. Unfortunately, he has been growing really fast, time has been flying by and my memory isn’t as good as it used to be. Thankfully, my camera doesn’t forget!

7. Who are some of your favorite singers/bands?
Oh my goodness – can I just say I love it all? The Beatles, Bare Naked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan, Billy Joel, Norah Jones – all play on my Ipod regularly. I love oldies, classics, techno, pop and can be perfectly content listening to mainstream top 40 on the radio… and I love to sing along.

8. What is your favorite movie of all time?
The Princess Bride or maybe Forrest Gump – or just about any Disney movie – I could (and have) watched them over and over.

9. What would your ideal day be like?
Waking up in Walt Disney World – in the castle suite (a girl can dream, right?), starting the day with some room service Mickey waffles and then having the whole place just for my family and friends (and myself of course). A beautiful 75 degree day with blue skies and incredible puffy white clouds. It would be a picture perfect day having a blast in the Magic Kingdom together with lots of photo ops. Variations on that perfect day include a cruise, Hawaii, Bermuda, Paris, London – or a fall day at the park.

10. If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue?
My first career is nursing – specifically Labor and Delivery. I guess you could say I’m drawn to babies. I love helping to bring them into this world and watch a couple grow into a family. As you work with the parents, they let you into some of their most precious moments and you become part of their family for a little while. It is definitely the happiest place in the hospital! Other than nursing, I’d love to swap places with Samantha Brown from the Travel channel and tour some of the best hotels in the world. I think I’d rather enjoy getting paid to be a tourist.

Meet Nicole Ridella of Ordinary Days Photography. She photographs in Marin County and the San Francisco Bay area. You can see her work on her WEBSITE or on her FACEBOOK page.

About the image…
1. Why do you love this image?
I love the eye contact and the little girl’s personality. We were playing at a park and when I called her name, she peeked around this structure at me and I was happy to catch her little grin.

2. What were your settings with this image?
ISO 800, SS 1/160 and f3.2.

About Photography…
3. What do you love about Photography?
I love that photography helps me remember all kinds of tiny details I would otherwise forget. A few of my favorites include a photo that reminds me that when my youngest daughter first learned to walk she held her arms straight out in front of her a la Frankenstein and a photo of my older daughter as a baby dressed in Christmas jammies, trying to remove the child-proof cap on an outlet in our hallway (yes, she was more interested in electrocuting herself than she was in her Christmas gifts!) I also love older photographs from my childhood that remind me of summer vacations and my grandfather who loved his Polaroid camera and was forever trying to usher us grandkids into a group so he could take our photo. I love the memories that photographs hold.

4. What type of Photography do you specialize in and why?
I specialize in photographing children and babies. They grow and change so quickly, I love capturing little moments in time for my clients, so that they can always have a reminder of what their child was like when he/she was small.

About your life?
5. What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?
I love reading, watching good movies and listening to music. (My husband is an amazing piano player and I love listening to him play.)

6. Who or what inspires you?
I find inspiration everywhere: in nature, in music, in paintings… I also am inspired by the way children live their lives, always right in the moment and so filled with wonder and excitement.

7. Who are some of your favorite singers/bands?
Oh, that is a long list… Off the top of my head, Pearl Jam, Wilco and Ryan Adams come to mind. I love Harry Connick Jr. and Diana Krall. I think Yo Yo Ma is beyond brilliant. Chris Issak is another favorite.

8. What is your favorite movie of all time?
I don’t know that I could pick just one! I love Hitchcock films – especially “Rear Window”. I really enjoyed “Little Miss Sunshine” and I think “Ocean’s 11” is so funny. I also love watching “Ramona and Beezus” with my oldest daughter. It makes us laugh every time we see it!

9. What would your ideal day be like?
Playing at the beach all day long with my girls and my husband. Sneaking in a beautiful sunset photo session and then heading home listening to good music and the chatter and giggles of my little girls.

10. If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue?
I have loved photography my whole life. I studied it in college and have worked really hard to be good at it. I can’t imagine ever doing anything else. My professional goals all revolve around photography and my big goal is that I would love to add black and white film photography back into my work and have my own darkroom someday.

Meet the fabulous Audrey Frantz of Kentiga Photography in Olathe, KS (Suburb of Kansas City). She is warm, caring, and a fireball of energy!!! Visit her WEBSITE or BLOG ore her FACEBOOK. You’ll see I am right!

About the image…
1. Why do you love this image?
This image is a favorite of mine because I was able to truly capture this mom and her new baby enjoying each other’s company as if I wasn’t even there.

2. What were your settings with this image?
This was at 28mm at ISO 640, 1/160s, F2.8

3. What do you love about Photography?
I love that you’re preserving memories. We tend to be so busy with life to stop and actually enjoy it. Photography is all about making pockets of memories. I love when clients tell me that I captured their family just as they really are.

4. Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired all the time by the beauty in this world. I love to watch the sunset or go for long hikes.

5. How do you juggle photography business and family and the rest of your life?
It’s super tough, sometimes I get down on myself because I feel like I’m not doing enough and then I look at other amazing over the top photographers and realize they have the same 24 hours in a day. It’s all about priorities. I try to not book too many sessions in a month that it burns me out creatively so that helps with the family time.

6. Where do you go for design inspiration?
I’ve recently become very hooked on pintrest. Love it!

7. What photography books have you found most useful?
In the very beginning I was big on getting books from the library, a lot of Scott Kelby’s books. Now I dig and dig on the internet – it’s wonderful how many useful tutorials and things you can find on here!

8. What is your favorite movie of all time?
Princess Bride! If it’s on TV I must watch it even though I’ve seen it a million times probably. I can be such a sap, I just love a good romantic comedy and Princess Bride is one of those timeless ones. Oh and Finding Nemo, I love that I have an excuse to watch kids movies now and people don’t think I’m too much of a weirdo – haha!

9. What would your ideal day be like?
I’d wake up at 6 (yes I’m a total early bird) my kids wouldn’t wake up for an hour and a half – hah!) I’d have time to read and start my day off slowly. I’d take the kids to the park and then meet up with my husband to surprise him for a late lunch. Dinner would be at J. Gilberts for a medium rare steak! I’m a Kansas girl all the way so I like my meat and I like it cooked just right and steak sauce is for meat that is prepared wrong.

10. If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue?
I’m a total computer nerd so my ‘day job’ fits great for me. I tend to think very analytically so anything along those lines is good for me. Photography is perfect for me because I can express my creative side while being analytical at the same time.