Growing up we called her Arizona Jenny. Living in Michigan we were far away from most of our family, so rather than confuse our two cousins named Jenny, we added the more exotic state – Arizona – to her name (sorry New York Jenny!). We didn’t get to see her often, but when the family got together in New Mexico she would braid our hair and play barbies with us, the kinds of things you really remember as a child. Of the memories that stand out the most, the time she gave my sister and me each a lunchbox full of candy for Easter is at the top of my list. We played “dentist” with it the whole train ride home… but that’s another story.

After working her way up through the culinary world Arizona Jenny moved to the tiny town of Boulder, Utah. It was there she and her business partner Blake turned the restaurant Hell’s Backbone Grill into something of a legend. The story of their restaurant is best told through their cookbook, “With a Measure of Grace” which chronicles not only the restaurant and recipes but also the town and people in it. Boulder is a place you have to want to go to, and they have given people many reasons to do so. In fact, one look at their list of accolades and you’ll see how many people agree. In the breathtaking surroundings of southern Utah they have a restaurant committed to sustainability, environmental ethics, and social and community responsibility. On their six-acre farm they grow the majority of their food and preserve, can and dry so that they can enjoy it both in season and after. I’m pretty sure it’s every bit as amazing as it sounds and have been wanting to visit for years.

Until I do go out there, I’ll enjoy working through some of the recipes in their cookbook. Several years ago when I first got the book it sat looking beautiful on my shelf, opened every once in a while as I thumbed through the stories of Boulder and the people behind the food. I didn’t make much from it, I think because I was a bit intimidated. I didn’t have access to as many of the southwestern ingredients (red + green chile in particular) and I wasn’t sure where to start. So, I went with a simple recipe that I knew I would like: cornbread. Once I opened the pages and started cooking I found inspiration and ingredients I could relate to, and have been making more and more. Next on my list: Heavenly Lemon Chiffon Cake. It was on Oprah’s list too, so it’s sure to be a showstopper. For now, it’s cornbread time which I think is incredibly satisfying in the winter. Slightly sweet, thick and delicious let me introduce you to my favorite cornbread recipe… (although I haven’t made “Marry-Me Cornbread” which is located right next to this recipe in the book, so with a name like that I might be missing out!)

Brown Sugar Blue Cornbread

• 2 1/2c blue cornmeal
• 1 3/4c flour
• 1c brown sugar
• 1t baking soda
• 1t salt
• 1T baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 c melted butter or oil (I used coconut oil + it added just the slightest amount of extra flavor I highly recommend it!)
• 2 1/2c milk

1. heat oven to 350. Warm a 10″ cast iron skillet in the oven for 10 min while you assemble the batter.

2. In a medium bowl combine the cornmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Stir in eggs, melted butter, and milk. Batter will be thick.

3. Remove heated skillet from oven, add 1T butter and swirl it around to coast surface (I skipped that part). Pour batter into skillet, spreading around evenly and bake for 45 min, till sides of cornbread pull away.

I found blue cornmeal in the organic section of the grocery store, but I’m tempted to order some blue cornmeal straight from hell’s! Feel free to add a variety of extras to this recipe to spice or sweeten it as you like. Most of all, have a great weekend + if you try this enjoy!

It was spontaneous, to say the least… fueled by the desire of my parents, no less. After reading the New York Times every morning they could only take so much. They wanted to go to the city and have some of the fun they kept readying about. As it happened, we were essentially free to go… and just like that it was set. We would head to New York City on the 2nd. Matt and I returned home from Michigan, had a quiet New Year’s Eve with friends and the next day my parents arrived at our door. We all hopped in the car the next morning and the adventure began.

I have to say we really fit in a lot for a 48hr trip, and it looked a little something like this:

day 1

3:00 pm arrive in the city, check in to hotel

4:00 meet up with Margaret – past bride + friend at Eataly

6:30 walk 1mi+ to The Spotted Pig, wait for a table and eat some delicious food

9:30 my mom is determined to see a movie, we furiously search our iphone and decide to see the acclaimed silent film The Artist

12:00 head to bed

day 2

9:00 parents head to the World Trade Center Memorial / we go in search of coffee

10:00 Culture Espresso is the answer, we sit and enjoy expertly pulled cappuccinos and croissants then walk into shops around the area

12:30 we all meet up and go to lunch at Danji for modern Korean fare

2:00 after buying tickets for Jersey Boys we head up to the Met and wander it’s vast halls

5:30 we eat an early dinner at nearby Serafina before the show

7:00 Jersey Boys on Broadway!

10:00 we’re back at the hotel, meeting up with Uncle Jon who came in from Long Island to catch up and talk

12:00 time for midnight sushi at nearby Mr. Robata

1:00 bed!

day 3

10:00 late morning, but we’re out the door for coffee once again – parents stop by the NY Public Library

11:00 we’re off to MoMA – Matt’s wanted to see de Kooning and there’s a retrospective of his work

2:00 late lunch over at Eatery

3:30 time to pack into the car and drive home!

are you tired thinking about it? haha, I was but it was worth it!

*So to those family members out there still wondering if this is my “real job”… the answer is yes :)

Since I wasn’t opening a physical space, it was a bit harder to judge the date of my beginning, as is with most people who step out on their own after a slow evolution. However, if there was one way to judge if you are legitimate or not, giving the government money seems about as good a place to start. So, I count the first of 2008 as the start of my business since that was the year I started paying taxes. Of course, plans had been in the works before that time as well as many years of studying photography and art – which you may have already read about here.

Taking the plunge into something new is never easy, the water shocks you as you adjust to the temperature and new surroundings. For me it was a self conscious start, because I felt like everywhere I looked there was another person starting a photography business. I didn’t want to be just one of the masses out there flocking to join the club, thankfully that wasn’t a reason to keep me from doing so. I put blinders on and went to work, which both allowed me to improve and stay focused it also kept me from growing with a community of photographers.

It’s taken a while – perhaps the last four years – to feel comfortable not as a photographer individually, but as a part of the larger community of photographers. It’s time to look up to see those around me and share in the common experiences we have. I realized that in working for myself I could potentially never feel like I’ve “arrived,” although in many ways I have when I consider where I started. I haven’t been the most successful in the least amount of time, made the most money, or traveled to the most exotic places. What I have done is grown immensely as a photographer and person, met wonderful people and shared in their wedding days, and built a small business on doing something that I love. I count that as a success. (Oh, I also moved states twice which as you business owners know is a lot of extra work, just needed to add that in). I will always be working to improve, learn from my mistakes and take on challenges that might come, but before it gets any later I thought I would stop to share. I plan to keep sharing, starting with my experiences starting my business and from there we’ll see where it goes. While I’ll be doing most of the talking it’s more fun when I hear from you too so it doesn’t have to be so one sided. Feel free to leave a question as a comment and I’ll respond so everyone can read. happy Monday + thanks for joining me in my fifth year!

I’ve been soaking up time with my family and reveling in the moments I’m able to enjoy with them. I suppose I am used to living away from family – having grown up hours away from grandparents, aunts + uncles and cousins – but now more than ever I enjoy being there for the small everyday activities. They are moments that are strung together and side by side they make up what we know as life, and I like being there for it. Eating dinner together, borrowing cups of powdered sugar to make cookies, staying up to play Scrabble and the list goes on. Yesterday it included taking my niece Julia ice skating for the first time. We went to the very same place Matt and I had a few of our engagement pictures taken four years ago, and it was fun to think about how much had happened between then and now. I put Matt in charge of documenting the fun while my sister and I helped Julia around the rink at least 10 times. We encouraged her, sang songs, and got tips from coach Matt as she experienced the slippery sensation of moving on ice. While it wasn’t without some lack of confidence, she loved it and I’m sure by next year she will be skating on her own.

While Christmas in Michigan has been wonderful, it has not been without tragedy. In contrast to the small daily moments are the large life changing ones, which have come on two occasions this year. A car accident involving a member of my family (they are doing okay) and a death in Matt’s family has made the holidays challenging. However, as family comes together in both incidences I am reminded of what it means to be a family in the first place, and once again enjoy those small moments we get to share.

They drove through the night and arrived in the wee hours of the morning. My sister in-law and her family – who I rarely get to see because of the distance between us – visited for a few days before they continued north for Christmas. It is hard to believe but it was the first time I was able to meet my niece Elia. All of the trips we planned to go down had fallen through, and it meant I was way overdue to take some photos of her.

I photographed her around the house and got a few snapshots of daily activity, and went outside to capture a more simple portrait. She was fast, not quite walking but on the brink and as expressive as ever. I know it will be a while until I see her next and she will have changed so much, but I’m glad the family will have these photos to remember her at this stage. I think she’s just a doll.

For those of you who have little ones, or like me have the chance to visit them over the holidays, I thought I’d share my approach to documenting family at home. It’s so fun to have a collection of family photos to look back on, but it is not always easy to capture them. Before I tell you my rules of thumb, I should mention there are general rules of composition that influence every image. This includes: balance, color, rhythm, symmetry, flow and all of the other traits that can be applied to any visual work. Of course, I don’t stop and think of each of those items, but after studying art and training myself to think visually I would like to say it has become second nature. To simplify this for you, familiarize yourself with the rule of thirds if you aren’t already, and that will get you off to a good start with image composition.

If I didn’t lose you after that long-winded paragraph, here is my advice in three easy points to get you started on taking some killer family pics in the next few weeks

1. Use Natural Light! Use Natural Light! I’m guessing you don’t have a full lighting studio in your basement… but if you do, congrats you can skip to the next step.

Natural light is a great option because there is no extra equipment and it’s the most flattering (lightbulbs = different colors of light = strange skin tones). The easiest way to find natural light inside is to head to a window. You don’t want direct sunlight pouring through a window, but a soft generous light that fills the space. Don’t have a window low enough? Open a door or use a chair to make sure your subject is in the light. Above are two pictures illustrating the advantage of a subject facing in vs. away from the light source. The biggest different here are the lack of catch lights (the bright sparkle in the eye) in the image on the right. They bring the eyes to life and add depth to an image, so it is obvious when they are missing. While I love Elia with her little tongue sticking out on the right, her eyes are dark (aka. not facing the light source aka window) and the image lacks a vibrancy seen on the left.

2. Patience + Perspective go hand in hand.

Letting the picture come to you rather than forcing it to happen through desperate shouts to smile and say cheese takes patience. Plus, I don’t like the camera monsters formed when children are trained to respond to such behavior. While you are waiting for the right moment or allowing your subject to feel comfortable with the camera I like to try different perspectives. Elia pulled herself up and down while standing at the window seat and was clearly focused on squats and lunges instead of paying attention to what I was doing. No problem – I shot from above to capture her delicate eyelashes, tiny fingers and swirl of hair – details of life at this age that will quickly change as she grows.

3. Be Happy. I’m a big believer in keeping photos fun, so if that means letting the baby hold the rubber duck while they sit so they stay happy, go for it. If you are patient and willing to not push for photos but let them come to you then you will get the right shots. Sometimes this also means using your camera as a prop to play peek-a-boo or shooting from the hip (look mom no hands eyes!) so that you cross the barrier the camera can create between your subject. Also, don’t be afraid to take breaks, walk away and come back later when the time is right.

There you have it. Dust off those camera manuals and read up on shooting in manual, aperture or shutter priority so that you can start to make the camera do what you want. I hope that was pared down enough to give you a good start but with enough content to make it worth while! Happy Photographing

Three years ago Matt and I were amazed at the idea that you could make marshmallows from scratch. So we decided to try it. It turns out they are much more fluffy and melt in your mouth than the store bought kind, and we were hooked. Along the way I got the idea to make them for all of my clients and send them out a Christmas gift. The idea stuck, and this week – for the third year in a row – I spent two days making, packaging and mailing out homemade marshmallows to all of the people I photographed this year.

In the past I tackled this project on my own and often found myself covered in powdered sugar late at night trying to finish up. For the first time, however, I had the help of some great friends and am so thankful to them… I should probably make them marshmallows too! We made approximately 400 marshmallows in both vanilla and peppermint flavors and each box contained a few of each kind. I also put a card in a each box that had a note on one side and a recipe for hot chocolate on the other.

Here’s a little look into the process of this year’s marshmallow making and packaging. I promise it is easier than it seems, but I suggest you don’t look up the recipe and just be impressed. I love to send these out and let all of my 2011 clients know how much I enjoyed working with them, but I want to let my blog readers know as well! That’s why I’m going to send out two more boxes of marshmallows to two lucky people who comment on this post. Comment once a day until Sunday at midnight – and the winners will be announced on this post in a comment on Monday. Merry Christmas!

Oh, look there I am with Matt getting ready to leave the church right after our ceremony. image courtesy of Anne Ruthmann

I borrowed the coat (it might have been more like a cape?) from my aunt, and while I think borrowing is an excellent way to go if you are in the market for something new or looking for a specific style there are soo many options these days. I had some fun searching and pulling out a few coverups below while Hannah, my intern, found even more winter accessories and ideas to incorporate to the whole ensemble. Boots, tights, muffs, you name it – winter is the time to do it. Outfitting a bridal party in similar or matching outerwear also helps bring continuity to any photos shot outside. (How fun does this bridal party look with their fur muffs?) It might be as simple as having everyone bring a black jacket, or gifting them pashmia scarves to cover up with but it will make a difference when you go outside for pictures. The “looks” will tie together, and you won’t have to pretend like you’re not freezing (okay you still might have to do that – but you’ll be less freezing).

1.Lace shrug  2. Ostrich Feather  3. Vivienne Westwood Cape 4.Primrose Bolero 5. Bluebell Jacket  6. Faux Fur Jacket 7. Feather Bolero 8.Betsey Johnson Coat

1–BHLDN Amandine Headband 2–Anthropologie Dusted Tights 3–Theme Waist Coat Jacket 4–Belle by Sigerson Morrison Suede Flats 5–Metallic Telegram Clutch

1–Multi Strap belt by J. Crew 2–J. Crew Scarf 3–Skerry Vinter boots by Tretorn 4–J. Crew Cloche 5–BHLDN Lace Coverlet

1– Hunter Tall Metallic Boots 2– BHLDN Dewed Vines Hairpin 3–J. Crew Feathered Crystal Necklace 4–Bando Dazzle Crystal Headwrap 5– J. Crew Toscana Shearling Earmuffs

1– Vince Hooded Toggle Coat 2–J. Crew Bird’s Eye Wool Tie 3– J. Crew Plaid Wool Scarf 4– Gap Paneled Driver Hat 5–Öbo GTX Leather 6–Deerskin Gloves

Two days completely off. It was wonderful to spend time with family while cooking and eating delicious food. Maybe we should celebrate Thanksgiving twice a year… at least. It’s so good to take some time to slow down and enjoy time with important people in your life. This fall Matt and I both have been soo busy, stopping to take a break seemed like an extra treat. Besides being thankful for time with family, I am super thankful to have wonderful clients and supporters that hire me to be their photographer and recommend me when they get the chance – and of course read my blog! Having my own business is a blessing and it would not possible with out you guys.

Since we hosted Thanksgiving – for the second time ever – we planned the food for dinner and had a blast making it extra delicious. Now this post is as much for you as it is for me, since I not only want to share the recipes I used but remember them! Matt and I tag teamed the majority of the dishes, and both of our mom’s helped out with the prep. It was great to have extra hands to pull it all together. So, here’s a little behind the scenes info for each dish:

Turkey: After an overnight brine in citrus, herbs, salt, brown sugar and water it was ready for dressing. The secret to our turkey this year was homemade mayo – thanks for the idea Bobby Flay! The mayo doesn’t melt like butter and keeps more moisture in the chicken since it crisps up quickly.

Mashed Potatoes: these stayed pretty basic, although we use a ricer to mash the potatoes and keep them soft and delicate.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts: We have made a few versions of this brussel sprout dish, but stepped it up a notch for thanksgiving by adding pomegranate seeds (inspired by Bobbly Flay). We didn’t stick to his recipe completely (no pomegranate molasses) but check it out if you’re looking for a place to start.

Cranberry Sauce: Matt found this recipe a few days before Thanksgiving so we decided to try out a version of it instead of our traditional prep. It was a winner and the perfect sweet/tart bite in the meal.

Chanterelle and Pear Stuffing: Hands down, best part of the meal – and to think I used to skip stuffing all together (of course it wasn’t made like this). We made this dish at our first thanksgiving, and while it turned out good we knew we could do better – so we added it to the menu once again. It’s no surprise that we lost that first recipe or forgot where we found it but there are several versions and we decided on this one from food.com. One thing I like about this recipe is baking the stuffing in muffin tins, so there are individual servings that have more crips and crunch. We literally had some with dessert as well since it was so good.

Pie: Sad to say but this year we didn’t make a pie and invited others to bring them instead. One thing we learned from our first Thanksgiving is that cooking all of the food takes a lot of work and it’s okay to not do it all yourself… of course you guys probably already know that.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving as well and enjoy the rest of the weekend!

hello from the west coast! I’ve missed you guys and didn’t intentionally take so many days off from blogging. With a week of early mornings, long flights and time changes – traveling first to Boston and back and now to Portland – I should have seen it coming. My trip to Boston was completely photography related, and now I’ve switched sides and my trip to Portland is running related. If you’re a regular reader (or you know me well) you know that running is a big part of my life, and I’m still involved in the program at Houghton College (where I went to school) as an assistant coach. This week we are at the NAIA national championships and today is race day! Super exciting. I’ll let you know how it goes but first I wanted to share one of the highlights of our trip to Portland: Barista.

We discovered this coffee shop (if you can even call it that because it’s so much more) when we were out here in June for Jimmy + Marianne’s wedding. We fell in love. It’s hard to explain the difference in quality and taste unless you try it for yourself. The espresso is pulled with precision, lattes topped with a healthy foam and poured to perfection with designs to prove it. Our first breakfast at Barista was like a vacation and Matt and I sat and talked and enjoyed each others company in a few minutes where time seemed to finally slow down. It was a treat. We love coffee, and Matt has decided to leave behind clothes if it means he can bring back more beans in his suitcase.

We’re adjusted to the west coast just in time to fly home and get ready to host Thanksgiving at our house! Matt loves Christmas so I think we are going to jump on the decorating train right after celebrating Thanksgiving. I can’t wait to see family and friends! While it continues to be a busy time stopping for a few moments each day – especially over coffee – helps life slow down and for that I’m thankful.

Biscotti. It’s enough like a cookie that you want to eat more, but not so much that you feel guilty about eating 3 or 5. Yes, five. They’re small, ok? And nuts are healthy. Anyways I have been making biscotti occasionally for a few years, and decided to try a new recipe this time rather than my old standby. I found that biscotti falls into one of two categories: with butter and without, and since I had traditionally made it with I decided to try without (plus then I really didn’t need to feel bad about the 5 pieces each day). I used this recipe from Smitten Kitchen and just made a few adjustments (like almonds instead of hazelnuts) and it was a success. They really are super easy to make and I could get used to having them around all the time… I think Matt could too.

They are a perfect reason to stop and have another cup of coffee, which I am drinking more of these days especially with the class I’m teaching. Yes, for the past month and a half I have also been teaching graphic design I. I have been learning first hand that teaching is a lot of work and have gained even more respect for my mom who taught 20+ years in the Detroit School System along with all the other teachers out there. I only teach one class twice a week for two hours, and I have no idea what I would do all day every day. September was pretty rough trying to balance the second busiest month of weddings with teaching, but I feel like things have started to turn around. Reaching the half way point in the semester has helped, as has the fact that I feel like the class is actually learning something and it’s evident in their work. I really do enjoy it, and look forward to seeing their final projects and the progress they make through the semester. I might even make some biscotti to share with them.