i heart ___.

  

1. Ginger Cookies

I'm loving ginger cookies this season. Gingerbread cookies and ginger snaps had never been one of my favorites in the past. (When I was a child, I really disliked them. I think that might be because I had them when I was sick one time.) But in my adult life, I didn't totally hate them, they just weren't my favorite. I don't know if they've just grown on me, or it's the pregnancy hormones making things taste different, or because my brother and his new wife served Moravian ginger crisps at their wedding, but this year I love them. I haven't made gingerbread girl cookies yet, but sometime before Christmas, I will.

 2. Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips

I made some chocolate peppermint chocolate chip cookies a couple weeks ago that were delicious. But, I used crushed up candy canes in the batter. They were good, but the candy cane pieces were a little sticky for my liking. A couple days ago I learned about these awesome baking chips, when my friend Katie brought cookies that looked like the photo above to our Bible study fellowship. Now, hopefully I can find these baking chips, and I'll try them in that yummy cookie recipe. (I have lots of cookie baking plans.)

3. Cranberry Jello Salad

I found this festive photo on the Taste of Home website, but their recipe doesn't match how I make this Christmas-y jello salad. Jonathan's family has fun Christmas Eve traditions including supper with Wild Rice Soup and Jello salad. Last year I switched up their salad and took this cranberry jello salad. It seemed to be a hit, so hopefully they'll let me continue to contribute this. Here is my basic recipe (I think. if I decide this isn't right, I'll fix it here too):

1- 6 oz (large) package raspberry flavored jello mix

2 cups boiling water

1- 16 oz can whole berry cranberry sauce

1- 8 oz can crushed pineapple, undrained

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Stir the jello and boiling water together until the gelatin dissolves. 

Mix in the cranberry sauce, pineapple, celery, and nuts. 

Pour the jello mixture into a serving dish. (I like a 9x13 pyrex)

Refrigerator overnight.

I usually stick with this recipe, but you can use different jello flavors--strawberry, orange, lemon, cranberry etc. If you have the smaller size gelatin packages, you can mix it up with a couple different kinds. Also, you could experiment with different fruits like mandarin oranges, apples, cherries, or grapes.

Christmas Gift Idea: Photography Class - NC Family Photographer

I'm setting up several photography class options for early 2012. This is the perfect companion gift (or treat yourself) for someone receiving a new camera for Christmas this year. OR have you had your camera a year, or a few, and still don't know how to use it the way you want? Sign up or give a photography class as a Christmas gift.

Beginning Photography Class: Saturday, January 7th, 9:30-12:00

The usual details: the class is $100 per person and must have a minimum of 3 participants.

Each person will receive a textbook to keep as a reference. The class will last 2.5 hours and will be limited to 3-5 people.

I will help you learn more about your camera and take better photos of your kids and friends. Here is some of what we will discuss:

 

- 10 tips for Taking Better Pictures

- Introduction to Exposure

- ISO

- Shutter Speed

- Aperture

- Using your Camera's Basic Settings

- Lens Overview

NEW! Advanced Photography Class: Saturday, January 14th, 9:30-1:00

the class is $175 per person and must have a minimum of 2 participants.

The class will last 3.5 hours, will be limited to 2-4 people, and includes lunch. The first part of the class will be devoted to hands on teaching and learning. You will observe me shooting, then you will practice your photography shooting a model. We will have some basic instruction on editing followed by a brief critique. The last part of the class will include lunch and a question and answer time. Some of what this class will cover:

 

- hands-on practice photographing in different lighting situations

- basic editing including: 

     cropping 

     straightening

     color correction

     adjusting lightness/darkness

     retouching minor flaws

Students should have previously taken the Beginning Photography Class or have a good understanding of exposure and their camera's basic settings (as outlined in the Beginning Photography Class).

One-on-One Photography Classes 

One-on-one classes are great for people that would like to learn more about their specific camera or photo editing software. This class can be geared for a beginning or advanced student. A three-hour one-on-one class at your home or mine is $295.

 

Email me to book your spot or ask questions. 

 

(all students' participation is at the discretion of Studio 310 Photography. ie: in fairness to my local photographer colleagues, I can not teach other professionals with a photo business in Johnston County, NC.)

 

Callie M's Maternity Portraits - NC Maternity Photography

I shot these maternity photos almost 2 years ago; but I enjoyed looking through them recently for Callie, so I thought I should share. I don't remember posting any from this session before on the blog. Of course, I have a baby on my mind all the time now, so it seems extra appropriate. 

Nia's Bridal Portraits - North Carolina Bridal Portrait Photography

This is my new sister-in-law, Nia. She and my brother got married Saturday!! (I look forward to sharing some wedding details soon.) I photographed her bridal portraits a couple weeks before the wedding on her family's farm near Lexington, NC. Here is the beautiful bride:

i heart ___.

1. my baby

Yep, this is a photo of me, 16 weeks pregnant. The baby is due in late March, but I'm counting on early April. I would post an ultrasound image, but I haven't had an ultrasound since week 8, and at the time, the baby was an 11mm butter bean with a beating heart. I'll have another ultrasound soon, so I'm sure I'll be sharing that--and the baby's gender. Weeee. 

I'm starting to feel better, so hopefully the blogging will get back to being a more regular thing. 

The photography business will be a little different next year. This probably deserves it's own post, but I'll go ahead and share. I'll continue to shoot portrait sessions--engagements, bridals, families, and babies, but I am not shooting weddings in 2012. It's a tough decision now, because I'm not holding a baby yet, but I know it is the right decision for our family. You are still welcome to contact me about wedding photographers though. I have a couple great photographers that I've been recommending, and I'm happy to pass their info along.

Stay tuned for some blog updates from recent portrait sessions and baby news too.