I want to begin this journal by stating, “I am not a photographer”.

When I started my shortbread journey, I wanted my baked goods to have an everlasting appeal and I wanted to document it on this site. So, I pulled out my trusty camera and I started taking pictures.

One would think that food photography would be easy since it’s a still object, but I can tell you from experience, it’s not as easy as it looks.

After almost every baking episode, I take about 100 pictures (seriously) just to get, maybe, 10 good shots. One picture may be crystal clear, but there may be too many shadows, and then there’s often a lighting issue . . . lighting is my biggest problem, there’s either too much or too little. Yes, I always thought that taking pictures was as easy as point and shoot, but the key is to get the right angle and the right shot. I am fascinated with how each picture captures something different (it’s hard to explain), and in the end, I am very happy with the outcome even if it’s only a few pictures.

One of my shining moments was when a dear friend (who is a photographer by trade, www.otisgsandersphoto.com) complimented me on some of my pictures, and believe me he’s a stickler about photography. His words validated all of my efforts, and that brought me a new kind of joy.

I believe there’s an art to baking, and there’s an art to creating that perfect photographic moment that captures a vision for an eternity. I’m getting a handle on this photography thing, but I won’t quit my day job or my true delight, baking.

The right picture does more than trap a vision, it tells a story that’s worth a thousand words.