Prom Formals: San Diego Prom and High School Senior Photographer

I volunteered to be the Prom Portrait photographer for Matt and his group of friends.




Aren't they a handsome and beautiful bunch?

They chose to meet at the beach!

We started with my formal backdrop (which is portable so  I set it up right there at the beach!)



I first captured the Pinning of corsages and boutonnieres...

Then a formal portrait of each couple.  In color and black and white....





Then we set off for some fun!


(We rotated so each guy got his turn to be King of the playground!  Thought that would be fun with a groom and his groomsmen too!))

Then we headed to the shore....





I had so much fun and the kids (and their parents) appreciated it so much - I think I will add this to my portrait sessions for next year! 

I'm ready to book for next year's prom!

Here's what you get:

Couples and group portraits
Formal Backdrop and On Location Portraits anywhere YOU want!
Reasonable Prices
Facebook Gallery within 24 hours
Unlimited downloads of all your portraits
Free printing and emailing of all your portraits
 
So if you have a group of kids who want portraits, they can split my session fee and have LOTS more portraits than the little 5x7 from the prom.





Dance till the stars come down from the rafters
Dance, Dance, Dance till you drop.
~W.H. Auden

Whoopie Pies with Peanut Butter Filling

Okay. 

Get ready to shout "Whoopie!"

Ever heard of a whoopie pie?

Well, it is like a sandwich, but made with two soft cookies with a fluffy white filling.  (Let me tell you THAT is my kind of sandwich!)

The original and most commonly made whoopie pie is chocolate.  According to my research, the state of Maine claims to be where whoopie pies were invented, but the recipe for whoopie pies has its origins with the Amish.  (Sorry Betsy....)


According to Amish legend, these cake-like whoopie pies were considered a special treat because they were originally made from leftover batter......when children would find these treats in their lunch bags, they would shout "Whoopie!"

Okay - so if you want to be excited enough to yell, "Whoopie!" as well, you'll need to get out the ole mixer and start mixin'



(Sharing it today cuz I thought it might be a fun Memorial Day dessert?)
First you whip up a chocolate cake batter that's a bit thicker than usual.

Then you spoon or pipe it into cookie sized circles on a parchment covered cookie sheet.

(I traced a circle until I got the hang of it.)



Bake.



Mix up a fluffy frosting.  (Which I forgot to take a picture of......oops.)

Then stuff it in between two soft chocolate cakes!



YUM!

It tastes like two cupcake tops with frosting in the middle!

HERE is the recipe I used in case you want to give it a try.




In 2011, the Maine State Legislature considered naming the whoopie pie the official state dessert. The proposal received bipartisan support. L.D. 71, officially known as "An Act to Designate the Whoopie Pie as the State Dessert", read  "The whoopie pie, a baked good made of two chocolate cakes with a creamy frosting between them, is the official state dessert".'

Most likely, Amish groups that migrated to Maine brought the treat to the people of Maine. Mainers assert that Labadie's in Lewiston, Maine has been making the confectionery since 1925.

The Maine Legislature eventually decided to declare the whoopie pie the official state treat, and chose blueberry pie (made with wild Maine blueberries) as the official state dessert.

High Tea: Bring on the fun! San Diego, Mira Mesa Event Photographer

Well if you tuned in yesterday you know I'm enjoying High Tea at Good Samaritan Church.

The ladies were enjoying the tea....so who would be the SERVERS?

Hmmm........

Hmmmm......



Yep the MEN!

And they were amazing!

We started with a yummy chicken salad....    Then moved on to lovely little sandwiches:  Cream cheese and cucumber, Ham with pesto and egg salad with lox.

YUM!





Next came the fruit and cheese course....



Then warm scones!  With lemon curd and clotted cream.  Which I forgot to photograph until I had snarfed down 3/4ths of it.  (shameful!)

I also forgot to photograph the sweet breads.  (I think I should be punished by sitting through the tea again - I'll do better next time.)



And wouldn't you know SOMEONE (not mentioning any names....Jan) pushed the lemon curd and clotted cream containers over next to my plate as a nod to how much I was enjoying them. 

THE NERVE!    .....this person was a friend but I may now have to rethink that.... 

KIDDING of course - but she did and I did.  She slid, I enjoyed!

Then in case there was the tiniest room left in our tummy... out came tiramisu!



There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.  ~Henry James   [me here - I say Amen to that!  Thank you Betsy for inviting me!]

High Tea: San Diego, Mira Mesa Event Photographer

My good pal Betsy invited me to attend and capture her church's beautiful High Tea Event.

(How lucky is that?  Yummy treats plus photography -- all at the same time!)




I arrived early to capture all the beautiful tables that the ladies from her church had prepared.



Each lady brought her china, silver, tablecloth, decor and a little favor for each person at her table.



Obviously the tables were as unique as the gracious hostesses!



It was just a feast for the eyes!

And before anyone even thought about heading for their assigned seat, we all had to wander around admiring all the beautiful tables!





Amazing how different they look isn't it?



BTW:  (This last photo was taken by our waiter - can you pick me out of the crowd?)



There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Kids on the Block: San Diego Event and Charity Photographer

You KNOW how I like to support my favorite charities, right?

Well let me introduce you to another of my favs.

Kids on the Block!




Kids on the Block is an educational puppet program that visits schools and gives assemblies that teach kids about the important things like physical disabilities, educational differences and cultural diversity.

They do programs on:

* Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Prevention
* Appreciating Differences & Multi-culturalism
* Bullying and School Safety
* Children’s Mental Health
* Difficult Social Situations
* Healthy Eating / Healthy Lifestyles
* Physical Disabilities




Well, they had a little fundraiser -- a wine and cheese party with a silent auction. And YAY they asked me to come along to capture the moment and support their fundraising!

The wine they served was very special, because they designed the label themselves and are selling it as part of their fundraiser!



The food was amazing too.



They had lots of silent auction baskets and things to bid on.

(And YES one of the items was a portrait session from Savoring The Sweet Life Photography!)



The puppet walked around meeting people....  (He might have gotten a little bit of help from Wendy)



And they had a big group art project to work on.

Guests just grabbed a paint brush and doodled.



Maybe you would like to see their little slide show that I made for them?

Click HERE

The other thing I did while I was there was take guests portraits!   We then donate everything to the charity.

I had fun and Kids on the Block made a bit of money.


























Their website is HERE  --in case you'd like to get more information or maybe have them come perform at your school.

If you'd like to support this amazing non-profit with a purchase of their wine, shipped straight to your home, click HERE


"The Kids on the Block, Inc. originated in 1977 in direct response to US Public Law 94-142, which required that children with disabilities be educated in the least restrictive environment. For many children, this meant being included in a classroom with their non-disabled peers. Mark Riley, who represents a child with cerebral palsy, was the first puppet character created to fill the need of children with disabilities to have their non-disabled peers understand and accept them. Through Mark Riley, the children learned about cerebral palsy and began asking questions directly to Mark. The Kids on the Block, Inc. was launched because of this enthusiastic response from the children. Now internationally acclaimed, Kids on the Block has continued to grow over the years and offers programs on disabilities."

Wiener Fest, 2011 Temecula Wine Country Event and Wedding Photographer

So in addition to capturing free portraits for everyone....





And photographing and videoing the doggy races....



I also had fun strolling around taking in the sights.

Like this precious old fellow all tuckered out on mommy's lap...

 

And this poor little fellow waiting for someone to come adopt him...



This little fellow was waiting in the adoption tent too.   (Isn't it just adorable how he's all curled up?)
Come on -- someone adopt him!

HERE  is a wonderful national website that you just type in your zip code and the kind of dog you want and it will show you all the doggies available for adoption!   (And if you want one of these two doggies, email me and I'll hook you up!)




This doggy was barking for his sister who was racing...



But unfortunately, his barking distracted his sister -- because instead of running the race, she ran over to her brother!



Yay for family love....boo for racing!

Would you like to see their photo video?  It has some video of the races too.

Click HERE




"Better to light a candle for one lost dog than to curse the darkness of man's indifference. Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog." - Richard C. Call

Wiener Fest: Capturing Memories; Temecula Wine Country Event and Wedding Photographer

I had a little booth at the Festival to give away free portraits of the doggies and their people.

What fun to meet everyone!




"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. It is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain



(By the way, that doggie above was missing an eye....but you can tell his owner is so proud of him -- I love that!)

"There's just something about dogs that makes you feel good. You come home, they're thrilled to see you. They're good for the ego." - Janet Schnellman




"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanual Kant




"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." - Roger Caras


(Three generations of people and doxies!)

"Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe, we are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made." - Roger Caras



"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind." - Theodorus Gaza




"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." - Billings



"Lord, help me to be the person my dog thinks I am." - Anonymous



(Thanks to the Boy Scouts for supervising the races!)

"A dog can express more with his tail in minutes than his owner can express with his tongue in hours." - Anonymous




"I can train any dog in 5 minutes. It's training the owner that takes longer." - Barbara Woodhouse



"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face." - Ben Williams



"No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as much as the dog does." - Christopher Morley