For this week’s photo challenge “Getting Your Ducks in a Row” hosted by Nancy Merrill Photography, I wanted to take the time to post an update for everyone about a couple things I am passionate about and how I’m getting my ducks in a row.

Since starting my blog about a year ago, there are a lot of hobbies I’ve wanted to grow in. One of those things is photography. I have always enjoyed taking snapshots of moments from a very young age, but I don’t feel like I grew that much from there.

So this past year I have taken a few photography courses and binged watched a lot of YouTube videos. I have learned to take my time in the process. I’ve also been practicing more. Taking on the challenge of shooting raw, with manual control, and working with only one lens has really helped me grow in so many ways!

I am now finding myself paying better attention to creating photographs that celebrate the subject through all the visual elements that make a better image and I’m hoping that it shows. I wish I knew the things I know now when I first started to realize how much I enjoy taking photos of my other hobbies, which include baking and books. That said, I would like to encourage everyone that it is never too late to start!

Here’s an example of two different kinds of cakes with similar characteristics, taken on two different occasions. You’ll see the Citrus Celebration Cake (left) recipe from Martha Stewart’s Wedding Cakes book and one of my own recipes, Raspberry Buttercream and Vanilla Layer Cake with Mascarpone Cream (right).

The cake on the left was shot over 10 years ago. And boy did I miss that opportunity to take photos of the beautiful layers of white cake and oh so yummy, happy lemon curd. The cake on the right was taken about 6 months ago, and even today, I would have done a few things differently. Of course I’m always baking so there’s no hope lost on planning for an updated photo in the future!

With that, I am working on updating my website to get my ducks in a row.

As a reflection of my ever expanding hobbies, please bear with me as a make a few changes to my website. You might see an outpouring of posts that I would like to publish in order to get it more up to date. Hopefully it will only take me a day or two!

In the meanwhile, be sure to take a look at the photo challenge and let me know if you participated in the comments below! Also if there is anything you are currently working on to get your ducks in a row, let me know as well!