Sunday I had a fun photo shoot in the little town of Galt, CA, in a great bar called Brewsters Bar and Grill. I took my youngest son with me because he has a little interest in modeling and a great interest in hanging around pretty girls. So, we got up early and drove down to Galt, spent the day photographing/modeling and drove back that afternoon.

It was a wonderful location for a photo shoot, with high ceilings, brick walls, a great old bar and wonderful 1800’s furniture.  There were also a great bunch of models and some of the best photographers in Sacramento. As you can see, it was a tough job, but somebody had to do it. I get together with this group about once a quarter in a fabulous location to practice lighting, posing and photography techniques, share equipment and take pictures of beautiful people and generally have a glorious time.

I love to photograph food because you can arrange it anyway you want, place it in any kind of environment and it doesn’t complain and, it never moves (if it does, you’ve got a problem.)  But!  I love, love, love to photograph people.  They never stay arranged the way you want.  They can’t be put in any type of environment without complaining.  They move.  They look away.  They smile phoney smiles.  They say they hate to have their picture taken.  They say, “Oh, can you  take care of (fill in the blank…rips in clothing, stains, pimples, hairy armpits, bad makeup…) in photoshop?” and they tell you that the photo makes them look fat or sad or ugly. But I still love people.  And that’s why I go to these events and hang out my portrait/wedding photographer shingle as Sierra Springs Photography.

I especially love to photograph my family because they are my heart (even when they are goofballs).

(I caught my daughter and her boyfriend taking pictures of themselves with my ipad app that simulates a funhouse mirror.  They then proceeded to change my screen lock page and my background with these scary faces that they made.)

It was a pretty warm day in Galt (98 degrees).  And the air conditioning in the old building was not very good.  So my son and I were hot, tired and hungry when we got home that evening. What a surprise to see this waiting for me:

Yes!Chef! had outdone himself yet again. And not only did he make this very tasty Strawberry Margarita, but he grilled up some home ground hamburger on the grill and baked some potatoes and stuffed them with pure yumminess for us, too.

The best way to get a good strawberry margarita is to start with ripe, fresh berries.  Then you don’t have to add much sugar. If the berries aren’t ripe and sweet, then you have to balance them out with sugar.  That is a trick and one that Yes!Chef! mastered.  The drink was sweet, flavorful and refreshing because of the crushed ice.  But, it doesn’t have a lot of alcohol in it, so it was not overpowering.

Here’s the recipe from Cooking Light Mag (one of my favorites):

• 3 1/2 cups strawberries
• 2 1/2 cups crushed ice
• 1/2 cup tequila
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons Cointreau (orange-flavored liqueur)
• Lime wedges (optional)