Acknowledgments

Although only one name appears on the spine of this book, it takes a team of dedicated and talented people to pull a project like this together. I’m not only delighted to be working with them, but I also get the honor and privilege of thanking them here.

To my amazing wife Kalebra: I don’t know how you do it, but each year you somehow get more beautiful, more compassionate, more generous, more fun, and you get me to fall even more madly in love with you than the year before (and so far, you’ve done this 18 years in a row)! They don’t make words to express how I feel about you, and how thankful and blessed I am to have you as my wife, but since all I have here are words—thank you for making me the luckiest man in the world.

To my wonderful, crazy, fun-filled, little buddy Jordan: You are, hands-down, the coolest little boy any dad could ever ask for, and although I know you don’t read these acknowledgments, it means so much to me that I can write it, just to tell you how proud I am of you, how thrilled I am to be your dad, and what a great big brother you’ve become to your little sister. Your mom and I were truly blessed the day you were born.

To my beautiful baby daughter Kira: You are a little clone of your mom, and that’s the best compliment I could ever give you. You already have your mom’s sweet nature, her beautiful smile, and like her, you always have a song in your heart. You’re already starting to realize that your mom is someone incredibly special, and take it from Dad, you’re in for a really fun, exciting, hug-filled, and adventure-filled life.

To my big brother Jeff: A lot of younger brothers look up to their older brother because, well... they’re older. But I look up to you because you’ve been much more than a brother to me. It’s like you’ve been my “other dad” in the way you always looked out for me, gave me wise and thoughtful council, and always put me first—just like Dad put us first. Your boundless generosity, kindness, positive attitude, and humility have been an inspiration to me my entire life, and I’m just so honored to be your brother and lifelong friend.

To my in-house team at Kelby Media Group: You make coming into work an awful lot of fun for me, and each time I walk in the door, I can feel that infectious buzz of creativity you put out that makes me enjoy what we do so much. I’m still amazed to this day at how we all come together to hit our often impossible deadlines, and as always, you do it with class, poise, and a can-do attitude that is truly inspiring. You guys rock!

To my editor Cindy Snyder: I can’t thank you enough for stepping up to the plate and knocking one out of the park while our “Mommy of the Year” Kim Doty was off having the cutest little baby boy in the whole wide world. You did just a great job of keeping the train on the track, keeping me focused, and making sure that volume 2 kept the same voice and vision as the original. I am very grateful to have worked on this with you. Way to go!

To Dave Damstra and his amazing crew: You guys give my books such a spot-on, clean, to-the-point look, and although I don’t know how you do it, I sure am glad that you do!

To Jessica Maldonado: I can’t thank you enough for all your hard work on the cover, and on the look of this and all my books. We got very lucky when you joined our team.

To my friend and Creative Director Felix Nelson: You’re the glue that keeps this whole thing together, and not only could I not do this without you—I wouldn’t want to. Keep doin’ that Felix thing you do!

To Kim Gabriel: You’re the unsung hero behind the scenes, and I’m sure I don’t say this enough, but—thank you so much for everything you do to make this all come together. I know it’s not easy, but you somehow make it look like it is.

To my best buddy Dave Moser: Besides being the driving force behind all our books, I just want you to know how touched and honored I was that you chose me to be the Best Man at your wedding. It meant more than you know.

To my dear friend and business partner Jean A. Kendra: Thanks for putting up with me all these years, and for your support for all my crazy ideas. It really means a lot.

To my Executive Assistant and general Wonder Woman Kathy Siler: I’m writing this right before my Bucs play your Redskins, so at this point, while we’re still talking: thank you, thank you, thank you! All the mini-miracles you pull off each day enable me to continue to write books, take photos, and still have a family to come home to. I am indebted (not so much that I want the Redskins to win, but indebted nonetheless).

To my publisher Nancy Ruenzel, marketing maverick Scott Cowlin, production hound Ted Waitt, and all the incredibly dedicated team at Peachpit Press: It’s a real honor to get to work with people who really just want to make great books.

To David Ziser, David Hobby, and Steve Dantzig who acted as tech editors on three very important chapters: the wedding photography chapter, the off-camera flash chapter, and the studio chapter, respectively. I asked for your help because I knew you were the best, and the book is far better because of your input, suggestions, and ideas. I am so very grateful to you all.

To all the talented and gifted photographers who’ve taught me so much over the years: Moose Peterson, Vincent Versace, Bill Fortney, David Ziser, Jim DiVitale, Helene Glassman, Joe McNally, Anne Cahill, George Lepp, Kevin Ames, and Eddie Tapp. I give you sincere and heartfelt thanks for sharing your passion, ideas, and techniques with me and my students. As you know—I couldn’t have done it without you.

To my mentors John Graden, Jack Lee, Dave Gales, Judy Farmer, and Douglas Poole: Your wisdom and whip-cracking have helped me immeasurably throughout my life, and I will always be in your debt, and grateful for your friendship and guidance.

Most importantly, I want to thank God, and His son Jesus Christ, for leading me to the woman of my dreams, for blessing us with such amazing children, for allowing me to make a living doing something I truly love, for always being there when I need Him, for blessing me with a wonderful, fulfilling, and happy life, and such a warm, loving family to share it with.