We are pleased to help promote Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking  by Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart. It has a forward  by Pat Conroy and it was photographed by Rick McKee.

According to The Washington Times…

This authoritative book on Southern fare is a big book, heavier than a picnic ham, but it can be as light as a biscuit to read. What Julia Child and her colleagues accomplished in “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” as they brought French food and techniques into the American kitchen, the Dupree-Graubart team has done for the cooking of the American South, still paying homage to French techniques. It was Child, who after briefly meeting Ms. Dupree at Cordon Bleu in London in 1971, advised: “Teach cooking. Open a cooking school. We need good cooking schools in America.” Ms. Dupree listened.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/25/book-review-mastering-the-art-of-southern-cooking/#ixzz2DxklpOig
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter

According to the LA Times…

But this “Mastering” is more than just another regional cookbook – you could think of it as a culinary primer with a pronounced Southern accent. Dupree is at heart a cooking teacher and the book is liberally sprinkled with bits and pieces of kitchen wisdom. And if you’re really interested in Southern cooking – beyond the practical aspects – there’s a tidy introduction to its history and range and a nice bibliography of notable Southern cookbooks

We look forward to you getting the opportunity to catch this great book. In addition we are offering 2 free copies. If you are the 400th like to our facebook page at www.facebook.com/charlestonphotographer  Or be the 400th like on film, marketing page at Sea Turtle Production at www.facebook.com/seaturtleproduction

Don’t forget to purchase your book….it makes a great christmas gift. You can get it at Amazon here. 

Also don’t forget about Nathalie’s other Book : Southern Biscuits You can get it at Amazon here.

Buyer beware is a valuable lesson right a long with if it sound to good to be true it probably is. In real estate if you signed a loan for 125% of the value of your home, or an interest only loan at some point you had to have said what if.  I meet a lot of people who had that same thought when they were interviewing photographers, had second thoughtsm hired a photographer then were upset with the outcome. We meet both professional and commercial clients that have mentioned this in the past. Some occasions are savable others not so much.

Thus I wanted to discuss some tips on hiring a photographer: (these are meant to be funny HA HA but really sometimes we don’t think common sense when we hire people.)

1. Decide what your philosophy on photography is, stick to it had hire a photographer who holds the same philosophy. If they think they are only there to document but you are type A and want some style input this may not be the photographer for you.
2. If you are a woman and are uncomfortable around a man then a male photographer may not be the photographer for you.
3. If you love candid, photojournalism then a strict portrait photographer may not be the photographer for you.
4. If you hate red eye and you are getting married at night then a photographer with little experience is not right for you.
5. If when you are interviewing your photographer and you think things are a little off then they probably are.
6. Personally I feel that as a professionals  should have all standard equipment that Ithey should need on hand and as a rule only rent speciality equipment on an as needed basis. Thus if your wedding photographer says they have to rent a lens, I would second guess them. Speciality lighting is one thing, an underwater camera is considered a speciality item. A portrait lens (even a fisheye) should be considered standard equipment.

Many of you may not have seen the book that we photographed with Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart. We are so happy to have been apart of this project. Not only were the biscuits yummy but Nathalie and Cynthia were wonderful to work with. The book is getting rave reviews and is a recommended read. Biscuits are easy to make and fresh ingredients always make everything better. Day or night fresh biscuits make any meal better, they are fun to make especially with kids and time spent with your children always makes the night more enjoyable. So pause and make some biscuits.