Ten on Tuesday.

1. Growing up, what was one favorite item that you had to have with you at all times?
The only thing I can think of is a blanket that I had to have for a few years when I was really little.

2. Being an adult, what is one favorite item that you have to have with you at all times, and what happens if you do not have it with you? Do you lose your sanity or just go back home to get it?

Just one thing? I have to always have my camera, something to read, and chapstick. The rare times when I don't have one of those things the other two usually keep me sane and take my mind off of what I am missing.

3. Where is your favorite place to be to just hide away from everything and breathe for a moment?
The shower. Everything always seems a little better when I am closed off in my own little world with the water warming me.

4. What is your favorite thing about your partner? (If you don’t have a partner, then someone who is very close and will always be in your life)
The way he can make me laugh. The things he comes up with sometimes just crack me up.

5. What is your favorite thing about your job? (If you don’t have a job, then what is your favorite thing that you do during your day?)
My favorite thing about my job as a mom is Dylan's laughter, nothing makes me happier than hearing his laugh. When it comes to photography it is capturing such moments. Working at the store my favorite thing is that I am with Cory.

6. What is your favorite lesson that your parents taught you growing up? Looking back, is it something that you want to use to teach your children when they reach that age?
To appreciate what you have and not take life for granted. No matter how little it is, there is someone who always has it worse. It is definitely a value that will be taught to my children.

7. What is your favorite song, that will always bring a smile to your face and make you think of something happy?
Fishing in the Dark by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. It always takes me back to when I was little. My family and several others would camp out not far from home. All our friends would be there. We ride horses and play in the creek together getting dirty. Friends that have passed on and friends I still have today. This is the one song that always gets played at weddings and celebrations to this day.

8. What is your favorite things about being an American? (If you not American, what are you proud of in regards to your country)
The land itself. We have a country that has every possible scenery imaginable. We are all free to explore this beautiful land of ours.

9. What is your favorite meal that reminds you of being a child?
Spaghetti or fried chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy.

10. Name 3 things that other people would say are their favorite thing about you.
I really don't know. If I had to guess I would say my compassion for others maybe and my willingness to just listen to your problems. This is a hard one for me.

The case of the missing shoes.

Growing up everyone always wore these shoes where I lived. I love them they are super comfortable and last forever. My Mom gave Dylan a pair for Christmas. They so cute in such a small size. We sized them perfectly so they fit him when he started walking. They are pretty much the only shoes he wears. Because of this I have not gotten him any more shoes and of course now they are missing. I know he wore them when we went to the fair the weekend before last. Then Tuesday morning I was in a rush and couldn't find them. So a put on his rubber boots, which worked out okay because it had been raining. I have been looking for his shoes ever since and have not been able to find them. It is driving me nuts. This has happened some with sippy cups. Dylan takes them and puts them some place. I search around for them having no luck. A few days later he appears with the missing item. Has not happen with the shoes. So right now the only shoes I have for Dylan to wear is his rubber boots and a pair of crocs. If you happen to see a pair of size 6 kids Georgia Romeos laying around I think they may be Dylan's (kidding, kind of).

What makes a movie your favorite?

I was flipping through the channels and found one of my all time favorite movies on last night. Return to Snowy River. I have loved this movie since I as a little girl. I think it is the combination of being set in Australia, the time period, the romance of it all and of course the horses that just draws me in. Not to mention the main character is also pretty good looking. I am pretty sure it is what started my fascination with the continent. The scenery in the movie is gorgeous. If I ever get to Australia I have to go to the Snowy Mountains. I have always enjoyed history and especially love the wild west of the mid to late 1800s. If I could be transported back in time this is the period I would choose, even though life was hard and most died young. To have horses be my main mode of transportation would be a dream come true. The relationships draw me in as well not only between the people but the people and horses as well. It is very easy for me to image myself in the movie.

Some people like movies based on how good the acting or directing is or because a certain actor is in a movie. Some because of the story. For me it is the emotion of it for the most part, only when they make me happy though. I hate sad movies. They can be good movies but I will never watch them again if they make me cry. Yes I just admitted to crying at movies.

What movie is your favorite and why?

Ten on Tuesday.

1. Where did you go to college?

Oregon State University

2. What did you study?

I studied general agriculture focusing on animal science, agribusiness, and environmental law and policy. I had a minor in political science.

3. Was college really all that it was cracked up to be?

I loved college. I had so many good experiences there and would do it again in a heartbeat if I could.

4. How far were you from home?

I was just about two hours from home.

5. Did you have the same roommate all four years?

No I had several different roommates. The most constant and longest running ones were Becky and Katie.

6. Where did you order food from at 2am?

We always went to Shari's and had either pie or breakfast.

7. Did you date in college or were you tied down?

I had a boyfriend for just under a year.

8. Funniest drunk college moment?

I don't think I had any drunk college moments but one of my roommates who shall remain nameless had a couple I will never forget. One time she was peeing along side the road and fell over in the bushes with her pants down and couldn't get back up. The other on was when we were walking back to our dorm. Another friend and I were helping her walk there and she kept falling down on her knees in mud puddles. Later she told us that she thought she little with her dad and her uncle jumping in the waves at the ocean. LMAO at that for a long time.

9. Did you make it to class on time?

I was usually always 5 to 10 minutes early.

10. What was your favorite class in college?

I don't remember having a favorite. Though I did like Comparative world agriculture because I got to go to China, Argentina and Chile because of it.

Ten on Tuesday.

1. Favorite way to travel (plane, train, automobile, etc.)
I think cruise ship is my favorite. My favorite part was being able to lay in bed and watch the scenery go by.

2. Where’s your favorite place to travel to that you’ve been to?
That's a hard one, I don't think I could pick.

3. Where’s the place that you want to go but have never been?
There are lots of places I would love to go, but I would have to say my top ones are Australia and an African safari.

4. Do you deal with traffic well?
I don't like it, but I can deal with it pretty well. I used to hate any traffic at all, but I think I have developed more patience as I have gotten older so it does not bother me as much.

5. Ever had an emergency while traveling?
I was in Argentina in December 2001 when the government collapsed. We were a few hours outside the capital where we were suppose to be going the next day, then home a few days after. All transportation was shut down. There was rioting in the streets everywhere, including where we were. It was a little scary. We had to change our schedule, but in the end got to fly out on time.

6. Do you have a passport? What countries have you been to?
I have had a passport since I was 16. I have been to Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, China, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, and Canada.

7. Are you’ve light packer or do you pack everything but the kitchen sink?
I always pack way too much. I just never know what I am going to need or want to wear.

8. Do you take the fastest route or the road less traveled?
Depends on where I am going and why. If I have something I have to be at a certain place and time for I will take the fastest route. When I have time I like to explore and take the road less traveled or at least a different route.

9. Do any activities on the road? (like road games, reading, sleeping, etc. )
If I am not driving I will sleep or read.

10. Use a paper map or GPS?
I print maps from mapquest.

My best friend for the last 21 years.

Not quite what you were expecting huh. This is Spring. I got her when I was eight years old. She was only three and quite scrawny and in need of some TLC. She was also quite ornery and in need of training. For some reason when I saw I her I just had to have her. My Mom on the other hand was not so sure. She was not real fond of appaloosas, the breed of horse which Spring is. But it didn't matter to me. I said pretty please enough and she gave in and let me have her.

That first year she probably bucked me off almost every time I got on her. Over the years she became my best friend. We have been through a lot together her and I. When I had no friends she was there for me. We went to camps and family vacations together. I told her all my secrets and she always there for me. The bond between a girl and her horse is very special and I am lucky enough to have kept that through so many years.

Why Choose Custom Photography?

Custom Photography as something "special"

Custom photography is more of a luxury than your entry level cookie cutter chain experience. Custom photography truly is not for everyone, it requires a level of commitment, investment in time and money, forethought and planning on the part of the subject/client and requires a larger time commitment for the photographer as well.

Clients who enjoy taking a more active role in the creation of their families’ memories have the desire to have portrait art that is truly personalized. These more discerning clients have been known to budget and allot time for a custom photography session. Many clients opt for it to be a once a year special experience, some opt to have custom photography sessions done to record their child's stages in life. Having said this, it is clear that custom photography is not in everyone’s budget, it is something that most families save for to splurge on from time to time to memorialize their children as they really are (not posed and primped in the cookie cutter studio setting).

There is a great deal of time involved in creating high end custom photography sessions for a client. The luxury of great service, better choices and a supberb end product. The result of all this are heirloom quality images. The time invested at the session is only a small portion of time involved in this process.

Custom photography has been likened to purchasing a fine vehicle. To get to point B from A let's face it, even a bus ride would suffice. If you want to luxuriate in a finely appointed vehicle, customizing your own experience by listening to smooth jazz while sitting in a climate controlled setting adjusted purely for your comfort in a body hugging leather interior, perhaps that Lexus you so desire is your cup of tea. Custom photography is much the same cup of tea. It is the Lexus of the photography world. It is where the intangibles make the experience truly wonderful and the images themselves make the investment of money and time truly worthwhile.

Custom photography can be broken down into even more levels. There are on location, studio, mixed studio/on location, specialty location and destination type photographers. The beauty of custom photography is in the choices and in the luxury of thoses options. The customized service level you are sure to experience will be amazing. The knowledge that your final images are the result of someone caring about those moments so much that they take extra time ensuring that the artwork you receive is good enough to stand by with their name on it. That level of quality and commitment is all but lost in the age of "mass produced," "mass marketed," corporate "everyone is a number". Custom photography is based on being unique to you. How great an experience would be, to be able to sit back and allow a photographer to do this highly custom work for images that you will most likely cherish for a lifetime?

Keep in mind more than anything that the Lexus will never appreciate in value the way your portraits will. The portrait art you become invested in from your custom photographer will no doubt increase in value and become more priceless as the years pass.

Written by Marianne Drenthe of Marmalade Photography