The Debut of a new LIFE

I quit my job! Just like that, after 12 years of carefully establishing my career in Human Resources, reaching the managerial level, I decided to stop, take a detour and start in a totally new direction. Some call me crazy and some call me bold, but I want to be doing what my heart desires.

“Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it” – Julia Child

And I've always been passionate about two things in my life: photography and baking!

I remember my first camera, a small black Kodak with a film in it; where you have to roll the knob until it clicks to be able to take the next picture. Where you would wait patiently for 3 days until the film is developed at the store and only then do you get to see what photos you took. Sometimes they were nice, and oh the heartbreak when they were hazy or not clear on this boat trip you had and cannot go back to. Then my dad gave me his camera - my first SLR – a Yashica. It was a beauty, and it took really good pictures. Et voila ; I had a new obsession. I would take my camera anywhere, to all trips, outings, travels, school performances… It was always there, part of me. And then came the day with my first digital camera, Toshiba 2 MP with an internal memory card and a changeable cover (don’t really know why, never cared to change it). Things moved faster ever since, with new technology being invented every minute and currently I am a proud owner of a Canon 550 D with various lenses. I still use the same tripod my dad gave me till now.

My passion about baking started later than my photography obsession. I always watched my mother do all our birthday cakes, decorating them beautifully (to my young eyes and mind). Most of the early recipes I learnt were from her, she has a great memory remembering measures of different cakes; I on the other hand rely on written recipes. My first attempt at doing a business out of my baking was end of high school/beginning of college. I was doing cheesecakes and selling them to friends. It wasn't a success as the concept of “cheesecakes” was fairly new to Egyptians and not really a jump-in taste experience for them, even though it was a baked cheesecake, moderately sweet and light in texture as the recipe calls for Ricotta Cheese as a main ingredient.

So one night, not long ago, I decided to take pictures of my baking, to show off to my friends, to maybe have another attempt at selling my treats or just to have a reference of all the things I am capable of baking/cooking. I tried and failed miserably as it doesn't matter how great they tasted, the pictures never served them right. They all looked repellent and even disgusting “sigh”! That was it for me; I needed to learn how to style and photograph the fine and exquisite taste of my delightfully baked cakes, cookies, pies, etc…

Researching online for “food photography” courses I came across the talented, charming and lovely ladies of Plate to Page team. Meeta from "What's for Lunch Honey?", Ilva from "Lucullian Delights", Jamie from "Life's a feast" and Jeanne from "Cook Sister!" are rare to find these days, they invest so much time and spare no effort in teaching and making sure the knowledge is transferred, stopping at nothing and coaching non-stop. I was blessed to have met them, learn from them, and even be courageous enough to start my own blog!

Now the only problem is rising to meet their expectations! The bar is just set so high, that every picture I take and every post I attempt to write, I get butterflies in my stomach thinking if will they like it? What would their “positive critique” be? Do I make them proud?

The very first post is a “Thank you” to my mentors for opening my eyes to a new world of possibilities and challenges.

Thank you Meeta, Ilva, Jamie and Jeanne!

P.S. Learning is a never ending process, the start is always so much different than the end, so stick around as I evolve from the beginner stage to one day a more professional one.