Improve your relationship, make SOFRITO!!!!!

I was a professional guitarist, I am now a professional photographer. If I were to choose any other profession, I'd be a professional chef. I LOVE TO COOK!
If you'd like to impress your significant other, cook your next meal with homemade Sofrito. It is a base for cooking any meal, and just a few tablespoons in your cooking preparation will make your dish orgasmic, yep, it's that good! You can buy Sofrito in a jar at the store but forget about it, save your money!...duhhhh...losing!!!
There are varying ways to make it, but I learned from some very special folks from the Island of Puerto Rico and added my own little touches. I made a batch today and here is how I made it;
Since I am a photographer I decided to photograph the ingredients and tonight's dinner.
1. (1) Large onion
2. (1) Red bell pepper
3. (1) Container of peeled garlic (about 50 cloves)
4. (1) Package of Ajicito Dulce peppers (look in any spanish market) Remove the seeds!
5. (1) Bunch of Cilantro
6. (1) Bunch of Culantro (look in any spanish market)

Mix all of the ingredients in a large blender with a hint of salt and vinegar. Mix it until it has the consistency of baby food, that's it! You can use Sofrito as a base for almost any savory meal. Today I made a batch of Sofrito and decided to make a pot of Arroz con gandules, (rice and beans) for dinner tonight.
Arroz con Gandules

• Saute 1/2 cup of Sofrito in 2 Tbsp. of olive oil in heated pan
• Add gandules, meat (optional), olives, 1 packet of Sazon, 1/8 cup of tomato sauce and/or Coconut milk for 15 min.  
• Add rice and boiling water, salt and pepper. Cook on medium heat with top on half-way. Cook until you hear a slight burning on the bottom.

Buen provecho!!!

Sebastião Salgado, one of my favorite photographers

  

  

  

I am inspired by photographers, musicians, sculptors, painters etc. who create art. I am also inspired by people who want to make the world a better place for all people, the earth and animals. Sebastião Salgado from Brazil is a combination of both.

Sebastião Salgado was born on February 8th, 1944 in Aimorés, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. He lives in Paris. Having studied economics, Salgado began his career as a professional photographer in 1973 in Paris, working with the photo agencies Sygma, Gamma, and Magnum Photos until 1994, when he and Lélia Wanick Salgado formed Amazonas images, an agency created exclusively for his work.
He has travelled in over 100 countries for his photographic projects. Most of these, besides appearing in numerous press publications, have also been presented in books such as Other Americas (1986),Sahel: l’homme en détresse (1986), Sahel: el fin del camino (1988), Workers (1993), Terra (1997), Migrations and Portraits (2000), and Africa (2007). Touring exhibitions of this work have been, and continue to be, presented throughout the world.

Sebastião Salgado has been awarded numerous major photographic prizes in recognition of his accomplishments. He is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and an honorary member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences in the United States. 

The wedding of Tara and Andy in Mexico

This is Tara's story~

I always wanted the traditional wedding but as I got older I started to change my mind and being that I am such a beach person I chose destination wedding!!! A destination wedding if it is right for you is the most amazing thing in the world!!! It is truly magical to be outside looking at the bright blue Caribbean ocean and smelling the fresh air with the wind blowing in your hair as you join in marriage and state your vows to each other.To get to spend a week with your closest friends and family in the Caribbean can't be beat!!!  

The joining of two families and friends from both sides was great to watch. Everyone really got a chance to bond. To leave COLD COLD Michigan in February and go to the warm Caribbean to celebrate life and love was incredible!I know the stress my friends have had with their weddings and I thought having a destination would ease the stress, NOT TRUE! I think any bride will always stress about their special day, but there is no reason to. I had no reason to stress.

Destination weddings are becoming more and more popular and the Wedding Department at Dreams Riviera Cancun. They were AWESOME. They truly know what they are doing and really, you just need to answer some questions and it all comes together without a hitch!!!

It rained on my wedding day during the reception about 40 minutes before it was over and we were outside on the pool deck. To me a destination wedding would not be the same if we were indoors due to inclement weather. It started to rain on us and we danced and enjoyed ourselves. To me nothing could ruin the amazing day on the beach with sand in my toes!! 

It was the time of my life and I still have a smile as big as ever!!!

Giving, to make the world better!

Founded in 2005, the WorldofMoney.org is a New York City based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to empower underserved youth with a sound financial foundation. Now more than ever this organization is needed to break a generational cycle and to change the way youth, ages 12-18, view money by equipping them with 5 tenets for a financially responsible life: learn, earn, save, invest and donate.

The Youth Business School was founded in 2009 for graduating youth who desire to become entrepreneurs. Youth attend such courses as, entrepreneur mindsets, legalities of business, creating a management team, marketing, accounting and business pitches.  

Since being introduced to this organization a few years ago, I was, and still am amazed at the level of commitment Sabrina  has given to this cause, and how the participants of this program have endeavored to work, study, and be the best that they can be. As a photographer who feels very fortunate and blessed, I feel that it is important to give back to causes like this. I have benefited tremendously from just being within ear-shot of these amazing people.

This slide show contains photos from their tour of The White House, The Pentagon, and The Frederick Douglas House, amongst other places. 

Untitled from Nick Carter on Vimeo.

Photo shoot with Nancy and Joshua, and baby to be....

I photograph weddings and models primarily, and do it pretty ok. Photographing kids and pregnant moms is a new arena for me. As challenging as the task of photographing kids and animals goes, it's a lot of fun. When it's windy outside and I'm trying to shoot a bride and make it look good, or whether a child wants to play during the photo shoot, I have learned just go with the flow. Que sera, sera... what will be will be!
Here are a few images from the shoot.

Cancun, Mexico beach photo shoot with Natalia Wilhelm

It's no secret that it's COLD in New York. Well, it's winter!! Fortunately for me, I was in Puerto Morelos, Mexico shooting a wedding.
Also, I was in Cancun, Mexico this week working on a photo shoot with Natalia Wilhelm of Canada. This multi-lingual, multi-ethnic beauty stands at almost 6'0 tall. Not only is she beautiful but she has talent, grace and poise and is one of the most intelligent humans that I have met. Here are a few photos from the shoot.

Nick Carter Photography Inc.

We Won Another Award!!!!!!!

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Nick Carter Photography Inc. has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011. Click here!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation. 

Nick Carter Photography Inc. stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year. 

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Nick for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.” 

We are happy to announce that Nick is among the very best  Photographer within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011. 


About WeddingWire, Inc. 
WeddingWire.com, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).