I’m more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. Can you tell?

I am the mother of a young son and the wife of a man who were both worth the rather long wait.

My husband, son, and I all have (or at least had) red hair.  The only logical choice for a family dog is an Irish Setter, or maybe a Chesapeake Bay.

The verb “capture” seems overused to me, when it comes to photography, and yet I can’t help myself.

My favorite vacation destination so far has been Ireland.  I always thought it was silly to say that it was an Emerald Isle, until I flew into Dublin and saw the place from the air. Locally, I love anywhere in the NC mountains and the Outer Banks.

The idea of freezing perfect moments in portraits is why I am a photographer.

I grew up on my family farm; I worry a little about how we’ll keep our son busy and raise him to be hardworking on half an acre in the suburbs, and I appreciate tips from those who’ve done it.

I do not think that Photoshop saves photographs, but I appreciate a little skin softening as much as the next girl.

I am not a hoarder; I am a pack rat.  And I use that stuff.  Jonathan.

I recently discovered the sense of peace that comes with having a few closets that aren’t full yet, though.

I love bleach, Lysol, and cleaning products that kill germs generally.  If they smell good, so much the better.

I tend to agonize when choosing perfumes, only to find that my perfect fragrance is a limited edition that will only be available for a short time.

I know that cloth diapers are not for everyone, but I do think that they are great and a lot less trouble than I’d have guessed.

My first real camera was a used Canon AE-1 that was (and is) about my age.  It doesn’t get much use now, but it still works.

I love drinking coffee on the screened porch on slightly chilly fall mornings.

Finding the perfect stroller became an epic quest whose significance was out of all proportion to the object. Current answer = BOB. In orange. See line 3 above.

I think that there is a difference between a snapshot and a portrait, and that every family should have plenty of both.

I come from a family full of teachers, and before my son was born, I taught high school for 11 years — every level of U. S. History and Law of Justice. I really loved it, and I was fortunate to work with a lot of incredibly dedicated and talented people. If you have a child in school, please know that the trust and appreciation that you show to your child’s teacher is one of the greatest gifts that you have to offer, at Christmas and throughout the year.

What’s in a name? When I turned my hobby into a business in 2005, I was still Beth Wiley — hence the name A. E. Wiley Photography. Now, I’m Beth (Wiley) Breeden. But since I have always gone by my middle name (Beth, short for Elizabeth) instead of my first (the A in A. E. Wiley), I’m used to explaining my name a little.