Sweet! I think good food photography is really awesome. I love the last shot the best myself. I can't wait to see what you share in the future.

Blogging twice in less than a week? Setting some high expectations there, aren't you? I love that last shot...awesome job!!

Great job! Especially the last one! There are some great food photography and food styling books out there you should check out for more ideas, too!

Thanks Rachael! I've been looking at tons of stuff. It's fun for me. I've been wanting to shoot more of the stuff I cook too. :)

Love these Zak. It feels good to find your mojo! I can't wait to see more... these make me hungry!

COOL! I mean HOT! Love that last one. You have my curiosity totally piqued on the "fun personal project" thing, and I can't wait to see the direction your photography takes. Actually, the reason I like the last one so much is because it takes "food" photography to another level -- I love photography that shows the human side behind stuff we sometimes take for granted, like the love and care that goes into food prep, from growing to plating to washing the dishes. Anyway, so excited for you to be moving in a direction that makes so much sense considering the all-around ZAK I know and love!

Yum!! Ok, now I am STARVING!!! These images are AWESOME, especially the last one! And how great is it that it doesn't matter that your subjects aren't looking at you :) I myself am venturing out to other types of photography-- I just did my first boudoir session and I loved it-- so we shall see!

These are great Zak ! It is so wonderful when you find something that love you doing ...I see fantastic things in your future and I can not wait to hear more about your project. BTW, the last one totally rocks and I too love food photography.

I hear ya man and I know where you are coming from. I'm with ya!

I'm with you...and support you all the way! Whatever you do, it will be fantastic. :)

PS, Thanks for the blog post. ;)

Oh well said. I keep trying to find my place, and shoot things that set me on fire, but i get stuck with families and cheap weddings. Not all the time, but sometimes, and I want to put an end to it!

I'm with you Zak!! The business side, while totally necessary, will make one nutszo! But then you have those moments where it all clicks, you can just feel it, it is right...and it is all worth it. Sometimes you just have to pull away from the current view, and then Focus and re-compose. ;). Keep up the good work Zak!

I hear ya.
And I dig that shopping cart picture.

You are fantastic no matter what. Fantastic photographer, person and friend. You rock, my friend. Rock.

I hear ya, Zak. There's always a challenge in balancing putting food on the table and shooting from the heart - and only the heart. In other news, GREAT image!

I would love to see where the shopping cart goes. I need to rediscover my own cart.

I understand. Happily business has not put me off of photography, BUT I can relate when it comes to sewing and fashion design. I have been sewing and designing since I was a child.. but going to school for it has killed me. I have not touched a thing in eight months, and I don't know when I will again. It just killed the love of it. Turned it into something I HAD to do, not something I loved. I look forward to seeing what you find out there.

Thank you everyone for your words!!!!!!! I really am excited to see where this goes! You all are the best. probably the thing I love most about photography is the community!

Zak, I'm totally with you on this! I hear you loud and clear! And my friend, you are rad ... and your work is rad, and whatever you decide to do, you will be freaking amazing! Sometimes ... I feel like the creativity is beaten out of me ... I want to do something that lets me be creative and be crazy with no pressure. I can't wait to see where you're going! :)

Zak, Zak, Zak.... great post! I often times feel like I am waiting, waiting, waiting for a phone call, an email... asking for my photography... which is not a feeling I like. You'll get "it" back..... "it" being your creativity, your passion, your outlet... you will. So eager to see where your cart goes...

I could have written this very post. Sometimes its nice to know that you aren't the only lost shopping cart.

This is how we all feel... striving to find a niche, a uniqueness that we can claim for our own. Every artist has doubts, we are always looking for that perfect place. Or some brat kid just left their shopping cart too far from the corral. Glad to see you back to blogging... We missed you!!!

p.s your cel phone takes WAY better pictures than mine. *jealous*

1. I am jealous of your cell phone camera.
2. Look how many comments you have-holy cow! People have been waiting for an epiphany!
3. Do what you love so you can love what you do. There are so many areas of photography to delve into, so you're bound to have one that you absolutely love.
4. The business side drives us all crazy once in a while. You are not alone.

Oh Zak, don't get bummed! I don't know if we have any answers, but we are always happy to help if we can. :)

And you need to watch this: http://vimeo.com/5843895

dang i got vertigo there for a sec! :D love it zak attack!

Cell phone?? Wow!

Ahhh thanks Lynn! That was great! I'm not so much bummed as I am wanting to focus on what makes me happy. I feel really excited about my future as a photographer! You guys are the best! Yes Chelo I shot it with my Droid and edited it with Tilt Shift Gen on my iPod. :)

Zak!! I have checked your blog a hundred times and asked our mutual photog friends, "What's up with Zak? He hasn't been blogging." And then here you are with this really cool image -- and I have to admit, I've been feeling a bit of the doldrums too and wanting things to be way easier and wondering how to make it all click. Thanks for the inspiration, the honesty and the FUN you put back into it all! LOVE your Twitter and FB! Hugs, my friend, and if you ever come to NY, you BETTER come hang with MEEEEEEEEEE!

For real. The business side makes me batty.

As silly as it sounds, I literally had to do a double take! Those boys are identical and cute as can be!

Good job, boys!

so so awesome!!! congrats on capturing the pics that helped get 'em noticed!!!!!!

Adorable with a capital A!!

They are super cute! Great shots, Zak, and way to go with the work on Scrubs!

what a couple of cuties!!!

these two are cutie-pies! Big congratulations to them!

Great job boys!!! :) So much awesomeness here -- they are toooo cute! :)

Awh, very sweet. Great shots and awesome that they got noticed!

OH MY GOSH!!! I want to pinch their cheeks!!! These are so great, Zak!

the eyes on these two! love the running shot!

Great work, Zak! They are precious, too. I can't wait to see my boys at this age. :) Well... I can, but you know.

I can't even imagine how challenging it must be to work with two little guys like that. :) Awesome job! Hopefully they will remember you when they are big stars!

Oh. My. Gosh. They are adorable! What cuties! Can't wait to see their acting debut! :)

How freakin' cute are THEY?? Look at those tight little curls, love 'em! :)
Way to go on rock'n out their model portfolio. How cool will it be to see them on Scrubs and be able to say, 'Yeah..those are my clients" *shrug* (Be sure to act very nonchalant to enhance your coolness factor)

Merry Christmas!

Oh my word, I can't handle the curls! ADORABLE Watch out ladies!

Oh WOW, those boys are ADORABLE!!! Lucky you with such cuties to photograph :) I love the shot of them running, it's so fun!

Look at those baby blues! The pics are presh, and Scrubs is awesome. Yay, Zak! :D

Hey Zak -- I saw your little prodigies on TV the other day, I swear it! So cute! You did a great job with their pictures!

Are you ever going to blog again? Signed - Patiently waiting by my keyboard..... :)

What adorable kids!!!!! Fun photos!

hey zak.... SCHWING!!!!!

So proud to be your most famous clients! Love, Chad + Ryan Z

ah they're way cute! oh and it's about time z dog! ;)

omg, this pic makes me so happy i could cry! sooo adorable. and i was so relieved to see i haven't missed any of your posts. i've been such a bad blog lover lately and my pals deserve more!

oh and another thing! love the way you branded this one!

So stinkin' cute! And ditto on the branding-are changes in the future?

feel.your.pain hahahaha death star!

Always looking to improve on my branding...probably nothing major down the road, but I really just like the way this looks. :)

Love the picture, Zak--so cute! (And can I say that I'm really envious of how clean your floor is? Random, but that's my life.)

he is the cutest boy in the world, you know that don't you? :)

Aww, this picture tugs at my heart strings ... and I'm overflowing with happy feelings!!! He's so adorable Zak!!! I loooooove it! :)

Such a sweet shot - he's a handsome little devil! P.s. November 3rd is your last update - show us some photo love Zak!!!! No pressure ;)

I know right?! THere's so much to remember to do online.

Hi Zak! I know how you feel. I feel like that now and then and have to spend the day just unwinding (and crying!) to get myself together. I hope your day gets better!

Yes! However... think about this... there are always times when we are lifted out of our daze through inspiration and encouragement from others... that help to remind us why we are pressing forward. You, Zak, were my inspiration a few months back. Somewhat defeated before even trying... you gave me the chance to shine and start my photography. Ride out your defeat... or your "throwing in the towel"... inspiration will float your way in due time, it will. If we were on top all of the time, I don't think we could truly appreciate it as much as when we hit a wall, ya know? No struggle, no growth.

I think everyone feels this sometimes :) you definitely shouldnt quit because you're great at what you do!

heck YESSSSSS!!!! don't know if you're specifically talking about photography, but as for me.... sometimes i'm like, IS IT WORTH IT?!?!? thanks for letting me vent, hahahaha!! :)

I do. I do all the time. We were so many hats, don't we? We want to excel at all we do. And our strive for excellence is a good force, one that propels us forward. But this force is also the one that brings us down when we feel like haven't reached our best. Zak, always remember that you are AWESOME at all you do!

Funny... I've felt the same way for the past few weeks. Just can't make every shoot "unique enough" makes me wonder if I'm not cutting it.

I go through this in cycles Zak. For weeks at a time I feel like I'm never going to get anywhere, despite this being what I really want to do. If you're referring to photography ... YOU are doing it for the RIGHT reasons, and it shows in your work! You are awesome at what you do Zak, so chin up! :) And remember ... this feeling will pass, your motivation will be renewed ... as Freida said, "no struggle, no growth." It's funny, you also motivated me ... when I was feeling like throwing in the towel.

are we talking about being chargers fans? lol. jk. no, never. but i've loved photography since i was in the womb ;)