Acknowledgments

I start the acknowledgments for every book I’ve ever written the same way—by thanking my amazing wife, Kalebra. If you knew what an incredible woman she is, you’d totally understand why.

This is going to sound silly, but if we go grocery shopping together and she sends me off to a different aisle to get milk, when I return with the milk and she sees me coming back down the aisle, she gives me the warmest, most wonderful smile. It’s not because she’s happy that I found the milk; I get that same smile every time I see her, even if we’ve only been apart for 60 seconds. It’s a smile that says, “There’s the man I love.”

If you got that smile, dozens of times a day, for nearly 24 years of marriage, you’d feel like the luckiest guy in the world, and believe me—I do. To this day, just seeing her puts a song in my heart and makes it skip a beat. When you go through life like this, it makes you one incredibly happy and grateful guy, and I truly am.

So, thank you, my love. Thanks for your kindness, your hugs, your understanding, your advice, your patience, your generosity, and for being such a caring and compassionate mother and wife. I love you.

Secondly, a big thanks to my son, Jordan. I wrote my first book when my wife was pregnant with him (16 years ago), and he has literally grown up around my writing. Maybe that’s why he’s so patient as he waits for me to finish a page or two so we can go play Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 with all his friends, and my buddies Matt, RC, Brad, Hans, and Jeff. He’s such a great “little buddy” to me, and it has been a blast watching him grow up into such a wonderful young man, with his mother’s tender and loving heart. (You’re the greatest, little buddy!)

Thanks to our wonderful daughter, Kira, for being the answer to our prayers, for being such a blessing to your older brother, and for proving once again that miracles happen every day. You are a little clone of your mother, and believe me, there is no greater compliment I could give you. You’re my little sweetie!

A special thanks to my big brother, Jeff. I have so much to be thankful for in my life, and having you as such a positive role model while I was growing up is one thing I’m particularly thankful for. You’re the best brother any guy could ever have, and I’ve said it a million times before, but one more surely wouldn’t hurt—I love you, man!

My heartfelt thanks go to my entire team at Kelby Media Group. I know everybody thinks their team is really special, but this one time—I’m right. I’m so proud to get to work with you all, and I’m still amazed at what you’re able to accomplish day in, day out, and I’m constantly impressed with how much passion and pride you put into everything you do.

A warm word of thanks goes to my in-house Editor Kim Doty. It’s her amazing attitude, passion, poise, and attention to detail that has kept me writing books. When you’re writing a book like this, sometimes you can really feel like you’re all alone, but she really makes me feel that I’m not alone—that we’re a team. It often is her encouraging words or helpful ideas that keep me going when I’ve hit a wall, and I just can’t thank her enough. Kim, you are “the best!”

I’m equally as lucky to have the immensely talented Jessica Maldonado (a.k.a. “Photoshop Girl”) working on the design of my books. I just love the way Jessica designs, and all the clever little things she adds to her layouts and cover designs. She’s not just incredibly talented and a joy to work with, she’s a very smart designer and thinks five steps ahead in every layout she builds. I feel very, very fortunate to have her on my team.

Also, a big thanks to my in-house tech editor Cindy Snyder, who helps test all the techniques in the book (and makes sure I didn’t leave out that one little step that would take the train off the tracks), and she catches lots of little things others would have missed.

The guy leading this crew of creative superstars is none other than my friend (and Creative Director), Felix Nelson, whose limitless talent, creativity, input, and flat-out great ideas make every book we do that much better.

To my best buddy and book-publishing powerhouse, Dave Moser (also known as “the guiding light, force of nature, miracle birth, etc.”), for always insisting that we raise the bar and make everything we do better than anything we’ve done before.

Thanks to my friend and business partner, Jean A. Kendra, for her support and friendship all these years. You mean a lot to me, to Kalebra, and to our company.

A huge, huge thanks to my Executive Assistant, Susan Hageanon, for all her hard work and for handling so many things so well that I have time to write books.

Thanks to my Editor Ted Waitt at Peachpit Press. Like Kim Doty does in-house, you do outside by helping me feel connected to “the mothership.” Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to making the kind of books that make a difference. Also, thanks to my Publisher Nancy Aldrich-Ruenzel, and her team, including Sara Jane Todd and Scott Cowlin. (Lest we forget Gary-Paul.)

Thanks to Adobe Product Manager Tom Hogarty for answering all my late-night emails, and to Bryan O’Neil Hughes for helping out in such an impactful way throughout the original development of this book.

I owe a special debt of gratitude to my buddy, Matt Kloskowski, for being such an excellent sounding board (and sometimes tech editor) during the development of this book. Your input made this book better than it would have been.

Thanks to my friends at Adobe Systems: Terry White, Jim Heiser, Winston Hendrickson, Mala Sharma, John Nack, Scott Morris, Greg Wilson, Bryan Lamkin, Julieanne Kost, and Russell Preston Brown. Gone but not forgotten: Barbara Rice, Cari Gushiken, Rye Livingston, John Loiacono, Kevin Connor, Addy Roff, and Karen Gauthier.

I want to thank all the talented and gifted photographers who’ve taught me so much over the years, including: Moose Peterson, Joe McNally, Bill Fortney, George Lepp, Anne Cahill, Vincent Versace, David Ziser, Jim DiVitale, Cliff Mautner, Dave Black, Helene Glassman, and Monte Zucker.

Thanks to my mentors, whose wisdom and whip-cracking have helped me immeasurably, including John Graden, Jack Lee, Dave Gales, Judy Farmer, and Douglas Poole.

Most importantly, I want to thank God, and His Son Jesus Christ, for leading me to the woman of my dreams, for blessing us with two amazing children, for allowing me to make a living doing something I truly love, for always being there when I need Him, for blessing me with a wonderful, fulfilling, and happy life, and such a warm, loving family to share it with.