Thanks! I don't have an actual lightbox, but I put the mini on a sheet of paper that's bent up 90 degrees by propping it up against the desk lamp I use as a light source. The lamp has an arm that I can bend over so the light is coming from the top/front. I take and edit pictures with the Adobe Lightroom app.

That looks horrible. It's perfect.

(Seriously, well done)

Thanks! Partially a case of necessity being the mother of invention - can't have an airbrush in an apartment with a toddler haha.

Welcome to the hobby!

For home-grown hops, I'd focus on something you'd want to use as an aroma addition or a dry-hop, e.g. Citra for citrus-forward beers. See what rhizomes are available for purchase and look up their flavor/aroma profiles and buy what looks enticing!

I would gently recommend against homegrown hops for bittering - it can be difficult to know how much bitterness a hop variety will impart if you don't know its precise alpha acid content - something that you'll get right on the label for hop pellets. Furthermore, the character of a homegrown hop - which is unique and special - will be best expressed when used as a flavor or aroma hop.