I love real wedding inspiration.  It's like getting a glimpse at all the hard work that the bride put into her details for the day of the wedding.  From the florals, the dress, the shoes, and the cake!  I know first hand that each detail is important.  

I remember including sunflowers because my late grandmother loved sunflowers and it was her way of being there.  The rest of the florals were wild-like because we wanted a sense of adventure and nature through out.  The dress had to be a particular flowing and comfortable yet simple dress.  The list goes on... 

What is so great is pulling the detail images and really seeing how it all pulled together.  These are for you, future brides! Make sure you pin the inspirations so that you can come back to them and create a wedding with details all your own :).

Which one is your favorite? Don't forget to view our last Real Wedding Inspiration post.

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I loved Brenda & Marcos' Elegant Autumn Wedding with beautiful Orange hues and a bit of glam details through out the wedding day.

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Isn't this Red Velvet Wedding just so beautiful?! I love Karina and Jose's wedding where Red made a come back and looked so elegant! 

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What is not to love about Carmen & Alonso's wedding? Seriously, the floral filigree, the sheer seat covers, the beautiful chandeliers... just pure elegance! And a tiara to finish all the details. Details by Castallia Eventos.

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Karla & Sergio's blush lavender and rose made the event intimate and romantic. The chic details of cafe lights and glass charger plates were to die for.  Details by Xitle Wedding Design.

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I hope that these weddings inspire you and help you plan your wedding! Don't forget to pin these so you can refer back to them :).  Which is your favorite?

Happy Tuesday!

It's no big surprise that couples are nervous about having their photos taken.  I totally get it as I once had to be in front of the camera.  However, with time I have come to understand what can make your engagement session a hit and how to have fun during the session.  

Here are some tips that will help you to rock your session and love your photos!

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1.  HIRE A PHOTOGRAPHER YOU GET ALONG WITH

This session is a great way to fall in love again, have fun, and get some amazing photos of the two of you.  Which can only be achieved by making sure you hire someone who gets you, watches the same shows as you do, likes to go on hikes or loves Doctor Who just as much as you do.  In turn, hiring someone who you get along with makes for a new friendship to foster and after sometime, you won't even notice the camera.  Helping get those genuine photographs of the love between you.  

Of course, style, experience, and budget come into play when looking for a photographer, just make sure you factor in their personality too.  This can be the difference between a fun experience or an awkward one.  

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2.  MAKE-UP, HAIR, AND WARDROBE STYLING

Another great way to rock your engagement session and love your photos is to have your makeup and hair done by someone you trust.  This is mostly for the ladies, but goes for the men as well.  Go for a look to match your wardrobe or styling of the engagement session.  If you are going to ethereal and earthy, go for a bohemian bride or loose curls.  If you're going for urban glam, perhaps a chignon and some red lipstick.  Whatever the style, make sure that it goes hand in hand with your styling.  Men: please don't get your haircut the same week as the session! This is super important because you may not like the way they cut your hair and now you have weird hair for the entire session... not fun!

Now here is a tip that probably not many photographers will dish out.  

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR MAKEUP COMING OFF.

Avoiding to kiss your partner because you don't want your lipstick to come off, or not wanting to hug them because you won't want the blush to come off... this only creates weird expressions and will make the session stressful.  Instead let the moments unravel naturally! That makeup isn't going to go anywhere, trust me.  So kiss, hug, and have fun! 

As for wardrobe, take as much as you can! Having more outfits is better than not having enough.  Also, make sure you are comfortable wearing the outfits.  It is noticeable when something is uncomfortable or something isn't right. 

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3.  LOCATION

Where should you have your session?  I get this question more often than not and it's a tough one to answer.  Here is what I usually ask my clients when trying to figure out the location:

• Is there a location that holds a special memory of the relationship?  Maybe the place where you had your first date, or where he proposed, or your first anniversary.  
• Do you like urban (city, cars, people, downtowns, high buildings) or more earthy (fields, gardens, green, pasture, barns)? 
• What are your favorite colors?

Sometimes, there is more than one location you would like to photograph in.  Ask your photographer if this is something they do.  I've done up to three locations because my clients wanted something different.  And I love giving them that kind of variety to show off their love!

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4.  PROPS + ACCESSORIES

From vintage cars to lanterns, to big letters and suitcases, props and accessories can help set the stage for the entire session.  They can be themed to what you have envisioned or simply add to the session.  You can also incorporate items that mean something to the both of you as a couple.

Ask your photographer if they have any props too and what ideas you have.  These helps the photographer find inspiration and really go after what you're thinking. 

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5.  CHILDREN + PUPS

Anytime you do an engagement session, it is equally important to include the whole family.  Ask your photographer if they are okay with photographing your children during the same session or if you have pups you'd love to have come with you.  Of course, you could make the session just the two of you as well.  All depends on how you want your session to unfold and what you would like to have photographed.  

If you are going to bring your children and/or your pups, make sure you take an extra pair of hands to help when they are not being included in the photos.  Someone to look after them while you are hamming it up for the camera.  

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Well, that's all I have for you today!  I hope that these tips help you have an awesome experience at your engagement session!  I would love to hear your own personal tips if you've already experienced an engagement session.  Post a comment below! 

I can not wait until I show you the rest of this amazing wedding that took place at Sunset Plaza in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. 

I love my job.  

Happy new year!

Sometimes you come across people that makes you want to get to know them.  Something that leads you to make that connection.  A smile, could be just a sincere hello.  For me it was giving them my card hoping that they'd consider a maternity session, just so I could get to know them. 

And that is exactly what happened.  They called, we set up a meeting, I was utterly giddy of getting to know them, and we set the date.  During our meeting they relayed to me that they once confided in a photographer, but she fell short and has then tainted the experience for them.  As soon as they finished their tragic story of photographs lost, I confided in them that it is my mission now to make sure that they have the best experience and best session of their lives.  

I dislike that other photographers give us a bad name.  However, I do love the chance at proving that there are some whose passion transcends all they do and all put all of their focus on their clients.  Making sure they enjoy the process, enjoy the session, and enjoy the once in a lifetime photographs that were made.  

Nereida + Gabriel:  Mil gracias por saltar y confiar en mi.  Es un verdadero honor ser parte de esta nueva etapa! Estoy ansiosa por conocer a la pequeña y les deseo mucha felicidad!  Espero que ya les haya restaurado la fe en la fotografía y que a partir de hoy, seran mis nuevos amigos! :D

xoxo,
Jackie

I absolutely love engagement sessions.  When I meet with potential clients, I make sure to express how important an engagement session is.  Not just for the photographer, but for the couple.  Aside from the wedding day, the engagement session the only real time you have before your wedding that photographs a couple the way a couple really is.  How their love really is.  It allows the couple to have extra photos of them that are a bit more relaxed.  It helps us to get to know each other on a deeper personal level rather than just meeting on the wedding day.  Helps me ask nosy questions like how they met, and how did he propose (or she!) and anything else that doesn't have to do with the wedding day.  All while getting romantic and intimate portraits of how they are, together, as one.  Before all the stress and wedding dress, and flowers.  

This engagement session is no less beautiful!  Gaby and Fer took us to the canyons of Majalca which are just gorgeous during this time of year.  With a small river flowing by and beautiful light coming through the trees, it was a dream!  And how they are together is nothing but full of love.  Check it out :).

It was a beautiful day.  The sun was shining and the weather was perfect.  Perfect for a beautiful beach wedding at Crescent Bay in Laguna.  They decided to have a small intimate wedding with only 30 guests.  And it couldn't have been more beautiful.

With the beach as the backdrop, Jackie and Kevin vowed to love each other in front of their closest family and friends.  After, we followed them to the shore for some amazing portraits with beautiful light!  A nice dinner followed where their maid of honor and best man gave amazing toasts, as well as the fathers of both the bride and groom.

Jackie + Kevin:  thank you so much for having us there on your special day!  I enjoyed watching the two of you join lives and I wish only the best for you! Thank you! 

This engagement is special.  Special because it's of my beautiful cousin and her fiance.  They have been together quite some time and when Charlon started calling me

prima

, I knew he'd be here for the long haul.

We had so much fun during the session.   Which took place at a Mission in Redlands that a photographer friend of mine recommended.  It was perfect for the theme of their wedding (which you shall see in September!)  The light was gorgeous, and these two couldn't stop laughing and having fun!

Yeya + Charlon:  Thank you so much for choosing me as your photographer!  I am excited to live the wedding day through my lens and do the best job I possibly can!  I'm happy for the two of you and there is nothing more real than your love.