When I tell you that for the first time in my career, I had an emergency and was so worried my session with the Garfia family would have been cancelled!

My son had a little incident. (nothing major but we did have to see a dr!) as I was heading out to the session 🤦🏽‍♀️ And right away I was scrambling to see how we could still have our session and so we decided for sunrise the next day because there was no way I’d get there by sunset.

I was stressing big time but they were so kind to reschedule and I was determined to get some amazing photos! AND WE DID IT!

Sunrise is just as pretty and gives you something more unique than the staple sunset. I love morning sessions too and this way you have the whole rest of the day to enjoy your vacation. Win-win.

We also saw lots of baby turtles who had just hatched and were making their way to the ocean, it was magnificent!

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I love Tepic.  For so many reasons.  One major reason:  Parque La Loma.  This park is so beautiful and filled with large trees everywhere you go, along with a jogging track and for equipment for those crossfit junkies.  Most of all, it's green! Which makes it perfect for photos!

Citlali and I met at the Instatour meetup the second week we moved and she is just so fun to be around!  As a radio host, she has a bubbly personality and a contagious laugh! She's absolutely adorable. 

Can't wait to do another session with this lovely lady! :)

Did you like these photos?  Make sure to hover and pin them or share them with #jackielamas! 

One of the best parts of my job is being able to go to places that hold a special place for my clients.  To show them familiar places in a different light.  We had big gloomy clouds above us and I was able to experiment with a little bit of flash.  Which, if you know me, I have a love-hate relationship with flash.  Engagement sessions allow for this kind of experimentation.  Helps to try new techniques without the pressure of making any mistake you can't take back, like on a wedding day.

Anyway, these two are really in love and I had such a great time photographing them in their hometown, where they met and fell in love!

Just wait until I post their wedding from Mazatlan!  *Soon*

I am just so lucky to be able to watch these families grow!  We had this session out in Balboa, which happens to be my favorite beach in Southern California.  I just love how small town it feels and of course, the beach!

I love these two sooo much!! And the moodiness of the photos :)

Oh my where do I begin with this family?!?!  Every time I get to see them or visit, they take me in like I'm family!  A long lost cousin and we just all have such a great time!  I've photographed a wedding, two newborn baby girls, and a handful of family memories.  I love them so much!

I'm so glad that we (totally a we because I'm the long lost cousin, remember?) were able to get everyone on board for this family photo.  Everything about these photos makes me happy, the lighting, the location, and of course the people!  

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 :).

There is something in the silence of a forest.  Being in the middle of the treeline that perfectly shades you from the glistening sun above.  No matter what time of day, or season, it stays perfectly intact.  Beautiful and timeless.  It's smell, touch, texture, curves... it never ceases to impress me.  

I love it even more when I'm able to photograph good friends in this wondrous beauty.  Just a sneak preview of more to come! 

//esp//

Existe algo en el silencio de un bosque. Estar en el medio de los altos árboles que da una sombra perfecta del sol brillante arriba. No importa a qué hora del día o la temporada, se mantiene intacta. Hermosa y atemporal. Esta en el olor, la textura, sus curvas ... nunca deja de impresionarme.

Me encanta aún más cuando tengo la oportunidad de fotografiar buenos amigos en esta maravillosa belleza. Sólo una vista previa de más por venir!

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Where do I begin with this amazing family.  They are truly like no other family I have photographed.  I have known Ruth since high school.  I have photographed this family since little M was 3.  I photographed their engagement session, their wedding, family sessions, and when little S was born, her newborn photos.  Now that S is a little older, we were able to squeeze in a session down by the Santa Monica Pier.

They are my biggest supporters, good friends, and I feel like I'm part of their family!  Each of them, including Ruth's parents and grandparents, hold a very special place in my heart!  Helping them document their gorgeous growing family is what I consider to be an honor!

I love you guys very dearly!

xoxo,

Jackie

Maternity sessions are so fun for me.  I discovered that they could probably be my favorite kind of portrait session.  It could be the fact that there is something undeniably sexy about a pregnant woman.  Sexy and magical all at the same time.  It is also temporary, which makes photographing maternity sessions a special and momentous occasion.  Many woman have commented, usually after their family sessions, that they either never wanted maternity photos or just never thought of it until it was too late.  I high recommend getting them done, even if you're not a big fan.  The reason is because of how temporary being pregnant is.  I myself have yet to go through pregnancy, however, many clients have expressed that each child is different in the womb.  No pregnancy is the same.  Which is why I stress that they are a must have.  Not all maternity sessions need to have the belly out; it's all about what you're comfortable with.  And I am more than happy to guide you on wardrobe and location ideas.  Just get the darn session done ;).

Penelope + Gerardo decided to have half of the session indoors, with a more serious studio feel, and the other half outdoors.  I love this combo for maternity photos.  It creates lots of variety and allows us to really get a great mix of serious and happy photos.  For the studio, we dressed Penelope in two pieces of fabric.  Yep, good old fabric with nothing special to it.  Tied it to the back to cascade and boom! Instant maternity wardrobe.  This can be done with any kind of fabric, sheer, white, black, and even a soft rose o blue.  Penelope chose white, and she looked gorgeous!

The rest of the session was pure fun! A little park then some hills and absolutely perfect.