It’s a beautiful thing when I get clients who have never had their professional photos taken - ever.

Why? Because I get to give my clients the best portrait experience of their lives. There is no stress here and we finish our session with lots of smiles and well, pre-covid, lots of hugs!

Letting families be completely and authentically themselves, allowing teens to not smile if they don’t want to, and give them space to get comfortable, listening to my clients, and aiming to give them the best each and every time is my goal.

I want their first photography experience to be unforgettable and memorable. And it’ll make them more comfortable and in the future, they won’t think twice about updating their photos and making sure their memories are captured forever!

I know, I sound crazy right? But hear me out, anytime you do anything for the first time it can feel intimidating. And when your first experience is positive and beautiful, then it just makes everything 1000x better.

I want to be that for my clients.

And, I’ve had clients who were afraid of hiring another photographer because their last experience wasn’t great. Which I also take on as a challenge to make sure their perspective is changed.

Because it’s more than just photos, it’s an experience you never forget.

Literally.

So when Mikah came to me telling me this was their first professional shoot, I know we made it memorable!

Thank you so much Mikah & kids! It was a blast!

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I photograph in many of the same locations again and again. Here in Bucerias and Puerto Vallarta, this means that I photograph many sessions at the same beach.

However, it has always surprised me that I could photograph two sessions on the same day at the same location and each session will be SO different from the other. No two sessions are ever alike and this is because of YOU.

You, my clients, are the ones that make each session unique and truly one of kind. Yeah, I know that sounds cheesy but it’s 100% honest truth. The way that you approach the session is what makes it YOURS AND ONLY YOURS.

I’m using caps because I need to emphasize that each session is tailored to you and that each portrait experience is not like any other.

I never get tired of photographing portrait sessions at the beach. The sunset, sometimes at noon with the beautiful blue sky reflecting the blue water. The vastness of the shoreline and always, the fun that splashing in the warm water brings.

Each portrait session experience depends on what you enjoy. Like to be romantic during engagement photos, we’ll be romantic. Like to be playful for family portraits, let’s have fun. Want to mix in a little bit of both for your anniversary session, we’ll do both.

Your experience in front of my camera is important to me and I hope that you enjoy it to the fullest because moments are fleeting and as cheesy as it sounds, photography is all that is left to remember your life by.

So enjoy the session, don’t be nervous, I got you.

Book your Mexico Sunset Portrait Session. Click here.

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Getting your portraits taken while on vacation can seem a little overwhelming because you have one chance to get everything right…

I’m here to make sure our session goes as smoothly as possible and so I’ve rounded up some things that maybe you have or haven’t thought of yet and want to make the most out of your time with me.

Schedule your session two or three days before your return

Planning your session a few days before your return flight is the best way to ensure that if anything goes wrong, the weather doesn’t allow for great photos, we still have a couple of days to reschedule your session to a more ideal time.

It rains a lot and sometimes the weather can be unpredictable or the location can be closed off, especially right now with COVID where the world is still taking its time to open fully.

The sessions last about an hour and so really it’s quick and won’t take up much time from your vacation.

Bug Repellent

Bugs are really common here - especially mosquitoes. And they are a pain in you know what and having bug spray or cream works wonders.

I recently had a morning session, we’re talking about 730am! and there were mosquitoes like no other! I get bit and it seems like they look for me honestly so I always put on bug repellent in order to make sure that I’m not uncomfortable during the session.

Off and Fly Away are great ones to consider. If you forget this at home, don’t worry, the shop at your hotel or a local pharmacy will have what you need.

Baby powder

Okay, hear me out… I learned this trick through a deep rabbit hole on Pinterest and it absolutely works! Baby powder is great for getting wet or stuck sand off your feet and anywhere on your body.

Just sprinkle it on, wait a few seconds, and then rub off with a towel. It’s that simple!

Foot powder works too just make sure the mint isn’t irritating to your skin. Getting a small bottle of this can help if you don’t like sand or want to get the sand off without getting wet.

I literally never go to the beach without baby powder now and it’s saved us a lot of sand in the car and keeping sand off of faces without having to get wet. A true lifesaver if there ever was one.

Hat & sunglasses

It can be hot, especially here in Puerto Vallarta and while in the shade it’s perfectly comfortable, while out on the beach and in the sun, it can be harsh. The beaches here generally don’t have any cover or trees at the shore so it’s best to bring some sunglasses or a hat so that when I’m photographing details or other members of your family you are not uncomfortable.

They also work as great props for the session too!

Don’t be afraid to add ideas

I love it when my clients have ideas for poses and setups that help the session give them exactly what they want. If you see a great location at your hotel that you’d love to have as the backdrop to our session, let’s do it! If you see a great wall with pretty flowers you want for photos, let’s do it! If you want a photo of you sipping a great cocktail poolside, let’s do it!

Let’s do all the photos that you want! Because, and if you’ve been reading along for quite some time here, you’ll see that I repeat often that THESE ARE YOUR PHOTOS, NOT MINE.

Sure it’s cool having them to post on my website and on social media, but they aren’t going on my walls. They’re going on your walls. They’re going to sit in an album on your coffee table, they’re getting framed for your college student to hang in their dorm.

So you have full authority to tell me what you want and where and all the things. I’m here to give that to you - the best photos you want!

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Making the most out of your vacation beach portraits doesn’t have to feel like more work or overwhelming, it can be easy and smooth like an extension of your vacation. An added bonus, if you will!

Let’s do it!

Not only did I have the absolute pleasure of photographing the Honrado family, but the Ito family too! They are actually sisters who were vacationing together here in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

I'm so glad that Jo decided to do a portrait session to remember their beach vacation! I had a lot of fun and love that my clients are always the nicest!

Nothing calms the soul like the sound of the waves crashing and the breeze of the ocean caress your cheek.  I love living near the beach.  And I love the beach even more taking amazing photos for families to cherish forever! 

Today we have these cutie pies, two older boys are brothers and the three are cousins! So cute! I had so much fun with them :). And how can you not love sandy baby toes! Ah, love!!!

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I love having the beach so close by!  Makes it all that more fun when I have families who are from out of town come visit and take advantage of the view with a fun family portrait session!

Tere contacted me via Facebook letting me know that she and her family were going to be in town.  We coordinated and I met them at their resort, The Grand Mayan, in Nuevo Vallarta.  What a gorgeous location! The best is when the hotels have beautiful  beachfronts to soak in the sunset!  We had fun splashing in the water and getting to know each other a little better.  

If you are traveling to Puerto Vallarta or anywhere in the Riviera Nayarit area, please let me know and we can take advantage of the beautiful views and get a sweet portrait session done! An amazing memory to take back with you from your vacation 😉