I am so happy that my clients are as wonderful as they are.  I am also happy that they ask all the right questions when it comes to their portrait session.  Where should we shoot? What time is best? and of course, What should I/we wear?

I've put together some examples and tips to help you answer that question.  Ultimately, it depends a lot on your own personality.  Keep reading and you'll see why :).

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1.  LOCATION AND WARDROBE

Now that you've settled on a great location for your session it's time to start searching for the perfect outfit.  There are many different ideas behind wardrobe, many photographers will tell you that you should match the background/location.  Others will give you basic guidelines and tell you what not to wear - large prints, too many busy colors, etc.  But I'm going to make it super easy for you to figure this out.  Here are two important questions to ask before putting it all together:

• Do you want to be colorful and really stand out from the background?

• What kind of feeling do you want to have in your portraits?

These two questions will help you determine what to wear depending on the location.  I know it's not a detailed, however, this will help you determine what kind of color scheme you should wear. If you want to stand out from the background, perhaps loud and bright colors are for you. If you want more of a calm feeling, then perhaps some neutrals.  And if you want serious and formal, then add in some grey and black to mix. 

2.  SEASON 

Ok, now that you have the location set and the feeling you are going for, it's time to consider another important factor: Season.  During the summer, you want to stay cool.  Especially if you live in an area where temps can reach the triple digits at 8pm.  *Hi California!*  

For example, if you're shooting in the summer try light or bold colors with a little added fun and keep it lively.  If you are having your fall portraits, think boots, scarves, and hats.  This way you don't look out of place with the background during the season you are having your session in.  

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3.  PERSONAL STYLE

Your personality is the number one important factor in a portrait session.  I make it a point to capture my client's' personality during the session.  This is great because no one wants stale photos that look like the family before hand.  I try to mix it with a few fun personality photos and a few classic photos.

This is where your personal style comes shining through and sets your photos apart from anyone else.  How you feel comfortable in your favorite outfit is so important and creates fun, natural, and YOU photographs.  Don't wear something that you wouldn't normally wear or something that makes you feel uncomfortable.  It always shows in the photos. 

4.  TYPE OF SESSION

The type of session that you are going to have can determine the wardrobe.  Of course we want your personal style to shine through, however, if you're having a maternity session, maybe we can play with some fabric to create more ethereal and serene photos.  

Family session?  Here we can play with each member's' personal style and add to the overall look of the family! It's especially important to allow kids to shine and have a lot of fun! 

Each session is different and so it's important to discuss this with your photographer and get ideas of how your session can be more fun and really let you shine!

5.  STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT TO WEAR?  BRING YOUR WHOLE CLOSET

I probably say this more often and it is such a huge help.  Usually my clients look at me like, "really Jackie, just whatever I want?"  

Yes!  I'm totally serious when I say to bring all of the outfits you love and feel great in.  Load up your car with your closet.  I say this because it is such a horrible feeling to have wanted to bring an outfit but didn't and now, you wish you had.  So bring it all.  I love being able to sort through the outfits and help my clients choose the best outfits for their session.  It's like being a stylist and knowing what will look best!

That is my job, after all, to make you look your absolute best!

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I hope these tips help you at your next portrait session.  Speaking of which, I'm so excited for the fall mini sessions we'll be having in October!  Can't wait to have lots of fun creating unique photos for some awesome people! Yay! 

If you liked these tips and found them useful, please share them with your friends! I'm sure they have the same questions when it comes to their photo sessions :).  

Until next time, Happy Thursday!

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! 

If you've been following my blog, you know that I teach photography at both the university and high school levels.  During the semester, I try to schedule a few mock shoots so that students can observe first hand how to direct, pose, and carry on a session.  There is no right way of having a session and I make sure to tell the students that everything depends on their style.  However, I believe that having them observe how I shoot, take control, and allow myself to focus on my models/clients, they can learn a little and apply it to their own sessions.  

Enter Jorge.  Jorge is an event planner and one of the best I know here in Chihuahua.  He is incredibly detailed and his candid nature makes it easy to know what you are going to get.  Jorge was kind enough to model for us and help me to teach the university students a little about posing, studio lighting, and how to use a reflector.  Thank you Jorge!

My best friend Theresa has been my friend since 2005.  We have been through fun times, trips, long distances, and many, many more memories!  As time went on, we moved away from each other.  First, I moved from Orange County to Riverside.  Then, she moved from OC to Texas.  Or, Texass as we called.  And when she moved back to OC, I left for Mexico.  

But no matter the distance, we never let our friendship waver.  We started to write to each other using the post office as a means to share our most intimate moments and never skip a beat.  When one of us would visit, we'd have our coffee date.  

It is no question that we will be friends until the end of time.  Now with a little baby T to join the friendship :).  I love this kid already!!! Getting to photograph these little moments between my best friend and her baby is something I'll never forget.  Also something I hope to do for many, many, many years regardless of the distance.

Love you T and your beautiful family!

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!  

There are no words to describe how honored I am to do what I do.  To be able to create once in a lifetime photos for families, couples, kids, and babies.   Thank you to all of my clients for letting me be a part of your lives and for having me photograph you!

I look forward to seeing many more familiar as well as new faces this year!  

Happy 2015 everyone!

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When I studied photography at Cal State Fullerton, I never got the chance to take a film photography course.  As a Communications major we only dealt with the digital side of things.   That's the story I usually tell people.  However, the real story is because originally I was a Public Relations major and if I was to switch to photo, the fast and easiest ticket out with out having to start all over again was taking the Photo Communications courses.  I didn't want to start all over again in the art department and stay in school any much longer.  I took the shortcut and missed out on the whole film side of things.  

I didn't let it go to waste though.  I may have never learned how to develop film in a darkroom, but giving that I collect old cameras, I still shoot film.  I used to shoot when I would feel uninspired, burnt out, or just bored with digital and it's perfect focus and perfect bokeh.  I wanted something real.  Something tangible that I would have to wait and see if the shots were well exposed or if any of the frames actually came out ok.  

The surprise was worth the wait.  Worth overthinking each shot as I took it because I only had 24 frames per roll.  I have to take my time, expose correctly, use my brain, and adjust accordingly to the light around me.  It's like going back to basics.  

Here is some film I got developed today.  A mix of when we went camping and during the maternity session from this past weekend.  The grain is beautiful and some of the shots aren't perfect, but then again, that is the point.  

Enjoy!

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