My hand grabs the round handle as I swing my right leg over the leather seat that separates me from the hot chrome.  I place my feet firmly on the pavement and slowly pick this powerful machine off its kickstand.  From head to toe, I'm ready.  Bandana.  Check.   Hair in braids.  Check.  Jeans and boots.  Check, check.  I turn the key and hit start and it comes alive.  And now machine and me are one.  Hugging turns and the wind in my hair. 

Then just like that, everything becomes peaceful.  Everything becomes quiet.  Just my bike, me, and the road ahead.

This is what riding a motorcycle feels like. No, wait.  This is what driving your own motorcycle feels like.  Ever since I can remember, my dad has always had a motorcycle.  We only knew a life with a motorcycle in it.  It was normal and growing up I thought that was what families did. 

But no, not all families do what we do.  And that is what makes it special.  This is who we are.  This is what my family does on the weekends.  We ride.

And remember:  Loud pipes saves lives.

Dear Mom,

You are the coolest mom.  Ever.  You are kind, funny, caring, definitely a giver, and always looking out for my sister and me.  Ever since before I was born, ever since before my sister was born you were the one that was chosen for us.  You were the one that life, or maybe God, picked to be our mother.

To be the one to count our fingers and toes right after being born.  The one who would make us egg sandwiches in the mornings while we got ready for school in the mornings.  And you did this all the way through high school.  Because well, you know what it's like to be a girl.  You were the one that dressed up every Halloween and never failed to take us trick-or-treating.  And never failed to let us pick our own costumes.  You were the one who let me wear multi colored Keds and pink leggings when I was younger because you understood I was my own person.  

You were the one who coordinated, dressed me up and photographed every one of my birthdays.  And my sister's too.  You even baked us cakes.  And lets not forget the Christmases where you'd bake your amazingly delicious peanut butter cookies.  It was you who showed us how to be our own person, not take BS from anyone, and to be smart, strong women.  You are the smartest and strongest person I know. The one who always says, "I love you no matter what."

Through all of the softball games, band concerts, swimming meets, band practices, make up classes and photography courses, you supported us the whole way through.  You never gave up on us. You are our number one cheerleader.

And even though I was a major pain in the ass for many years, finding myself and growing into the person I am today, I realize that I am more and more like you.  And that to me is an honor.  My sister and I always say that if we could be half the person you are, then our lives would be complete.

We are who we are because of you.  We are giving, caring, and funny.  We make egg sandwiches and celebrate our birthdays together.  We still dress up every Halloween together.  And you have made us smart and strong women.

So, even though I've known you all of my life, I keep learning from you.  Growing from our relationship and enjoying ever minute.  We are not only mother and daughter but good friends.  My mentor and confidant.

After all mom, we were meant to be.  Happy birthday mom.  I hope that this weekend makes your heart smile.  I love you.

Flacalina.

My beautiful mother. 1980 

Us.

Halloween 2008.

Leave her a little comment below if you want to wish her a Happy Birthday!

Lori & Herm were blessed with the arrival of Jacob.  He is just so adorable and is definitely one lucky guy to have these two as their parents :).

Congrats guys! Here he is at just 3 months and just a ham!

Lori & Herm decorated Jacob's nursery so cute.  It was jungle themed and his name above the crib.

Gahh sleeping baby is just sooo cute!

Happy Monday!

A couple of posts ago I wrote about how I shoot film from time to time.  Well, I believe I failed to admit that I have about 20 rolls of film that have never been developed.  They sit in a shoe box at the bottom of my closet just underneath the last shelf.  Surely, I should know better and store them in the fridge, but I rather like the surprises I get when I develop them so I leave them there.

Little by little I'm going to start developing them and sharing them here with you :)

Here are some from 2008 I think.  I'm not really sure but I'm going to guess it was 2008.

And below are some from this month :)

Some lights hanging in Anthropologie 

Probably not a good idea putting the camera on the dash on self timer while at a stop light.  But how else am I to document my life? Good thing it isn't against the law :)

Happy Saturday!

Whew, just got finished editing a wedding but before I show you a sneak peek of their beautiful wedding...

Here's this little guy.  And there will definitely be a post just for him :)

Happy Monday!

When I was about 10 years old, I remember going to the beach.  The whole family went.  My parents sat in beach chairs on the sand where it morphed from wet to dry.

My dad was playing his acoustic guitar and had his Pentax 35mm slr.  He always had his Pentax near.  Which is the cause of the bins and bins of photographs that we have stored in our house.  That day, he taught me how to hold it, focus the lens, and where the shutter button was.  That was the very first time I had held an slr.

I'm not going to say that since that day I was a devoted, die-hard-Bruce-Willis photo-lover.  I used it from time to time after that, after all, it was the family camera.  I'm not one of those photogs that once they held a camera that was it for them, the light turned on.  That didn't actually happen for me until my junior year of college.

Anyway, I digress.  I still have that Pentax.  And every now and then, when I'm feeling overwhelmed and in need of some motivation, I'll whip that baby out and shoot.  Shoot and forget about looking at the back of the camera.  Shoot and think hard about my exposure.  Shoot and feel the metal of the focus ring gliding smoothly between my fingers.  Shoot without pressure to get it perfectly right.

And I don't get it right every time.  And I'm okay with that.  And I'm okay with starting sentences with "and".  But the best part, my favorite part about shooting film, is taking it in to get developed.  That's my favorite.  Because then I see the wonderful memories caught on film...literally.  And the feel, the look, the surprises.

I know film is "in" now and more people are shooting with film and to me that's really awesome.  Something nostalgic about taking my time to shoot film.  And perhaps that is why I shoot when I am in need of something more, something relaxing.  Something that brings me back to 10 years old with a bob haircut in an oversized t-shirt on the shore of the beach listening to my dad's guitar and the sound of the ocean.

Happy weekend!

This last shot I have no idea what it is.  I don't have any lamps like that anywhere and I think to the right it looks like a hotel room? Who knows, this film has been in the camera a looong time so maybe I just forgot where I took it!

We have a winner!  I went over to Random.org and used their random number generator and lucky commenter ....

Ginko

wins the free portrait session!!! Yay Ginko!  Thanks for everyone else who played along.  I will be having another contest in November so stay tuned if you want to win a free portrait session :)

Ginko: email me at jackie@jackielamasphotography.com so we can talk details :) 

Have an awesome Saturday!

Today is the last day of the month...boo! Seeing as it is my birthday month I feel somewhat sad that it has passed.  Oh well, I suppose I'll have to wait until next year again.

And of course, September had to make a dramatic exit with rolling clouds, lightening, thunder, and some rain.  Oh, i just love the smell of rain.  That wet dirt smell! I leave my window open when it rains so that I can smell that smell.  You know the smell.

And of course, photos :)  Happy Thursday!

**Also don't forget!  Only 2 more days left to comment on the contest post.  I'll be announcing the winner on  October 3rd.

Goodbye summer.  I have enjoyed your wonderful sun, warm breezes, cool nights, good movies, and of course my birthday.  I wish I could revel in your warmth all year long; you are bar far my favorite.

And as the seasons change, I've been doing a lot of thinking.  I know that I rarely post personal things on here but I feel as if I have to document it.  You know, one for the history books.  I've been thinking a lot about me and where I want my life to head.  Also, about my photography and where I want my business to lead me.

So what I guess I'm trying to say is that I want to document life.  Which I suppose you could say I am already doing through my photography, but what I mean by life is that I want to document my life.  Everything that surrounds me.  Things that happen in my life, even the mediocre day to day things. 

And my business?  I think this new path I'm on will be able to give me a new out look on how I document other peoples' lives.  At their weddings, their babies, and their families.  I want to capture their true life, not just big smiles and hugs.  

So hopefully this new journey takes me to places that are over the rainbow and inspire me to document life in a whole new way.  My life.  Your life.  All life. 

And life definitely wouldn't be complete with out this little guy.  Gordo.  

Because it was my birthday week this week, I have decided to do a little contest.  The prize?  A free portrait session!  Yes you read right, you get a free portrait session!

I thought that rather than only rewarding myself for my birthday, I'd do a little something for my clients, future clients, and just anyone who reads my blog!

Here's what it includes:

• A free portrait session with me!
• A private online gallery of your images where you can view them how ever many times you want!  
• 10% off any order you place following the session
• Fun, laughter and more fun!

All you gotta do is comment down below and on October 2nd, I will pick a random number and who ever is that commenter wins!  Also, just as a side note, this is only for local sessions here in Southern California.

Easy peasy :) 

And because a post is no fun with out a photo....here is one from last Saturday :).  Have a great weekend!