Hello Monday!  Usually I am reluctant to even consider Monday as a good day but this week I'm feeling great!  Off to a great start from an even better weekend.  Lately, I've been really successful in keeping up with my

goals for 2011

:

• Laugh More:   Check!  I've been doing a lot of this lately.  Mainly because I've been hanging out with friends more often and even when I'm at home.  It makes the soul feel alive and calm.  Try it.  Today just smile for no reason and I guarantee that after a little while, you'll be feeling just as happy as your smile.

• Read More.    This I actually haven't been doing!  Well not when it comes to the books I have but I have been reading up on all the blogs I follow.  Does that count? I know, I know, I'll make more of an effort!

• Speaking of Soul.  I plan on finding myself and God. I have been finding myself praying more and more.  And not just for things I want to happen or for help from the Big Man upstairs but simply giving my thanks.  Even when I feel overwhelmed and when life seems to go in a different direction.  I have begun to trust that the Big Man (as I'll call him) has something planned for me.  This, before, was a foreign concept and I kinda like not having to think about controlling my life all the time.  Somethings just happen the way they should and I thank the Big Man.  No church yet nor denomination or religion.  I'm starting with believing first.  And I'm sure he's okay with that :).

• Making life be remembered.  I journal almost everyday.  More and more lately.  I have even begun to draw what I see and feel.  Which is pretty funny considering I can't really draw all that well.  But hey, practice makes perfect, no? Yes! So I'll keep drawing horribly but at least I'll understand it.  And that's all that matters.  As far as photographing my life... I've been slacking.  Definitely going to concentrate on this more.

• Take time. I have been so busy that I haven't taken advantage of this goal.  But this weekend I did get some good alone time as well as some really good sleep. 

• Donate.  And not with money.  But with time. I will be doing some of this later this month.  And keep all of you guys posted!

• Reconnect.  And not on fb, twitter, or by text but in person with my friends and family :) I'm kinda doing this.  I've been connecting with many new people lately and as much as it pains me to admit, I haven't been doing so well with the reconnecting part.  Friends and family:  Expect more from me this year because I do truly miss you and want to see you all more.  I'm going to double time this one starting today!

• Dream bigger. When do I stop? I say that sarcastically.  Albeit I do dream, it's just that my dreams are usually logical and safe.  Not outrageous nor inspirational.  Time to step it up a notch and surprise myself!

Keeping this updated I think will help me really achieve them.  Making myself be honest and see how I am completing or not completing will help me stay true to what I want.  I know that as the year begins rolling on by, some of these will evolve into bigger goals.  We shall see what happens :).

Anyway... A couple of weekends ago, the

Inland Empire Photog (& Beyond)

Facebook group had a shoot get together up in Big Bear and we had a blast!  I know I've shared a couple of images from that day but here are more! If you'd like to see more visit the group and become a member.  Each of us that attended will be uploading as we go so there are definitely more to come!

And here are a couple from Brent Stanley and you can check his work out at

HERE 

And a shot from Engin (one of our group members who is still learning!) What a great shot Engin!

Happy Monday!

I couldn't resist posting this one up!  Can't wait to share the rest of this beautiful couple!

Happy Monday!

I woke up and immediately all of the things that I had to do began listing themselves in my mind.  Get oil change, buy water, get dressed, charge batteries, do make up, load the car, drive up the mountain, and hope that people would show up.  Saturday was the first ever shoot that the Inland Empire Photogs (& Beyond) had up in Big Bear.  And I was afraid no one would show... but me of little faith!

Thank you to the models who showed up: Ruth, Ana, Rosio, and Delphine.  You guys rocked!  And to the photogs that showed up: Brent, Kami, Delphine, Engin, Maribel, and Claudia... You guys are awesome! And to Elle Lamas (my sister) for doing hair and make up... beautiful as always!  And thanks mom for making the bouquet :).

Seriously, with out you guys I would have been photographing the snow and trees in the really cold weather.  You guys are awesome and thank you for making our very first shoot a success!  Even though towards the end I missed out on photographing Delphine and Rosio due to camera malfunction (which is all resolved now!), I had a blast!

So, here's what's coming up next.  My Aunt is holding precious baby Andres and I was able to photograph her a couple weeks back.

And Ruth & Ana from the big bear shoot :).

Happy Sunday!

Talk about being MIA.  Uh, Guilty!

I know I've been neglecting the blog lately and trust me it's not because I don't want to post anything, it's just that I've been crazy busy.  Day job, photography, and life.  Getting caught in the whirlwind of it all but don't worry!  I have lots to share and much more coming up soon.

And to those of you who'd like to join me and a few other peeps for a get together on Saturday please feel free to join us!

Where:  Big Bear Village Theater

When:   Jan. 22, 2011

Time:    1:00pm - Until we're tired of shooting (or until we run out of card space)

What:    We're shooting a bridal, engagement and a few individuals just for fun up in the mountains.

Why:     Because it's all about having fun and enjoying photography with others! Sharing, growing, and learning. And it's free :).

So join us if you'd like to come up and have some fun!  Please call or text me at 951.732.7039 if you have any questions... or just to say hi :).

I mean just look at those mountains!

Happy Tuesday!

I promised that I would blog more about me.  My life.  And to be honest, it's so hard!  I always considered myself a pretty good writer back when paragraphs turned into pages.  I have a personal journal in which I write down my inner most thoughts, feelings and day to day occurrences and that usually leaves the blog... well, a little dry.  So today I'm just gonna write as if I were in my journal.  Flowing onto the keyboard just as it would on pen and paper.  So forgive the long run-on sentences, the bad grammar, and rambling.  I just needed to record right this minute.  Today. My life right now.

Today I booked another  wedding for this year.  Whoo hoo!  And to my future bride: thank you and I'm super excited to be a part of your wonderfully special day.  And honored to be the one to record the memories that you will share with family and hopefully one day with your own children and show them how much love was in mom & dad's eyes up at the alter.  And how you possibly shed a tear knowing you have found The One.  And how life began that day.  I've warned you, I'm a hopeless romantic.

And just as well.  Can't photograph weddings with out being slightly romantic.  Knowing that love is truly all around and everyone is celebrating and beaming makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.  

I never thought I'd be photographing weddings.  I never thought I'd even be photographing anything.  I wanted to be a music teacher.  I suppose the creative never ends it just transcends into something else.

And the road to where I am has been a tough one.  With full time jobs, finishing school, family, friends, doggies, and some me time it's been an up hill battle.  Long nights editing, learning new techniques, trying to figure out what aperture was, and lots of hot chocolates at Barnes & Noble.

At the end of the day I know that all of that is toward something I love to do.  Like they say, if you love what you do then you'll never work a day in your life.  And although I still juggle the day job, the family, the friends, the doggies and the late nights I know it's all worth it.  Because at the end of the day, what I do is something irreplaceable and know that this is all that is left.  Where would we be without photographs? With out visual memories of our lives?

We'd forget.  I'd forget my grandfather's eyes and my grandmother's hands.  I'd forget my red polka dotted bathing suit when I was barley walking on a very sunny day at the beach.  I'd forget my first real dog, Freedom.  And the worst part isn't forgetting... it's the not sharing.  Not sharing those memories with others and reliving fond memories of my life.

So before this gets longer and longer because I do tend to ramble on and on.  I guess I just feel so happy with who I am, what I do, and why.  The why is always hard to define, and trust me, I've tried over and over... and over again to understand why I even began taking photography up a level and making other peoples' lives irreplaceable.  And thinking about it now, the answer is simple.

To remember and be remembered and live on.  Forever.

What do you want to remember?

And just like Buzz Lightyear, the Inland Empire Photog (& Beyond) was started.  

I created a group on Facebook for all of those who live in the Inland Empire and were tired of having to drive out to OC or LA to get together.  We have a lot of talent in the IE and it needs to be shown!  

The groups mission is to teach, learn, and grow.  Which is also why it is open to the public and anyone of any photography level is welcome to join.  Models, make up artists, and anyone in the field is also welcome to join.  

And... the events are free.  That was also another premise to creating the group.  I grew tired of seeing group get togethers that were miles and miles away and still had to pay.  This is definitely not a mentor group... just yet.  This is a group of fellow photography lovers who want to learn from each other, share some techniques, and just shoot together.  To talk photography until we lose our voices and to create a community amongst each other.

So I invite you all to be a part of the group.  To teach, learn, and grow as a community of photographers and beyond.

Here is the next event we have coming up.  If you would like to be a part of it, join the group and I'll invite you to the event :).  Everyone is welcome!

Here is the link to the event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120010114734331
  

2011.

You sneaky year you.

I remember sitting in front of the big square television watching Arnold yell "Get Down!" and thinking that the year 2000 was millions of years away.  Not realizing that I'd be living and experiencing them.  Never thinking, "Happy 2011!"

But it's here.  Not the Terminators, thank goodness!  I'm talking about 2011.  A whole 'nother year.  Another year of setting goals, resolutions, and dreams.  And so with that, I give you my goals for this year. In no particular order.  I'm kinda just going with the flow here so just overlook the typos and grammatical mistakes :)

• Laugh More.  I love to laugh and I'm thinking that laughing does a  body good.  Like ice cream on a hot summer day.  So I'm going to laugh more.  I've already started :)

• Read More.  I intend on reading all of the books I have sitting in my bedroom that include Lord of the Rings, The Da Vinci Code, and other various titles.  Currently finishing up The Empress.  I love to read actually but in the last decade school kept me pretty limited to what they wanted me to read and so now that that is over and done with I will make time to read a few pages every night.   I think this does the soul some good.

• Speaking of Soul.  I plan on finding myself and God.  I didn't grow up religious or with the preconceived notion that God exists.  It wasn't natural for me to pray, to believe or to even think that He exists.  Over the course of 2010, and many prayers answered, I have come to the notion that if it's not God then whoever it is is working and I'm not rocking the boat.  I won't go and say that I'm going join a church just yet... but i'm definitely going to find out what I truly believe and do some much needed soul searching of my own.

• Making life be remembered.  I want to make my life remembered.  I journal naturally and have done so since I was 15.  I am making a goal of writing not only my thoughts but my days.  Maybe create something like this just to remember each day. 

• Take time.  I like to do things alone.  Take myself away from everything and just have some Me Time.  It's like checking out for a bit and breathing life in.  I used to do this more and need to again.

• Donate.  And not with money.  But with time.

•  Reconnect.  And not on fb, twitter, or by text but in person with my friends and family :)

• Dream bigger. 

That's all I have for now.  I'm sure the list will continue to grow as the year progresses.  So far, I've had a pretty good start and I'm looking forward to remembering this year much  better than last year.  

Happy 2011 everyone :)

I've mentioned before plenty of times that I love change.  I love to rearrange furniture, tear down walls and even the change in weather.  As some may recall, I finally got my website in 2009 and felt like it was a new beginning to showing off my work and myself.  But this year I felt that my style was changing, evolving, becoming all its own.  And with that I too was growing, changing, and evolving.

This evolution has brought me to a crossroads and allowed me to review myself, my photography, and all things Jackie.  Which led me to the brand spankin' new website!  Thanks to Blu Domain for designing a website that was inevitably me in every way.  A little tweek here and there and viola! Website is live :).

Be sure to check it out at http://www.jackielamasphotography.com/. 

Happy Rainy Wednesday!

I have a book.  A big sketch book full of inspiration boards of shoots I'd like to do one day.  Of photographs that make me say to myself aloud "I wish that photo was mine!" And sometimes you have just the right idea for just the right person to put in the right spot.

Her name is Ariane.  She dabbles in modeling but blew me away and totally brought it.  She was "Fierce!" in the words of Tyra.  Ariane is a student at Stanford majoring in something really hard to pronounce but she's a smart cookie with lots of style.  Speaking of style, we had Ariane's mom, help us with the styling.  Since she has a degree in fashion design, she totally made the looks happen and hopefully we'll get to work together more! *hint*hint*

Anyway, the location we were going to shoot in ended up being closed due to flooding.  Thankfully we found some sweet spots right outside the gates with just enough light and no rain!  We were really lucky.  Thank you baby Jesus :).

Enough babble... here is Ariane kicking ass as a bohemian fashionista.

ON A SIDE NOTE:  You may notice that the logo at the top and the one on the photos are different than yesterday.  I have rebranded myself (a bit) and am launching my new website tomorrow night!  I'm super excited for this new change!   So on Wednesday take a look around the new website and check it out! 

And I even drew the logo myself :)

Happy Monday!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año.  What ever it is you celebrated this weekend, I hope you had a jolly great time!

And because a holiday post is better with photos, here are snapshots from my phone.  A collection of my winter :)