Working on this wedding right now.  From the first meeting we had, I knew they were my kind of couple.  Such a beautiful day with lots of laughter, happiness, and loving friends and family.  Can't wait to show you the rest!

my dad playing the guitar at the beach when we were children.

my mom hand making halloween costumes and dressing up with us.  every year.

that feeling of standing at attention after an amazing field show.

first day in college.

first day out of college.

when you know you rocked a session.

sitting on the stoop watching the rain fall and talking about traveling the world.

recent trip to Rekowata, Creel

MUA + Hair:  Studio One Salon

Church:  San Antonio de Padua

Reception:  Recepciones Luxxor

Bride + Groom Portraits: Parque Acueducto

In life, you're given lots of firsts.  Lots of new and shiny.  Lots of opportunities to do something you've never done before.  Or perhaps do it differently.  Or in my case, do what I do in a new place.  And each time you discover new things.  

I discovered that weddings are different in different places.  Love, is not.  The way that Jose looked upon Karina as if she is the most beautiful creature he has ever seen is something so inspiring.  Love is the same here as it is back home as it is anywhere in the world.  And the privilege to document such a great thing as love is truly amazing!  

Karina + Jose had such a beautiful day.  Starting with Karina getting ready and a few quiet moments before the first look and emotional ceremony all the way to the reception which was so much fun!  Take a look!

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En tu vida, te encuentras con primeras.  Mucho de nuevo y iluminante.  Muchas oportunidades de hacer algo que nunca has hecho.  O quizás hacerlo de una manera diferente.  O como en mi caso, hacer lo que hago en un lugar diferente.  Y cada vez vas descubriendo cosas nuevas.

Descubrí que las bodas son diferentes en diferentes lugares. El amor, no. La forma en que José mira a Karina como si ella es la criatura más hermosa que jamás haya visto es inspirante. El amor es el mismo aquí, y de donde vengo, en cualquier parte del mundo. Y el privilegio de documentar una cosa tan grande como el amor es verdaderamente increíble! 

Karina y José tuvieron un día hermoso.  Empezando con Karina preparándose, y unos momentos de tranquilidad antes de la previa vista luego, una ceremonia emotiva, hasta la fiesta que fue super divertida!  

Everyone has a story.   

My life recently changed in a way I can't even begin to describe, I moved to another country.  For love. In a million years, I never thought I'd pack up my life into the back of my car, drive 1200 miles into another country and move for the person I love most in this life.  It has been the best decision of my life.  

And one day, when we are old and wrinkly, our wedding photos will be something to show our children and our grandchildren.  To show them the story of how we came to be as one.   Those photographs will become my story.  

I have always been a romantic which is why when you see my work, you see intimacy, you see adoration, and most importantly you see LOVE.  Which is the greatest force in the universe.  

Thanks for visiting my blog!  I like to post a mixture of things from recent work to more personal experiences in being a foreigner in a foreign country.  It has been a whirlwind of a ride and I'm excited for what is in the future!  

**I  am available for international travel.**

Call me at USA: 951.732.7039 or MEX: 614.502.02.85 or via email me hello@jackielamas.com for pricing.

Sometimes you just feel inspired to try something new with a big softbox and funky make up.  And when your model is fun and up for anything, even have wild lion hair and jumping, nothing is off limits.  Just a little shoot for fun.  

We were laying on his couch and I was showing the bf photos from Huapoca, since he wasn't able to go with me, and he grabbed my iPad eagerly and disclosed that he reads every post, every word, and looks at every photo.  He wanted to read the words that I used to describe my journey...even though sometimes I feel that I am such a bad blogger and my words fall flat.  After, seeing the post, he turned to me and told me that I was the best photographer and girlfriend in the world.  

That is us.  That is who we are together.  We sit and enjoy the simple pleasantries of the in between moments while talking and always laughing about anything and everything.  Our days, our childhoods, our thoughts and opinions about life, perhaps what we're watching on tv.  And sometimes we sit silently enjoying that we are given the chance to sit next each other breathing each other in.  Being able to love wholly.  Being able to appreciate and awe in that we have found each other through all the noise in this world. We support each other in each of our goals and are cheerleaders for one another.  It is rare to find someone you can see much of yourself in and yet, be completely different.  That is us. 

Today, we embark on year two.  And this past year has been such a great journey.  Four months of distance and then 8 months of getting to know each other on a different level and with each of us traveling and coming back to talk all about it.  It may seem like nothing to couples who have been married for years or have been together for years, but I feel utterly blessed to have found someone that sees me for me, accepts all of my flaws and annoyances, and who laughs with me until our stomachs hurt.  This year has been remarkable and I couldn't believe that I would keep falling in love with him over again each day.  

Happy one year hunny.  I love you.  And let's keep being nothing but Us.  

          

Sneak peek of this adorable wedding!  

We left at 8am.  And until Wednesday, I would be staying in a trailer in the hills of Huapoca with no phone or internet signal.  At night, only the sounds of rain, frogs and crickets would keep me company.  In the early morning, the sound of birds chirping and endless fog.  It was so beautiful.  I can't express how beautiful and how rejuvenating it was to get away.  To journal.  To photograph.  To just breath.

Not all was relaxation, I was taken by a couple of mine to photograph their engagement session.  You can't believe how incredibly honored I was, no, I am, to have their trust, their confidence, to take me 5 hours away from the city to photograph such a special time in their life.  But more on that when I show you the sneak preview of their session later this week.  For now, here is the personal post on the trip we took.  And now beautiful Huapoca is...

a few cell phone photos

Every now and then, you second guess yourself.  You don't trust in what you know.  What feels right in the pit of your gut.  The place that always seems to know what is right and has a good way of coming back to give us that old "I told you so".  The place where great ideas are born and the same place where we fear to trust that we run the other way.  It's a tricky thing, Trust.  It can fool you into looking the other way sometimes.  However, sometimes, it's right on point.  So right that you can't do anything but want to give it the biggest hug imaginable.  

Before moving, I had to trust in myself that I could do this.  That I could make it.  Not give up.  I had that gut feeling that it was right.  That I had to do this.  That what awaited me would flourish into something beautiful.  And it has.  I am so grateful and blessed to know that what God has trusted me to go on an unpaved path so that I may pave it myself.  I'll trip and fall, and think that I've made the biggest mistake ever... just when that begins to consume me, I will rise, get up and continue pushing through.  I'm not talking just about my relationship, I'm talking about life in general.  That is when trust begins to really take over and evolves into faith.  Faith in one's own ability to continue to fight on.  To really go after what it is that makes us happy and contributes to our wellbeing.  I can get down with some happy.  

Brenda + Marcos were referred to me by Arleth Photography

(thanks girl!) for their wedding in August.  After a few emails, we finally FaceTimed.  I had just moved here and  had to let them know that we had to FaceTime.  We spent the next two hours talking, and talking, and talking.  About everything.  Getting to know each other.  They put their trust in me, living in a different country with only the internet being our way of connecting.  They trusted me when we sat and discussed their engagement session during  my one week vacation in April.  Their trust in me has resonated in more ways than I can ever imagine! It makes me absolutely honored that they have chosen me to share their big day with them in August.  Of which, by then, I hope that their trust in me will evolve to faith.  

B+M: Thank you so much for being excited, anxious, inspiring, and the most absolutely sweetest couple ever.  You two are such great people and I hope that you two continue to be excited forever.  Thank you so much for allowing me to get to know you and photograph such a special time in your lives!  I can't wait until August!!!

With love,

Jackie

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Location: 

Paradise Cove, Malibu, CA + LACMA, Los Angeles, CA

Make up + Hair:  

By Ally 951-250-5605  

by-ally.blogspot.com

Styling:    

Brenda did it all herself! Go Brenda! And Marcos, you have one sweet car!

This session overflowed with cuteness! I couldn't handle how adorably cute this little one is!  Thank you mommy and daddy for allowing me to capture her developing personality and cuteness!  And that head of hair at 8 months is fabulous!  

lots of love!

Jackie

Here is a before and after because baby safety is really, really important when photographing a wiggly one in a basket.  It is imperative that your photographer is safe.  Here I told Anna that she could hold onto the basket to help keep the basket stable while little C moved around.  Mom stays close by just in case of anything and we get the photos that will last a lifetime.  Win-win!