I can not wait until I show you the rest of this amazing wedding that took place at Sunset Plaza in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. 

I love my job.  

Happy new year!

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

Oh how I love camping.  Something about leaving all of the noise behind and settling among the rustling of the leaves and trickling of the river.  It wasn't a huge river to be honest, but getting away was more than enough and exactly what we needed.  To make a fire and sleep with out having a clock to follow. 

We need to get out more often and be among the trees. 

I absolutely love engagement sessions.  When I meet with potential clients, I make sure to express how important an engagement session is.  Not just for the photographer, but for the couple.  Aside from the wedding day, the engagement session the only real time you have before your wedding that photographs a couple the way a couple really is.  How their love really is.  It allows the couple to have extra photos of them that are a bit more relaxed.  It helps us to get to know each other on a deeper personal level rather than just meeting on the wedding day.  Helps me ask nosy questions like how they met, and how did he propose (or she!) and anything else that doesn't have to do with the wedding day.  All while getting romantic and intimate portraits of how they are, together, as one.  Before all the stress and wedding dress, and flowers.  

This engagement session is no less beautiful!  Gaby and Fer took us to the canyons of Majalca which are just gorgeous during this time of year.  With a small river flowing by and beautiful light coming through the trees, it was a dream!  And how they are together is nothing but full of love.  Check it out :).

Dad,

I want you to know that I miss your hugs and kisses.  I miss you learning new words and teaching us new things everyday.  I love how your sense of adventure has always made things much more interesting and separated us from the mainstream.  You are the kind of dad people dream of, the one where we can come to and talk to about anything and everything.  You will understand and give us great advice or just be an ear to listen.  I remember hiking up Mt. Rubidoux and eating sandwiches at the summit on a sunny clear day.  

When I grow old I want to have just as many adventures as you.  So that I too can drive 15 hours from Chihuahua to Riverside capturing my children´s hearts just as you did with us.  

Happy birthday to you!! 

There is something in the silence of a forest.  Being in the middle of the treeline that perfectly shades you from the glistening sun above.  No matter what time of day, or season, it stays perfectly intact.  Beautiful and timeless.  It's smell, touch, texture, curves... it never ceases to impress me.  

I love it even more when I'm able to photograph good friends in this wondrous beauty.  Just a sneak preview of more to come! 

//esp//

Existe algo en el silencio de un bosque. Estar en el medio de los altos árboles que da una sombra perfecta del sol brillante arriba. No importa a qué hora del día o la temporada, se mantiene intacta. Hermosa y atemporal. Esta en el olor, la textura, sus curvas ... nunca deja de impresionarme.

Me encanta aún más cuando tengo la oportunidad de fotografiar buenos amigos en esta maravillosa belleza. Sólo una vista previa de más por venir!

View fullsize

You are the best mother in the whole world.  I couldn't have accomplished half the things I have without your unrelenting support and never ending cheerleading.  You showed me that it's okay to be different, creative, and feisty.  You showed me what being a mother really is.  And one day, when I have children of my own, I will be prepared because I had the best example. 

Happy birthday to you, because you are the best! 

It's been 4 months since I got married.  Four months of happiness.  Of see-you-later kisses before departing for work.  Four months of compromise on who is going to wash dishes, which movie should we watch, and laughing until our stomachs hurt.  There are those moments however, that are much bigger.  So big they fill your heart with inexplicable bursts of love.   

I can't seem to describe it at all, what I do know is that when it happens, it's incredible.  For the first time in our marriage, at four months, I experienced it.  My husband ran his first 10k and I felt like the proudest wife in the whole world.  You see, my husband is actually really good at following his dreams and reaching his goals, so this proud moment shouldn't have been new to me.  But for some reason, at 7am that Saturday morning, I couldn't stop telling him how proud I was.  And still am.  

El otoño es mi temporada favorita.  Con sus tardes frescas y largas noches.  Poder tomar café y estar cerca con tus seres queridos.  Ademas, es la temporada perfecta para tomarse fotos!  Si ya hace mucho tiempo desde que has tenido una sesión profesional entonces ya es tiempo de hacerlo.  Con hermosos colores en las hojas de los árboles como no se antoja!

Aprovecha de esta oferta para esta temporada Navideña.  Es tiempo que se tomen fotos sea en familia, pareja, o individual.  Los espero para sus sesiones!

View fullsize

*Oferta válida en la Ciudad de Chihuahua.