Being honored to photograph this family is an understatement. Diane, one of the daughters, informed me that their father’s family (grandpa) helped saved lots of people during the Holocaust and SURVIVED!

What a true honor to photograph such a legacy because look at what a beautiful family they have created!

Multi-family sessions are so fun and it’s so great to get a little history on how the family came to be. Even more is that now that I’m a mama, seeing grandparents with their grandbabies is really beautiful! Getting photos that will last a lifetime is something that I know each and every one of them will cherish for many years to come!

<3!

Big families are my favorite because there is so much LOVE that I get to photograph! I had a couple back in December and I’m barely getting around to blogging them!

I have to say that I have had so much fun at all of my sessions lately. I think it’s because the good photos will come and having a few laughs in between helps! Loosens up the nerves and always come with a fun mindset because I mean, who can resist feeling amazing while looking at the beautiful ocean and sunset!

If you’d like to book a session with me while you’re here on vacation, use the contact tab to tell me more! I would love nothing more than to photograph your beautiful family against a beautiful backdrop!

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Where do I even begin with Joy. She’s such a wonderful soul an I was super anxious to meet her on the day of our session! She’s everything her name means and more. Wonderfully fun and her boys are the cutest!

It was such a fun experience to photograph Joy and her family out on the beach at the Sheraton Resort in Puerto Vallarta which has a really view of the sunset!

This session was taken before Christmas and so we had some fun with adding some hats to the mix!

Want a little edge to your wedding? The Hard Rock hotels are famous all over the world and it’s no different here in Puerto Vallarta!

Located on the shores of beautiful Nuevo Vallarta, the Hard Rock hotel offers you top grade wedding coordination, locations ranging from outdoor patios, gardens, balcony, and beachside your wedding will get VIP treatment.

Say “I Do” as the sun sets in the horizon with their expertly crafted beach ceremonies.

By night, rock out to the crash of the ocean waves and personalized reception making your wedding truly one of kind.

I like shooting at this hotel because it has so many great areas for photos that really make a wedding pop and also makes it fun to get to see and know rock legend history and shows.

Get more info directly on the website: Hard Rock Resort Nuevo Vallarta.

I met Brenda at University during a Photo Club meet up. Since then, our lives have changed, gone down different paths, and Brenda photographed my wedding!

She recently came to Puerto Vallarta and I couldn’t go without hanging out with her and Sared. She proposed we do sessions of each other and I was super happy to capture her and Sared’s happiness together on the beach of Destiladeras!

I love this beach so much for its long shores and calm seas. It is also a beach where the sun sets behind the horizon rather than setting behind the mountains of Bahia.

Well, without further ado, here is a very special session of a person and her love that are even more dear to me!

Enjoy the picturesque views of the Conchas Chinas shoreline in Puerto Vallarta at Costa Sur for your incredible and unforgettable wedding day!

The hotel is situated just south of the Romantic Zone and Old Town Puerto Vallarta along the winding road of Barra de Navidad surrounded by lush jungle on each side.

The hotel is nestled across the famous Arches of Mismaloya where you can enjoy a nice snorkeling tour or boat ride to see the birds that are indigenous to the area.

Costa Sur offers oceanfront rooms for you and your guests who choose to stay at the hotel for the celebration. On the day of your wedding, you’ll get a banquet of 3 courses and a 4-hour international bar along with tiffany chairs and roundtables for your guests.

The spectacular views are the perfect backdrop for your Puerto Vallarta destination wedding allowing you to have an incredible celebration with your family and friends!

You also get a wedding planner to help you with all of the important details of the day.

Located at Km. 4.5 Carretera a Barra de Navidad - Puerto Vallarta - Mexico. Visit their website at COSTA SUR RESORT & SPA

I debated about posting my son’s composite photos here but since sometimes social media can go offline at any minute, as we’ve seen before, I thought perhaps it’d be nice to share with others who follow the blog.

We got my son a knight costume on a whim a couple of weeks back when we were browsing through a store and it seemed like a good and easy costume for him for Halloween. Since he isn’t really too particular on costumes, he liked the idea too.

I explained to him what a knight was and what they did - which he understood as fighters of ghosts who are very strong! Ha! To be three again!!

I was driving and began to think about what he’d wear underneath to complete the look and as I was daydreaming about his costume, I started to picture portraits with a castle in the background and then started dreaming a whole story in my head.

And so, these photos were born, along with the story that unfolded that morning. These are composite photos and I gave credit to the original background creators on Instagram, so you can follow and check them out there!

I also go into a little detail about how I made the composites in my stories, which I’ll put in the Leon Highlights.

Happy Halloween friends! Stay safe out there!

Here’s the thing, it’s not easy getting kids to cooperate. Much less get them to smile and stand still long enough to not have a huge meltdown. This goes even for kids who are in the pre-teens and teen years. They just happen to be more vocal about the fact that they’d rather be boogie boarding.

In my 10 plus years photographing families, I’ve pretty much seen it all and let me tell you if your photographer isn’t helping the situation, then they are part of the problem! I personally like to tell my clients that I’ve got their backs when it comes to children because honestly, it can be unpredictable how they will react to someone new.

Don’t fret, I do have your back and I’m outlining how you can give your children an awesome portrait experience that requires really little to no effort. Win-win in my book!

CHOOSE A TIME THAT WORKS FOR YOUR CHILDREN

Here’s the thing, not all children are great morning kids. Some go through witching hour right as the sun dips (hello, my son does almost every day and he’s 3 already).

The best way to get your kids to enjoy the whole portrait situation is to schedule it when they are often the best in terms of energy, attitude, and vibe. We want them to enjoy every bit of the fun and not be forced or feel like they’re not doing something right.

Luckily, I’ve been doing this a long time and have photographed families at all times of the day and all times are great times for portraits. We can usually find cover on a hot day, use the calm of the early morning, or create some cool photos with the dipping sun.

The point is, we’re on their schedules (aren’t we always as mamas? ha!) and the same goes for portraits. If you think that they are okay during sunset, then let’s do it.

You know them the best and you’ll know when they will be great to enjoy and have fun. Which brings me to my next point…

LET THEM HAVE FUN

Yes, this means getting sandy, rolling in the grass, and exploring. Allowing kids to be, well, kids, will make the whole experience more fun for them and for you too!

Don’t worry, I’ll get all of the shots that are a must in between finding the perfect walking stick. I’ll get them to pose with you much easier if we let them dig in the sand a bit before.

Children are naturally curious and love to explore their surroundings, even if they were at the same beach earlier in the day.

Giving them a chance to just be in the space and have fun will naturally help them to just follow instructions when I ask them to stand next to mommy or daddy.

LEAVE EXPECTATIONS AT THE DOOR

This is a hard one for parents, and I get it! You’re paying for photographs that are going to stay in your family for a long time. They’ll be hung up in your home and shown off when someone asks you about your children.

Trust me, I know that it can be hard to leave expectations at home. However, let’s be real, children are children and the best way to get them to take those yearly portraits is to give them a fun experience the first time around!

A three-year-old who can remember having fun getting pictures taken is going to want to go the next time. Once they get to pre-teen, that’s a whole different story lol.

The smiles, the fun, the experience is really all up to me. So parents, just show up ready to play and have fun with your kids. I’ll do the rest to get them to smile and get those photos you’ve always wanted.

The smaller the children, the more we’ll play and make sure they have a good time. The older they are, the less we’ll force them to smile and try and get more genuine expressions out of them.

BRING SNACKS, DRINKS, EXTRA CLOTHES

Children get dirty. I’ll be surprised if they last more than 10 minutes without wanting to splash in the water. So, as you would normally do, bring snacks, juice or water, and extra clothes.

The great thing is that while they’re having fun, I’ll be there capturing every moment, every smile, every authentic laugh. Which is why we’re taking portraits: to capture your family just as they are!

Being prepared with snacks, drinks, and extra clothes will help big time in keeping the session light, fun, and real.

Also, snacks can double as bribes!

IN THE END, IT’S ABOUT CAPTURING REALNESS

It’s always a good time when kids can just be kids during a portrait session. I hope these tips help you to keep in mind that getting photos of who these little people are right now, at this time and age of their lives, is more important than the standard look at the camera and smile.

And I’m all about capturing the realness of families. The, let’s-walk-along-the-shore-and-tell-fart-jokes. Or let’s splash and wet daddy because that’s always fun!

All about the tossing in the air, tickling, and giggles. All of it, sign me up for the fun.

If you want to know more tips, reach me at hello@jackielamas.com or via Instagram and I’ll help you as best I can to prepare you for your best portrait experience ever!

There is nothing better than to give client’s the gift of viewing their photos again and again. And I don’t mean on their phone.

I mean on their walls.

This art gallery is a combination of one framed and matted 16x24, Gallery Canvas 20x30, and a framed 12x18 print.

Hanging in the hallway between rooms. On the side table next to the front door, so that each time you leave or come home, you see your family.

An Image Cube comes in 8x8 or 4x4 sizes and offers 6 unique sides to display your beautiful photos. Turn it each time you walk by to display your favorite. Give them as gifts to your parents. They make a great statement.

In your kitchen as a reminder that you’re better together.

In the bathroom, while you have a minute to yourself, you see your babies’ silly faces smiling at you. Reminding you how much of a great job you’re doing.

Or that cute accordion book that grandma can carry with her everywhere she goes to show off her beautiful family.

Artwork is priceless when you think of what it means to be able to hold your family, your memories, in your hands for generations.

These are just a few of the specialty artwork that I offer. If you’re interested in ordering, please contact me at hello@jackielamas.com so we can get started on your one-of-kind-design!

An Image Box offers your photo prints a home. Choose from matted prints or loose prints. Boxes can hold up to 200 photos.

View A Curated Home for more products that are perfect for your home.

Located along the enchanting winding roads of the Conchas Chinas shoreline, Le Kliff Restaurant is seated at a cliff nestled in the jungle canopy 15 minutes from central Puerto Vallarta.

Your wedding will be an intimate affair with all of your closest friends and family. With the ceremony location perched on a cliff, you get a panoramic view of the ocean. Enjoy your ceremony with the sun setting as your backdrop that you can only see here in Puerto Vallarta.

Le Kliff also has a perfect view of the Arches, natural rock formations in the water famous for their variety of fish and other marine life that can be appreciated via a snorkel tour.

After, you have the option of having a cozy gathering for the reception on the terrace overlooking the beautiful waters of the Pacific ocean or having a relaxing dinner with your guests.

Le Kliff also provides a bridal suite for you to get ready in that has amazing views of the shoreline. It’s a perfect location for panoramic views of the sunsets that are unique to Puerto Vallarta.

It’s the ideal location for an intimate celebration that overlooks the beautiful ocean of Puerto Vallarta making it an ideal location for a romantic wedding.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Address: Carretera a Barra de Navidad Mismaloya, 48394 Boca de Tomatlán, Jal., Mexico

Hours: Open 1PM - Closes 9PM

Reservations: lekliff.com

Phone: +52 322 228 0300