This is probably the biggest thing that my clients worry about: What to wear.

Let me preface this by saying that whatever you do wear, as long as it doesn’t have large prints or really close stripes, you’re all good! Seriously, just about anything looks pretty darn great when a professional is taking your photos.

Color Combos

Having said that, let’s get into some really great color combos that work together for portraits. The key is to combine colors that match and are in the same color scheme without really matching exactly.

Matching

Matching is another way to go and it does look great when you want the photos to have a cohesive look. It’s also more timeless in that patterns and styles will all look uniform and won’t clash with each other.

This looks great when you’re thinking about printing the photos large and the background isn’t distracting so you all stand out nicely!

Mix and Match

Mixing and matching colors, textures, styles is a great look too and although you wouldn’t think so, it can really bring out the personality of the family members.

This might mean mixing patterns as well and keeping things very individual. Trust me, it all works and through my lens, your expressions and emotions are more important than what you’re wearing. ;)

What NOT to wear

A lot of colors, textures, and combos work really well together so it’s actually really difficult to tell you what to wear. Instead, it’s much easier to tell you what not to wear or to stay clear of during your portrait sessions.

• Really narrow striping, sometimes this can give a weird effect when looking at the images on a computer screen. In print, everything looks good! :)

• Large writing on shirts. Especially if they have any kind of message. Unless the writing is part of the shoot, like a t-shirt with the family name or other meaningful clothing, avoid really large writing. Or any writing or brand names on clothing. It can distract the viewer from what is most important - you!

• Anything that is uncomfortable. When you’re uncomfortable, it completely shows. It shows in facial expressions and body language. Wear something that you feel absolutely comfortable wearing because that will make you shine and you’ll be more confident rather than focusing on your discomfort.

• Socks. It’s not that you can’t wear socks, I just want to highlight that socks can make or break certain poses and so just make sure that your socks are matching the pants. For example, white socks stick out like a sore thumb, it’s best to go beige or black or even patterned. We really don’t have much of a sock issue here on the beach, but it can still make or break photos.

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I hope these tips will help you choose the best outfits for your next portrait session. Of course, when you’re on a beach in Puerto Vallarta, pretty much anything goes!

When it comes to taking your photos, I can’t be completely sure of what you’re thinking but I can definitely tell you what I’m thinking during your session, and it’s not at all what you might think!

During your session

During your session I’m not worried about anything but three things:

• Exposure

• Posing

• Getting it near perfect in camera

Mostly, I’m worried about getting the exposure right in the camera which makes editing go quicker which therefore lets me deliver the images to you faster! Short turn around time is my main goal.

Posing is the next. I’m not really looking at your body shape or outfit or much of that. What I am really concerned about is that because digital photography is two-dimensional, I have to make sure that lighting, composition, framing, and all of that makes you look like a million bucks. Posing can change the way the photo looks as a whole and thankfully. I have lots of experience with knowing what works, what doesn’t, and what is comfortable for you as well.

It’s really about having all of the elements that makes your portrait stand out in the sea of selfies and amateur photography is making sure these three elements are important.

We all feel insecure when looked at through a lens and while we might think the camera can see all of them front and center, it really isn’t what we’re thinking about as photographers.

Behind the camera it’s about all the other things! Plus, trust makes those insecurities disappear and when you find a photographer you trust, you know your photos are gonna be fab!

Editing/Retouching

Digital photography has allowed us to do photography in a much faster, cleaner, and less bulky way but it also comes with it’s downsides - like editing lol. I neither like nor dislike editing, it just is what it is and while you might be nervous I’m editing your images at 200% looking at all your pores, I’m here to debunk this idea!

You pores are safe and perfectly porish. I’m definitely not editing your photos that closely. I try and get the images as close to perfect right out of the gate. I also don’t edit or retouch like I used to in 2010, ha ha ha.

I don’t soften the skin. I don’t remove anything - unless it’s requested by the client.

What do I do while retouching?

• Color and exposure correction

• Straightening the photos - I’m horrible at getting my crops straight in camera so this is always something I have to fix. I’ve gotten better after 12 years - somewhat ha ha ha.

• Taking out temporary blemishes like mosquito bites, blemishes, on children it would be scratches and cuts or ouchies.

• Removing people from backgrounds - which I do zoom in to make sure it looks flawless.

I’m also adding presets so that the photos look amazing and pop, then adding a little magic here and there to make sure the photo is print ready. Then I save it and convert it to jpeg and send it off to the gallery.

That’s it!

Definitely not looking at your body any closer than that if it hasn’t been specifically requested. You can read more about my editing process in this blog post

After I deliver the photos

After I deliver the photos I’m anxiously waiting for you to reply that you either loved them or hated them! Yes, even after 12 years I still wait and hope that the photos were what you wished for!

Making sure you have the best photos of your life (until our next session ;)) is the best feeling in the world. Being able to deliver on the promise that professional portraits are essential and irreplaceable is the most satisfying feeling ever.

Photography is essential and worth its weight in gold… but that’s a separate post altogether!

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So, what did you think photographers are thinking during your session? What were you most worried about? Comment below!

I’ve been a professional photographer for about 12 years now… So this also means that I’ve learned quite a bit of things since 2006 - and lots of things have changed since. Here’s a short list of things I’ve learned over the years.

1 The nerves never go away

I’m forever always nervous before a session and even more so before a wedding. Before my sessions I say a short prayer asking God to use the talent he gave me to give my clients the best possible photos I can. Because it’s not about me, it’s about them. I’m an instrument and I’m here to create but I definitely need God’s help to keep the nerves down.

I get one chance to get it right. Most of my clients live in far off lands (mostly Canada and the USA lol) and it means we can’t reschedule, there are no do-overs for me. It’s doing it right or cringe. This makes me nervous because so many things both in and out of my control can happen.

2 Photography is a practice

Even though I’ve been at this for over a decade, it doesn’t mean that I’m an expert or can rest and think I’ve got it all figured out. Photography is ever-evolving and changing from year to year, let alone in the last decade.

Practice is important and while it isn’t as glamourous as it once was with models and other great photographers to learn from, I’m home shooting something new or some concept I had or taking photos of my three-year-old, which is good practice for family photos! ha ha ha

And it’s not just about taking photos. I also learn new things in Lightroom and Photoshop, about my own camera, taking videos (which I’m not great at yet), and figuring out both the technical and creative side of photography.

3 It’s about the experience

Being a photographer doesn’t come with any real special recognition outside of the photography world. It really comes down to giving my clients the best possible experience I can - and then great photos, in that order.

Making sure you’re having fun will automatically make your brain tie the fun experience to photo sessions and it will make it much easier for you to come and get portraits taken again! It will link the way you felt during that time with fun, family, and connection.

Portrait photographers who shoot to get recognition from the outside world first and take into account their client’s experience second, in my opinion, aren’t true portrait photographers. Because it’s not about us, it’s about you.

4 These are not my photos

Which leads me to my next point that the photos I take of you are not mine. I’m not going to hang them in my home. I’m not going to gift them to grandma for Christmas. I can certainly help you get all of that done :).

However, these are YOUR PHOTOS and it took me a couple of years to start shooting with you in mind as the viewer than shooting with what I had in mind.

Yes, I’m the professional and will help get the best photos possible, but with your experience and appreciation in mind. Will YOU love these photos? Will they make YOU cry when you see them because your kids are now in college and you have these beautiful images to remind you of such a beautiful vacation? Are YOU seeing your photos and thinking, “Wow, what a beautiful photo of MY family”?

You are my main focus. Your appreciation for the photos and giving you something that is irreplaceable is my goal.

Not getting photos to show off, get awards for, or get the most likes for. Usually, those photos are the ones that don’t get the most recognition.

5 Sharing knowledge is better than hoarding it

I started in a photography world when holding secrets was the key to success because it meant you had an upper hand on other photographers. Charging what seemed ludicrous for workshops, which is still the norm btw, just seemed crazy to me when Google literally has endless information on what I want to learn.

Also, given that I learned a lot of what I know by working for and with other photographers who opened up about their knowledge and experience was amazing to me.

So I share photo tips. I share what works for me and what doesn’t. If someone has questions, I’m an open book. I can’t give you a simple formula to follow to get rich quick, but I can help you as best I can.

6 Live and learn and do not repeat

Learning from my mistakes after weddings and sessions is hard. Learning mistakes I’ve made in business is an even bigger pill to swallow.

Clients are important, session experience is important, watch your focus, underexpose don’t overexpose, yes, the tripod is useful during church ceremonies, stay positive throughout long wedding days, and remember to eat before, during, and after will keep you sane, check your memory cards so that one doesn’t fall out and you have to go back after hours to look for it in the dark and with the sprinklers on (true story).

Remember, keep a percentage in savings for taxes too - learned that one the hard way. Invest in equipment, not shopping sprees.

So many things I’ve learned over the years that I do not want to repeat at all! If you can shadow or work for another photographer for a couple of years first, do that, so you can learn what to do or not to do for your own photo business.

And then don’t repeat them!

7 Community over competition

Once upon a time, photographers used to gather and create and have studios all over towns across the world. Then something shifted and it became an art and secrets were held and people got stingy with their experience and competition ensued.

Then, thankfully, during my time as a photographer, this has shifted again and as artists, we have put community over competition due to one singular undeniable fact: THERE IS ENOUGH WORK FOR EVERYONE.

Make friends with other artists, creators, photographers, writers, models, etc. These friendships can mean a referral, a learning experience, a helping hand when you need one, and the incentive to keep creating and using this community to share what we have.

8 Keep to a schedule

One thing I’ve learned, don’t be on call 24/7. Decide which days are no-work days and stick to them. Schedule certain days for certain tasks if that works for you. Yes, an inquiry is important, but not important to answer at 11:50 pm on a Sunday. That can wait until Monday. People don’t expect to have a full-on conversation at midnight via email anyway.

Don’t let photography lead your life. You’re in control and it’s best to establish that right away.

9 It’s a business to take seriously

When you start photography as a business, even if it’s a side business which is the norm in most cases, it’s still a business. My mistake was treating it like an extra each time I booked a wedding because I still had my main job.

I wish I had put what I need a way for taxes, investment in equipment, and business courses. I didn’t treat it as a business, I was all over the place.

Some things I’m still working on and refining, but make sure you treat this as an actual business if that’s your goal. Read about markups and research the best photo lab, get to know your pricing and how to figure that out, know what your workflow process is and keep perfecting it until it makes your job easier.

And most importantly, don’t give in to impostor syndrome. This is a real job even if you’re the only employee. Blogging, posting on social media, reaching out to clients, selling products, keeping your website up to date, SEO, marketing, are all apart of your business and it’s actual WORK. Don’t down play it and it will make it easier to keep this as an actual busienss than a hobby.

10 Photography is essential to life

I started photography because it was fascinating being able to take a photo of someone or some thing and allow it to be just like it is forever.

Over time, I started to really enjoy the connection forged when I would do model shoots and ultimate when I would photograph families and let’s not even get into how beautiful weddings are. Not because of the decorations or planning or the dress, it’s due to the fact because love the connecting factor during the entire day.

Photography has and always will be essential. It’ll be a reminder of your now 30-year old’s laugh when he was 3. It’s a reminder of how you felt when you took those last photos with your grandparents at your wedding. It’s a moment relived when you see you and your brother riding a wave while on the one vacation you will never forget.

I didn’t always give photography its place in this life. With time, having my own child and seeing my parents grow into grandparents, it has completely cemented the truest fact I’ll ever know:

PHOTOGRAPHY IS ESSENTIAL.

It’s all we have left at the end of the day. And it’s beautiful.

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What have you learned as a photographer? What do you hope to learn in the future?

I have a huge announcement, friends!

We’ve started collaborating with Lion Heart Stock Photography! They are a stock image site where you can purchase photos for everything you need.

Need images for an article? For a promotional piece? For social media, Lion Heart Stock is adding images every week in both bundles and individual images for you to use as you wish!

Eventually, we’re going to set up a subscription plan so that you can get access to the full library with new images added weekly.

Don’t forget to follow our Instagram page ;)

Sunset Plaza Resort and Spa is part of the Pelicanos Group of hotels and is host to many intimate and large wedding celebrations. Their hotel is adding a new tower and so it’s under construction at the moment, but don’t let this deter you from booking this venue!

It’s got the beach close by so that means less walking for you and your guests to the beach for photos. It also holds the reception on a terrace overlooking the Pacific ocean giving you the most magnificent view of the prettiest sunsets you’ve ever seen.

Your ceremony can be held at a gazebo on the rock pier or inside of a big palapa, both give you beautiful views of the beach as they’re raised from the main beach elevation.

Needless to say, this resort is perfect for your guests to come and vacation while they also celebrate with you on the most beautiful beaches in Puerto Vallarta. Located along the main highway and 15 minutes from downtown, it’s far enough to feel secluded but close enough to venture out and sightsee.

Venue Info

Sunset Plaza Resort & Spa
Diego Rivera 121, Zona Hotelera, Las Glorias, 48330 Puerto Vallarta, Jal.
Phone: 322 226 2712
https://www.hotelsunsetplaza.com/es

We made the decision early on to grow slow in my photography so that I’d have the opportunity to be with my son full time as well. Little did I know that it would be a serious adjustment and being that we don’t live near family or friends, it was a challenge, to say the least.

However, it’s not impossible! Leon has been home more than he has at daycare /school and it’s taken me a while to get a good idea of how to go about it and these are my tips for you at home parents!

Work during the kid’s peak hours

Leon is the best behaved and less attention-hungry in the morning right after breakfast. He can watch tv or keep himself busy playing without needing anything from me, except for a snack or two.

Between the hours of 7:30 am and 1 pm is his peak hours. These are the hours where I can get alone and work. Especially when it comes to editing!

For the first few days, observe your kids and see what times during the day they leave you alone and those will be the hours that you can sit down and work.

I know some mamas have babies and that is a challenge in and of itself. What I used to do with Leon was wrap him to me as a newborn and he’d feed and sleep on me while I plowed away at my desk.

When he began to get mobile, I’d put him in the playpen so he could crawl around and play with toys - he hated it and it was a challenge and would just switch it up from playpen to floor time. I’ve seen people fill up inflatable pools and that gives your little one more space with their toys and they don’t feel so enclosed.

Use naptimes to their full extent

If you don’t want to miss out on this rare opportunity to be present with your child(ren) and would like to work around their schedules, use naptimes to the fullest!

Plan ahead in the morning or even the night before what you aim to get done during those naptimes. If you have one nap time of two hours, make the most of it, get your set up ready beforehand so that you don’t spend time planning or setting up while your babe is sleeping.

Screen time

I must admit that Leon watches a fair amount of tv and I don’t feel the least bit bad about it. He doesn’t know how to use the controls and so I still have control over what he can and cannot watch. I also don’t allow him to use our phones or laptops nor does he get to watch youtube.

He can watch shows on Discovery Kids, Nick Jr. or Nat Geo Kids. That’s it. These channels help Leon problem solve, learn, and even get some math in, like Blaze and Rainbow Rangers.

Give the TV breaks and yourself breaks too

Here’s the thing, tv and other devices overstimulate after a while and can actually make a calm kid cranky. Turn the set-off and use the time as a break for yourself too. If you can get outside, take a walk. I water my grass or simply sit out on the stoop and just let Leon play and dig and make up his own games.

These breaks are so important for me and when I’m home alone working away I often forget so having Leon home gives me a fair amount of breaks and I’m all for it!

Move closer to where your kids are

Sometimes, Leon just wants me to be around even if I’m not really sitting with him or playing with him. Being in the same room also helps me keep an eye on this guy because he loves to just get hurt when I’m not around.

If you can move your work station to where your kids are, or move them to where you are, this can help crankiness and help you get some work done.

For kids of school ages, this can also keep you present during their studies and close by to answer any questions they might have. It can help keep everyone focused if you’re working while their working too.

When it’s not working, work after hours

There are times when Leon makes it impossible to get anything done. That day he could just be in need of more attention, growth spurts, just feeling stuck inside and a whole list of reasons that make no sense because he’s a toddler.

When this happens, I have to just let go of my plans and work after he’s gone down for the night. I try to fit in some planning time to know what I want to accomplish so that I’m not up into the wee hours of the morning, which has happened.

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With all that’s happening right now, many mamas - and parents in general- are working from home alongside their kids. I personally am not homeschooling and wouldn’t even dare to make a schedule of activities because with a 3-year-old it’s almost impossible to do anything they don’t want hahaha.

But these are the things that have worked for me in the past as Leon has been at home more than at school or daycare.

Stay safe friends!

xoxo!
Jackie

Hey friends!

How are you holding up? It’s been a little crazy watching things happening from the sidelines here in PV and while we haven’t really gotten lots of confirmed cases, chances are that it’ll reach our side soon seeing as international cruise ships dock here at least two to three times a week.

Am I worried? A little, but not so much for my health as thankfully, the three of us are pretty healthy and I have confidence in all medical staff and that they are doing what they can to contain this and find a vaccine. Until then, we are social distancing.

What DOES have me concerned is that already I’ve had sessions postponed due to the travel ban, personal reasons, and obviously because it’s just safer to stay home right now.

This has affected my business and well, my livelihood, just as it has for sooooo many other small business especially restaurants and those in the service industry.

Today, I’m going to share how you can help me and many other small businesses continue to survive during this crazy time.

What can I do to help?

Artists work hard on their work and right now a lot of artists are creating new and exciting material/products/services just for you and to also pass the time. Right now is the time to invest in their work. Get that drawing/painting/illustration you’ve been eying for some time.

Get that handmade product or reserve that service from the person you admire now and perhaps use it later.

If I have taken photos of you, you can also take advantage of this time home to order the best photo display products for your home!

Get your favorite photo printed, choose a frame for your gallery wall and get prints included, choose a beautiful image box to hold your favorites from your session because having one isn’t enough!

Albums also work as a great way to get those images, talking to your wedding clients, printed and all in one pretty, magnificently printed album.

And right now, for all of my current clients, you get 20% off anything you order!

So don’t put it off any longer, get your prints into frames and display products into your home of all your favorite images!

Download the LOOKBOOK here.

The best part? We can do payment plans and so you don’t have to feel like you need a big budget for all the things you’ve always wanted to get.

I haven’t had a session with you, is there another way I can support your business?

Yes! I currently am putting together a small and limited fine art gallery just for this! they are photos that you can proudly display on your walls as part of your wall art, as postcards, as small loose gift prints, etc.

You can visit the ordering gallery HERE.

What if I don’t have the budget to help artists?

I get it, perhaps right now you don’t have the budget or the time to really give because you’ve got littles at your house that need both your time and attention!

You will never know the impact has with one simple share on social media, a review on Facebook or Google, or simply referring me to people you know have trips planned to the Puerto Vallarta area has on my small business.

Sharing a post, sharing the artist’s profile, just simply giving a shout out helps so much! And the best part? It doesn’t cost a thing.

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Your support in any way means so much to me! And together, we’ll all get through this crazy time.

Stay safe, stay informed, and be kind!

xoxo,

Jackie

It’s a good problem to have when you just love all of the photos from your session!

However, it can seem a bit overwhelming having to choose only a select few to frame or print. I’m here to show you some really great options for printing many, or all, of your favorites so that you can display them throughout your home.

IMAGE CUBES

These cubes offer 6 sides of the photo display. Choose a different side to display each day or get a few an mix and match the designs and photos.

It’s like having a mini gallery in your home that doesn’t take up too much wall space but gets your favorites to shine.

Ask about different design templates ;).

PHOTO BOXES

There are two different boxes that I currently offer, one is a fabric box with a photo printed inside and the other is a wooden box.

Both can hold up to 100 loose printed images. Matted images occupy more space but they are a bit more elegant in the way they look and feel.

In either 4x6 or 5x7, you can have all of your favorite images on your coffee table, entrance table or bookshelf and they’ll look neat and organized in their beautiful box.

ALBUMS

Needless to say that Albums hold a special place in the home. Photo albums have been around since the 1800s when photography saw a boom in photo studios.

What has changed is being able to fit more photos into one album in a beautiful design that tells the story of your family in a unique way.

It’s a great coffee table item and children love to look through albums and see themselves and all of the people they love.

MINI ACCORDION ALBUMS

These mini albums open up accordion style and offer two different sides to display all of your favorite images!

The best thing? They come in sets of 3 and protective slip so that you can keep on in your bag, give one to grandma, or have them extended on a shelf in your home.

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There you have it! Some favorite display items that can fit your favorite photos! Which one will you get? Personally I love the image cubes an boxes!

This whole family session revolved around the cute little guy! He was such a ham and sooo cute so of course he was the focus!

I had so much fun during this session and it even began sprinkling rain but luckily it cleared up for the rest of the session!

We had to work quickly to avoid the rain and I’m so glad that we had a good time! Nothing like spending a couple of hours with amazing people! Thank you Barrett family, it was a joy to meet you!

Danielle: Your family is such a treat! You all are so beautiful inside and out and it was an absolute pleasure and honor to be with you guys for a bit of time! You’re such a fun spirit and I felt so close to you during our time!

Bucerias is a beautiful location to have your portrait session because that sun setting in the point of the bay is like none other! It’s also been deemed one of the cleanest in the area so that’s always a plus. It’s really popular for SUP and kite surfing so if you’re into those sports make sure you visit!

Alright, enough with the love for Bucerias, let’s get to the photos of this cute family! We walked around, explored, and had lots of fun!