Carla Naomi Birthday Solo Portraits in colorful Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Meeting Carla was like meeting a friend that you don’t see often but pick up right where you left off. Her smile is contagious and her love for adventure was incredible!

She came to Puerto Vallarta to celebrate her birthday in style! Nothing better than celebrating with a cocktail by the beach in Mexico while watching the most spectacular sunsets in the world!

We met in Downtown Puerto Vallarta which because Carla wanted some more color and life in her photos. We found some famous spots and a little piece of beach before the sun set.

Let’s get to the photos! Click on the photos to view full size.

Chelsea & Antonio Couples Session Nuevo Vallarta Beach, Riviera Nayarit

This sweet couple was so much fun to photograph and we got along super well! Got married the same weekend as our shoot so CONGRATS are in order!

Even though we got caught in the wind at Nuevo Vallarta beach, it was such a beautiful day and we got some great shots!

Nuevo is also one of my favorites to go with my son being that it’s close by and safe in terms of waves and the sand is fine. Best part is there are showers haha, which is a huge plus here!

Enjoy this beautiful couple!

Bergert Family at Destiladeras Beach Club, Riviera Nayarit

If you’ve been to my website lately, you’ll see this beautiful family of 4 splashed right on the home page. That was from three years ago!

So when Doug contacted me to gift his beautiful wife Krista a session for Valentine’s day, I was so happy for two reasons: 1. I got to see my clients again which makes me feel really happy; and 2. Got to update their photos for this family, which also makes me happy!

Buuuutttt… I was soooo NERVOUS!

Seriously, I thought to myself “how am I going to top the previous photos?!” Because honestly and totally tooting my own horn here, we got amazing photos last time.

Well, when my clients are happy it shows and makes my job so much easier! I looooved this set and so glad they came out great!

A note about the location, it’s Destiladeras beach which is a public beach toward Punta Mita and one of my favorites in the entire Puerto Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit area. Long shores, beautiful waves which are small but add depth, and the sunset is just GLORIOUS.

Puerto Vallarta Now Amber Resort couples session with Arely & Javi

I was so excited to photograph Arely and Javi for their couples session in Puerto Vallarta! The day looked gloomy but as always, PV likes to keep us on our toes. The clouds looked like they weren’t going anywhere and we weren’t gonna get a sunset. Until… I saw the small clearing just above the water which means… We’ll get a heck of a sunset!

Sometimes it’s like that. You never know and I’m getting to know Puerto Vallarta more and more with each year that goes by. And those clouds don’t care me anymore!

Rain season is coming though! haha.

Anyway! On to the beautiful amazing wonderful photos! I enjoyed laughing and playing and even getting a little wet!

Thank you Arely & Javi! I hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip!

7 Beautiful Wall Art Decoration Ideas to Incorporate at Your Wedding

Hey friends! I’ve got a great guest post for you today with amazing creative ideas of how to incorporate wall art into your wedding decor from ELEPHANT STOCK. Use these ideas for your ceremony site, cocktail areas, and reception decor! Let me know what you think in the comments and as always - share with other couples getting married so they too can incorporate these ideas into their wedding decor and theme!

I am not receiving any payment for the article nor am I affiliated with the company. They reached out to me offering to write a guest post that I believe is helpful and aligns with you, my audience! Thank you for reading and I hope to bring you more articles like this in the future. :).


Are you planning a wedding and are you wondering how to decorate the walls at your wedding venue? If you answered yes, then creating a wall art decor is perfect for your wedding. A new unique trend making its way into all weddings, both micro and large.

Your wedding is unique to you and a special day, so every decoration should be according to your mood, style, and wishes. Wall art is a great way to display and express your feelings and sentiments towards your family on this special day.

When people enter your wedding, food and music are not the only things to set the tone of your wedding Venue ambiance plays a vital role in creating the perfect wedding mood on your day. Creating a custom wedding day wall art piece can really help you express your feelings and set the tone of your wedding all to match your current wedding scheme.

Here are some wall art ideas for weddings that you can try in 2021:

Family Photos Collage

A creative display of family photos is a beautiful way to personalize your wedding day. It is an affordable and exciting way to enhance your wedding venue decor.

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You can tailor the family photos display depending on which memories you wish to share with guests. There are many family photo wall ideas that you can use on your wedding day. It is a great way to relive memories and wow your guests with this unique decoration style. 

Whether you choose to display your childhood photos or select pictures of yourselves, guests will love to see photographs displayed throughout your venue and wedding day.

You can also create a collage of your photographs to create an interesting wedding focal piece.

Floral Wall Art  

Source: ElephantStock 

If you have a special place in your heart for flowers, you can decorate your wedding with creative and beautiful flower wall art. Using natural flowers can also create a unique floral art piece if you like real flowers.

Floral wall paintings can also add a unique charm to your wedding day without actually using natural flowers. 

You can cover the big wall with floral canvas prints to make your stage look royal and attractive as well. Whether you choose between a more creative and out-of-the-box idea or keep it simple and minimal, both of which will showcase your own wedding personality and style!

Wall decoration with flowers is ideal for outdoor day-time weddings. It’s also a great way to incorporate more eco-friendly decor into the details of your day. 

Frame your Shades of love

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If you want to tell your relationship story, you can add photo frames with photos displaying your pre-wedding shoot. In that, you can tell your relationship story in a cute and quirky way to guests.

You can add different photos of how you met, fell in love, and got engaged. Add a legacy element by displaying wedding photos of your parents’ and grandparents’ wedding on the wall too. It is a unique and affordable way to decorate the venue walls.

Wall Decoration with Lights

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Lights create a romantic ambiance for wedding decorations. It gives a gorgeous look to the walls and wedding venue, especially at night, creating a muted and intimate feeling to your wedding.

You can use lights on the wedding stage to create a welcoming wedding venue. Consider hanging wall arts with good lights to create a unique and interesting wedding decor. 

Lighting also can be used alongside the walls of the bar or catering section. The colorful lights will create a memorable as well as intimate atmosphere on your wedding day. 

Gallery Wall

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A gallery wall or set up is a beautiful way to infuse color and pattern into a wedding area. It is a simple yet creative way to spice up your space. With a wedding-themed gallery wall, you can display amazing elements of your love. 

You can display a collection of you and your family photographs on the gallery wall. It is an impressive way for wedding decoration to turn a wall into a stylish as well as a noticeable focal point. 

You can use pics of different sizes and shapes that can demonstrate your unique ideas. For example, you can include a framed print of your pre-wedding shoots, a canvas print of your engagement, or any other memory. 

Match art to your wedding style with a wall painting or hand-lettered sign

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You can paint walls to decorate the wedding venue with a variety of art. Paintings related to music, celebration, love, and marriage quotes complement most wedding venue walls.

Wall paintings also depend on the style of your wedding. For example, if you are going with a more romantic style to your wedding decor consider using calligraphy in the painting or a beautifully hand-lettered sign.

Whichever vibe and feel you’re going for, be it romantic, vintage, or more modern, choose a wall painting that compliments your style perfectly.

Use the wall paintings as a background for the cake, for example, or behind the sweetheart table.

Green Wall Decor 

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Source: ElephantStock

If you are looking for a unique wedding decoration idea, consider the green walls for wedding venue decoration. You can cover the wall with all green plants or can hang botanical wall arts as well. This will bring a different charm and freshness to the wedding decor. 

Further, the green wall also serves the purpose of a perfect photo backdrop. It is a unique way for eco-friendly wedding decoration. 

No matter whether your wedding venue is indoor or outdoor, greenery looks great in every space. The best part is that this type of decoration is not too expensive. 

Your wedding is yours to create

Your wedding is very special for you as well as your family. So, wedding decorations should also be unique and special. Wall art for wedding decor is all about personalizing your wedding with something unique that will wow your guests.

Will you try any of the ideas above? Let us know in the comments!


Thanks for taking the time to read our guest post by Elephant Stock and be sure to check out their art on their site.

Family Beach Session - Puerto Vallarta Mexico

It’s a beautiful thing when I get clients who have never had their professional photos taken - ever.

Why? Because I get to give my clients the best portrait experience of their lives. There is no stress here and we finish our session with lots of smiles and well, pre-covid, lots of hugs!

Letting families be completely and authentically themselves, allowing teens to not smile if they don’t want to, and give them space to get comfortable, listening to my clients, and aiming to give them the best each and every time is my goal.

I want their first photography experience to be unforgettable and memorable. And it’ll make them more comfortable and in the future, they won’t think twice about updating their photos and making sure their memories are captured forever!

I know, I sound crazy right? But hear me out, anytime you do anything for the first time it can feel intimidating. And when your first experience is positive and beautiful, then it just makes everything 1000x better.

I want to be that for my clients.

And, I’ve had clients who were afraid of hiring another photographer because their last experience wasn’t great. Which I also take on as a challenge to make sure their perspective is changed.

Because it’s more than just photos, it’s an experience you never forget.

Literally.

So when Mikah came to me telling me this was their first professional shoot, I know we made it memorable!

Thank you so much Mikah & kids! It was a blast!

Baby Moon for baby #4! Puerto Vallarta Maternity Photographer

This session was so nice! We were worried because it was cloudy all day and even as it got closer to the session time. And just as predicted, Puerto Vallarta likes to keep you on your toes and as the sun began to set the sun came out!

The session was at the new eco-resort perched close to Lo de Marcos in the Riviera Nayarit - about 20 mintues from Puerto Vallarta, the One & Only Mandarina.

The rooms are perched over the hills like birdhouses and all of them have a view of the cove where we had our session.

I’ve seen this resort all over Instagram lately so it was a treat to get to actually see it. This session was so BEAUTIFUL.

Enjoy!

Nuevo Vallarta Family & Solo Portrait Session

Can you schedule a shoot for two different purposes? YES! Yes you can! So Dora and I bumped into each other outside of one clients’ hotel and I gave her my card. She booked me and we had our session a couple days later.

She wanted a session with her son and also of herself an I was about it!

Celebrate yourself too mama! I’m about that for sure!

Puerto Vallarta Engagement Beach Session
Visiting Puerto Vallarta : UPDATES

A few days ago, the USA put new restrictions on travel - especially returning into the USA via air travel. That’s to say that if you’re taking a plane to Puerto Vallarta, you’ll need a negative COVID-19 test within 3 days of your return flight back to the US.

So let’s break it down…

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Do you need a COVID test to get INTO Mexico?

Short answer - No.

Long answer is that if you’re traveling into a location that is in the RED zone, you’ll want to stay cautious and perhaps make sure you’re covid free before jumping on a plane to another country.

You are going to have to fill out a flight form where you write down if you’ve had contact with anyone who has had covid or if you haven’t. Where you’re going and what the reason is for your travel.

You can do this online or at the airport. It’s safer online of course to avoid touching additional surfaces at the airport.

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Are COVID tests available in Mexico?

Yes! You can get tested at a wide range of locations and your hotel or travel agent can get the list to you of locations offering the test.

You are responsible for the cost of the test that can range anywhere from 400MXN to 1000MXN pesos (roughly $20-$50 US dollars). Be prepared to pay in cash as well.

Can we stay at a resort?

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Yes you can! Resorts are working at 30% capacity and are using many of the regulations required by the Mexican Health Services.

This means that to go in and out of the hotel you’ll need to wear a mask covering your nose, mouth, and chin. You’ll need to wear the mask in public areas and social distance as best you can.

Employees are required to use masks and shields and sometimes they’ll wear gloves.

The resorts are really great at following the restrictions and requirements - unfortunately it really is up to the guest to keep social distancing norms and wear a mask whenever possible.


What about sightseeing / tourist attractions?

At the close of December, the governor of Jalisco reported Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas in the Red Zone. All non-essential businesses are not operating at this time.

You can book private tours however, I don’t believe they’re allowed.

Many of the public plazas and the famous Malecon are closed. This means that you’ll most likely be restricted to your resort unless you rent a car and take it upon yourself to venture out.

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Again, you’ll have to wear a mask in all public or spaces where there are people. Going to the stores require masks as well.

Children are not allowed in the stores, is this true?

To my knowledge, this is TRUE. Children under the age of 12, I believe are not allowed into Walmart, grocery stores, or other public stores. Some stores and shopping malls allow children and anyone over 65 enter the spaces during certain hours. For example Walmart has a 7am-11am time slot for children, anyone over 65 and pregnant women.

So make sure you are informed before heading to the store just in case you’re not allowed in with children.

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Are you still available for sessions/weddings?

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While Puerto Vallarta experiences another lockdown, we are still available for sessions! Most sessions will have to take place at your resort or where ever you’re staying because the public beaches are shut down at the moment. I’ve heard that they’re closing the beaches at 3pm and police do enforce - except if you’re at a resort where a part of the beach is private.

Weddings are happening still and again it is upon the guests and couple to make sure that everyone who attends has been covid free and also follows mask regulations.

I personally wear a mask at all times during the session and keep my distance. I have also been home for most of the 2020 and after traveling to California in Dec., I quarantined for one month and have no symptoms or have signs of COVID. (I will be getting tested soon).

What about the airlines? Can they keep me from entering Mexico?

Airlines are taking the regulations seriously. Temperatures are taken at the airport even before your board your plane. If at anytime someone is exhibiting symptoms, they might not be allowed to get on the plane.

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Be a responsible traveler no matter where you go

In the end, Puerto Vallarta continues to host many travelers from all over the world! We are really keeping to the restrictions, mask wearing, and sanitation regulations as much as possible.

In the end, it really is up to YOU. If you have been keeping safe, wearing masks, staying home, and really taking COVID seriously, then traveling shouldn’t be a problem. If you are going to come and stay in the resort, social distance, enjoy the beach with ONLY your pod, then come and enjoy!

If you haven’t been responsible, then I suggest you stay home. COVID has taken 1 million of our citizens and the number continues to grow. We thrive on tourism but not at the expense of peoples’ lives which are the same people who help you have a great stay.

Helpful links:

US Embassy Website with COVID 19 visitor information

Locations for COVID testing in Mexico

Mexican Ministry of Health (Secretaria de Salud Mexico)