Down Town Riverside Portrait Shoot: Pamela

"I don't mean to brag or anything but I look AMAZING!" As I read Pam's text message minutes before the shoot I knew she was excited. Or conceited. I can't decide yet.

Pam is my best friend. I've known this bright eye, big smile girl literally my entire life. We grew up going to the same church and I swear the heavens brought us together because me and her, we're like cornflakes and sugar. If I could sit here and write everything about her there wouldn't be enough room to write. If I didn't love this girl so much, I think I would pretty much hate her. It's true. She's spontanious in ways I wish I could be, confident in areas I wish I was, carefree in moments I need to be, and absolutely hilarious in pretty much every way shape and form. One day with Pam and you will soon find out why it's so easy to love her. And why she probably belongs at a Beverly Hills party.

When I asked if she could be part of a photo shoot I think she was more excited than I was. She got her hair and makeup done by the ever amazing and talented Ally, and she even sent me a picture message to prove how fabulous she looked. Then again, that's just Pam. Or as she likes to call herself, "Pretty Pam," Yeah, she so went there!

Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you my best friend Pamela and her conceited-I mean- fabulous self!

Oh you and your purty self!

Ooooh, girl, get cho sexy on!

After an outfit change we headed out for some more portraits where Pam rocked some black boots I really wanted to steal.

And I'll end with this one because this is totally who Pam is. Happy and stinken' cute!

Portrait Shoot: Yulissa

She's one of those girls who finds humor in the random things and one that can't seem to hold a serious face for more than five seconds. It's true. I've known Yulissa pretty much since she was a little girl and even then she was always all smiles. But that's just Yuli. Her bubbly personality and random jokes make it hard not to love this girl. She's part of the youth from my church and needless to say she's awesome. Really, she is. I think she may be a mini version of myself, because, you know, eveyone knows I'm like totally awesome and stuff.

Anyways, when I got the chance to have a photo shoot of Yuli in all her awesomeness and swagness to the tenth power square, I was so excited. Yes, I said swagness. We laughed through the entire shoot which at times made it very hard to get this girl to give the camera a "serious" look but she still managed to rock it out like nobody's business.

Yuli, you da bomb girl! Thanks for making this shoot as fun as it was and thank you for laughing at my cheesy jokes. Love ya!

p.s If you've been following this bloggity of mine you know that on this particular shoot I had to show case my not so pro makeup and hair skills on Yuli, and I think I did an aight' job if I do say so myself. haha

The picture on the right, yeah, that was her the entire shoot!

After a quick outfit change we headed out to a grassy field and Yuli pretty much went sassy on me. And I loved it. To the Yuli on the left, wooork it!

Beautiful!

I'll end with this one, because honestly, Yuili you look gorgeous girl!

Christmas eve Mexican style!

It's Christmas eve tomorrow!!!!!!!! And by the number of exclamation points in that last sentence there's proof I'm pretty excited. Every year my family and I get together and we bake Christmas cookies with really colorful sprinkles on top and then we sit around the piano as we sing Christmas carols while we all wear our favorite Christmas sweaters.

Ok- I lied. That never happens. That's the type of Christmas I envisioned as a kid, but having a Mexican family where g-ma and g-pa decided to have 12 kids, my Christmas eves are way more interesting than that. Our Christmas eve gatherings as a family involve massive porportions of tamales that will last us till' next Christmas, making fun each other and complete craziness we can't wait to repeat every year. And I love it.

It's moments like these I'm excited to celebrate each year with family I am so blessed to have. So while I grub on illegal amounts of food I will count my blessings, which are many. And I will most likely have to unbutton my jeans and slouch on my aunt's couch as my dad plays his guitar to old Mexican songs. True bliss!

Happy Christmas y'all!

I think I got some eye shadow inside your eye!

I've never done makeup for anyone else than myself. Maybe it's my fear of leaving a girl looking like a drag queen or a jacked up looking clown, just with really cute hair. So when yesterday's shoot required some hair and makeup skills I put my jacked up clown fears aside and was pretty proud of the outcome.

My sister was there being all annoying and nosy and stuff and decided to take some shots of me working my magic. Just kidding on the annoying part Arleth. Oh, and thanks for letting me use the curling iron!

That blush you see below, yeah, it's pretty legit. It's Dallas by Benefit makeup and you can purchase it in any Sephora makeup stores (aka heaven) or at Macy's makeup section. :)

I am so excited to showcase this shoot soon on the bloggity. When I asked Yulisa if I could do a photoshoot of her and her pretty little self, I did a happy dance in my mind when she said yes. She's part of the youth from my church and needless to say, she did not  dissapoint the camera.

That below, yeah that's me exercising some hidden makeup skills I never though I possesed. Oh wait, I think I got some eye shadow inside your eye!! So I'm not a pro, don't hate!

Practicing and free shoots...

I'm learning that to become a skilled photographer there are three simple yet important words I need to live, breathe and stand by. Practice, practice, practice. And more practice. Ok-that was four, but you get my point! Yes, even if that means doing a few free shoots here and there just so that I could get my feet wet and start taking pictures of actual human beings instead of the the palm trees in the back yard. Building up a portfolio is vital for a photography business. Having solid material to show potential clients is very important, because I highly think I'll be hired if all I have to show them is pictures of palm trees and flour pots. Just being real here.

It pays to work hard...

I walked into her small office hoping she would give me answers to my questions. When I was a sophomore in high school a friend of mine told me about an amazing program called MCHS [Middle College High School]. A program she herself had been a part of in high school and one that she had nothing but amazing words to say. This program allowed a selected group of high school students to enter in their junior year of high school into a community college where they would study not only for a high school diploma but also for an associates degree. All by the time of high school graduation. And, get this, it was all for free! Say what!? Yes, for FREE!! Tuition, books, fees, everything, for absolutely no price at all! At this point I was pretty much sold and determined to do everything I could to be part of the sixty group of students who were selected each year for this program. And it was free, he-lloo!!


So when I went to ask some questions about MCHS to the counselor in charge of the program's recruitment at my high school, I didn't get the response or answers I was looking for. "If I were you, I wouldn't get my hopes up. Only sixty students are chosen out of a total of five schools so there may be a chance you may not get picked. The program only picks the students who stand out the most."

Oh, you want me to stand out! Well how bout I shove my fist in your FACE, and see if I stand out then!!!! Ok-maybe I didn't say that, but I was thinking it. Needless to say, I left her office discouraged. As if my entire fifteen year old existence had absolutely no significance. Maybe she was right. Perhaps I had no shot at this. I mean, who was I kidding right!? There was no chance I would get picked when there were hundreds of other students who were smarter and more qualified than I was. But despite my fears and insecurities I decided to apply for the program, and after the entire recruitment process was done, I was one of the sixty students who were chosen. I worked harder in those two years than I ever did before. I graduated with honors, received my associates degree at the age of seventeen and transferred to a four year university out of high school. Dear counselor lady: You just got BUUURNNED! Alright-alright, that's enough.

I write this, not to pride myself on anything. What I accomplished couldn't have been possible without the support of my family, my friends and teachers who pushed me to always do better.  I write this to say that hard work, discipline, passion and determination are key to achieving any types of goals.  Whatever goal or goals you may have remember that achieving them won't come easy. You might break a sweat or shed some tears along the way but the reward you gain at the end is all worth it.

Happy weekend! :)

What to wear in front of the camera...

Choosing just the right outfit for a shoot can make a huge difference in your photos. A pair of jeans and a t-shirt might work, however, by adding, let's say a pair of red heels that can compliment those jeans or some chunky jewelry that will make that t-shirt stand out can give your photos a pop of color and personality.  When choosing the perfect outfit make sure it's something that fits your own personal style and one that speaks to you. And since today is a beautiful Thursday, I've decided to round up some fashion tips and clothing sites that I hope will help some of you ladies who are interested in modeling in front of the camera and want to rock a stylish outfit that's affordable yet fabulous!

Note: These tips are meant to help at least one person. If you feel like throwing tomatoes at my fashion ideas please throw them nicely.  :)

Maternity wear: 
Who says you can't be pregnant and still look hot! For the modern mommy to be I would recommend a more sophisticated look with more neutral and solid colors such as beige, browns, grays or light blues, light greens etc. A gray blazer with a loose or fitted (which ever fits you the best) striped shirt underneath and some dark blue jeans can work great.  However, by adding a dash of color here and there such as a bright colored ring can be the cherry on top. And don't forget to wear your favorite pair of shoes, which can be a cute pair of gladiator sandals, or if your feeling daring, some heels. Work it girl!

Being pregnant, of course, your body is changing, so make it a point to wear something comfortable. And I think Forever 21 has an amazing maternity clothing line that covers the cute and comfortable points. Their line of maternity pants, shirts and dresses are all under $30.00 and can make any mommy to be look great in front of a camera.

Seniors:

Being a high school senior is all about fun and enjoying yourself. And getting good grades of course. haha So let your outfit reflect that. The fun part, I mean. Don't be afraid to play around with different shades of color and different accessories. The way to make your pictures pop can be with the help of a flowery, summarie (is summarie a word?),dress like the one below with mismatched flats and a chunky necklace. Or, if you plan on taking pictures, for instance, when it's a bit colder, a bright colored coat with some regular blue jeans and nude pumps can work just as great. Just remember, color, color color! 

There are plenty of clothing stores out there where you can put together your perfect outfit for a photo shoot. A boutique that offers a fantastic selection of fun, and colorful dresses with funky patterns and unique styles is Francesca's Collections. I'm not sure who Francesca is, but you da' bomb girl!! I first walked into this boutique a few months ago at a shopping outdoor mall and it was love at first sight. They not only have a great selection of dresses that are gorge, but they also have some great accessories that can make any outfit look fabu! And, AND, it's affordable! Can I get a what what!? Ok, I should never say that again, that totally just made me sound old. But yeah, I would totally recommend this store. 

Again, these fashion tips are meant to help at least one individual. You are not required to incorporate any of these fashion tips into your photo shoot wardrobe if you choose not to. Be your own fashionista, be creative, and don't forget to be YOU.  

Happy shopping! :)

Why I should always a have a bobby pin handy...

A few days ago Arleth wanted to take a few pictures of me after I'd finished my shoot with her. The only problem was, I looked totally busted!! Arleth, why didn't you tell me you wanted to take a picture of me!! I didn't even DO MY HAIR!!!!" [notice the strong emphasis on the hair part] Umm, if your gonna take a picture of me ma' hurr better be did, that's all I'm saying. It was windy and my bobby pin fell out so my bangs were acting all dumb. Whatever.

I tried making my nappy hair look decent, but I think the cool looking field of dry grass saved me. haha!

Here I am at the shoot with my nappy hair in all its glory! Don't be jealous. 

A big sister thing...

If my older sister could be described in just one word, I really don't think I could come up with just one. You see, Arleth is well, special. When I was eleven and our family was forced to move out of our old house, she told me we were gonna be homeless and that we would have to live in a park under a tree. And like an eleven year old kid taken advantage of their innocence, I believed her. Oh, and I told my mom, duh! Maybe it's a big sister thing. You know, to do things or say things to the younger sibling that will in turn bring amusement. Like that time she had a photo shoot with me when I was like eight with a disposable camera. She painted a mole on me with eyeliner and made me model a cheap gold necklace. My mom still has those pictures, and the look on my face in them still makes my sister crack up every time. I told myself that when I have kids, I'll have proof to show them that their aunt was evil!  Ok-she wasn't evil. I confess that I totally played along to her torture, but STILL!! I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA BE HOMELESS!! 


Anyways, besides her big sister syndrome, Arleth is an amazing wedding photographer. Like Uhh-mazing! And right about now I sound totally biased but whateva'. She's blood, so by the laws of sisterhood I have to say that or else she'll probably lock me inside the closet. And video tape it!! I'm joking, I'm joking.


A few weeks ago as we chatted about our fascination for all things weddings, photography and marketing strategies, she said, "Dude, you should totally start your own photography business. I think you'll be good at it!" Her confidence in my ability to do so and my love from afar for photography assured me I could do it. Watching her do her photog thang' for a while now and seeing the creative flexibility of being a photographer made my creative juices start flowin'. And you know what, I love it! Like a fat kid loves cake love it! I took her advice and created "Pose Photography" for senior pictures, portraits and style shoots. The other day I got the chance to have a photo shoot with her where I admit, I was a bit intimidated. I mean, she's super good and was afraid to oh, idk, SUCK! However, despite my fear of ultimate failure I am so excited to launch my new photog business and I couldn't have picked a better model for my first shoot. Here's to big sisters and new beginnings! :)