Senior: Adrian

He walked up and said hi holding on to his blue collard shirt he brought for his second outfit change. Adrian had a shy way about him and he made it clear he was nervous about being in front of the camera. When his mom emailed me about taking Adrian's senior pictures I had no idea I already knew who he was. I'm a Jr. high leader at my church and every Sunday morning Adrian sits on his wooden cajon and helps out during worship. I just never knew his name. I'm horrible with names ok. So this past Saturday when I was expecting someone I had never met before and then saw him I think I scared him a little bit cuz I got a little excited and yelled out "heyyyy, I know you!!!!" waving my hands in the air and everything. I had a blast taking his senior pictures and did I mention he's an awesome drummer? After high school he's going to the Art Institute to pursue a career in music and I'm sure he will rock it out. Congrats Adrian! :)

The four month challenge...

We sat in the pizza restaurant chowing down our caesar salad and garlic bread. And after my third slice of pepperoni pizza, they hit me with the bomb and my life as we know it would never be the same. My friends asked if I wanted to do a four month challenge with them of "healthy eating." I don't know what I was thinking internet, it must have been the dressing I had, because the words that came out of my mouth clearly proved that I was being possessed my some health freak because I agreed. I know, pigs really do fly! We all decided on different foods we would give up and I came up with the decision that I would give up carbs and sweets. CARBS AND SWEETS INTERNET!!!! The basic essentials of my diet! Why! Exclamation points! And today marks my second day of insanity, so I'm hoping I have enough will power to go through with it, because everybody knows I'm a quitter when it comes to healthy dieting. One time my sister and I decided to workout to an 80's workout video [long story internet] with a lady that used phrases like "reach for the stars" while stretching, and by my tenth squat I gave up on those stars and instead went to the kitchen to eat a taco. Yes, a taco!! So say a little prayer for my sanity and let's hope that by the end of four months I look like I belong in a Victoria Secret commercial.

In other news, here is a sneak peek of a family shoot I did a few days ago. Meet the Santiago family! I had a blast shooting them and I have more to come soon! Now, If you'll excuse me, I'll be in a corner with a piece of carrot.

Happy Tuesday! xoxo

Chewbacca's wife...

I get super excited when I do one of these. The theme for this year's styled shoot (I know I've said this like a gazzilion times so stop rolling your eyes!!) is Frida Kahlo. But really, I loooove doing styled shoots. And I'm particularly very excited about this shoot because it's something completely different and original from anything I've ever done. When Ally from glitz and glam brought up the idea of doing a shoot inspired by the Mexican diva herself I just about got up on the table and shook what my momma' gave me. But instead, I just did a happy dance in my seat because I absolutely loved the idea. I rejected the dancing on the table idea because then everyone would have gotten jealous of my moves.

I am confident Ally will rock it out as usual with hair and makeup and will definitely leave her own touch of originality just like she always does. Working with her is awesome! (Check out her work here and here)  One of my favorite parts of a styled is incorporating various types of ideas and seeing them come to life in my images. These types of shoots give me the freedom of being creative in the ways that I shoot and they also give me the liberty in trying new poses I wouldn't normally use in a regular shoot. The camera, in a way, is sorta' like a paintbrush. It's basically the tool that creates a desired picture and there are no rules in how to use it. It's all up to the one in control of it. Oh yeah my friends, I just had to throw in a little metaphor to show you how cool I am. Just kidding. Really, I just thought since homegirl Frida was a painter it just fit. And since I just referred Frida as "homegirl," I just have to say sistah needed some eye brow threading or sumtin'! If I ever grew a unibrow people would confuse me for Chewbacca's wife. Not cute. Aaaaand now that I got that all that off my chest, stay updated for the shoot coming soon! :) Without the unibrow.

And congrats to Yanira Aguero who won a free Photo shoot for guessing the theme! Woop woop!

 

 

Happy Friday!

THAT girl and FREE photoshoot!!

Homework, studying, commuting, research papers, I have no life, ThisFooJustTookMyParkingSpot, textbooks, library and oh so much more is what awaits me this semester starting tomorrow. Yes, school is back in session, all my pencils are sharpened, my school bag is packed and every class syllabus has already been printed. Who deserves a gold metal for nerd!? This girl! And I flaunt it like a new pair of high heels. It's that time of year again. Break is over and it's back to the nitty gritty. I love school, I really do. I'm that girl that arrives ten minutes before class starts because your late if your five minutes early. I sit in the first row of class and bug my teachers with e-mails and after class conversations about extra credit. Yes, I'm THAT girl. But the way I see it why give 100% when you can give 110% to something you wish to achieve? Something you love. If your investing your time, money, and energy why not just give it your all instead of just half. BAM! There's some life coach wisdom for ya'. Tell Dr. Phil I'm runnin' this joint suckas'! It's awesome what dedication and a little passion can take you.

Anyways, totally shifting from my uber philosophical advice I've been feeling in the giving mood and I've decided to give out a free photo shoot! Yes, FREE!!!!! This year, Ally from glitz and glam and yours truly are at it again and we are planning our next styled shoot! I absolutely love and enjoy being part of styled shoots because I get to step out of the box and see creative and blended ideas come together in a batch of awesomeness. Last year's theme was retro 80's and this year's theme is a dose of nothing short of fabulous and I can't wait for it to come together!!! You know I'm excited when I start going crazy with the exclamation points!! But instead of revealing what the theme is I'm gonna' let you guys out there guess. First person to guess correctly will receive a FREE photo shoot!!

Shoot will include 1 photographer (me :))
1 hour of shooting
30 high resolution images on disc

So, you're up for a guessing game? Just post your answers on Facebook (please submit one answer at a time :)). Good luck!
*Contestants must live in Southern California

The HINT is: Canvas and Mexico

Happy New Year!!

This morning I woke up to the smell of posole cooking in the kitchen. There's only two occasions my momma' makes this Mexican delicacy--well it's not really a delicacy but that word just sounds cool. She either makes it on Christmas or new years, and yes, today is new years eve and a bowl of posole was a great start to my new years resolution diet. NOT!!! 2012 was a great year full of changes, surprises and awesome experiences and I seriously can't wait to see what 2013 brings along. It's a bran new spankin' year coming up so dream big and live it up with your friends and loved ones. As for me, a second round of posole awaits me in the kitchen and for this past year, I am sooo thankful for:

New friends that have challenged me
Family that has been there by my side
Old friends life would be empty without
I found out I'm going to be in aunt in 2013!
Awesome clients that make me realize I can actually do this whole photography thing.
My mom's posole.

Happy new year everyone!!!! :)

What I've been up to....

It's crazy how busy life gest.  One day your chillen' on the couch eating a Twix bar watching Netflix and then all of a sudden your having to write ten page papers every week, budgeting gas prices, and reminding kids at work everyday your name is Miss Fernanda, not Miss Fernandez. What can I say, I've been  super crazy these past couple of months. With school, work, church ministry (yes, church can get cra cra too, but in a good way) and my new boyfriend, I kid internet--mom, sorry if you got excited-- I haven't had time to pick up the camera or post anything on this bloggity. BUT, good news blog-ateers! I have a few shoots lined up in the next couple of weeks that I am super excited about. I have two new seniors that will be featured and a family that will soon rock it out for the camera. School is over for the time being, and I'm off from work for two weeks.(ThankYouSweetBabyJesus) so that means more Twix bars and reality television. Aaaaaand, Christmas is right around the corner and I've seriously been a scrooge by slacking on the Christmas shopping. But since we're in a recession, I've decided everyone is getting socks this year. But not just any socks, no no, that's just too boring. Seriously, what says Merry Christmas better than TOE socks right!!?? Hey, it's winter ya'll! But besides my Christmas shopping here are a few others things I've been up to these past few months of completely abandoning this blog and depriving you guys of my oh so exciting life.

I've finally cut sweets off my diet and decided to work out, ok, ya'll know that's a lie
I just bought a new laptop, that's true
I'm letting my hair grow out. My goal is to get Kim Kardashian hair
Jenni Rivera (a Mexican regional singer) died last week. My Mexican family has been in an uproar
I've been trying lipstick lately. SWAG! 
A few weeks ago I became a Jr. high leader at my church. Love it! When one of the girls made brownies for Sunday school I knew that was where I belonged.
I took an online class and I absolutely hated it. I got a C on it, but really, C stands for Cool.
I watched the last Twilight. (spoiler alert, sorry!) I almost thought life wasn't worth living when they made us believe Carlisle was dead. Not cool.
I went to an awesome young ladies retreat packed with awesomeness and the cupid shuffle. Long story internet.
My best friend Mariel is visiting from Texas, which means she'll probably take me to goodwill.
Been listening to a lot of indie music lately. I secretly wanna' be a hipster.
I've been having a lot of dance parties by myself. In my room. To Daddy Yankee 

 

This is still my weakness.

Mariel is in Cali!!!!! :)

 

My co-workers. Taking pictures is part of the job.

 

See, I told you my life was exciting! I mean, who doesn't want to have Kim Kardashian hair!!?? Anyways, stay posted for more shoots and more posts about my love for carbs coming soon! :)

Happy Thursday!

The "OG" look...

The other day I met up with a friend to take a few pictures of him for his business. He wanted some simple head shots and I admit I was kinda nervous because, well, taking pictures of guys is tooootally different than taking pictures of girls, which is what I've been used to so far.  With guys, poses are completely different, ususally much more simpler, and yelling out YOU LOOK FABULOUS!! behind the camera  usually never comes into play.  Yeah, awwwkward! And really, telling a guy to pop your hip! is wierd. So instead of shouting out super girly remarks the first thing that came out of my mouth was Do an OG look!! And for those of you who don't know ghetto talk, that stands for original gangster. Apperantly,  Alex turned out to be ghetto so he totally got what I was saying. After hating on my photography slang a few good laughs Alex looked like he belonged in a lowrider and I was able to capture the image below. So my advice for any photographer who has no idea what poses to use for guys, I'd say the OG look is a good start. Hey, anything to get a good shot.