For many 2013 is only the mark of a new year.  For others it's a time to begin anew and work hard on their resolutions. 

For me, it's the start of a new life.  On Dec. 21 I packed up my life into Home Depot cardboard boxes and hopped into my car and began the 20 hour long drive to Mexico.  To my new home.  But this is not new information as my last post of 2012 clearly states that I was moving.  What I haven't revealed is that I came here for love.  I came here because the person I love lives here.  Has his career here.  And because long distance relationships are simply too hard and I couldn't do it.   Many people were confused as to why he didn't go to California, why I am the one moving and other such questions.  Other's thought I was being too rash and not thinking this all the way through.

And I considered everything every one was telling me.  I thought about it very much.  I lost sleep over it.  And I prayed very deeply about it.  When every thing fell into place on it's own, I felt in my heart that God was telling me to go.  Go and follow your heart.  Go because photography can be done from anywhere in the world.  Go because it's the best option for the two of you.  Go because this is your chance at love.  And if not for love, then what for?  

It is nerve wrecking and I still can't believe that I'm here.  That I am really here.  And I thank God for getting me here safely.  For having my parents accompany me here and spend Christmas with them.  For having family here so that I am not alone.  And for love, because it really is a magical force...  

At the beginning of every year, I write down the goals I have for JLP and for my personal growth.  This year I sat down and tried to write a new list and found myself staring at a blank page.  I realized that this year, every thing old is out the window.  Everything is new.  Starting over completely.  And it was an eye opening experience.  I have the chance to do every thing differently.  To begin from nothing again and with all of the past experience.  And for that I am really excited.

So here is to 2013, to the world not ending, and to a whole new life with new experiences.  And to all that God has in store for me.  

1// Beach day with the bffs  |  2// Camera necklace my wonderful clients gave me  |  3// Iced latte + panini in lake arrowhead  |  4// wedding site at disneyland i stumbled across one night  |  5// hanging chandelier at a wedding i assisted  |  6// Ipad + latte + journal  |  7// Lake Arrowhead on a hot day  |  8// First dance

9// Swing dancing outdoors  |  10// On vacation  |  11// thrift store finds  |  12// bouquet  |  13// thrifty's ice cream  |  14// mason jars seating cards  |  15// pier in cancun, mexico  | 16// First day of vacation by the pool in playa del carmen, mexico

I'm dreaming of blue waters, reefs, white sands, and a icy cold blended drink.  Preferably alcoholic ;).  In anticipation of this dream, prepping has been crazy!  I've worked until my eyes went cross eyed.  Made about 4 trips to the post office in the last two weeks, and managed to pack.  And I know, I'll forget something.  

However, now that it gets down to the wire, I am so EXCITED!  I will be photographing a wedding down on the beaches of Cancun.  Taking in the sites of the Mayan ruins, swimming and lots of tanning.  

Before I make you more envious, I wanted to let everyone know that I will be off line during this time.  Once I get back from my

vacation

 (work), I will answer phone calls and emails.  I will however, make time to upload to Insta.gram and hopefully update the blog with some beautiful photos!  

I will be back August 3rd.  In the mean time, I'll leave you with this cutie pie :).

Happy Summer!

This past month has been a whirlwind of sessions, family, workouts, disneyland, the beach and even a wedding as a guest.  

A couple of years after I started photography professionally, my point and shoot camera broke.  And I stopped taking photos of my daily life.  I eventually bought a point and shoot, but the photos would stay on the card for months and months before I ever got around to uploading them.  

Then some genius created Instagram and well, now I record my daily life and share it with everyone.  It's fun to create photos that are a part of the every day and make up bits and pieces of my life.  Which is exactly what photography is for.  

1. Bike riding // 2. Car's Land // 3. Dog beach with the pups // 4. Herb Ritts Notorious book I got at a flea market for a steal // 5. Me before a shoot on a gloomy morning // 6. Sunday wedding // 7. My cousin leaving on the metrolink // 8. Models helping models at May Group Shoot // 9. Group Shoot // 10. Honey on our way home from the dog park // 11. Office flowers // 

12. Palm tree 

13. Gordo waiting for me to get off the computer // 14. Fold out pages from Herb Ritts book // 15. Tostadas de camaron con crema // 16. Starbucks // 17. Typing letters to friends on my Remette // 18. Boxing work out // 19. Sweating latte // 

20. Metrolink Station, Riverside 

21. Movies // 22. Cook's Corner // 23. Sleepy Honey // 24. Jump rope work out // 25. Car's Land // 26. Antique shopping, typewriter // 27. Regal Cinemas, Riverside // 28. Map Journal

Follow me on Instagram @jackielamas

On December 22, Living Social ran a promotion for a family portrait session with yours truly.  Last friday, the promotion ended and I am so thankful to those families that I had the honor of photographing.  

I am also sad that it is over.

In the past six months, I have photographed lots of cute babies, adorable kiddos, and great parents and some grandparents.  It has been full of playing peek-a-boo, dancing, and tickling mommies.  But most importantly, it's been about creating photos that will add to the story of these families' lives.  They will be able to show these to family and friends and share them through future generations.  Real, professional, and genuine photographs.  

Not only was I able to give to these families something irreplaceable, they have also given me an unforgettable experience.  I have learned so much as well!  As a photographer, I am always learning and expanding.  I have learned much about finding different and new poses for families.  That the candid is also just as important as the posed.  And that each family is unique and special.

At the bittersweet end of this experience, I have walked away with a new family.  Many new families.  Each and every one of you have taken me in and made me feel such a part of your family.  I have never felt so humbled and honored to be a part of so many wonderful families.  Some of you invited me into your home to photograph you and others trusted me with bug-filled fields.  Thank you doesn't even amount to what I feel.  

Each of you hold such a special place in my heart and I look forward to photographing your beautiful and wonderful families again! 

With love,

Jackie

A few weeks ago, I posted about Instagram and posted some photos.  A couple of weeks after, I discovered that the app was available for Android.  I was so excited!  I don't always carry a camera with me and so this is a perfect app to photograph my day to day life.  The best part?  It posts directly to my

Twitter

and

Facebook

accounts so I can share with all of you!  You can follow me on Instagram

here

.

Happy Friday!

Okay, who else is insta-crazed?  And by that, I mean Instagram.  I don't have an iPhone, since I really can't justify spending $200 on a phone, but I did get an iPad for my birthday.  So I downloaded the app and I LOVE IT!  The filters, the tilt shift blur tool, the way you can share it on instagram, facebook, and twitter, all at the same time.

All I know is that I'm hooked!

I took this before photo last week and yesterday, I decided to chop off my hair.  It's been, I don't know like 4 or 5 years since I've had short hair.  Thanks to my sister at

Xelle Hair & Make Up

, I've got a new look!  What do you think?  I like the change :).

Happy Friday!

I've been a little stressed and nervous about something personal and I've allowed it to take over my life.  In a teenager-meltdown dramatic kind of way.  Something  changed when I woke up this morning.  I was more energized, ready to carpe my diem to the max.  I even blared my Pandora station before the clock even hit 8:30am.

Went for a jog, had lunch with my best friend, and came home to find that some flowers were in bloom in the yard.  So I picked them and put them in a jar.

Instant happiness.

Tomorrow, will be even better.  

P.S.  The photo was taken with my brand spankin' new 85mm.  I love this lens!

 I remember sitting below the hideous fluorecent lights at my full time receptionist job hoping that the phones would stop ringing long enough for me to drool over all the beautiful images on photographer's blogs.  Yes, I confess, I spent more time gawking at beautiful photos than taking messages.  And no matter how many full time jobs I got, or how many different desks I sat behind, I was still under hideous lights and still hoping for the phones to not ring.  And that the office had great internet connection.

Never in a million years, did I think that I would be sitting here writing about photography.  From the time I was 10 until around 12, I wanted to be a lawyer.  I was certain that my life would be full of black suits, briefcases, and a corner office in a big city somewhere.  I'm sure being a lawyer is just like it is in the movies, I am glad that my life was given a different path.  

I spent a lot of time afraid of what would happen if I jumped head first into something that I couldn't deliver.  I also spent a lot of time writing out goals to which I knew I would never cross off because I was too afraid to do them.  Then one day, earlier this year, I woke up and finally asked myself, "Self, what the hell are you afraid of?"  

2011 was a turning point for me.  The year when goals shifted in a new direction.  And were finally getting crossed off, one by one.  Many of them will be on next year's goals list, some will never see the light of day again, and others will never get crossed off.  But you can be certain that tonight, I will be sitting my bed, with my large sketch book and favorite pen in hand, writing them out.  Ready for what ever 2012 will bring.

I just hope that 2012 will be ready for me, because I'm bringing it.

Happy New Year.

I remember, looking up from sleepy eyes at the bright lights on the Golden Gate bridge.   I was about three years old and it was dark outside.  That was my only memory of San Francisco, even though we have boxes and boxes of family photos at Yosemite and the bay area.  And when my good friend Ruben moved to the bay area to be with his girlfriend, I missed a good friend and dreamed of red trolly's and the red bridge I so faintly remembered. 

Then in September, we made it happen.  Ruben and Stephanie let me stay with them during the long Labor Day weekend and we even got to photograph their anytime session!  Which you can view here.

They were the best hospitable people ever!  And when they had plans on Saturday, I told them that I'd explore the city on my own.  They worried about leaving me alone.  Did I mention they're the nicest ever?  Little did they know that exploring on my own is my middle name!  I surprise people when I tell them that I've gone to dinner alone, or that I don't mind going to the movies alone, or sitting somewhere and enjoying God's wondrous world by myself.

So they dropped me off.  

Geared with a camera backpack, my camera, and some walking shoes, I hit the streets.  First the Embarcadero, making a very zigged-zagged line through the empty streets of the financial district, crossing into Chinatown, which was so alive and colorful!  Chinatown was my favorite.  Then I made my way slowly into Little Italy, and as night fell, I moved towards the Ghirardelli Square and Pier 39.  By that time the lights from the square were twinkling and I felt as if I were in an entirely different world.  I worked my legs that day.  And my eyes were overfilled with so much life and so much newness.  If newness is even a word.  If it's not, then I vote to add it to the dictionary. Stat. 

The nights were filled with the most amazing food I have EVER eaten!  San Francisco also stole my stomach.  Hand made noodles in Oakland, authentic Italian food in Little Italy, and the best Peruvian food I've ever had.  Ever.  

Sites, food, and nightlife.  And... Some amazing friends!  Ruben and Steph, you have no idea now much I loved being your hood and I appreciate how awesome you guys were in driving me around and really showing the true San Fran.  So, while I left my heart in San Francisco, take care of it until I go back!

Enough rambling!  On to the photos!

Flying photos.  Random lake in the middle of California.  And of course, Bart Station.

China town!  These men and women were huddled in groups and played games.  It was very intense!  They didn't even notice me taking photos. 

As we were driving into Muir Woods, I saw this little gem from the highway.  Little did I know that it's the same boat that my photo friend, Eddie Yerkish, photographed.  His shot is waaaaay better than mine and has won awards.  This was my attempt to one-up him.  His is still better :)

My wonderful hosts and tour guides! And lots of camera phone shots from the whole weekend.

Flying back home.  The fog really started settling in.

Happy Saturday!