There are no words to describe how honored I am to do what I do.  To be able to create once in a lifetime photos for families, couples, kids, and babies.   Thank you to all of my clients for letting me be a part of your lives and for having me photograph you!

I look forward to seeing many more familiar as well as new faces this year!  

Happy 2015 everyone!

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I can't believe that we are at our 6 month mark!  I'm liking this whole marriage deal.  Wake up next to the person you love, endless cuddling before falling asleep, eating together as a family of two at our table, and traveling. 

When we got married, we didn't have the time to go on a honeymoon.  So when Gaby + Fer booked us for their wedding in Puerto Vallarta, we decided to extend the trip a week and finally have a honeymoon.  My husband and I love to backpack and camp and thanks to my awesome dad, who is just like us, got us these amazing backpacks.  We travelled through the entire Bahia de Banderas in the Puerto Vallarta coast.  We enjoyed summer weather, amazing warm waters, cool people, and got to see the famous Isla Marietas that's being posted all over Pinterest.  

I have to say that it's true what they say: "A couple that travels together, stays together."  There is nothing like watching a sunset over the beach and turning around to see your husband enjoying it at the same time.  

Thank you God for such an amazing time and for family!  At the bottom I'll list all the places we travelled.  For now, enjoy the slideshow of our trip!

When I studied photography at Cal State Fullerton, I never got the chance to take a film photography course.  As a Communications major we only dealt with the digital side of things.   That's the story I usually tell people.  However, the real story is because originally I was a Public Relations major and if I was to switch to photo, the fast and easiest ticket out with out having to start all over again was taking the Photo Communications courses.  I didn't want to start all over again in the art department and stay in school any much longer.  I took the shortcut and missed out on the whole film side of things.  

I didn't let it go to waste though.  I may have never learned how to develop film in a darkroom, but giving that I collect old cameras, I still shoot film.  I used to shoot when I would feel uninspired, burnt out, or just bored with digital and it's perfect focus and perfect bokeh.  I wanted something real.  Something tangible that I would have to wait and see if the shots were well exposed or if any of the frames actually came out ok.  

The surprise was worth the wait.  Worth overthinking each shot as I took it because I only had 24 frames per roll.  I have to take my time, expose correctly, use my brain, and adjust accordingly to the light around me.  It's like going back to basics.  

Here is some film I got developed today.  A mix of when we went camping and during the maternity session from this past weekend.  The grain is beautiful and some of the shots aren't perfect, but then again, that is the point.  

Enjoy!

Oh how I love camping.  Something about leaving all of the noise behind and settling among the rustling of the leaves and trickling of the river.  It wasn't a huge river to be honest, but getting away was more than enough and exactly what we needed.  To make a fire and sleep with out having a clock to follow. 

We need to get out more often and be among the trees. 

It's been 4 months since I got married.  Four months of happiness.  Of see-you-later kisses before departing for work.  Four months of compromise on who is going to wash dishes, which movie should we watch, and laughing until our stomachs hurt.  There are those moments however, that are much bigger.  So big they fill your heart with inexplicable bursts of love.   

I can't seem to describe it at all, what I do know is that when it happens, it's incredible.  For the first time in our marriage, at four months, I experienced it.  My husband ran his first 10k and I felt like the proudest wife in the whole world.  You see, my husband is actually really good at following his dreams and reaching his goals, so this proud moment shouldn't have been new to me.  But for some reason, at 7am that Saturday morning, I couldn't stop telling him how proud I was.  And still am.  

Sometimes, I have dreams of putting my camera and a few changes of clothes in a backpack and closing the door behind me.  Never looking back because adventure is forward.  Because sometimes you need cool mornings in the middle of a forest, a jump into a flowing river, and a warm tent to sleep in.

This is where I go when I dream... What do you dream of?

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I love where I live.  My apartment has these three huge floor to ceiling windows and the sunsets have been amazing lately.  I can see how the world around me is turning from summer to fall.  When I open the windows, the cool air makes it perfect for a cup of coffee and a good book.  I've been trying to read more.  Almost done with my first book since getting married three months ago.  Three months... can't believe how quickly time is going by.  I feel like we just got married!  Making our place feel more like a home.  Framed photos are next.  Photos of our wedding, of our travels, and bits and pieces of inspiration to keep the spark alive.  The spark of love, of life, and of our soul.   

© Jackie Lamas Photography

My love story may be a difficult one to believe.  Meeting someone and within minutes knowing that somehow, some way, this person was put in front of me for a reason.  That reason only God knows about.  He tested us, seeing if we really wanted it.  Seeing if we were willing to do what was necessary to stay and work hard for this love.

Every love story has a beginning.  Mine will start the second that I say "I do" in a few months.

My beautiful custom made engagement ring that my fiance had made.  It's beautiful in all of its simplicity.

This may be the most personal post I have ever written.  Just a warning in case you want to skip ahead to the photos and maybe go back to stalking others on facebook.

About five years ago, I was sitting in my car crying.  I had gone through a really horrible breakup and I was sad, among many other emotions.  Long story short, I sat there feeling so helpless, as one normally does during those trying times, and I began to pray.  I put my hands together, closed my eyes, and said, "God, if you exist, please give me some peace.  I am tired of feeling like this and want it to be over."

It may have been a small gesture at first but I found peace that day.  The tears stopped rolling down my cheeks and little by little, I began to see that when I prayed, magical things would happen.  I then shifted from saying, "God if you exist..." to "God..."  And slowly, my faith began to grow.  I never had religion or faith in my life before.  I never had anyone tell me to believe one thing or another.  I was just a person who always tried to live a good life.So when I began to see changes, real tangible changes, my faith grew.  It was something that I kept to myself at first.  Something that I didn't really reveal to others or mention for fear that they would criticize me in saying that why, or how, because I wasn't known to be much of a believer.

About three years ago, my mother told me something that I, at the time, wasn't ready for.  That I needed to go to church because this way, I was only living my faith halfway.  Which at the time, I thought that having a relationship with God was such a big step that I didn't want others to ruin it for me.  Simply, I wasn't ready.  Fast forward to two  years ago, I began to feel like she was right.  I needed guidance so that my faith could grow, so I could know more about God.

Last year, I went to church.  I felt this burst of heat in my chest blast me with so much love.  I don't know how else to describe it... Love seems to be the only thing I can compare the feeling that I got.  And it was then that I went, talked to a priest, and began my 8 month journey to where I am now.

This Saturday,  I will get baptized.  It has been such an incredible journey learning so much about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and becoming a part of a community where I feel I belong.  In a place where I can put my faith to work.  On Saturday, I will become new, begin again.

This Saturday, my life will change.

I don't normally share such personal things on my blog nor do I write often about my religious views... however, I believe that putting this out there for the world to see makes it that much more special.  This is a special and one of a kind event for me and so I wanted to share my story with you, and everyone else that may have gone through something similar.

Some behind the scenes photos from a recent shoot :).

Oh

Pinterest

never disappoints.  From home decor to fashion, to places I would love to be in, it has something for everyone... 

Here is this weeks inspiration :)

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Ah, Pinterest nunca me deja sin querer ver mas.  Desde decoración del hogar a la moda, hasta a los lugares donde quiero estar, tiene algo para todos.  

Aqui esta la inspiración de la semana :)

1.

 Someday...

2.  

It's raining men meme

3.   Wilderness (the link I have is broken, anyone know where to find the photographer?)

4.  

Cauliflower Buffalo Bites

5.  Simple everyday outfit (no link to the site)

6.  

Garden for small spaces...

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