Steven & Amie...a story of a second chance at LOVE

i am Rubi Z

Dulce Juarez. The Grad 2015.

I'm sorry if I ruined your pictures!

As a photographer...have you ever gone through the torture or torment of reviewing OLD FILES?!  And it doesn't necessary have to be old as in years and numbers past, just old as in before you grew just a little bit more in your craft and art?

There have been moments in my life where I felt so apologetic in my heart towards someone I did a wedding or a job for in the past, knowing that you didn't give them a great job-not because you didn't want to, but simply because that's the best that you were at the moment.  I freak out inside thinking they might never come back to me again because I now know that I didn't do such a great job (even though I didn't know that back then) or thinking they might share their album and no one will come to me because of those errors.

I have been so fearful of even writing this post or anything close to it because it is quite embarrassing, but so very honest and TRUE!!!!  I think if every photographer were just as honest they would all agree that EVERYONE starts somewhere!  You don't just wake up great at what you do....you WORK HARD for it!  You grow in your craft and art and you never ever stop growing!

So I wanted to publicly say to my clients in my beginning stages who have felt cheated in any way...."I'M SORRY IF I RUINED YOUR PICTURES!"  Know that it wasn't my heart to ruin them.  I honestly did and have always worked really hard and have done my absolute best.  In the past two years my work has taken a tremendous turn and I acknowledge plenty of mistakes that I made.  I just feel it is only fair to share this so that no one goes into the misconception that you just wake up a natural.  You don't! 

I have been fortunate enough to have clients that have believed in me.  They have stuck with me for years and I know that they have also compared and acknowledged my growth and I am so grateful for them sticking to my side!  Thank you for trusting me and knowing that my heart has and will always be in what I do.  You mean more to me than you know and your memories and your families are what matter most!  You are the reason I do what I do and you are the reason that day in and day out I invest in my growth. 

I am NOT an expert (YET), but I do share a passion for photography.  I will always acknowledge my mistakes because there is someone looking to grow in this art and looking around to only see photographers who are "perfect" and have never made mistakes.  I am here to tell you that we all start somewhere and I encourage you to step out and believe in yourself.  You can do it...it will take hard work and dedication and mentors and studying and PRACTICING and FAILING...but you can do it if this is what you really want!  Start small and grow your way into your dreams.  Don't despise small beginnings!  I still consider myself in a small beginning stage compared to where I want to go!

I hope to never stop growing, never stop learning...that just means more memorable moments for all of my clients!  I want to give them an experience they'll never forget but in a way that they will be so delighted to share to the generations that follow them!  Thank you so much!

I have attached a semi-prime example of what my change has consisted of.  When I first started back in 2008, I always focused on the passion, the poses, the moments...little did I focus on was the FOCUS points, the lighting and the framing!  As time has progressed I have tried to blend both!  The problem sometimes can  be that either you focus so much on the technical that you miss the MOMENTS, THE EMOTION etc and other times you can be so focused on the emotion and the moments that you miss the tech!  When those two mesh, that's when magic happens.  

Again, definitely not an expert, but here's my little "transformation" for ya.  And this is just ONE photo...   I think I need to follow up with a link of the FULL ALBUMS of both of these sessions.  Mind you, this couple LOVED their engagement session when I did them in 2012...there were some magic moments but there were A LOT of mechanical flaws to the photos and some I sincerely got lucky with on the technical aspect...but in 2015 when I did their 2 year anniversary photos...it was beautiful-I was ready, I knew what I was doing with my camera a lot more than before and then I was able to KNOW that their photos would be wonderful.  Please let me know if you'd be interested in seeing the full albums of each session out of curiosity...I think only then will you be able to see the full perspective.  

xoxoxo

(Left 2012: Notice that my focus is off...the real focus is on her belt and waist area, the red must have overpowered and grabbed the focus of my lens.  Another thing is that this photo on the left consisted of probably 3x's as much photoshop work correcting a few things.  Averaging maybe 15 minutes of photoshop work on this ONE PHOTO!
Photo on the right 2015:  This photo was only processed through lightroom with hardly any need for lighting adjustments or anything.  I took it into photoshop just for a finish.  Editing on this photo probably took me a total of 2-3 minutes (if that!). Learning to get things right in camera was a major change for me!  Notice the focal point is directly on the couples faces which is so important.)

***Again, comment below if you're interested in seeing the full albums to compare the full shoot. To simply see a few photos from their current 2015 shoot and read a little bit of their story, click on this link --->  http://www.ibelieveinloverz.com/2015/02/mc-classy-romantics.html

SIMPLY RADIANT

Well Oh my goodness!!!!  Where do I begin with this one!  Up above you are looking at a photo of something so incredible that I am over the moon with.  I am standing next to such a humble, powerful, knowledge filled FOUNDER of the incredible new magazine
SIMPLY RADIANT- Angel Cantrell!  So why am I standing next to her, and why do I share this excitement with her?

I am so privileged to be the photo editor of this incredible magazine!  If you know anything about who I am...yes I am a photographer, but even more so, I am a Jesus lover-a FAITH based woman.  I love the Lord and I have a great passion for women and young ladies knowing their worth in Him.  Many times I have opposed what television, media, and magazines feed us women!  They have defiled our worth and they have corrupted the way the world may see women and young ladies and it has altered the way we have treated ourselves.

This magazine here stands for so much more than you will ever see in an average magazine.  It will make you cry, it will make you laugh, and it will make you feel more empowered than before.  You will delight in being woman/girl...you will delight in knowing that you don't have to be perfect and that others are suffering along with you.

In all the years of doing photography, and the many accomplishments and goals that I have achieved with the Lords help...this is by far my greatest joy and accomplishment.  To work with incredible people that aren't looking for a status or a name or recognition, rather looking to help change at least ONE WOMAN/GIRL...forever.  I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of something that matters.  Something that speaks.  Something that changes.  Something DIFFERENT. 

Thank you Lord for this divine appointment and assignment.  I look forward to this magazine getting in the hands of many young women and ladies!  May your lives, your hearts, and your minds be changed forever through the help of the Lord!

GO GET YOUR COPY!  YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.  If you have friends, daughters, a team of ladies...ANYONE you think could use it...go get a copy online now!  It is literally $5 donation!!!!!   You can read the magazine on the web, or read more blogs and devotionals!  ooooooohhhhhhh I have a blog featured on the site right now...if you want a piece of my mind, you can go read that too.  FUN STUFF. I am so excited.

www.simplyradiantmagazine.com

#simplyradiantmagazine

 Simply Radiant will make you SUPER HAPPY!   

Above: the awesome assistant Victora Espino with her copy in hand!  Thanks Tora for all of your hard work and helping me in all my projects!  We go together like Cake&icecream!

Finally...a magazine you want your daughters to read!

 

M+C ... "The Classy Romantics"

Meet the ever so wonderful....full of romance and full of elegance....Mario & Claudia Moreno.

Claudia and Mario have been married a little over 2 years now...and yours truly was there on their magical day to capture their beautiful wedding memories!
I can not say enough about this couple.  The way they look at one another is just enough to tell you that they are very much in love.  They have a way of speaking to one another that makes you aware of the respect and passionate love they so deeply share for each other.  And their deep roots in Christ is something you can not overlook.

"We met back in 2008 at a youth event and only spoke for about 5 minutes.  Within those 5 minutes I knew that she would be the one I'd spend the rest of my life with." ~Mario

Claudia and Mario both stated they they absolutely believe in love.  They believe in love because they both have parents who have successfully shown an example of marriage and love and because they are both strong believers in the  
God who is Love. 

When I asked the Moreno's if they find photographs to be important they both absolutely said that they do!  Claudia and Mario both really love photographs.  They both believe that photographs are special and they are used to capture a moment they do not ever want to forget.  They feel a new season is around the corner where they will be blessed with children and these moments are very important to capture so that they will be able to show their children in the future.

"Everything in our 
Lives has been so 
Naturally placed.  
Nothing has ever felt
forced." 
~The Moreno's

And I can conquer to this....it certainly 
doesn't feel or look forced.  Congratulations
on Love you two.  Thank you for allowing
me to document your "I Do's"-now your
2 years later...and in the near future-your
growing family! You are the best. 

J+H..."The CLiMB"

Meet Jesus Orozco & Hannah Rodriguez
Who met at their local High School.  Hannah admits that Jesus' persistence caused her to notice him as more than just a friend.  After almost a full school year, their friendship evolved to a relationship. Jesus and Hannah have been together for 5 1/2 years now and they see a future together after finishing school and accomplishing goals.  Although they can see a future together now-they didn't always see it that way.  Coming from two very different backgrounds and being completely opposites, it became a struggle at times-but they continued to press through the hard times and discovered that their differences are also their strengths.

When I asked this lovely couple to give me something that irritates them about the other, and another thing that they love about one another, this was their response. 

"Hannah over-thinks everything.  Literally everything-from what we are going to eat to what movie we watch.  That can definitely get to me. 
But I love that no matter what I do she is always there with open arms and a hand that is ready to pick me up when I need it." ~Jesus

"If I could say one thing that bothers me about Jesus, it would be his singing (as she begins to hysterically laugh).  It is like a love hate relationship with it.  Sometimes it is completely annoying yet at the same time it makes me laugh. But I love Jesus' personality.  He's not afraid to let loose and be a little goofy." ~Hannah

"If there was something that I want to remember about this stage in our lives, it would be the Process.  I want to remember how we were with one another in this time.  It's like climbing a mountain.  I believe we are at the first stage and one day we will be on the top of the mountain looking down remembering this moment and who we were." ~Jesus

"If there was one thing I want to remember about this season of our lives it would be that we have already put so much effort towards our relationship.  I want to to look back and reflect on this moment and remember why we are together...because he is My Best Friend.  
And I always want to remember how LucKy I am to have him." ~Hannah