Well, fast-forward to the wedding week... where's the sun? It is raining daily and more rain is in the forecast. Finally, the wedding day is here and the morning of it is still raining. Should we start worrying? We have no control over the weather, so at this point I know that we will just have to make the most of it. Then, as if by miracle, just a few hours before I'm scheduled to arrive at the venue, the clouds part and the sun shines just as bright as any other July summer day! Yes!

This was the first time at Casa Bramasole and it's rustic decor, tall trees, and fountains were the perfect backdrop for Christine and Rick's wedding. And, since it had been raining all week, the temperature was cooler than normal. The staff at Casa Bramasole were very friendly and helpful, so it was a joy to work there and I hope I get a chance to do it again, soon!

Congratulations to Christine and Rick on their wedding! Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your special day. I wish you many years of love and joy and I know that the images captured at your wedding will serve as part of your family's legacy for many years to come. Cheers!

The first time I met Brenda was at her portrait session that was scheduled about a month before the event date. Her Aunt Amanda reached out to me and I was thrilled when I was booked. At her session in downtown Laredo, Brenda was super easy to work with. She gave me great smiles and was quite comfortable in front of my camera. This, of course, usually results in a lot of great portraits to choose from which can make it a challenge to select just one image to print as a large portrait. So, I was not surprised when 11 images were selected to be displayed in the entry way to the reception hall.

Thank you to Brenda's family for choosing my as your quinceañera photographer and allowing me to capture and document gorgeous images of this traditional event. It was a wonderful experience for me and I truly enjoyed every moment.

The following is the list of vendors that did an amazing job creating an incredible event for Brenda, her family, and their guests:

Cake: Cakes of Glory

Flowers: Paseo Real

Hair/Makeup: Tina Garcia

Dress: La Sposa

Photo Booth: SnapAPic

Entertainment: E-ProAudio

Liquor: Mario's Liquor

I've had the opportunity to photograph this amazing group of Senior Dazzlers since they were Freshmen, so I have gotten to know them and their parents. And, seeing them being presented in their gorgeous white gowns, walking along side their dads, was a very special moment felt in the entire hall at Los Patios. Their smiles simply lit up the room. It was clear to see how proud their parents felt, and how proud their sponsor felt for them, too. The entire team of underclass Dazzler members cheered them on in support and each Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Dazzler got a glimpse of what their future presentations may be like. 

During the middle of the event, I paused taking portraits while the AHS Dazzler team members were being presented. A parent came over to ask if I could take some photos of her Senior Dazzler while she was being presented and my response was "Well, of course!". That's when I decided to just take photos of all eight seniors.

I am so blessed to have the J.B. Alexander High School Dazzlers as one of my clients and I've had the opportunity to build a great professional relationship with their director, Ms. Anna Ashy who is always super supportive of my work. Thank you so much and I look forward to continue working with the Dazzlers this new school year.

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The following images are class pictures from the Laredo School Of Contemporary Dance which showcases just a few of their many classes.  This session took place this past February. Enjoy!

For my final blog post of the year, I thought I'd share some of my favorite shots from a portrait session I never got around to sharing.  These are of the Miss Laredo America Pageant winners for 2016.  Alexis and Sydney held the titles of Miss Teen Laredo and Miss Laredo, respectively, for this past year.  I shot these a year ago and I'm so happy to share them with you.  The shoot was a breeze with these lovely young ladies and their personalities really come through in their images.  

Thanks again everyone and Happy New Year!

This of course does not come without risk.  High risk in knowing that there is no set salary, in not knowing when the next customer will come or how much they will spend.  Constantly marketing to new and old customers and trying so hard to remain relevant takes center stage and the actual act of making photos takes a backseat most of the time.

Some months are great and it seems as if I may never meet my deadlines.  But knowing that I will have slow months, I try my hardest during the busy times to make sure I'm ready for them. Even then, there are times when inquiries slow down to a point where worries begin to creep in.  That's the time when I say a prayer and put my faith in God to keep my from sinking.  

This is already a long post, but to begin wrapping up, I was in them midst of one of those slow months.  It was the middle of the week and I needed to make a quick run to the studio during my lunch hour from school.  Well, it was within those 15 minutes that I had a "walk in".  This unbeknownst future client had seen my sign and decided to stop.  She was interested in having her 1 year old son photographed before his birthday party.  Of course, I met with her and booked her for later that week.  She came back and we had a simple session, free from the current trends of busy backgrounds, balloons, and cakesmashes.  The session focused on the child in his tiny tuxedo.  He was all smiles and we had a great session.  The mother was going to be traveling out of town in two weeks after the session to celebrate her son's birthday with family in Mexico, so I put a rush on scheduling her proof session.  She was back just a couple of days later and I presented her with 30 images in a slideshow set to music.  She loved them.  She said, "I want all of them.  But I want one in particular printed as large as the portrait you have at your studio's entrance."  That particular portrait she was referring to is a 24x36" portrait.  Of course I was thrilled!  I looked her in the eyes and without blinking stated her the total.  It was... a lot.  She replied, "Do you accept credit cards?"  Three days later she returned to pick up her portraits and went on her merry way.

One session was all that I needed to help make it through this tough month.  And, to be honest, the portraits were really very simple.  But, what mattered most to this client, what was most important to her, was having a portrait of her son at 1 year of age.  In those portraits she had, forever frozen in time, his beautiful brown eyes, his gorgeous smile, his tiny delicate fingers, his ever growing body, and his many facial expressions - all for her and her family to treasure for the rest of their lives.

Running a photography business may seem like a mixed bag of emotions, and I know that I have so much still yet to learn, both photographically and even more on the business side, but I'm loving every moment.

A few weeks later, I receive a call from Priscilla asking if I would be willing to shoot her bridal portrait.  Of course, I was super thrilled to be able to shoot and create her bridal portrait - the legacy that she will leave behind for her children, grandchildren, and many other generations of family.

There is a story behind every photo session I shoot, and each one is unique and special.  This is what drives me to work as hard as possible for my clients and one of the reasons why I'm in LOVE with photography.  The first image below is the bridal portrait Priscilla chose to display at her wedding reception.

Gorgeous bride!

Captivating eyes draw you in.

Fierce Bride!

I ADORE this portrait...

A perfect duo:  Gorgeous Bride and Sunset.

Flawless makeup and still rocking it after a long photo session.

The wind catching the veil doesn't even phase Priscilla in this amazing portrait!

Love the smiles shared with each other.

That special moment, just before a kiss.

Gorgeous couple!

Breathtaking!

Gorgeous mommy-to-be!

Some of the studio's top dancers and instructors in a casual pose

The LSCD's artistic director, Miss Jessica is pictured here.

One of the graceful poses chosen for the cover.

Another graceful pose chosen for the cover.

For wedding bookings, please click on the INFORMATION drop down menu, and send me a message!  I'd love to chat with you about your wedding plans.

I was recently on assignment to photograph two graduating seniors from Texas A&M International University, here in Laredo.  We actually had to split the session into two due to some very strange weather for Laredo:  rain.  In the end, it all worked out for the best and I was able to produce some amazing images.  Here are some of our favorites from this session.  Enjoy!

(To book your session, click on the INFORMATION drop down menu above, and send me some details about what you are interested in.)

This year I have a wonderful senior representing JMGP at United HS.  It was a complete blast spending the evening with Kenia, Roxy (big sis), and their mom, Ms. Fuentes.  What started out a late afternoon shoot quickly turned into an evening shoot.  We ran out of daylight, but not out of fun and creativity.  Here are some of our favorite images and slideshow.  Enjoy!

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Take advantage of our new studio's Grand Opening Sale!  All new clients will receive a 10% discount on their portrait session, and all returning clients will receive a 20% discount from now until the end of August.

All of our portrait sessions have a credit towards prints built right in to get you started.  Please call 957-286-0697 to get more information.

BOOK YOUR SESSION TODAY!

Want to get your senior photo session for free?

Want some amazing images for Instagram or Facebook?

Want to receive special discounts towards prints?

Then JMGP's senior rep program might just be for you!

Jesus M Garcia Photography is still searching for High School Senior Representatives for the graduating class of 2015!  If you are graduating in 2015, here's the 411 on becoming a senior rep.

In order to be a JMGP Senior Rep, you must:

•  Have great style, lots of personality and enjoy being in front of the camera.

•  Be a high school student who will be graduating in 2015

•  Live in Webb County

•  Agree to tell your friends and classmates about JMGP and share your senior portraits with them

•  Get Mom and Dad involved by having them sign a model release form

•  Agree to represent ONLY Jesus M Garcia Photography

If you are selected as a JMGP Senior rep, you will receive the following:

•  One FREE extended senior portrait session with makeup artist, unlimited clothing changes, and several locations to get some great photos for your Rep Kit

•  50 personalized referral cards to give to friends and classmates with your name, your portrait, and my business information

•  5 of your favorite photos to share on social networking sites

•  A digital slideshow to share on Facebook or Instagram

•  The opportunity to earn a discount towards prints with every person you refer to JMGP

Referral Discounts

1-4 Referrals =  25% off your print order

5-9 Referrals = 50% off your print order

10+ Referrals = 75% off your print order

When your referrals bring your Rep Card and complete a paid session, you will receive the Referral Discounts according to the amount of referrals.  These referrals can include anyone who books a Senior, Family, or Engagement session during the duration of the referral program, which runs from August 15th, 2014 through November 30th, 2014.

If accepted, you will be representing Jesus M Garcia Photography and telling your friends about our Senior Sessions throughout the summer and fall semester of your senior year.  Also, don't forget to let your Junior friends know so they will have a chance to apply for the 2016 program.

All referrals must present your rep card in order to be eligible.  JMGP will help you get referrals by having every rep card include the following call to action: 30% off of the session and print order.  Your participation will not only introduce you to a fun & fabulous personalized photo session, but will also be a way for you to earn discounts towards the printing of your personalized senior images.

Terms & Conditions:  Your photo session must be completed by August 15th, 2014.  Parents or legal guardians of the Senior Rep must sign a model release, allowing JMGP to use your images for advertising purposes.  A valid Senior Rep Card must be presented by the referred customer and session paid in full in order to receive credit for the referral.

APPLICATION DEADLINE is WEDNESDAY, JULY 30TH, 2014

Reps will be chosen by August 1st, 2014 by Jesus M Garcia Photography.  Reps will be contacted if chosen and also announced on the JMGP Blog and Facebook Senior page.  No more than 2 reps may be chose from each school.  

Apply by Coping and Pasting the following info & questions into your email and send them to:  jesus@jesusmgarciaphotography.com

>APPLICATION (copy & paste into your email)<

First and Last Name:

Nickname:

Address:

Email:

Phone Number:

Facebook Page:

Parent/Guardian Name:

Name of High School:

Gender:

Please list your extra curricular activities, sports, clubs, social groups, etc.

Do you have any talents or hobbies that you would like to share? 

Do you use Facebook?

What other forms of social media do you use?

What word or words best describe you?

What would make you an awesome senior rep?

Why should we pick you to be a Jesus M Garcia Photography Senior Rep?

***DON'T FORGET THE DEADLINE SCHEDULE!

The sponsorship is done through their beauty headshots which are an extremely important part of the pageant process.  This year, I have the pleasure of sponsoring Miss Cynthia.  She was a joy to work with and her headshots came out gorgeous.  These are the final three that were chosen by Miss Cynthia and her Mom for competition.  Enjoy!

It truly is an amazing opportunity.  I get to see my clients grow and Caro is no exception.  This session in particular was very special to me because it was shot in the sam location where we had our very first session, 4 years ago.  Being there, I was reminded about how that session was more about playing and less about posing for the camera.  I still remember running around in an attempt to capture a moment, something, anything.  All the while laughing and just having fun, no pressure…  Fast forward to this session and at a somewhat more posed session.  As always, Caro was a pleasure to photograph and I cannot thank her Mom enough for coming to me year after year with her family's portraits.  The last 4 years have been wonderful and I look forward to many more moments captured, many more memories frozen in time forever.

Here are 3 images from our very first session followed by some of our favorites from our most recent session.  Enjoy!

Especially the very first year.  Tiny newborns turn 4 months then 8 months, and before you even have time to catch a good night's rest, they are 12 months old.  My First Year Baby Portrait plan allows me the opportunity to see all of these developmental changes and it is a true pleasure working with even the youngest of clients.  My latest baby client, Baby Ivanna, is simply adorable!  As you can see, she was all smiles for her 6 month portrait shoot.  Thank you so much to her parents for coming back to JMGP with their second child (I also photographed Baby Ivanna's big sis, Camila).  I am so looking forward to Baby Ivanna's 9 month portrait session!

This is the farthest that my photographic work has taken me, and I enjoyed every bit of it.  A special thanks goes out to Juan C. Rodriguez, Director of Bands at Porter HS, for giving me the opportunity to produce these portraits for them.  The students are sporting a new uniform that's killer, using my favorite color!  Currently, I'm busy in the production of several composite images which I will write about a little later.  Enjoy!

Having had the pleasure and opportunity to photograph their bands and orchestras, I'm so glad to have been able to provide the middle school leaders with some awesome portraits, too.  Originally, we thought about maybe doing an outdoor shoot at a local competition, but decided on doing an indoor shoot with a digital backgrounds.  You may or may not know, but every digital background produced for team and cheer pics is custom designed to fit the theme and color of each school.  It's always fun to get creative in photoshop, never quite knowing what the final background will look like until it is finally revealed...

A special thanks goes out to the CMS Cheer sponsor, Patty Gonzalez, for giving me the opportunity to work with her team and parents.  

I cannot thank them enough for trusting in me to document their love for each other on such an important day of their lives.  It was amazing to be a part of their beautiful wedding.  The following are just a few of the many memorable images captured at this event.

Want to get your senior photo session for free?

Want some amazing images for your Facebook profile page?

Want to receive special discounts towards prints?

Then JMGP's senior rep program might just be for you!

Jesus M Garcia Photography is starting its search for High School Senior Representatives for the graduating class of 2015!  If you are graduating in 2015, here's the 411 on becoming a senior rep.

In order to be a JMGP Senior Rep, you must:

•  Have great style, lots of personality and enjoy being in front of the camera.

•  Be a high school student who will be graduating in 2015

•  Live in Webb County

•  Agree to tell your friends and classmates about JMGP and share your senior portraits with them

•  Get Mom and Dad involved by having them sign a model release form

•  Agree to represent ONLY Jesus M Garcia Photography

If you are selected as a JMGP Senior rep, you will receive the following:

•  One FREE extended senior portrait session with makeup artist, 3 clothing changes, and several locations to get some great photos for your Rep Kit

•  50 personalized referral cards to give to friends and classmates with your name, your portrait, and my business information

•  5 of your favorite photos to share on social networking sites

•  A digital slideshow to share on Facebook

•  The opportunity to earn a discount towards prints with every person you refer to JMGP

Referral Discounts

1-4 Referrals =  25% off your print order

5-9 Referrals = 50% off your print order

10+ Referrals = 75% off your print order

When your referrals bring your Rep Card and complete a paid session, you will receive the Referral Discounts according to the amount of referrals.  These referrals can include anyone who books a Senior, Family, or Engagement session during the duration of the referral program, which runs from June 1st, 2014 through November 30th, 2014.

If accepted, you will be representing Jesus M Garcia Photography and telling your friends about our Senior Sessions throughout the summer and fall semester of your senior year.  Also, don't forget to let your Junior friends know so they ail have a chance to apply for the 2016 program.

All referrals must present your rep card in order to be eligible.  JMGP will help you get referrals by having every rep card include the following call to action: 30% off of the session and print order.  Your participation will not only introduce you to a fun & fabulous personalized photo session, but will also be a way for you to earn discounts towards the printing of your senior images.

Terms & Conditions:  Your photo session must be completed by May 4th, 2014.  Parents or legal guardians of the Senior Rep must sign a model release, allowing JMGP to use your images for advertising purposes.  A valid Senior Rep Card must be presented by the referred customer and session paid in full in order to receive credit for the referral.

APPLICATION DEADLINE is SUNDAY, APRIL 20th, 2014

Reps will be chosen by April 23rd, 2014 by Jesus M Garcia Photography.  Reps will be contacted if chosen and also announced on the JMGP Blog and Facebook page.  No more than 2 reps may be chose from each school.  

Apply by Coping and Pasting the following info & questions into your email and send them to:  jesus@jesusmgarciaphotography.com

>APPLICATION (copy & paste into your email)<

First and Last Name:

Nickname:

Address:

Email:

Phone Number:

Facebook Page:

Parent/Guardian Name:

Name of High School:

Gender:

Please list your extra curricular activities, sports, clubs, social groups, etc.

Do you have any talents or hobbies that you would like to share? 

Do you use Facebook?

What other forms of social media do you use?

What word or words best describe you?

What would make you an awesome senior rep?

Why should we pick you to be a Jesus M Garcia Photography Senior Rep?

***DON'T FORGET THE DEADLINE SCHEDULE!

I photographed these young ladies before, when they were in elementary.  So, it was great to see how much they have grown now that they are in middle school.  For this session, we decided on having the girls and their parents come to my home for their portraits.  I always enjoy creating portraits in my home studio, but I am especially looking forward to doing the same at my new studio.  Anyway, because space was limited, I decided to do a composite group picture and I really liked the way it turned out.  Here are some samples from this shoot which involved mostly basketball girls, but a couple volleyball, too.  Enjoy!

This year marks the third time that I have been requested to photograph the Ryan Elementary Diamond Dancers.  This dance team is special to me because even though some of these kids are new, there are several that I have had the opportunity to see grow.  This young girls are always so prepared to have their picture taken and the sessions run super smooth.  A big thank you goes out to Ryan Elementary, the team's parents, and especially the sponsors for bringing me back again.  Here is a little sample of this year's portraits.  Enjoy!

P.S. Have you heard the big, big, big, news?  Check out my fan page to stay current with updates.  Facebook.com/jesusmgarciaphotography

As I created the Best of 2013 collage, I was reminded of all the ups and downs (more ups than downs, of course), and felt re-energized and ready to begin a new year.  But of course, nothing would have been possible without the many supporters, clients, and friends that have come to trust me as their family photographer - to whom I sincerely say "Thank You!".  Also, I cannot thank my family enough for putting up with me and my crazy dreams, and especially my wife, Lisa, who has not only stood by me, but has even been dragged along on many shoots.  I love you so much!

So, what's in store for 2014?  Well, in 2013 I began seeking the help of assistants on photo shoots to help with my lighting and gear.  I didn't get to do too much of this and it is something that I hope to do more of in 2014.  Also, as is evident by my collage, a lot of my focus has been on family portraiture, seniors, quinces, and weddings.  I look forward to continuing with this type of photography in 2014 with an emphasis on weddings and quinces.  I also plan on starting my senior program earlier than last year and hope to have my senior reps lined up and ready to go by March.  There are a few other ideas that I'm working on, but most importantly, I will continue to offer the best of myself, the best products, and the best customer service to every single client.  

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by my blog and for your continued support!  

At your service,

-Jesus

...and although we started this program 4 years ago, this is really our 2nd official year.  This year we have again seen some pretty awesome seniors coming through our doors.  But, let me be perfectly clear - these are no cap and gown sessions.  We are very proud of our program's unique features which include amazing savings in the months of September through November, air brushed makeup, a full model experience through on location shoots, and amazing print & press products offered in collections and a la carte.  For more info, hit the information button above to send me an email.

Here are some examples of the images we are producing for our seniors.  These are are some of my favorite shots from Kayla's session (NHS c/o 2014).  Enjoy!

It seems that time is just flying by and every year, our children grow so much.  I firmly believe in the importance of having at least 1 professional photographic session per year in order to document your family's growth.  This is your legacy and what people will have to remember you by.  When we are long gone, how will your family be remembered? 

The Holidays are just around the corner and I will be announcing a special priced outdoor family portrait sessions to produce some amazing family portraits.  These portraits will be perfect for sharing with your extended family and friends throughout the holiday season.  So, stay tuned!

Of course, no blog post would be complete without some awesome images.  A special thanks goes out to the Solis family for trusting me with their family's portraits.  We had a blast spending an afternoon at the park!  The following images are just a few of my favorites.  Enjoy!

These are three of my favorite portraits from Mari's bridal session.  The first one is the one that she selected for her reception and looked amazing!

I was honored to be a part of Mari and Jesse's wedding plans and enjoyed documenting their love throughout the beginning of their life together.

The goal was to photograph them in a natural setting wearing their Society of Martha Washington costumes.  Their costumes were simply amazing!  Especially Chelsea's which actually was made using the same parts from her grandmother's costume from when she represented Martha Washington, and also from the same parts of her mother's costume, from when she was also a debutante.  As always, photographing Chelsea and Connor was a blast.  Chelsea is a complete pro and Connor is a natural.  Here is a glimpse into this photo shoot where I used a different technique to finish the images.

Now, don't get me wrong... it wasn't because I didn't enjoy taking headshots.  On the contrary.  I absolutely LOVE shooting headshot portraits.  I just didn't think it was a main focus of my business.  I used to think that I would maybe shoot 1 or 2 headshot portraits a year since people in Laredo weren't really looking for that type of portrait.  Well, last year I shot about 10 headshots.  I know.  It's not much.  But, then again it's way more than what I had predicted.  And all were shot without any kind of marketing or advertising.  So... I was wrong.  Boy, was I wrong!  People in Laredo do need and are looking for this type of photography. 

Although professional headshots cost an estimated $300-$500 per session anywhere in the country, I'm happy to announce that my headshot prices (and all of my portrait prices) will remain unchanged for 2013.  So, if you know of someone that is need of this service, I'd appreciate you passing my name along!  :)

This is my latest headshot of Miss Gil.  Headshot sessions are fast and fun!  I shoot everything directly into the computer, so we get immediate feedback on what's working and what's not.  This session was a blast and Miss G. nailed almost every shot (even the outtakes were really cool!).  We had a lot of great images to choose from, but in the end decided on this one.  The first image is the full size and the second image is the tighter headshot composition.  Enjoy!

It's amazing how fast word gets around...  I simply started by photographing a friend's basketball team.  Soon after that, I started to get calls from other schools asking if I could photograph their teams, as well.  I have always taken pride in providing the parents of these children an easy and quick method of paying and receiving their portraits.  And, working with many different children, sponsors, coaches, and parents I always try to make the shoot quick and easy.  I also love getting my creative juices flowing and creating a personalized background for every school.

Well, it was that time of year again and my very good friend Mr. B gave me a call to come back and photograph his undefeated 3rd grade basketball team.  The following portrait is of Mr. B's older son and the team, and it gives you a glimpse at how it all turned out.

As I held him, newborn and hair already nicely combed, I felt an overwhelming rush of emotion.  "We made him!  Not, what do we do?!?"  But, in all actuality, holding, feeding, and changing Andrew all seemed very natural to me.  Maybe it was the fact that my Mom always had little children around the house when I was growing up because she baby sat my nieces as well as other kids.  Or maybe it was simply instincts that kicked in.  Either way, as unprepared as we felt, I knew that it would all be okay.  And there was no way of predicting that some day I would hold and photograph other people's babies...

Well, fast forward to today, twelve and half years later and Andrew is now a 6th grade student at my campus and in my band program.  Time has flown by!  And how cool is it to not only get to have my son in the band program with me, but I also get to photograph him (and finally get some awesome school pictures ;)

I shoot my band's portraits as a band fundraiser.  Basically, I do the work of shooting, editing, and producing all 150+ portraits for free.  The kids purchase one basic package and the profit goes directly back to them.  It's a win win because instead of just asking for a fee or donation from our band parents, they get a wonderful portrait of their child with their band instrument.  This ends up being the easiest fundraiser the kids (and their parents) participate in, so it's actually a win win win!

I'm super excited that Andrew has fallen in love with music and we are able to share this love together at school, if only for a few years (until it's time for him to move on to high school).  And I absolutely love that one day, when I am old and Andrew has his own kids, he will be able to say to them, "Your grandpa taught me how to be a musician and he also took this photo of me when I was 12 years old."

You wouldn't know it by looking at the images from today's blog post, but it was literally "dark" outside.  Although I had scheduled the Martin High School cheerleader portraits in the evening, I was confident that I would not need the natural light that the setting was definitely not going to provide.  Although I love natural light, it simply is very limiting.  This is one of the reasons why I say that I LOVE creating a studio out of an outdoor location.  The goal of this shoot was to photograph the senior cheerleaders in their formal gowns, as well as all of the cheerleaders in their uniforms.  It was a wonderful experience and the girls took great direction.  The following images showcase Keanna, the MHS Cheer Captain (and one of my 2013 senior reps), and shows a glimpse as to what it all looked like.  Any guess as to where this session was shot?  

The Kwitowski's are a beautiful family that Lisa and I have had the pleasure of meeting through Matthew's participation in the Cub Scouts.  So, when they inquired about taking family pictures, I was immediately stoked at the idea!  The plan was to produce semi-formal portraits of the family.  So, I decided to go with a low key lighting style that would be both traditional and timeless.  I simply LOVE the way these portraits turned out and I cannot thank the Kwitowski's enough to allowing me to photograph their lovely family.  Here are a few of my favorite images from this session!

Ms. Mabe contacted me about having her family photographed back in December and was very excited when I suggested to have the session outdoors.  Many times clients are not really sure what to expect whenever they are being photographed outdoors.  So, I try to make them feel as comfortable as possible and also try to make the session fun and memorable.  On the day of their session, the weather was just as beautiful as her family, and what resulted are some gorgeous family portraits.  A big Thank You goes out to Ms. Mabe for allowing me to photography her family.  The following images are a few of my favorites from this session.  Enjoy!

Absolutely amazing... 2012 was our best year yet!  We met so many wonderful people.  We failed.  We succeeded.  We grew not only as a company, but as individuals.  As I sit here typing this blog post, I wonder where the time went.  I mean, it's already January 6th and I'm just now blogging about the end of 2012 (which is why I went with "The Beginning of 2013" as the title for this post :D).  Not only that, but my last blog post was back in October.  I'll admit, it has been tough keeping up with this blog... and even though it is already 6 days into the new year, I know that it is better late than never.  

So, what's in store for 2013?  Well, for one we can't wait to start up our senior rep program really soon.  We didn't get started with our program until about June of last year.  So, this year we hope to start a lot earlier... either in February or March.  Along with the senior rep program, other programs that went extremely well last year included family portraits, baby's 1st year portraits, and headshots.  So, we are very happy to announce that pricing for these programs will not increase for 2013.  We also hope to announce several specials throughout the year and seasons.  

Okay, so what I did not get to do a whole lot in 2012 was events (quinces, weddings, etc.).  The reason being mostly because of time.... grrrh!  So, as a goal, I'm going to focus on trying to shoot 4 to 6 major events this year.  Will it happen?  Maybe, maybe not.  But, the focus of the goal will be in marketing.  Why this goal?  Because I love to photograph events.  Simple.  Also, I will be looking for a second shooter in 2013.

Not all of the goals are set in stone yet.  In fact, as I evaluate what's working and what's not, goals are always being tweaked or modified.  But, one thing remains constant... my LOVE for photography.  I end the first blog post of 2013 with a collage of images from 2012.  This collage has many wonderful memories in it.  Not everything from 2012 is in there, but most of it is...  

This collage is a true representation of how wonderful the art of photography is to us.

The mom of one of my senior reps called me and pitched a great idea which was to produce a poster as a way to promote her daughter's running for Homecoming Queen.  Of course, I did not hesitate and simply asked, "When and where!?!"

The following set of images of Keanna and her escort Eloy (also in the running for Homecoming King) were so much fun to shoot and I was even able to get the moms involved.  Thanks to the Moms for their help and best of luck to Keanna and Eloy!!!  You guys are awesome!!!

It was always great talking and catching up with Romina's Mom and Dad at each session and I would like to thank them for trusting in me as their family photographer.  The year seemed to go by so fast and the resulting images are simply adorable.  This is a sample of the Canvas Gallery Wrap that is part of my Baby's First Year Deluxe Wall Panel program.  Enjoy!

After Lauren's senior shoot, I met up with her Mom to discuss having a couple of her images featured in the football program for Alexander HS.  Of course when she asked if it would be ok, I said absolutely.  But, part of my business model is to provide my clients with a complete service.  So, even though I could have just given her two digital files and let the local business that produces the programs design it (which would probably be some generic design), I offered to design the entire page myself.

Well, the following two images are the designs that I came up with.  I haven't seen the program yet, but I know that the ads ran side by side, making it a full page spread.  And from what I'm told by Lauren's mom, they were the best looking pictures and ads.  Of course, I don't doubt it!  :D

I love how these turned out and I'm so happy that my clients loved them as well.  Here they are... enjoy!

3 years ago, I had this amazing idea of creating high school senior portraits that would break the mold of the traditional portraits taken for the school year book.  Don't get me wrong.  I didn't invent the idea of on location portrait sessions for hs seniors.  In fact, this type of photography has been around for many years.  But, what I did hope to achieve was to bring this style to Laredo.  

Let's face it.  Although the year book portraits are wonderful, they are also not very original or unique.  And, from talking to many hs seniors, a lot of them are unsatisfied with the end result.  

So, it all started with 1 senior my first year.  That was it.  No more.  Failure!  Maybe because of my lack of knowledge in marketing - maybe because of our community set in it's ways and fearing change.  Either way, I knew that I could not give up.  

The following year, I photographed 2 seniors.  The sessions were not exactly the way I had envisioned for the senior project, but it was close.  More importantly, although I thought I was alone in this idea, it seems that a few people had taken notice from the previous year.

This year I knew it was now or never.  I had a plan.  I was ready.  I had to invest physically, mentally, and financially into this project.  So, I started with a simple call to action on Facebook:  Senior Reps needed.  What happened next seemed to be destiny.  It all fell into place just like a pop up children's book at the end of the story.  Within two weeks, I had 3 high school seniors and their moms interested.  Then another a week later.  I was set.  It was time to shoot.

Through the month of July, I had the pleasure of meeting and collaborating with 4 wonderful young ladies, their moms (aunts and grandmother, too), and an amazing makeup artist Zelina of Flawless by Zelina.  Of course, I also brought my wife on board, not only for support, but as an assistant for everything from wardrobe to lighting.  Every session began at our home with introductions, makeup and wardrobe.  Then we were on our way.  The heat was incredible, though not surprising.  But, the experiences were amazing!  And the results were incredible.

Which brings us to today, September 2.  The Senior Reps and their moms have been hard at work, promoting  Jesus M. Garcia Photography (JMGP)  and seniors have been coming in and booking their sessions.  Success!  The first part of our goal for the class of 2013 has been achieved and we have already started planning for the class of 2014.  I'm super excited and looking forward to this month's senior sessions and I will be posting the results here on my blog.  

Although I can't thank them enough, I would like to say Thank You to the senior reps and their Moms for becoming a part of our team and for representing me and promoting me to their friends and families.  Also, a big Thank You goes out to Zelina for bringing in her expertise and doing such an amazing job on all of the girls.  And last, but not least, I have to give it up to my wonderful wife, Lisa and thank her for buying into this crazy idea!  Although it has not been easy, it has been a true labor of love.  This project would not be possible without her love and support at every step of the way.

The following images are the JMGP Senior Reps for the Class of 2013.  Enjoy!

Teri | UHS 2013

Lauren | AHS 2013

Claire | USHS 2013

Keanna | MHS 2013

The parents of these Blessed Sacrament School students had an amazing idea to have the Prom portraits done before the start of the event at the home of Mr. Humberto Vela, Jr.  Forget about the typical prom background or digital landscapes.  The entry to Mr. Vela's home could not have been staged better on a set.  And on top of that, the kids looked amazing in their prom dresses and tuxedoes. The entire experience was simply wonderful.

A big thank you goes out to Aime Salazar for referring me to the parents involved in putting this photo shoot together.  Also, I cannot thank Mrs. Rosario Garza enough for her help in organizing the entire event.  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  And of course, thank you to Mr. Vela for allowing us to come into his beautiful home and turning it into a portrait studio.  The following images are a glimpse of how it all turned out.  Enjoy!

So, this session gave me an idea to offer a special Mother's Day promotion.  Yes, I know that it's practically Mother's Day already, but this special promotion will run for the rest of the month of May for any cool Moms with school aged children.  

What's the special promotion, you ask?  Well, it's the Super Fun and Relaxed, Mom and Kids Portrait Session! for just $89.99 (a savings of 40% off a regular family portrait session).  This portrait session includes an 11x14" professional portrait of Mom and her Children looking GORGEOUS!  All you have to do is call or send me an email to book a session, and mention that you read about it here at my blog.  That's it!  Super simple!!!  You can easily get in contact with me by clicking HERE.

So, remember:  Super Fun and Relaxed, Mom and Kids Portrait Session! 

And... what's a blog post without some awesome images.  Here is my gorgeous family!  Enjoy!

I would like to wish Cassie the best of luck in her pursuit of an acting career.  The following images are the ones we decided on.  Enjoy!

Nicki is a high school Senior at Alexander High School and works with the school's yearbook.  I had worked with Nicki once before when she and her Mom were putting together a portrait of the Alexander High School students who were participating in this year's Pocahontas festivities (you can see and read about this at my old blog by clicking HERE).  The portrait turned out great and was featured in the Pocahontas album.  The location was perfect for the group picture, and it inspired Nicki and her mom to do a small High School Senior session there, as well.  Since I knew we were going to be shooting at the same location, I wanted to make sure that I shot a few images that looked really different, or at least had a different angle.  

As usual, I asked Mom to hang back in order to allow the subject to relax.  We quickly hit it off talking about photography, lighting, photoshop, and editing.  It was great fun and Nicki nailed all her poses!  Congratulations to Nicki on her high school graduation class of 2012!

Here are a few of our favorite images from this session.  Enjoy!

So, for the 6 year old birthday session, I decided to go with an Urban theme and shoot everything using only natural light.  Well, what resulted was a super fun shoot and images that turned out A-MAZING!  As always, it was a pleasure to photograph the über cute and always energetic Carolynn.  A big thank you goes out to Ana for bringing her back again!  

With so many wonderful images to choose from, these are just a few that I wanted to share with you.  Enjoy!

Jesse's dad is not only a proud father, but also the team's coach.  And, he made a special request to produce a poster of his son.  I don't get to do a whole lot of these, so I was stoked at the idea.  A special thanks goes out to the Barrera family and all of the player's parents for allowing me to come in and do my thing.  The following images are "Little" Jesse's individual pose and poster.  I'm especially proud of the flames that I hand drew in photoshop :D

Enjoy!

Congratulations to Blanca & Raphael on an amazing wedding.  May your love continue to grow each day from here on out.  I sincerely wish you a lifetime of love and happiness.  

And really, through no fault of our own.  But, that's exactly why my last shoot was such an awesome experience!  I had commented to my long time friend Alma a while back that I wanted to photograph her daughters at some point (and by long time I mean since that old social network known as MySpace).  Well, that chance finally came up.  And it was a complete win-win situation because not only did I get the chance to photograph her children, but we also finally got the chance to meet in person.  A big thanks goes out to Alma for giving me the opportunity to photograph her daughters Claire, Darby, & Darcy.  They were a complete pleasure to work with and I look forward to future sessions ;)  The following images are my favorites from this session.  Enjoy!

Claire rocking the pose!  Wasn't shy at all...

Darby was only shy at first... but after relaxing, her personality came right through :D

Darcy is such a cutie!  Captured these shots as we chatted about school and her favorite teacher.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with the Blessed Sacrament Cheerleaders (recent winners at the IBC Youth Parade and the Anheuser-Busch Washington's Birthday Parade) and their parents for a portrait session at the Holiday Inn Civic Center.  And, let me tell you... this was an awesome session!  The parents were very helpful and the girls were a joy to work with.  Everything ran so smoothly that we were able to knock out 2 individual poses per girl and a group picture in an hour and a half.  It truly was a pleasure working with everyone and I can't thank everyone enough for such an awesome experience.  A special "Thank You" goes out to Aime who not only contacted me about the shoot, but also helped to collect all of the parents' orders and keep everything organized (talk about going above and beyond the call of parental duty).  A big "Thank You" also goes out to Juan Flores and the Holiday Inn Civic Center for allowing us to come in and turn their lobby into a portrait studio.

The following images are just a sneak peak of some of the individual shots, as well as a fun shot...  Enjoy!

The first shoot for this year was a family portrait session of the Villarreal family and their 9 month baby.  Congratulations on your adorable baby girl!  Here is just a sneak peek of how it all went down :D