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Robby and Aneliese are one of the most beautiful couples I know...and not just on the outside kind of beautiful. The most important kind of beautiful...the one where you see the true love between the two, the pure joy they have for one another, and the way they make you smile just by being around them! I feel so lucky to be able to capture these special moments for this very special pair.
It was a perfect, Spring day for this sweet couple's wedding at Piedmont Park. Erica and Stefan were surrounded by their close friends and family as they promised each other to be husband and wife for the rest of their lives.
Seeing how a newborn baby can create so much harmony and love between a family and being able to capture these moments, truly fills my heart with so much gratitude and joy. Javier Sebastian Diego came to the world on February 10, 2015. Big brother, August, is pretty excited to have this new role in the family.
Oh newborn sessions...they are one of my favorite sessions to document.I feel so lucky and privileged to be capturing these precious moments.These photo sessions always remind me to cherish every single second with my daughter because they grow and change way too fast.
Alana (owner of ABJ Photography) and David brought their son, Will, to the world in December. They wanted to savor these last few days in their first home before they move into their new house to start new memories with their sweet family.
The rain waited patiently for me to capture the love between Michelle and AJ. Seconds after we finished, the rain poured down and cooled us off. The three of us felt so much gratitude for the nice, cool rain after dripping in sweat. Michelle and AJ didn't even seemed bothered by the heat…they were truly focused on each other and their love for one another. Michelle and AJ, thank you for sharing your morning with me!
There is something so special about seeing the cousin you grew up with have his first baby boy with his beautiful wife. John Paul and Abbi welcomed their sweet little one on June 28, 2013. I and everyone in their lives were counting down the days to meet him. David Augustine Diego decided to surprise us all and arrive a few weeks early. My heart melts seeing my cousin and Abbi so happy with their little bundle of joy. Their smiles light up the whole room and you can feel the love for their son. Augustine, you won't be seeing my face often because my camera will be blocking it most of the time…you are just too cute!
Blessed. Happy. Fulfilled. Loved. Supported. Joyous. Peaceful. Grateful. These are all the feelings rushing through my body as I sit down and think about the man that asked me to marry him a year ago. Not only do I get to marry a man that makes me feel blessed, happy, fulfilled, loved, supported, joyous, peaceful, and grateful….but I also get to marry my best friend. Chester and I have shared so many amazing memories filled with laughter, smiles, and endless love notes. Our journey together has made me grow up into the woman I am today.
We met September 2009 at a college bar called..wait for it...Hole in the Wall. Who would have known that I would have met the love of my life, Chester, at this (literally) 'hole in the wall'. But there he was....tall, brown eyes, and handsome. He came up to me while I was 'working' as a photographer and asked if I wanted to go out for dinner the following night. My cautious side of me said, "don't you dare go out with this guy from THIS bar" ...so, I said to him, "Sorry I have a lot of studying to do."
(Side note: I was in art school....there wasn't THAT much studying to do)
So the next night, I went to one of my good friends' house and who was there??....Chester. I was so embarrased. Our eyes met, but we didn't say anything to each other the whole night.
But Chester didn't give up. He was persistent in getting me to go out with him. After 5 times of asking me out, I FINALLY gave in and agreed to go out on a quick date. Our first date included, a leather jacket, indian boots, Interstate 85 South with the beautiful Atlanta skyline, oh yeah and...a MOTORCYCLE! Was I scared? Yes, but he made me feel safe and secure. That night, I knew there was something special about this guy and wanted to know more.
We became close friends which led to an amazing relationship. He asked me to be his girlfriend on October 20, 2009 at the bicycle aisle at a Walmart.
We were inseparable. Until he was deployed to Qatar the following month for the Airforce. That time apart only made our love stronger and more attached. We skyped every day, learned new things about each other, and laughed endlessly.
Everything seemed simply perfect.
Two and a half years later, on May 15, 2012, my life changed forever. It was a beautiful spring evening. My parents had invited Chester's father and step-mother over for dinner because they were in town. On our way over to my parent's house, Chester quickly stopped by a store for a second to 'pick up something for his dad'...
Little did I know that thing was for me....
We finally arrived and had a beautiful dinner at my parent's back-yard with candles on the table....it was a perfect setting. We had a delicious meal; however, I started to develop an allergic reaction to the fish we had and quickly took a benadryl, which then made me feel tired and groggy. By midnight, we had all finished dinner (me...half asleep) and Chester starts to talk. I notice both of our parents starting to get all jumpy and next thing I know, Chester is down on one knee and asking me to marry him! My dazed and confused self, started to get all jittery and wide-eyed! Instead of saying yes, I repeatedly started to say "Are you serious??" I looked at the beautiful ring and finally said YES! :)
The guy from "Hole in the Wall" captured my heart and I couldn't be happier to marry my best friend on our fourth year anniversary, October 20, 2013!
It is so hard to believe that its been 2 years since I graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design. Those four years at SCAD were filled with so many amazing memories, endless hours working on projects, intense critiques, wonderful classmates, and inspiring professors. I cannot thank my professors and classmates enough for all of their creative minds that has helped me be the artist I am today. I dedicated my senior project at SCAD to my family, the people who have inspired me most in my life. When I think about my childhood, I think about all the amazing memories I had with my family…Sunday lunches with everyone at my grandmother's house, summers in Hilton Head trying to catch the waves with a boogie board, countless hours in the pool playing Marco Polo, playing tag in the neighborhood until our moms called us for dinner, and performing dances with my cousins on New Years Eve. I was blessed to grow up next door to my grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I will cherish all of those memories forever. As I sit here and think about my time I’ve spent with each of my family members for this series, I ask myself, “Why haven’t I spent more time with Abuela and listen to her stories as a young girl?” “Why do I take for granted all those opportunities I went to go see Mami in Spain and didn’t take her outside when I knew we could have had a greater bond?” This project allowed me to have one-on-one time my relatives. Having the photographs in front of my eyes, made me realize what is most important in life: family. Each moment with them was filled with joy, pure love, abundance of hugs, tears with some…true emotions. I valued every second I had with them and got a chance to connect in a deeper level. I cherish the moment of silence on the beautiful afternoon I shared with Mama, the walk by the Chattahoochee River with Papito, learning about Belen’s work at the vet, Ignacio’s dedication and passion for tennis, Abuela’s hugs filled with pure love and strength, Tio Pablo’s sincere gaze towards me, and my brother’s honesty.
Family is life's greatest blessing.
Gracias familia por una vida llena de alegría y amor. Os quiero muchísimo!
It is so hard to believe that its been 2 years since I graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design. Those four years at SCAD were filled with so many amazing memories, endless hours working on projects, intense critiques, wonderful classmates, and inspiring professors. I cannot thank my professors and classmates enough for all of their creative minds that has helped me be the artist I am today. I dedicated my senior project at SCAD to my family, the people who have inspired me most in my life. When I think about my childhood, I think about all the amazing memories I had with my family…Sunday lunches with everyone at my grandmother's house, summers in Hilton Head trying to catch the waves with a boogie board, countless hours in the pool playing Marco Polo, playing tag in the neighborhood until our moms called us for dinner, and performing dances with my cousins on New Years Eve. I was blessed to grow up next door to my grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I will cherish all of those memories forever. As I sit here and think about my time I’ve spent with each of my family members for this series, I ask myself, “Why haven’t I spent more time with Abuela and listen to her stories as a young girl?” “Why do I take for granted all those opportunities I went to go see Mami in Spain and didn’t take her outside when I knew we could have had a greater bond?” This project allowed me to have one-on-one time my relatives. Having the photographs in front of my eyes, made me realize what is most important in life: family. Each moment with them was filled with joy, pure love, abundance of hugs, tears with some…true emotions. I valued every second I had with them and got a chance to connect in a deeper level. I cherish the moment of silence on the beautiful afternoon I shared with Mama, the walk by the Chattahoochee River with Papito, learning about Belen’s work at the vet, Ignacio’s dedication and passion for tennis, Abuela’s hugs filled with pure love and strength, Tio Pablo’s sincere gaze towards me, and my brother’s honesty.
Family is life's greatest blessing.
Gracias familia por una vida llena de alegría y amor. Os quiero muchísimo!
It is so hard to believe that its been 2 years since I graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design. Those four years at SCAD were filled with so many amazing memories, endless hours working on projects, intense critiques, wonderful classmates, and inspiring professors. I cannot thank my professors and classmates enough for all of their creative minds that has helped me be the artist I am today. I dedicated my senior project at SCAD to my family, the people who have inspired me most in my life. When I think about my childhood, I think about all the amazing memories I had with my family…Sunday lunches with everyone at my grandmother's house, summers in Hilton Head trying to catch the waves with a boogie board, countless hours in the pool playing Marco Polo, playing tag in the neighborhood until our moms called us for dinner, and performing dances with my cousins on New Years Eve. I was blessed to grow up next door to my grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I will cherish all of those memories forever. As I sit here and think about my time I’ve spent with each of my family members for this series, I ask myself, “Why haven’t I spent more time with Abuela and listen to her stories as a young girl?” “Why do I take for granted all those opportunities I went to go see Mami in Spain and didn’t take her outside when I knew we could have had a greater bond?” This project allowed me to have one-on-one time my relatives. Having the photographs in front of my eyes, made me realize what is most important in life: family. Each moment with them was filled with joy, pure love, abundance of hugs, tears with some…true emotions. I valued every second I had with them and got a chance to connect in a deeper level. I cherish the moment of silence on the beautiful afternoon I shared with Mama, the walk by the Chattahoochee River with Papito, learning about Belen’s work at the vet, Ignacio’s dedication and passion for tennis, Abuela’s hugs filled with pure love and strength, Tio Pablo’s sincere gaze towards me, and my brother’s honesty.
Family is life's greatest blessing.
Gracias familia por una vida llena de alegría y amor. Os quiero muchísimo!
I recently watched an amazing documentary called, "Living on One Dollar". The film is about four university students who decided to travel spend a summer with only $1 a day in a rural village in Guatemala. They battled with financial and emotional stress, diseases like E. Coli, and lost 20 pounds within 6 weeks. However, with all that they went through, they found "hope in the inspiring lives" of their neighbors and friends. Zach, Chris, Sean, and Ryan now dedicate their lives telling these stories to inspire the world to confront global poverty. To learn more about the film and their vision, go to their website www.livingononedollar.org Watching this movie brought me back to my travels to India and Ecuador. Last year, I had the opportunity to go on two missions trips with my fiancé, Chester. My amazing uncle is part of a nonprofit called Fundacion Ananta which helps people in need in Kolkata, India. And in August, we went with a group of wonderful nurses from a nonprofit called Nurses for the Nations to Ecuador. Chester and I were the translators as well as videographer and photographer. You go on these trips thinking you are going to help someone in need…However, not only does that happen, but the people there help YOU out so much more. I was touched by everyone who I encountered in India and Ecuador. Although they had so little, their smiles were always filled with so much love. I was scared to pull out my big camera the first few days. I didn't want to intrude or make them feel uncomfortable. But by the second or third day, I gained a sense of courage and asked the people if I could take their photo. To my surprise, everyone I asked smiled and nodded yes. They were so open and willing to share their story within them. The best part? Seeing their reaction when I showed them their photo. Their faces would light up and their smiles would grow even bigger. The people in India and Ecuador taught me to have gratitude, to be close to my faith, to thank God for every moment in my life and all that I have, and to always love one another.
Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. -Mother Teresa
Here are a few photos from both India and Ecuador.
To view the video Chester and I made, go to the following link: https://vimeo.com/45544070
Ecuador's video will be released soon!
Ecuador:
One of my favorite moments in Ecuador was letting the kids play with my camera and taking photos of us! I will cherish all of these moments forever!
It has been 2 years since my beautiful mom and I opened Estudio Sol. Together we created a place where we meet our clients by appointment, a place were we do openings and present our latest works. Ever since I was a little girl, I used to tell my mom, "I want to work with you one day, mom!". I was always so inspired by all of her amazing work. She always put so much love, joy, and passion into everything she created. I knew I was meant to become an artist as well. And here we are, working together, sharing beautiful memories together, creating together, and showcasing our works together! I feel so blessed to be able to work with her and call this my job. We will be opening Estudio Sol next Wednesday, May 8 from 10:30am - 1:30pm in honor of Mother's Day! My mom has been creating a new collection of necklaces and bracelets! They are filled with colors, happiness, and pure love! Bring your friends, enjoy some coffee at our studio…we are excited to spend some time with you! If that day or time does not work with your schedule, email me…we can meet another day!
To view my mom's work, click here!
