LilyRo

Stagecoach 2012

lilyro — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:11:47 +0000

This post is for the girls and the awesome times we share! I value my friendships. I would not be the same if I didn’t have my girl time. We laugh, we sing and we dance It’s what we do! I love it, especially on days like these…

Sometime we laugh and sometimes we cry, this is why we love country music

Happy Times: Larios Twins

lilyro — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:07:35 +0000

Meet the Larios Twins, sweet boy and girl twins. Arianna and Aiden. They are perfect, healthy and beautiful. They are so loved and blessed, but their arrival has blessed everyone around them. A lot of the time my clients think I’m the one giving them a gift because I’m shooting their lives during moments they want to capture. This is true, but I feel I’m the one getting a gift. Adriana and Fred definitely make me feel lucky! I’m seeing their life together unfold, but I also get to capture it. It means a lot to me. I’m extremely excited for them and even more so for little Freddy who now gets to grow up with his baby brother and sister. Oh the fun they will all have!

Adriana and Fred, I think I speak for many when I say it is truly enjoyable watching your love story unfold. XO!

Wedding: Crystal & Eddie

lilyro — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:08:02 +0000

Recently I second shot a wedding with a talented photographer, Monica Martin. When second shooting a wedding, usually you are the photographer that has never met the couple or know their love story. When I met Crystal and Eddie I was instantly excited, they were both so warm and friendly. I just loooooved their FIRST LOOK, the anticipation and their sweet moment. They are definitely smitten and in love! The guests at the wedding were all so happy to be there and witness this beautiful union. I will say I have never seen such a good-looking group of people at a wedding. It was a party to remember, this group knows how to celebrate and I really think Crystal and Eddie had exactly the wedding they wanted and more. For me it was definitely one to remember

Birth Month

lilyro — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:09:52 +0000

Every year March brings reflection to my life and this year was no different. I scheduled a session with Ala to learn about the business part of photography, I went to Jasmine Star’s The FIX and I celebrated a birthday. From all of these things individually I learned the same message. Do what you LOVE! Go after what you want, don’t wait for change, struggle will exist, but there is no point in living a life that makes you unhappy. Every birthday I try to focus on what changes I may need to make in my life. I look at birthdays as the New YEAR of my life, a chance to make it better than the last. I usually celebrate mine for like a week, but this year it was a quiet birthday. For those who know me know this is rare, but I wanted it this way and although it was quiet I want to remember it because my life is changing. I want to remember when I was happy, nervous, scared, laughing, crying and breathing during all these uncertain moments of change. I feel like I may not have a direct path at the moment, but I am trying, really trying to adapt to the unknown and for this reason I want to remember this time.

Growing up I had an idea of what my life was going to look like at this age. Chasing dreams, finding a new passion, changing careers or a job, being a mom, owning a home, living in the perfect little city would all be things that I had done by this time. What in the heck! Was I crazy? Although some of these things have already happened, how boring would my life have been if that were all behind me at this point? AND are we ever too late to be chasing a dream or finding a new passion? No! Why I had that idea I don’t know. I love my life and how Ivan and I are living and planning our dreams despite what others may think. So as I continue to unfold this path there is one thing I want to preach and repeat in my life, it is simply to be happy. No matter what changes, no matter the outcome… always go find what makes you happy. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable to find your direction… LIFE is way too short and I truly believe there is no TIME to wait for things to change or just happen. This month was a great reminder of all of all of this!

I know I am bit over the top about life; I’m just passionate about it. I love LOVE. I love to learn about people. I read the Daily Love everyday for heaven sake! BUT this is what makes me, me. All I can say is I thank God my husband adores me for it or so he says

Cheers to a new year of life! To living happy, accepting the unknown and making things happen. OH and having MORE fun with the camera…

Picture to the left is from my session with Ala and picture to my right is from The FIX with Jasmine Star.

Engaged: Debbie & Daniel

lilyro — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:02:29 +0000

They travel, they teach and they are in love. These are things I love about Debbie and Daniel. I was actually pretty jealous of all the traveling they have done (a happy, take my on your next trip kind of jealous). If you want to travel consult with them, believe me they can help. They are just so perfect for each other! I just love how apparent it is. Debbie is sweet and kind, the girl you just want to open up to because you know she will listen. Daniel is funny, a guy’s guy, but totally sweet and into his girl. I loved every minute of their engagement session getting to know them, even the moment when Daniel told me pictures was not his thing. Guess what happen after that… Um I made this his thing and by looking at the pictures you would think he does this every day . All he really had to do was love Debbie and that was very easy for him. THEY ARE IN LOVE and it showed as I took their pictures.

D & D, as I like to call you two, can’t wait for your big day!!! XOXO!

New Girl In Town

lilyro — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:02:56 +0000

I feel like I attended WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) a year ago. It was only about 3 weeks ago. You know those days where you are so busy, you work on several projects and you go from one meeting to the other. Where you have to shift your mind from one thing to the next… that is what my life feels like right now. I almost skipped WPPI due to my busy schedule, but boy can I just tell you I AM SO GLAD I DIDN’T. It was so valuable. Sometimes I have these moments where Ivan and I are so comfy in each others arms and I want to hold on to the moment a little bit longer, I don’t want it to end. Or moments where the dessert I’m eating is sooooo good I don’t want to finish it because I know I have to go back to eating healthy tomorrow. I felt like this about WPPI. I was so wrapped up in learning about photography from some of the best photographers, I felt like I was like in the nook. I wanted to stay in it a bit longer, hold on to the experience just a little longer. The year before, I had heard of all the fun things that go on during WPPI in Las Vegas and I could not wait to be a part of it. This year was finally my chance and it literally was like my freshman year, but it was perfect. Every moment. I was the new girl who had a bright idea of ordering a tuna sandwich right before one of the sessions ummm… tuna sandwiches smell. HELLO LILY! I DIE to think of this right now, HA! Yes, I wish I would have stayed longer, attended all the sessions and the FUN parties. But now I know. Next time I move up a step… I will say by next year I am like a senior HA! I attended this to learn, to grow, to be a better photographer for my couples, my clients, my Brides AWWW I just love to think of all of the fun couples that will come my way. Speaking of clients, I received the best email from one of my brides today! She LOOOOOVED her engagement pictures! I was beyond happy to see her excitement, I felt blessed to have captured those sweet moments for her and her soon to be hubby. Can’t wait to share them with you (the 3 people who read my blog) next week HAPPY FRIDAY!!! (I like exclamations marks can tell?)

iPhone/Instagram pictures from the heart.

They are my world

lilyro — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:01:43 +0000

I have been neglecting my blog. Not happy about it, but sometimes I cannot help it. I have been traveling a lot lately, for example, last week I went to WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International)!! WOOHOO! Yep, I gave myself a WOOHOO! It was awesome and so inspiring! I can’t wait to blog about my experience. Then I traveled to the east coast for work, so blogging was not so easy, but I am back and trying to catch up on LIFE. Anyway, during my travels I missed Ivan and Roxy like crazy. They are my world, without them I don’t know where I would be. Roxy is my person (yes, she is a person), she loves me and listens to me no matter what. When Ivan first started working nights I became extremely attached to Roxy. She became what helped me get through the transition, the worrying and the lonely nights. We bonded my girl and I She makes me smile no matter how I feel and I love her for it (call me crazy, but she is like a person). Ivan is soooooo my person too. I’m in love with him. He is just always there. Sometimes we don’t even need to say a word to each other to understand one another. He let’s me be me and that is so comforting, because as much as I am sure you all think I AM HAPPY always, it is so not the case, shocking right! I’m a mess sometimes and he is there to help clean it up. He is supportive and encouraging. When I’m gone he takes care of our home, handles all of it and I am so, so thankful. I appreciate him. He is literally the main reason I can keep it all together. I could never do what I do without him, without both of them. They are my world. As I catch up on life, I catch up on blogs, so stay tuned (this is for my one reader, who is probably Ivan HA!) Blog posts are better with pictures and this is Roxy as I envision her when I am gone (which is so not the case as I saw pictures of her living the doggie life while I traveled).

Oh Babies: Adriana

lilyro — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:58:44 +0000

When it comes to taking care of her family, Adriana has it down. When it comes to being a supportive wife or a loving mother, Adriana has it all taken care of. This mother of one is becoming a mother of 3 and I know she will find a way to still have it all taken care of. She is amazing. I wonder all the time how she does it. I mean who can look this great pregnant with twins? WHO!?! She is has it all in control and still looks this HOT, I mean really ?! I’m so excited for the new blessings in their lives and grateful I get to see this family grow. Thank you Adriana for continuing to allow me to capture your beautiful family, I am beyond thrilled about what is in store for all of you with this blessing of twins. xoxo!

Happy Times: Martinez Family

lilyro — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:05:19 +0000

Happy Valentine’s Day What better way to show love on my blog today than with a beautiful family that I LOVE dearly. You know when you see someone and your heart melts, you feel like you could never, ever say no or let this person down… I feel this way about each of my nephews and nieces. I never felt love like this until my sister’s started to have kids and when I fell in love with Ivan’s nieces and nephews. I am so completely smitten by these kids that I would do anything, absolutely anything for them. To me they are love and watching them grow up has been one of the biggest joys in my life. I guess I will say the same when I have my own kids, but this is all I know right now and I enjoy it so much. They amaze me every time I have a conversation with them, they make me laugh and when they hurt I hurt. They truly are blessings in my life. Not too long ago I had the honor of shooting my sister’s family, which includes my amazingly cute nephews. Adriana and Robert have built a beautiful family. I’m not even sure if they know it, but they are a perfect example of true love. They got married young, yet gave each other the time to grown up because they had kids six years after, which I think has built this incredibly solid foundation to their relationship. Being around all of them almost makes you think they have the perfect family, of course they are not perfect, but they have the love and strength every family and marriage needs. I feel lucky to be these boy’s Tia . These pictures don’t lie this is them as a family and they are TRUE LOVE…

Wedding: 2nd Shooting

lilyro — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:45:24 +0000

Towards the end of last year I met Ala from Love Ala Photography. We did a photo session with her for our anniversary. I’m thankful for this shoot for two reasons. One, the pictures really reflects “Us” right now at this point in our lives and I love them! And two, it lead me to second shoot with her. I was nervous to tell her I was interested in photography but I did (thank God) and she was super sweet about it. I still remember her words, “I’m a helper not a hater.” With a comment like that I knew we would get along. I mean, c’mon I love helpers Well to my surprise she contacted me weeks later to see if I wanted to second shoot with her. I was beyond excited! As a person who really wants to learn this business and shoot weddings, second shooting with her was a blessing. There are some valuable learning experiences from second shooting and since I started back in July it has been nothing but better each time I do it. Being a second shooter allows you to watch, observe and shows you just what being a wedding photographer really means. This also allows you to really understand what a photographer needs on the wedding day and you can’t know that if you don’t get experience helping a main photographer first. Even if it means running around to find brother XYZ for family pictures so that pictures move along because of the little time you have to actually shoot them. I think the most valuable lesson I have learned is how important it is to relay to your couples the time needed for pictures. As a bride I can tell you I KNEW I wanted amazing pictures of Ivan and I but I never thought of the time I needed to set aside in the day for them. Thank goodness I hired a professional who made sure I took the time for that. I got to shoot not one, but two weddings with Ala and I’m grateful. This wedding below I shot with her back in December and I smile very time I see the images. This couple made plenty of time for their pictures, which is why they ended up with such beautiful shots. What also warms my heart about these images is that this couple was beyond in love and it showed. It was such a sweet wedding at Inn at the Seventh Ray. Each wedding is so different because each couple is unique, there is always something fun and memorable I take home with me. Here are a couple of my favorite images of the special day…