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Maribel is a beautiful and talented “Mariachita” or  Mariachera which as I just found out is the correct term.  She is based in San Jose and contacted me to do some fabulous “Rock Star” pics for her business.  I heard her sweet voice before I ever met her, when she sang a special song for Mike & Erika at their wedding this past September.  She had everyone in tears including myself (which made it a little hard to remember to capture the moments because I was enjoying them so much).   In the first image below, you can see that when she sang the world stood still.

I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled up for our session and both of her parents got out of the car, shook my hand and chatted with me about how we wanted the session to go.  Her Dad stayed in the car close by and watched over us while doing some paperwork.  Mom came with Maribel and was quickly deemed one of the best assistants ever!  Because it was so windy she had to help keep the equipment from blowing over and keep Maribel’s hair from getting too crazy,  not to mention as her mother  she knew to keep an eye on and fix all the little details.

Maribel is gorgeous with a sweet, delicate demeanor and an adorable laugh.  She hit all the right poses with sass and style.  She was full of awesome and creative ideas and had done her brainstorming (which is what I ask all my clients to do before a session).  She had brought her two traditional outfits hats included and her violin,  which we made good use of in quite a few shots because we wanted the photos to hold true to the traditions.  Then my favorite part of the shoot came, when I had her sing and chills ran down my spine with each angelic note.

I am honored that Maribel entrusted me with such an important job.  She is truly a Rockstar and I know she has a fabulous singing career ahead of her!

xo,

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I recently had a close friend of mine who is carrying her own bun in the oven, ask me how I felt about being hired to document the birth of her Lil Schmoo.  Did I think that was strange? I immediately jumped all over it, explaining that on February 2nd, 2009 I was documenting the amazing birth of Jude the Dude!  It was such an unbelievable, enlightening, emotional and beautiful experience, just going through the pictures to re-post this made tears well up in my eyes all over again.  We just celebrated Jude’s 3rd birthday.  He is an amazing little man and I will always have a special connection with him, because I was a part of his beautiful journey into the world.

Scot and Valentine are amazing friends of mine and even more amazing parents.  It was awesome to watch the interaction between them as the time got closer and closer.  Scot is always a joker and made sure to keep up that image as things got more intense, but I could see that he was masking his nervous excitement.  Valentine was ever calm and collected, staying grounded as the pain grew more intense and meeting Scot’s sarcasm equally, as she always does.  Scot pressed play on the IPOD dock as the time grew close and looped “Hey Jude” so that through the chaos of being born, he would be soothed by “his” song.  Once the doctors broke her water things moved very fast and when Jude was ready, he flew out almost before the doctor could get her gloves on! Then the tears started flowing, not just from Jude, but from the happy parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and me.

Childbirth should be added to the “Wonders of the World” because it is absolute magic.  I no longer have an intense fear of childbirth, it is no longer an unknown mystery of life.  I see the beauty (don’t get me wrong, I see/saw the pain too) but creating life is a gift I will cherish.  I hope you enjoy his birth through my eyes.

Make sure to scroll to the end and see the happy family photo…

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These two are in love.  There is no better way to sum it up.  Pure, steamy, passionate, honest love.  They inspire people around them to be in love and if they already are, then they inspire them to be in love more.  She brings out the youthful, goofy, wild-child in him and he is her perfect balance .  They just get each other and they have chosen the perfect place to celebrate their amazing love, Yelapa, Mexico.  I am beyond ecstatic to be a part of their celebration when we join them, their family and their closest friends for an intimate ceremony on the beach.

There are no cars in Yelapa and the only way to get there from Puerto Vallarta is via boat taxi.  While brainstorming wedding ideas with Justine and Laura last week, she showed us the accommodations, grass roof huts on the beach.  For real?!?  We are jumping out of our skin with excitement!

A beautiful couple, a beautiful love, a beautiful backdrop…this is going to be an amazing story.  Stay tuned.

xoxo,

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It’s long standing tradition in Mike’s family for the boys to have their very first haircut by Uncle Ralph at the Barber Shop he has owned for 50 years.  It’s everything you envision a classic Barber Shop to have the burgundy chair that spins and still has an ash tray, the mustache brushes and straight razors, the sign on the wall that offers you a shave and a haircut and Uncle Ralph’s special treat for the youngster’s,  a wooden horse they get to ride while they sit in the chair.  So today was Nico’s day, his very first haircut and it was a perfect.  When Mike and I walked in Nico was sitting on his proud father’s lap attempting to brush everyone’s hair including his own.   Paola’s eyes welled up with tears as Nico’s beautiful locks floated to floor realizing that her little boy was growing up more and more everyday.  She asked Uncle Ralph to keep a few precious pieces so she could add them all the memories she has gathered and will continue to gather for the story of Nico.  And now Nico’s photo from this special day will be framed and placed on the wall right under his father’s picture that has been up since his first haircut many years ago.   I look forward to the day that Mike and I are able to continue the tradition with our own little schmoo…

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Well, it has been a fabulously amazing ride and I can’t wait to see how 2012 treats me!  Mike and I finally found an apartment (and if you know how long we’ve been looking you know how exciting this is) So not only do I get to snuggle up next to my man whenever I want now,  but we are also creating a space for my business to grow.  I’m so excited I can’t even stand it!  So hold on tight because Lady J Graphic Designs and Chloe Jackman Photography are about to take the world by storm!!!

I have always wanted to design an album at the end of each year to help me feel complete with my accomplishments from the last 12 months, to motivate for the next 12 and to help me remember how far I’ve come when I look back.  Since 90% of my free time has been spent looking for a place to live I haven’t been able to do the book project yet, but I did make a sweet slideshow with Animoto using a song my boo put on a mix CD for me.  It’s so fabulous to sum up a year of my life in 6 minutes with pictures and music!  From a family vacation to Puerto Rico to the wedding Justine and I shot in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.  With a year like this I can only imagine what’s to come.  Thank you for making it amazing…

Click on the link to watch the show…

Chloe Jackman Photography 2011 Slideshow

xoxo

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Give the gift of memories!

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On my way to Ryan & Liliana’s wedding in Playa Del Carmen, I was lucky enough to have a 12 hour layover in Miami where I got to have dinner, drinks and a sleep over with one my dearest friends Magda and this was the view from her apartment….RIDICULOUS!!!!

Thanks Maggs!  XO!

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Justine and I had the honor of shooting Lili & RyRy’s intimate Playa Del Carmen wedding.  WOW!  Only their family an closest friends were there enjoying a four day event, rather than just one evening.  We laid on the beach, stayed up late drinking and ate our faces off.  Did I mention we stayed at the the Blue Bay Resort, an ALL inclusive hotel!  So much tequila

I always start a blog with the intention of only posting a select few favorites, but usually I end up posting way more and their wedding was no different.  Below is the story of Lili & Ryry’s intimate, breathtaking and wild wedding!

I walked into their hotel room and this was the first thing I saw, it brought tears to my eyes and simultaneously made me laugh out load.  Lili said “RyRy you do my hair the best!!”

All of Lili’s gorgeous and sassy girlfriends!  We danced the night away!

Can you image this?  My dream come true…married on the beach with the crashing waves supplying all the back round music…

WOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!! They kept getting in trouble for kissing before they were supposed to…It’s not their fault, too much fire and love!

Incredible, Sexy, Gorgeous

These two are by far my best jumpers to date…checkout my home page slide show

These guys and girl rocked the party for hours!!!!

Expert dippers!  Take note all you grooms to be out there….this is how it’s done!

Dancing Queen

So handsome…”The White Linen Posse”   I feel like they should be a band or something?

Lili made sure the DJ played “All the Single Ladies” for her toss…

I made sure the DJ played “All the Single Ladies” for his toss too

The Crawford boys.  If I didn’t know any better I might say they are having a wet T-shirt contest

The way every wedding should end…with a fabulous kiss, knee deep in the swimming pool.  Thank you.

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http://www.kidfriendlysf.com/

Checkout the article Laura Rose wrote about holiday mini sessions featuring yours truly…ME!  I’m so excited and honored.  Thank you Laura!!!

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