Apple.

‎"the only way to do great work, is to love what you do" - Steve Jobs

Well, Mr. Jobs, I couldn't have said it myself. I was going to blog the second part of Marco and Christina's engagement session but felt like I just had to...

When I received my first iphone back a few years ago as it first came out I had no idea what it was. I was unfamiliar with the brand, the concept of the phone and quite frankly its technology. I did not understand the hype. I didn't. 

But a mere few weeks with my new phone and I was frustrated at school when I'd touch the screen of the computers at the library and they would not work. I was hooked.

My iphone is such a crucial part to my business, and in essence my life. I use it for so much more than merely to converse. I communicate - on a multitude of levels. Honestly, I would be a little lost without it. The iphone may well be one of the greater and revolutionary inventions I'll live to see but, more so, it has become an integral part of who I am. After many years, I have broken way, way too many iphones. I will probably {knock on wood} break more. 

I love my job(s). I do. Steve Jobs loved his. Today he is gone but his innovations remain. Wow. May he rest in peace. 

Good night world, good night. 

Christina + Marco... Engaged - Part One!!! South Padre Island, Texas

I am anxiously waiting for November 19th so that I can see Christina walk down the aisle to marry Marco!!! I'm not going to lie... I was ecstatic when I first met Christina and her mom Cheryl back in May. She was the very first bride a wedding planner had recommended me to. EEK!!! I felt, honored? Yes, I felt honored. Surely it was a compliment that a wedding planner extraordinaire would think highly of me - enough to send a bride my way. 

Valerie, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Christina and Marco were meant for me...

They are such a cool, calm and collected couple. Marco and Christina have dated for a few years now and are ready to make it official. Getting married!!! The two of them enjoy spending time together relaxing and absolutely love frequenting the beach. 

Then there's Chico and Maci. Two adorable and spunky chihuahuas. 

Christina and Marco have really cool jobs. They spend their time divided between planning their future together, making a difference at the hospital as registered nurses, and loving life with Chico and Maci. Together, they are just so hip with one another. Marco is one lucky man... Christina is an absolutely beautiful woman with such a sweet personality and smile. Christina is engaged to a driven and intelligent man who is ready to make her his wife. 

M+C, thank you for choosing me as your wedding photographer. I have absolutely enjoyed getting to know the both of you on the journey to your wedding. I had a great time at the beach for your engagement session and really liked seeing Maci and Chico. I can't wait to photograph your wedding!!!! 

In the meantime, here are some of my favorite images from the first part of their engagement session. See what I mean about them being so hip and cool....

Sigh. I absolutely love photographing people in love. Come back tomorrow for part two of their engagement session!

Have an amazing week my friends!!!

I'm BACK!!!!

Oh my goodness.... How hard was it to stay away and not blog? 

Very. {No, really...}

Over the past month I have learned a few things about myself I seem to not have any prior knowledge of. September has come and gone; it was definitely one of the most challenging months of 2011. 

But on a brighter, much brighter note... I wanted to formally blog a big Texas HOWDY!!! I have so much to share with you bloggernet - so much.

Where to start?....

Because my mind is really all over the place at the moment, this blog post will probably follow the same pattern. So... here's a few random odds I thought about over the past month:

1. Having itunes on your phone has created a monster... Yikes! It's so easy, so so easy, to just Click + Buy music on my (beloved) iphone. It has also become so so easy to forget I am actually spending money every time I click. On the plus side, I have finally added {tons} of new music to my ipod.
2. Carrying books around in the car does not, I repeat, does not make their contents miraculously embed itself in your brain. Trust me ;) 
3. Barnes and Nobles has taken a chunk of my money this month... I need to make time to read everything I have purchased. 
4. I want a kindle... I think. Still debating this one.
5. I may very well be obsessed with turtles. Okay, I am.
6. Some one needs to pry the Coca-Cola from my hands. Please.
7. In one week I ate way too many breakfast tacos. They were yummy nonetheless.
8. Breakfast tacos have, thus, added a few pounds to my tummy. {Grrr...}
9. I'm going to have a little girl!!! Whoah - okay, so I'm going to be a GODMOTHER!!! I'm so excited :) I'll have a cute little girl to shop for now, yay!
10. I have decided I'd love a husband who would massage my little feet after a long, long, long, day of work. And a back rub too :)
11. I {finally} understand the allure of Dancing with the Stars.
12. I heart Stewie from Family Guy :)
13. I actually like strawberries. {Whoah.}
14. I heart Grayson from Drop Dead Diva but boy did he miss the boat on losing out on Jane {his soulmate!!!!} I really hope he's  not too late... did you catch the season finale?! Boo to waiting a WHOLE year to find out what happens. Impatient much? Umm... YES!
15. I don't want to ever discuss parking. Ever. {Blahh! There's a good story to this.}
16. I let a random stylist in a different city cut my hair. Oh-my... I'm spontaneous.
17. I may have a little shopping problem, slightly.
18. I eat way too many chocolate chip cookies. But it's okay :)
19. I have great long term memory. I have zero short term memory. 
20. I'm obsessed with buying mini stuff... mini cokes, mini pencils, mini everything!!!
21. I need a little truck :)
22. I can't carry all of my equipment. {Thanks Yva!!!}
23. I may very well be maturing into a stronger woman I ever thought I could be. Jury is still out...
24. I am falling. ;) Read-between-the-lines. 
25. I finally went to Housewine {thanks girls!!!}
26. I need to stop self-diagnosing myself with Dr. Gooogle... ha ha!
27. God is oh-so-cool. Trust me.
28. I need to stop adding to my plate... metaphorically and literally.
29. My brides {and grooms} are the coolest kids on the block. 
30. I am sleep deprived.

And because a post is always better with a picture... here's one from this weekend - Mom and Me... October is Breast Cancer Awareness - support!!! More on this later :)

I've missed you. Good thing I'm back :) 

Sweet dreams!!!

The 2011 Mini Sessions :)

Okay, so I said I would not blog for all of September BUT I figured it was important I reveal the 2011 Mini Session details since many of you have asked me about them :)

That, and, well, quite frankly I missed you!!!

My blog, this blog, I love writing. Even if its merely one reader, I have missed writing and sharing with you. So I figured blogging about the mini-sessions would be a perfect excuse to come on here and say HI!!!

So here's the skinny....

The Mini Sessions will only be booked between October 2nd and the 29th of 2011. Session is $125 for a 25 minute session, online gallery with images, and 25 holiday cards w/envelopes. **Please note: The 25 holiday cards may be exchanged for a $25 print credit. You are welcomed, and encouraged, to order additional prints from your session if so desired. Payment is due when Mini-Session is booked. Once you choose a date, an electronic invoice will be emailed and you can pay online to reserve the date and/or make an appointment at the office to pay in person. 

Mini sessions will be scheduled between 6 and 7 PM on Monday-Fridays and 8 AM-11 AM and 4PM - 7 PM Saturdays & Sundays. 

Mini sessions will strictly adhere to its scheduled 25 minutes; punctuality is important - please :)

**Mini sessions may not be booked for Newborn sessions. 

Clients may choose from the following locations for the Mini-Sessions: Weslaco, Texas area

McAllen Convention Center - McAllen, Texas

Bill Schupp Park - McAllen, Texas

UTPA - Edinburg, Texas

**Client's home may be used as location if it is within the McAllen Area. Otherwise, a $10 mileage fee will apply. 

If you have any questions, please let me know. Mini Sessions are now officially open to book. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Gahh!!! Now to say good-bye.... I'll be back soon :)

Love you!!! :)

Hiding.

Today is September. May I please have a vacation?

Okay, so I know I do not need your permission but I figured I should make a tiny-itty-bitty confession... I am exhausted. More importantly, I need some time - some time to myself so that I can truly one hundred percent concentrate on something I really want.

I need this whole month to fully prepare and give my attention to a {somewhat} new and special project. Life is about sacrifices and I must sacrifice something to achieve... what is it you may ask? I'll share with you soon :) But for now, for now I feel like I need to go into hiding.

Like the moon, I feel like I am transitioning into a new phase of my life. To fully reach my next goal, both personally and professionally, I have decided to take some time off from you, the internet (gasp!). I may quite possibly be absent from this blog throughout the month and will definitely avoid, at all costs, from networking (umm... wasting time?! ha!!) on Facebook and Twitter. 

Also, I will not be scheduling any new appointments in the month of September. If you need to schedule a session, it will have to be in October or later. 

What's that? You'll miss me dear internet? You're too sweet! But don't fret... I will be back to blogging and twittering come October 1st :) And, of course, you can always reach me via email (izaguirre_marisol{at}yahoo{dot}com) or by phone call (956{dash}605{dash}1056). All previously scheduled sessions and appointments for September will go as planned :)

Please bear with me, please :)

And because I don't want to post without a picture, tonight's hiding moon....

Sweet dreams & good night.

Bridal - Leslie... Harlingen, Texas

Yesterday I photographed an amazing wedding. Trust me, the Kardashian wedding must have been fun but Leslie and Rick's wedding celebration is one I'll definitely remember...

Fast forward a 12 hour day and I awoke extremely exhausted. Hungry and exhausted.

But before I share with you their wedding photos I am excited to {finally!!!} blog Leslie's bridal session. The vows have been said. The cake has been eaten. And the Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga are well on their way to their romantic honeymoon. 

Leslie is an amazingly caring person, a loving individual. She truly embodies the definition of sweet... she is a wonderfully sweet human being. I met her almost a year ago and she has always been so kind and caring towards me. I'm only her photographer so I can only infer how special her loved ones feel around her. 

And guess what, she is absolutely beautiful!!!

I couldn't decide between color or black in white... so I'll share both :) 

My dear friends, I hope you are having an amazingly fun weekend!!!