Mexican Holgas

I absolutely love photographing with my Holga camera. It is so much fun to see what you are going to get from it's plastic lens and constant light leaks. While in Mexico, I toted around my Holga everywhere (often when my digital camera could not come). I am excited to get some big enlargements made of these.

Freckles!

I know that this is a strange one to post. "Hey, I'm a photographer now here is a photo of the photographer." I had to post this knowing that someone reading it can totally relate. My freckles are seriously out of control! When I was in Huatulco, after having spent a couple of days in the sun, I noticed them popping out like never before. I was looking at myself in the bathroom mirror thinking that I had weird shadows on my face, or was it just smeared make-up or was it... geez - a patch of freckles migrating into one huge patch! They're covering my face from my eyelids to my lips. I thought that at one point they would stop multiplying but this time has obviously not come. Sure it is great to look like I am sixteen sometimes but seriously...

Baby Katerra

I know that some of you may be bored from seeing images of my niece! I cannot help but post them because she absolutely kills me! Those big blue eyes, dimples and shiny new teeth - I am completely in love with the wee one. I met the two ladies for lunch today at our favourite place on Bathurst Street called Grapefruit Moon. They serve up the best fair trade coffee and the yummiest grilled cheese that has tomatoe, red onion and avocado!

You can definitely see where Katerra gets her dimples from in these photos.

Mexico City (from above!)

Mexico City is a wild city to fly into. The city seems absolutely huge, especially to this little Toronto girl! The airport is located pretty centrally in the city so as you fly in, it feels as though you are actually going to land on the rooftop of someone's house. From the air you can see the mountains that surround Mexico City into it's little valley of civilization.

Despite the massive size of the city and it's population, I did continuously see the same people in different areas of the city while I was there. This just goes to show what a small world we really do live in (or maybe I have a few stalkers that I should be aware of!).

Free Engagement Photos!

I have returned from being on vacation for the past two weeks feeling refreshed and excited for the 2007 wedding season! For any brides who book either my six or eight hour photography package before April 30th, I will include an engagement session with their wedding photography package for free!

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about my services or if you would like to book a meeting to view my portfolios!

Cheers,
Jessica

Huatulco, Oaxaca

While I was in Mexico City, my friend Toño and I decided on a whim to fly down to Huatulco, Oaxaca for a few days. Let me tell you, this is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever had the chance to travel to. It is definitely a little known gem of Mexico. The locals are extremely friendly, the food is delicious (especially the cheese!) and the mountains frame coasts of virgin beaches. Never before have I walked such a gorgeous beach without seeing another single soul.

If anyone is planning a destination wedding to Mexico, please consider having it in Huatulco (and hire me as your photographer - I can give you a tour!).

Desierto de los Leones, Mexico City

One day my sister and I hiked three hours up the mountain and through dense forest to arrive at the National Park, Desierto de los Leones. It was incredible when we reached our destination - looking at the environment, you would hardly believe that you were still in the world's second largest populated city. The pine and oak trees reached far into the sky and the air was fresh. At Desierto you can find an 18th-century Monastery. I love old buildings like this - with stone that is falling apart and seemingly abandoned spaces.

The best coffee ever - Café de Olla.

Mexico City

Mexico City is one of my favourite cities to visit. The City is constantly awake and bustling with people. The traffic is endless and the streets wind and bend every which way. At times it is confusing and frustrating, especially when trying to figure out just where you parked your car or what bus you need to take to get to your destination. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful city. When I flew into the City, I was happy to see gorgeous trees adorning periwinkle-coloured flowers. From the airplane, I could see them all over the city. It was much more beautiful than the dirty snowy Toronto that I had just left.

Mexican culture is embraced fully in the city. Arts of all kind are praised - along one of the main avenues, Reforma, there was an exhibition of gorgeous photography as well as a series of benches designed by various Mexican artists (my favourite was the bronze one shaped like a sofa!). Books by Latin American authors are sold on the streets as well as handmade one-of-a-kind art. Each neighbourhood pulses with it's own identity. You turn a corner and suddenly you find yourself in a whole new world.

Two special places that I visited this time around were Xochimilco and Teotihuacan. Xochimilco is located in the south of Mexico City and is a series of canals. Here you rent brightly painted trajineras (boats) and spend the afternoon floating along the canals. Other trajineras pass by holding mariachi bands, marimba players and vendors selling everything from flowers to candy apples to quesadillas.

Teotihuacan is what remains of an ancient city that dates back to about 200 BCE. It contains the Pyramid of the Sun and Moon and is an absolutely incredible site. While I was there, we climbed the Pyramid of the Sun which is the second largest pyramid in the Americas. It was a steep climb but the view from the top was well worth it!

There were a bunch of dolls and toys hanging from these trees. I am not sure why they were there but it was definitely a little creepy!


Yes, those are people on the top of the Pyramid of the Sun!

I have returned!

Xochimilco

After wandering the bustling streets of Mexico City and the virgin beaches of Huatulco, Oaxaca for the past two weeks I have returned to Toronto with a few more freckles and hundreds of photographs!

Thank you for all of your photography inquiries while I was away and I appreciate your patience as I send proper replies. Stay tuned to see some of my favourite images from Mexico. In the meantime, here is a sneak peek of two!

Playa Zipolite

REMINDER: Vacation Alert

I wanted to remind you all that I will be out of the country from Tuesday, March 6th until Thursday, March 22nd. I will be travelling to Mexico City to visit my sister and to work on some personal photography projects that I am very excited about! While I am away my access to email and phone will be limited so I appreciate your patience in waiting for a response to any inquiries!