I love God and my family more than anything; their existence and love move me in many different ways. I live for them and to make them happy.

So, how did I get started in this wonderful world of photography? Well, let me share my story.

As a child, I loved sitting by Mom, Grandma, or Great Grandma, looking at the family album while listening to the story behind each photograph. I was fortunate to know all of my grandparents and four of my great-grandparents. I do love them all, and even though I didn't meet half of them, I feel like I know them because of their photographs along with the stories.

Grandma wasn't as lucky as me. Her mother died when she was just two without leaving a single photograph. Sometimes she cries because she doesn't even know what her mother looked like. Knowing this, I started looking for photographs of my parents. I found a few, but none as babies or children.

I was about eight when my Dad bought our first camera. As soon as he taught me how to use it, I made sure to get pictures of us together, and from that day on, the camera became a part of me. Back in those days, Dad would buy a 12-pack of 35mm film, and I would be done with it in a week, until my Mom started hiding the film from me. However, on special occasions or during a trip, I would be in charge of taking photos.

Even though I've been taking lots of photos since I was a child, I never thought of photography as a career. In fact, my dream was to study business administration, work for a big company, have a nice office, and make enough money to get my parents out from working so hard. I also wanted to have a good amount of time to spend with my family, especially my children when the time came. I did go to college and worked at a bank for a time, but I didn't feel fulfilled. I knew I was missing something.

It was while helping my friend find the right photographer for her wedding that I found my true vocation. When we were visiting a photography studio, I fell in love with the beautiful work produced there, and while I was staring at the photographs and asking all the questions, my friend would keep talking about me to the studio manager. She even showed him the wedding invitations I did for her. Suddenly, the studio manager asked me if I would like to work there! From that moment, things changed. I finally realized photography was my passion. It just felt so good to take photos that it never came to my mind that I could make a living from it.

From that point on, I made a promise to myself: I would strive to be the best photographer I could be—not just a wedding photographer but a people photographer. I absolutely love capturing those moments, those faces, those stories that make our hearts beat, our eyes cry, our mouths smile, and bring life back into focus. While I still take on weddings and quinceañeras, limiting myself to one or two per month allows me to spend the weekends with my loved ones. Portrait photography enables me to do just that, at the same time helping other families tell their unique stories through photographs.