Guadalajara, Mexico: A Jose Villa Workshop

Last year I was one of twenty-something attendees from around the world to attend the four-day workshop hosted by the amazingly talented Jose Villa.  If you’re not familiar with him you can check him out here, here and here!

I went into the workshop with just one tiny expectation: to be inspired.  Not only did I leave Mexico inspired, I left with an amazing network of new friends, invaluable memories, new goals and a g-r-e-a-t feeling of knowing of who I AM.  My world is about constant inspiration that I find from anywhere; locations and surroundings, lectures, vacations, books, movies, museums, friends, PEOPLE,  laughter— just to name a few.  Being surrounded with like minded people with a photographer whose work will be (mark my words) in history of photography books, and, whom my children (when i have them) will most likely study  in school[insert more jose love gush here], was pretty much one of the best decisions of my life.  Equally as important as my time at the Academy of Art University.

My heart is forever filled with wonderful memories at the Hacienda including great lectures that lead to great talks in the old wine barrel room, the opportunity to watch Jose work; to see his work, to feel his work, to meet other photographers who do what I do and know exactly what it takes to make it in this business and most importantly— to learn.   The Hacienda is a special place that I can guarantee I will see again. My soul is happy and I am forever grateful to everyone involved including Jose, his amazingly talented husband and filmmaker, Joel Serrato;  the most sought after destination wedding planner Jill LaFleur; the talented and beautiful Mar Romero of Team Hair and Make Up also on the hit TLC TV show Wedding Day Makeover; the super fabulous stylist Joy Thigpen; the sweetest pea, Amy from the Wedding Chicks;  Bill from my new favorite lab (seriously) Richard Photo Lab; and, the sweetest, kindest, most-sound person I’ve ever met, painter Karina Puente.

I’m a photographer who is constantly inspired by my surroundings— I love meeting new people especially from the sweet little pueblo right next door to the hacienda.   I took all these photos with my sweet Hasselblad and shot with film sponsored by Fuji. More workshop photos to come later in the week.