It’s starting: the air is cooling down (the Las Vegas heat can be overwhelming sometimes) and the leaves are changing color ever-so-slightly. Fall is actually my favorite season. Before you know it, the holiday season will be here in full force and that means sending holiday cards! 

The tradition of holiday cards has been around since the eighteen hundreds, and it’s one that continues in importance year after year. Finding the perfect picture to display on your holiday cards starts with getting the right photographer to capture your family. 

But, with so many photographers out there, how do you sort through them? Here’s what we recommend:

Family of Five photographed in Red Rock Canyon

Ask around - especially your friends. 

Word of mouth is worth more than gold! Ask your family and friends if they have used any photographers for their holiday cards. Plus, you can count on them for their honest opinion and experience!

Mother and daughter at Red Springs.

Post in local community groups. 

Facebook is great for bringing people together over shared interests. There are groups for everything, specifically of moms for almost every single neighborhood – join one and just ask if they’ve used a photographer that they trust. You’ll probably get an influx of responses to sort through, but it’s a good starting point.

Brother and sister at Floyd Lamb Park.

Search on Instagram. 

Instagram is a visual platform, and a lot of photographers use it to promote their business. By going through their accounts, you’ll get a sense of the style you want for your cards. Try searching with these hashtags, adding in your city and state: #minisessions, #lasvegasphotographer, #lasvegasfamilyphotography, #lasvegasminisessions, #lasvegasfamilyportraits

I know this month has been tough on everyone. But more than anything this crisis has clarified what is most important in life. It’s not the things we work so hard to accumulate or our social status or accomplishment – it’s the people we love most. It’s human connection.

So that got me thinking – what better time than now to celebrate the love and relive some of your favorite moments of all time?

This month only, Jaymel Molina Photography is offering a deep discount on albums! My hope is that this will allow many of my past clients who were not able to purchase an album for various reasons to finally get one in their homes and experience the joy and connection it can bring.

More than any other product, I want all of my clients to walk away with a custom album. An album tells the story of your day in a way that no other product can. And it lives on to tell that story to your children and grandchildren. When you face trials in your marriage, and like my grandma always said, “it’s not IF you will face trials, but WHEN,” I challenge you to sit side by side on the sofa and look through your wedding album together. I don’t know any couple who could do this and not be reminded of their love and the fact that they can make it through anything…as long as they have one another.

These albums are SO beautiful and such high quality. Each album is custom designed and printed on the finest Fuji Crystal Archival photographic paper. Lay-flat pages with a protective coating allow the story of your wedding day to shine through while helping the album stand the test of time. Only the best for my clients!

The cover includes your choice of either an inset photo or your names and wedding date in modern lettering. Nothing would make me happier during this crazy, uncertain time than to get one of these beauties into the hands of each an every one of my clients!

So this month only I am offering 20% off my custom-designed heirloom albums! To get the process started and lock in this special rate, click here to email me!

What better time to relive your wedding day and all the people it brought together than now? I would love to help bring a smile to your face and help you celebrate what truly matters.

1. WARDROBE: Jaymel Molina Photography will be photographing you in a variety of compositions, from closeups to full body, so feel free to bring a variety of whole outfits and a random top that you love. Try on each outfit, and pack the items together in sets the day before your session. 

 - THINGS TO CONSIDER: 

     Colors that compliment your tones, bring out your eye color, etc.

     Layers to add dimension (jackets, sweaters, etc.) 

     Variety of necklines. 

     Variety of fabric textures and weights 

     Accessories if you wear them (hats, scarves, sunglasses, etc.) 

     Flatter your shape: This may be counter-intuitive, but no matter your body type, tighter-fitting items through the bodice will photograph in a more flattering way. Flowy skirts are a blast though so do feel free to bring those if you wear them. 

     Undergarments/shoes/socks/etc. to accompany every outfit. 

 - THINGS to GENERALLY avoid, unless you’re known for these things, then do feel free to bring them, just perhaps not for every outfit: Big bold patterns, logos, and bold stripes will draw attention and focus to themselves and away from you. If you are pale-skinned and/or blonde, generally it’s best to avoid having all of your tops being all black. Try to have other options. 

 - HOW MANY: Photographing (4-5) outfits during a session is average, more if you’re a fast changer (or bring outfits that allow you to change without stopping to find a restroom (a tank under a few outfits allows for quick changes in an alley). You’re welcome to bring 5 or 6 outfits, just know that we might not get to all of them.

 - PORTABILITY: We’ll be walking around, so please bring clothes in a rolling suitcase so that it can sit on a sidewalk (or on dirt or grass) while we take photos. Organize each complete outfit in rolled groupings within your suitcase. 

 - CHANGING: Since every change takes session time, being prepared to do quick changes on location is helpful. Wearing a light tank top under outfits can allow you to change in public, and bringing a sheet that we can hold up can allow you to change quickly in an alley or behind a tree. 

2. MISC: It’s a great idea to also bring the following: 

 - Brush or comb for hair touch-ups (or hairspray, bobby pins, clips, etc.) 

 - Any necessary makeup for touch-ups. 

 - Lip gloss/chapstick (guys) or other makeup you’d like for touching up after changes.  

 - Water bottle - stay hydrated! 

 - Snacks (especially if you are prone to low blood sugar). 

 - Hand sanitizer. 

3. PLEASE DON’T BE LATE: Session times are chosen to optimize the best light. Please familiarize yourself with our meeting location and plan for traffic and parking. If you arrive late, you’ll cut into your session time, the number of photos, and also the best, sexiest, most flattering light.

4. FINALLY: If you’re nervous, that’s ok! We’ll be directing you throughout this process, so if you’ve done your prep work, there’s no need to worry about a thing once you arrive. Photographing high school seniors is one of our very favorite things to do and when we’re out there together, you’ll see why. I can’t wait to work with you!