A Grieving Daughter's Way Of Celebrating Life.

Photography by Carla Perez at Besame Mucho Photography

Lorie came to my photography studio after her mom passed away. She mentioned to me saying she could not find a picture of her mother for her funeral, she had to go to her mom's employer to get a picture of her. Lorie was devastated that she could not find a picture of her mom that showed her beauty, strength and love.

Lorie decided she was Not going to leave that legacy behind for her children and so we got to work. Lorie wrote to us explaining her story & her experience with us.

Lorie says, "My experience with Carla & Besame Mucho Photography was something I’ve never experienced. I’ve never felt so pretty, it was almost overwhelming. My mother passed away a few months back now & it was very hard to find pictures of her. Not being able to see pictures of her in the light that we all saw her was heartbreaking to say the least. I started thinking about how my children will have the same problem... no pictures of their mom other than terrible selfies because as moms we’re often behind the camera & never the subject. I had reached out to Carla previously but was never able to pull the trigger. About a month after my moms passing, I decided that my kids need a good pic of their mama & I deserve to shine, even if it's just for a moment. Riddled with insecurities & self doubt, I never imagined I’d have an experience like the one I had. Carla sat & talked with me and knew exactly why I was doing this, for my kids. She explained the whole process from start to finish. She offered suggestions on what type of dress to wear along with accessories. She went over every detail with ease & patience as I asked 347 questions. She worked tirelessly to make sure I felt comfortable working with her. She made sure I had all info and was able to prep myself for the big day. Photo shoot day came and I was a nervous wreck. I’m a family photographer. I’m used to chasing small children thru my lens... being in front of the camera is completely out of my comfort zone to say the least. I walked in to her home with tears already welling up because I was so nervous. I sat with her glam team, who is your beauty guru, & OMG what talent! I was shown a mirror & was shocked. I don’t get gussied up often, I hardly recognized myself. The bags under my eyes were gone & for the first time in a long time I wasn’t sad to see my reflection. Then comes the photo shoot. Carla had me stand in front of a long mirror to embrace what she saw, a lovely woman who desperately needed to like what she saw, & I did. For the first time in years... YEARS... I felt pretty. I felt like I was worthy of a second glance. Thats hard to come by nowadays especially when your day consists of cleaning up messes tiny humans leave everywhere (mom life am I right?). I burst into tears and was reminded not to mess up my makeup. After I reeled back my emotions we got to work... and work you will. You will be stretched, posed, & twisted like you’ve never been before. This is def a workout and you will be sore for a few days after but there's good reason for it. In Carla’s outstanding talent, she has an “eye” for sillouettes, for shadows, for angles and poses. She is meticulous & methodical in her shooting. If your pinky finger needs to move 1/2 cm toward your ring finger, she’ll tell you. She wants to make sure its right and if its not she works diligently to make sure it is. Whats amazing about this is not just that she is so particular, it's that she makes it feel easy. From a photographers point, that is so incredibly hard! Its damn near impossible. Her stress of making sure she was getting what she liked was never ever shown or transferred to me. She allowed me to be myself, to smile, and to embrace the loveliness of the experience. We spent hours together & I couldn’t have been more grateful to be one of her subjects. My experience with Carla was unparalleled & one that I would do over again if given the opportunity. She is a wonderful human & I’m sure her mama is bragging in heaven about her."

WOW! I cannot hold my tears back. I am so grateful that I got to meet you, photograph you & I can call you my friend. I am impressed with your strength & beauty that shines through you. You are a remarkable strong woman who can conquer the world. Your children will always remember you, your strength, your patience and all of your beauty. They will forever be in aww of you. It is beautiful gift you will pass down to your children & their children who will always remember you. I know your mom is always with you, guiding you and giving you that extra push. You are making her beam with pride. Love You my dear friend, Thank YOU for taking a moment of your busy day to write this extraordinary review about your experience with me. I am filled with joy, full of love. GRACIAS