Meet Kammi... Accomplishing her goal in becoming a Registered Nurse!

Do you know how to juggle? I've tried tossing a banana, apple, and orange up in the air in hopes to keep them all afloat but end up with a mess after they drop to the floor. Let me tell you a little about Kammi who just graduated from the Los Angeles Harbor College Nursing Program in Wilmington, California. She's one of the greatest jugglers I know! She's a wife, mother, hard worker, and WAS a student who was determined to give it all she's got in order to become a Registered Nurse. We met after my friend Tanisha (who's son is also named Josiah) heard her asking if anyone knew of any good photographers and my name was brought up. She was looking for some pictures to commemorate her graduation and why not? She deserves to walk by a huge framed picture of herself in a Cap & Gown every morning after all the long hours of studying that she put in.

I've always wanted to do a photo session at the gorgeous Disney Concert Hall but I've never had the opportunity until working with Kammi.

She was fun, full of joy and a pleasure to capture as she showed off her scrubs and RN badge that stood out more than a batman sign across the nights sky (Atleast to us it did). I'm so very glad we met and I wish her the very best in her new journey as a Registered Nurse. Enjoy a few pictures from her session in Downtown LA. 

Meet Valentin, Ana and their 2 children

I get into my car, check my rear view mirror as I back up out of the drive way, and I'm off to meet Valentin and his amazing family at the Santa Monica Pier. This photo session was a long time coming as  we were supposed to meet several months ago for Ana's maternity session. Things happen for a reason and I believe that it was destiny for us to meet on this special day. Why was this day so special you may ask??? Well, On this special day Valentin makes Ana his wife! Even though I really had limited time on my hands... I just couldn't find it in my heart to tell them I couldn't capture their special day. So they traveled from Buena Park to Santa Monica to meet with me (and I'm so glad we did). The love these two shared was off the rector scale and their children were pure angels. Love can't be smelled or physically felt... but you could really see the LOVE this family shared for one another. It's memories like these that will be treasured for years to come and when the kids grow up and ask "Mommy, Daddy... Why are we wearing fancy clothing at the beach?" They could explain how that day was so special because it's the day they made a promise to one another to love each other unconditionally... FOREVER.

The Best Feeling! Maternity Session + Best Proposal Ever!

This maternity session took place in Palos Verdes CA. We met up in redondo beach and scouted the area for beautiful locations. Originally we were going to do beach photo's but something told us to just take a little drive and go where ever the wind takes us.. Thank goodness we listened to the little voice in our heads and decided to venture out. It was a gorgious day and we stopped by several different locations.... Stopping every time we saw a little eye candy here and there.

Chris and Claudia were a blast to work with and am soooo glad we crossed paths. I literally felt as if we had known each other from past lives. After our shoot we exchanged numbers and I informed them to contact me at anytime if they ever needed anything... Literally the second day I got a text from Chris... ( The father to be) He informs me of his plan to propose to Claudia and if I could help... I almost jumped off my seat with excitement! It was an honor to be of assistance in a special time like this one. He came up with the idea of incorporating a slide show with a poem he wrote specifically to ask Claudia to marry him. I did what he asked and waited 1 whole week to see him go down 1 knee. It was beautiful and I'm so grateful to be in the line of business making memories last an eternity. I know as their child gets older and will see this blog I would like for him to say "Hey, there's William... He looks exactly the same as when he took my school pictures"... lol

Enjoy the video made with tons of JOY And LOVE!  

Check out the Slide Show with Bonus proposal at the end.

Union Station + My very first commercial

Today I feel so very blessed. So blessed that I can't seem to put myself to sleep. Why you ask? Well, my buddy Paul from Insite Visions hooked me up with the greatest video I could have ever possibly imagined. Him and I have been working together for many month's now and we decided to take on new tasks that challenges us as artists. He's used to creating magical wedding videos and other creative projects here and there but when I asked him if he's ever done any kind of documentaries before, surprisingly enough he said "No, but don't see the problem in doing one". So of course I immediately pitch him the idea of making a mini video for me and my passion for photography and he definitely worked his magic on this one.


This post was originally going to be about my adventures in Union Station on Sunday in which Paul and I (Accompanied  by his daughter, my son, and my lovely wife) wanted to explore and see what artistic concepts we can come up with in the area. I came up with this image I call "Time Lapse" and it shows how busy life can be. Everyone's always in a rush and as soon as you arrive to point B from point A your already ready to be at point C.

It was fun and can't wait to share more images that will push my abilities to the limit. 

Special Thanks once again to Paul from Insite Visions and if anyone needs a talented Videographer for any occasion (And I do mean ANY seeing that there's nothing this guy CAN'T do) please visit his website at www.insitevisions.com

Thanks for Reading.

Love for the Baby Bump.

This adorable couple is expecting their first baby. As a Pre-School teacher she's surrounded by adorable children all day long... and now she'll get to know what it's like "after hours" when baby Makayla is born :) 

 I can’t wait to see how gorgeous this baby is! Not only was it a beautiful day in LA but we had an awsome exploration adventure while searching for locations we could utilize around the Botanic Gardens in Palos Verdes. Watching this couple embrace that baby bump really made me think...... I think it's about time I give my 2 year old a brother or sister pretty soon! I'll keep you guys posted on what the wife thinks of the idea... 

Here are a bunch of my favorites, I just couldn’t narrow it down.

Enjoy

Our Birthday, Our Vacation, Our Lovely Family.

Hello all... It's been too long since my last blog and I do appoligize to my 2 fans who check in every now and then. It's Finally April and it's my most favorite month of the year! Why you ask? Well, I was born in April, my son Josiah was born on my birthday, I love Spring Break, and absalutley love Easter Day... (I have never met a person who doesn't enjoy a good ol easter egg hunt).
Here are some of my all time favorite pictures that I've taken in past Aprils....

April 2010

April 2011

April 2012

We'll see what other adventures April will bring the Joya Family in the near future. Special thanks to Henry and Jenny (Brother and Sister in law) for joining us on our 7 day Carnival cruise to Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta Mexico. Our trip wouldn't have been the same without you guys. 

 Shout outs to our new friends we met aboard the Splendor. 

 And a very special Thanks to the man upstairs who allows me to wake up every morning to be the best loving father and husband I could possibly be.