Portrait Art

Senior Highlight - Taylor

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:16:16 GMT

Junior Olympics Competitor

This senior has been able to compete at the highest level! She has done Junior Olympics and came in 14th place out of 52 competitors for discus. WOW!!! Taylor's parents are SO proud of this young lady and so am I! After graduation, she wants to pursue media science by becoming a TV producer and screenwriter. Her favorite movie that blew her away was "Just Mercy".

When we got together to plan her shoot, Taylor wanted people to see her shine BRIGHT! She wanted to be portrayed as a "ball of sunshine" - bright, carefree, and ethereal. I just loved how she held herself in so much confidence and joy. Taylor was a wonderful person to get to know and I appreciated her extreme maturity and kindness.

I asked Taylor what inspires her, and she said her love for Jesus. I ask her for her favorite bible verse and she mentioned Romans 12:20: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Taylor interprets that to mean that if your enemy is an enemy, feed him, and give him to drink. In other words, "kill them with kindness". Taylor's view allows her to maintain her integrity in the face of adversity, and I just love that about her.

I have to admit, I was so curious about this young lady as she sat before me. My eyes to someone who was at first a stranger were opened and I got curious. Her Spirit was so beautiful and magnetic to me that my heart wanted to know more. I complimented her on the maturity and gentleness she possesses and I asked her what beliefs did she have that contributed to the way she was living her life. She responded, "I believe you should live every day the best you can - not worrying, not regretting the past, and living each day one step at a time. I have a tendency to overthink sometimes and it causes me to worry about my future and being grown. But, I've decided I will be 17 (years old) today, and 17 tomorrow too. When I become something different, then I'll change to be that new age."

Her responses humbled me. There was a lot of wisdom in those words and thoughts, so I felt it made sense to share them with you.

I did my best to portray Taylor as carefree and ethereal, but God took over and did it for me. His love shone through! Her shoot was the epitome of capturing a person's unique and beautiful soul - the way God sees her. I felt very blessed to be her photographer and I know she blesses the world with her wisdom, true beauty, inspiration, and smile!

Celebrating Your Silver Wedding Anniversary

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 23:59:29 GMT

Your Y2K Wedding

Disclaimer: The couple pictured isn't celebrating their Silver Wedding Anniversary. I'm actually not sure how long they've been married! Credit: Michael Martinez Fine Portraits

To those of you who did have a wedding in the year 2000, do you remember it? I remember being close to planning my wedding, having gotten married in 2002. What I remember most was the rush of weddings all throughout the year, as every weekend seemed to be indicative of a milestone in our world.

The year 2000....ahh! The coding frenzy for the Y2K software switch and the fashion trends of track suits, cargo pants, and crop tops with low-rise jeans. The pop music world had Britney Spears leading the charts. Oh yes - the MUSIC! How many of you played "Breathe" by Faith Hill or "Smooth" by Santana at your dance reception?

Gowns included the somewhat new square necklines or strapless minimalist styles with shiny fabrics like taffeta and satin. What did your gown look like?

I hope you are ready to get dressed up again! We are looking to celebrate your Silver Wedding Anniversary this year with a portrait session in our studio and a complimentary silver-framed 5x7" print with any purchase. Just fill in your info HERE and we will give you a call!

Merger!

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:14:52 GMT

Growth and Expansion

I'm SO EXCITED to share this HUGE announcement with you! Please celebrate with me as my husband, owner of Michael Martinez Fine Portraits, announces it best:

"Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera

Johnny Cash and June Carter

What do all of these couples have in common? Well, they are famous couples who have shared their art with each other and the world. While all of the above were truly talented as individual artists, after combining forces, their impact on the world grew exponentially!

With more than 30 years of business behind me, I am proud to announce a merger that aims to harness the strength of two great Houston area portrait studios! Together, we will offer superior services to our clients in and throughout the Houston area, Texas, and beyond.

With that being said, I want to share that Michael Martinez Fine Portraits is merging our family portrait business with my lovely wife’s studio, Julizza Gómez Portraits, in a partnership that will bring out the best of our strengths and create the perfect collaboration. We will deliver unparalleled portraiture, beauty, and creativity to all our clients.

My beautiful and talented wife, Julizza, has been a rock solid and successful portrait artist and studio owner in Tomball for almost 20 years. Upon meeting her as a colleague, she was a breath of fresh air and I described her as “the real deal” when it came to artists. When I got to know her, she showed courage and formidable strength as a person. Her hardworking, positive personality was on a different league. She stood head and shoulders above the rest, and her perseverance was (and still is) inspiring. I have never met anyone quite like her.

As a photographer with a lot of experience, I’m not easily impressed by people’s portrait work. I, with more than 20 years of experience at the time, volunteered to assist on her shoots because I was curious to see her at work. Even Kacey wondered what I was doing when I decided to help her on a wedding she was shooting! She intrigued me. She was different. And… she impressed me. She was able to produce gorgeous images with artistic lighting and angles that even I couldn’t picture. She stretched me and I saw photography anew. Perhaps it was the way she loved her job, or the way she was playful and made people happy. Either way, her work was fantastic. She creates feelings of confidence in her subjects like no one I’ve seen before, and her wise and artistic point of view is what made her so lovable. Over the years I’ve come to love and respect her artistry, and I know my clients will enjoy her work too. She has an obvious love for people, and when they see her talents, they will be blown away. As a mathematician, she impresses her clients with her intellect in mathematical design. I can’t wait to create beautiful, timeless art for our clients.

This merger will consequently create a studio with a combined 45 years of portrait experience. Whether you are in Houston, Tomball, or beyond, you will get exceptional portraits and service. I cannot be happier about having my wife by my side to navigate this venture with. She makes me happy, and it shows. We always said our styles were too different to merge, but as the years have gone by, we are beginning to align our visions for more impact. Please help me welcome my wife and partner, Julizza Gómez-Martínez, to our studio family." ~Michael Martinez

Just to be clear, Julizza Gómez Portraits is NOT going away! We are growing and expanding, and merging forces to be able to bring all our clients the absolute best in portrait work. If you haven't been here before, I hope you'll join our group of Collectors of family portrait art!

Graduates 2024

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 15:23:44 GMT

Thank You! Graduating Class of 2024

I am so honored to have been able to share in the celebration and wins of this amazing group of people. Along the way, I came to see that I am blessed to photograph the area's most unique, extraordinary, and inspiring seniors! #houstonsmostinspiringseniors

Lauren Sikes

Devyn Marie Henderson

Ashley Sarah Hicks (2023)

Paige Sommer Paulk

Bernice van Vuuren

Samari Lynn Vizcarrondo

Sophia Sanchez

Taylor Arther Brown

Ryleigh Wells

Tristan Danielle Chambers

Alana Josephine McLaurin

Olivia Dean

Agassi Rodriguez

Mara Cluff

Kirsten Welch

Madison Mueller

Leiyah Arriana Ayala

Bryan Ayala

Thank you to all who entrusted me with their senior's photos. I have developed a love, respect, and admiration for each and every one of them, and I am so proud to have been included in their life journey. My wish is that they each are able to look back on these photographs of themselves - wherever they are showcased - and remember the confidence they felt at that moment. I want them to take that confidence and bury it in their hearts and allow that seed to grow each and every time they see themselves - giving them strength and wisdom for wherever their paths may lead them.

If you have an upcoming graduate, I'd be honored to do the same for them! Please feel free to check our availability by calling or emailing us at (832) 559-0701 or appointments@gomezportraits.com

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN to our GRADUATE CLASS OF 2024!

God's Greatest Creation

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 18:32:18 GMT

In His Image

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” ...

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Genesis 1:26-28, 31

If you're following me on social media, you have probably noticed that I've been posting images of children's faces with the caption "God's greatest creation." I have been doing that for only a little over a week, and it has been such a blessing to me already. The main reason I have felt led to do this is because of a recent "conversation" with God. I say that loosely as I feel strongly that I can hear God's voice, but I also don't want to be committed to an insane asylum, if you know what I mean. ��

In that conversation, I asked God to use me for His will. He asked me if I was ready to be a blessing to others. In all honesty and humility, I had to respond, "I don't honestly know. How can I know if I am?"

"Are you ready to do something that will simply bless others but has no direct benefit to you?" He asked.

Wow. Yes, I hesitated because let's be honest - NO ONE is perfect! After searching my heart for a minute or two, I had a response. "Well then yes, I believe I am ready to be a blessing to others."

"Good. Post a picture of each day of a face and give it a simple caption that is Truth."

God knows my heart. He remembers that when I first started this business, the foundation was built on wanting to show God's glory in the face of the children I photograph. I had the gall to think that an image I created could cause my audience to believe that there must be a God.

I feel like I've done this in the background, for specific people, in small instances here and there. But, I have been shy about making it as an outright proclamation. It seemed that God felt that while people are scrolling through their social media, it might be a nice reminder of the basic Truth that humans of all ages, shapes, sizes, and colors are His greatest creation. After all, when he made humans, he didn't just say it was good like everything else he created, He said it was VERY good. Maybe it's simpler to accept that in the face of a child to begin with, but I will expand into the more teen and adult faces as well.

I hope He is right! I hope it causes my audience and the subjects in the photo, their parents, siblings, aunts, cousins, and grandparents to stop, think, and remember (or start to wonder) what God thinks of us. Maybe remember that God created us all, and the plan to spend eternity with us was there from the beginning. We humans ARE ALL God's greatest creation. Knowing that about myself, how can I put a smile on God's face today? Knowing that about others, how can I make sure and treat them as such? How can I allow God to delight in me, His creation, today? I hope it will cause us all to be a little kinder, a little more giving, a little more confident, and a little more joyful.

Author's Note: The images used on social media will never be AI generated. They are all REAL humans and former clients of Julizza Gomez Portraits. I wish I could say that ALL races and nationalities have visited my little studio, but unfortunately not. Don't be discouraged if you don't see every nationality depicted - they might all visit one day, I have high hopes for that, but for now I have to make do! Thanks for understanding.

Experience Highlight: Mumme Family

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 18:27:45 GMT

Love Deeper.

I am hoping this post comes across God would want it to. Not because there's anything bad about it, but because sometimes people can read things and assume intentions based on their own insecurities, and not focus on the purity of what is really there. I say that because I am completely in awe of this incredible woman and hope she knows how much she is appreciated by me. Stacy Mumme is someone I felt completely disarmed by from the moment I met her. She had a warmth and understanding few people in this world care to reach, and for that, I am grateful I got to know this human. She made me want to be a better person, mom, wife, and stepmom. As someone who has succumbed to self-righteous behavior in my past, it was extremely humbling to see how this woman has navigated life and come out with such love and joy in her heart for others. How did I learn all this?

I love getting to know my clients' desires for their family portrait before we do the shoot. I have never really been good at just showing up to "take pictures" in the park. I'm too heart-guided for that. I think God knows that and sends me people who are willing to allow me into their space and get to know them. Stacy came to me with a desire to "finally" get a portrait of her whole blended family. During the first phone call, she was so very excited. She kept saying everything I had to offer sounded perfect. When asked about her family, she mentioned her and her husband's children and said she think of them all as her own. We set a date for her in-person planning session and she told me she was looking forward to meeting me. ��

The planning session is geared to be an introduction to each other, and a purposeful meeting to plan the purpose and look of your portraits. This includes filling your endgame needs, reaching a style, location, and communicating wardrobe tips. I love this meeting because it helps me get a vision in addition to inspiration for the capture.

Stacy walked in and I immediately felt the kindness in her bright smile and beautiful eyes. She was a strong woman with a glowing presence. She was both vulnerable in connection and secure in her presence, which was a beautiful mix that I felt at right at home in. We talked about her family and I got the details such as names and ages of her children. Having a love for them, she naturally shared about each of them, highlighting their strengths and what she loved and liked about each of them.

It was the love that struck me. It made me happy to see her want so much for herself and for them. This portrait had been a long time coming, and she told her husband she was finally going to do it. He seemed to think she was crazy, but it takes a certain kind of crazy to make it happen, I think. She had a goal and she meant it. I have no idea what obstacles she may have had to jump, the love she had to show in the years leading up to it, or the tears God kept while composing this piece, but I am amazed. I'm in awe of how God aligned the universe for her. He is faithful to her and she is faithful to Him. They did it together. She got ALL of their children and grandchildren there. It takes love and selflessness in many people to do that. I was proud of all of them.

The shoot was amazing. Michael and I took the time to photograph the large group in two separate locations. We also captured every individual portrait a few times with different posing. Stacy had a fantastic gallery to choose from.

During her ordering session, she had help narrowing down to her favorites. With a large family, you have a lot to think about. Wanting a portrait of each individual and some smaller groupings, and of course, the large portrait for her home. Stacy was so excited about the images!

One of the statements made while dwindling down was, "We can just take more pictures and get it cheaper later. This isn't the last time. We can do it again."

I am not a pushy salesperson. I don't argue. I help clients until I see them making a mistake, and I give them things to think about. When the statement was made, I realized it was about budget more than memories of this moment. That's ok and I understand. It's ok until it's not, and that will make more sense in a moment. I help my clients better afford their images by offering to split their payments or they can choose our interest free financing option. Why? Because I know THIS memory is precious and cannot be replicated. Even tomorrow. In the past, I was accused of selling people on memories when it wasn't that serious. A young dad once said, "we can just get more pictures of her (1 year old baby). We don't need these specifically. You're just trying to trick us into buying." Needless to say, that couple walked away without any pictures of their family that I captured that day. He wasn't going to "fall" for my "schemes".

With wisdom, comes the knowledge that we can't take any moment for granted and even the tiniest of nuances are captured when you freeze time. I would never wish for the moments to vanish on anyone. I would never want this to be someone's story. But, "more pictures later" with the same people would never happen for Stacy again. Less than a month after this shoot, they would lose a beloved member of their family to a tragic accident. Words cannot express the pain that must be for their entire family. I cannot imagine it. I wish it never happened.

Jayson was a handsome young man with a bright future in the armed forces. His motorcycle accident was a tragic loss to all his family and friends. Like the others, capturing his portrait was fun and full of love and promise. I enjoyed every minute!!

As photographers, we dread the call. We don't want things to change, but we know they eventually will. Our whole existence and career is centered around the fact that things change and nothing ever stays the same. That's why we photograph and capture moments. Because change happens. People grow and change every day. We exist to capture the moment now because tomorrow is never guaranteed. This is where I don't want people to get this post wrong. I'm not guilting anyone into doing anything. But I do wish people could understand what it's like being a photographer selling memories that are often taken for granted.

When all you have left of your loved one is a photo, it oftentimes becomes your most treasured possession. It's easy to take the moment and any person's existence in a photo for granted when they're standing right there in front of you. I know I have before, and I still do a lot. When my dad passed away, I didn't think it was possible. He was the strongest person I knew! We had a large group family portrait done the year before, and I didn't buy a picture of him by himself. Any one of us could have, but we didn't. We took the moment for granted, and I regretted it later. When I reached out, the photographer who took his picture ultimately couldn't help me after years of back and forth messages. I should have bought it when I had the chance. Stacy knew better than me at the time of my family's portrait (way before I was a photographer myself). She purchased the image of Jayson above, and one of each of her kids. She worked it out, and I am glad she did. When they needed it processed a little bit faster for his celebration of life, it was my pleasure to do so.

Stacy was appreciative, and left Michael and me a glowing 5-star review. I can't express the gratefulness I feel for being a witness to great kindness and love. I love what I do. I did for Stacy what I do for each one of my clients. I want the best for them. I want them to be proud of themselves, their portraits, and their families. I want their family bonds to be strengthened with this experience and the portrait on their wall in their home. With the strengthening of each family, society as a whole becomes stronger as it leaks down into each individual member, then into the people they touch. I will never consider this just a "job", and I will never allow someone to convince me I'm being a "trickster" for selling portraits of single moments in time. It will always be the way I give back to the Universe and sew love into it. I hope to inspire families to love their family deeper, and give acceptance a chance, as Stacy has inspired me to do the same.

Thank you to the Mumme family for allowing me to share my thoughts on this wonderful experience of photographing you. You are all in my prayers. May God wrap you in His everlasting peace this Christmas, and may hope for the future spring from our Wonderful Counselor to fill the hole in your hearts. ��

From The Archives: Lathan

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 18:24:21 GMT

Merry Christmas To Me

One thing I can be completely guilty of is getting only ONE image out of a shoot of my kids and forgetting to go back and process the rest. I don't prioritize it because my client is ME. LOL. But when Christmas comes around, I make a point to try and do this as a gift to myself.

I absolutely LOVE these portraits of Lathan! I can hear him laughing in his portraits and it brings me joy. I feel honored to be his mom.

These images were taken May 2022. I wanted to wait and capture a formal portrait of him when he turned 15, but at 13, his "baby look" was leaving him - seemingly at the speed of light. I decided to capture him then, before his face changed out of his adolescent stage too much. I'm so glad I did!! He has always had a more "mature" face and features, so even as a child, I knew that meant photographing him heavily in his youth so people would even believe what he looked like as a boy.

This shoot eventually led to a portrait painting I did of him. That painting is now in my studio, and we both love it. He would rather the painting be at our home, but I only made one, and I love to share it with my clients. I imagine he will have it in his home one day and his children and grandchildren (Godwilling) will also enjoy it and be proud of their dad/grandad and who he was at 13 years old.

Lathan, your smile and expressions create a warmth in me I don't think you'll ever understand until you have a child of your own. You are a light for so many, and you inspire others. Your talent and humor amazes me. I always pray you will accomplish all of your dreams. I'm here for you and so proud of who you are!

Love, Mom

Princess Rio

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 18:41:25 GMT

Proud Mom Post

There’s no better feeling for a mom than to see your daughter become an incredible human being. She’s bold, confident, kind, secure, and lives loved and accepted by me. She has incredible social skills and sews love into society. She is smart and wise beyond her years. She is seen.

I’ve worked hard on my own insecurities so she can reap the wisdom from my past mistakes and do better. I’ve focused on giving her the love and attention I needed growing up. I picked the rich fruits of my upbringing like faith, hope, love, integrity, values, protection, high standards, good character, family, gift wrapped them in my own way, and gave them to her. I added pride in who she is no matter what others might think. It’s been my prayer that she can flourish exactly the way she has.

I know there are so many moms out there who want the same for their daughters. We work to give them a better future. They may be princesses now, but one day they will be queens.

We had an amazing time photographing Rio at this location! Such a whimsical and magical place.

Love you, princess. I’m so proud of you!

Go get ‘em.

Mom

Portrait Highlight: Saracay Family

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 02:43:42 GMT

Beautiful In Blue

This wonderful family had not had professional portraits in several years. It just never seemed to work out with timing and all being in one place at the same time with family travel. Sound familiar? That's almost every family I know! But guess what? By the end of the shoot, they felt like they had spent some great quality time together and even dad was happy and had a great time. He said he actually was looking forward to the next one - now THAT's a great compliment!

They had a great color palette of soft blues and beiges that looked gorgeous against the cypress trees donned with spanish moss and the tall pine trees, and water at our location in Tomball. The great thing about adult children is that they cooperate well and the shoot ends up being smooth as silk! The location we visited gave some beautiful backgrounds and Michael and I were able to use distance and views to create a gorgeous variety of images for their gallery with some creamy bokeh.

As we were walking over to a pier, I noticed mom and dad looking at the water together and it was picturesque. I just had to capture it. The view included a beautiful tree, woods, and water.

My client was the eldest daughter and she was looking forward to decorating her dining room wall with these portraits of her family.Her picks consisted of images of her and her sisters, her and her husband, and the whole group. Additionally, she wanted a portrait of her mom and a second family group image and a picture of "all the girls". Helping people decorate their home with portraits of their family is my favorite thing to do! We created an array of float framed metal portraits for her wall and it worked out beautifully!

Enjoy the rest of the images below!

�� Capture the warmth of Thanksgiving week with a family shoot! Whether at your home or in our studio/outdoor locations in Houston/NW Houston, let's create lasting memories.

Book now at (832) 559-0701

E n joy a complimentary ornament with any portrait purchase for all Thanksgiving week family bookings! ❤️

Seize the Moment and Call Today!

Senior Highlight - Paige

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 15:31:46 GMT

Girl Next Door

This senior has a spark that shines super BRIGHT! I had to capture her with some backlighting. She has a unique style of "girl next door" meets forest beauty with her glasses and long hair and beautiful heart. I am so glad I have revisited this spot from my past to take pictures. It's definitely more "me". Our worlds collided in order to create this gorgeous gallery of images that mom couldn't resist picking up every one. I can always tell when a mom is totally in love with her child, and Stephanie was vibrant over the phone from the first moment we talked. She shared images of Paige with me right away, and I knew I had found someone who thinks about her daughter the same way I do. I'm so thankful to have connected with them both and proud to help them make this senior year special for their family! Enjoy the show!

Portrait Highlight: Crespo Family

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 16:45:32 GMT

Masterpiece Portrait

"Our experience during my daughter’s photo session was absolutely perfect. Julizza is a true professional. She brought out the best of my daughter and she shined! Julizza made her feel so comfortable & my daughter’s personality came through in the session. She was gentle and not pushy, my daughter responded so well. Julizza captured some beautiful laughs and smiles as well as some more serious poses.
We absolutely love our portrait. It hangs in the entryway of our home and love the memory that my daughter and I shared during the session.

We look forward to making more memories and returning for a family session soon!

I can not recommend Julizza enough.

Thank you, Julizza!"

~Liz Crespo

I appreciate the opportunity to create art for families to enjoy for generations. I can't imagine a better gift for your child than a timeless painted portrait for their children and grandchildren to one day see. It's funny how many of us know that we need to make memories for our families, but oftentimes forget to celebrate the individuals in our families. Just remembering to capture a child's portrait by themselves can do wonders to their self-esteem.

I could tell from the moment I met her that Liz had an undying love for her daughter, Carolina. She wanted Carolina to enjoy a moment for herself, and create a beautiful memory with her. She knew it was up to her to create something special for Carolina to take with her the rest of her life. When Liz is one day gone, Carolina will look back on this day and portrait with peace and love in her heart for the tender relationship she and her mother always had. Being together throughout the process made it that much more special.

I went to their home to plan their session, on a day that Carolina was home. I not only enjoyed their company and cute little dog, but I noticed that Liz had a beautiful collection of Frida Kahlo art, prints, and books. She was a huge fan, and that helped me understand her style. While planning, we got plenty of pictures of walls that were "contenders" for this art piece. My software is very handy in that it will preview the portrait at practically any size you desire on your own wall (to scale), so there's no guessing if you're buying too big or too small. With this method, you're always buying the appropriate size for the space you want to decorate. We discussed the color palettes they could use, and that gave them a good idea of where to start when searching for clothes.

On the day of the shoot, Liz and Carolina arrived with dresses they had picked out while shopping together. They had already made the moment memorable with some time spent together talking about dresses and enjoying the process. Liz wanted to make the portrait perfect, so we lined up professional hair and makeup at the studio. They snacked on fruits and muffins as well as sipped on some drinks while the look got perfected.

During the shoot, I started out easy. Helping Carolina get comfortable during the shoot is imperative to its success. I wanted her to have a great memory, so I put on some music and helped her relax. She looked absolutely stunning! I kept giving her direction and studied her natural movements. Throughout the shoot, I made sure to make nods toward her personality and capture some images that helped tell the entire story. It was such a wonderful time!

As Carolina got more comfortable, I directed her into some timeless poses that may not seem natural, but give homage to the subject in a beautiful way. The human form is art in itself, and my task is to create portraits that pay tribute to the Master Creator and the human. I loved the images that developed, and so did Liz and Carolina.

Before the shoot was over, I wanted Carolina to show her youth and playfulness. Her positive attitude and beautiful smilie shined as she got to enjoy twirling around in her dress with the fan on full blast. This was so touching for Liz to witness. As a mom myself, I understand wanting to remember the carefree side of my daughter just as much as the poised and perfect side. Liz was over the moon with the results.

A week or so later, Liz and Carolina came in to view their gallery and place an order. Liz was in love from the start. She couldn't stop talking about the whole experience with her daughter and how special it was. She wanted a painting, and we took plenty of time and care in choosing the perfect pose and expression - Frida Kahlo inspired. I had surprised Liz with a flower headband I provided for Carolina to give a nod toward the artist she loved so much. I don't like to believe that art can only exist in the past. It is very much here and now, even when it is inspired by works of the past. It was my pleasure to personalize this look for the Crespo family for their very own daughter.

Once the image was finished, painted, and framed, I had the pleasure of installing it myself in Liz's home. My signature masterpiece portrait will hang in their home for years, and that brings me so much pleasure and fulfillment as an artist. I am happy I was able to create such a memory for Liz and Caro, and I hope to be able to create many more for other families while I still can. This is legacy.

Portrait Highlight: Yeppez Family

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 18:04:55 GMT

Blues And Neutrals

Today I want to highlight the Yeppez family portrait! This is an extraordinary family with some unique and fun personalities in it. They have 5 beautiful children. The spunky one is definitely Amelia Grace, the youngest. She's the kind of kid where everyone else is just a character in her world. Does anyone else have a child like that? Ha! She puts a smile on everyone's face.

During a planning session in their home, I helped guide Richard and Lynn into choosing a color palette and background that could be at home in their living room. They had a challenge of a large wall to fill and knew they wanted to be surrounded by pictures of their family. We planned a color palette with neutrals and blues and chose the Woodlands Waterway for a clean, manicured look. It worked out beautifully!

For the size wall they were needing to decorate, the portrait needed to make an impact. We went for a 40x50" canvas print mounted on masonite and a custom gold frame to make the perfect statement.

During installation, we had a few little visitors that came to say hi! ��

Portrait Highlight: Graves Family

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 18:03:20 GMT

Bright Pastels

The Graves family enjoyed being themselves throughout their session and I can't say enough about how warm and inviting they were toward me. Angela wanted to show their bright and colorful personality in their portraits by picking colors they enjoy. With that palette, I suggested some of the brightly colored buildings in Tomball as a backdrop, which worked out perfectly! In her home of neutral walls, the decor was easy to pull off. She chose a weathered grey float frame for her canvases, which I thought was a brilliant choice that matched the theme of much of the backgrounds in her portraits and also her home.

They decided to go big and featured the family as the main image (24x36 Canvas Float Frame), the children flanking each side (10x20 Canvas Float Frames), and the small groupings of parent/couple and kids together below (14x14 Canvas Float Frames).

Some more pictures are shown below and I hope you enjoy them! It's easy to create this for your home. All you need is a space that is approximately 6" - 8" long.

Portrait Highlight: Perez Family

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:35:53 GMT

Classical Elegance

"I contacted Julizza for our family portraits. The experience with Julizza and her husband was nothing but professional. They directed us on how to pose properly and would fix our hair or clothing if needed to get the right shot. I would recommend her again. The portraits look what I call "fancy" and high quality. Thank you, Julizza!"

Matching portraits on either side of the living area bring family and life to this beautiful room. I completely enjoyed getting to photograph and capture the Perez family and create portraits they are proud to display! Iris wanted something classical and elegant as she had seen in my work before, and Michael and I happily delivered.

How Often Should My Family Get Professional Portraits Done?

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:01:42 GMT

Family Portraits Over The Years

We know what you’re thinking – “Ok, Mrs. Photographer, you’re going to tell me to get professional photos EVERY year, right? I mean, photographers always say that because it benefits THEM.”

Actually, we’re going to surprise you by saying every year is NOT our recommendation UNLESS you have a small child. By “we”, I mean my husband, Michael and I. Michael and I both have long runs in the portrait industry – Michael at 29 years and I’m at 18. We’ve both had the opportunities to watch families grow before our eyes.

When staring to write this blog, I had to compare notes and pick Michael’s brain from his extra years of experience. I’m extremely lucky to have 10 years of extra wisdom at my fingertips. With 29 years in the industry, Michael has now photographed some of his longest standing clients for 22 or 23 years. One such client hired Michael to photograph her daughter’s wedding 23 years ago. That daughter has her own family, and her youngest child is now a senior in high school. With those upcoming photographs, Michael will have been photographing his original client’s family and their next generation for the last 22 years. Did they come back every year? Not necessarily. It wasn’t about the time that had passed; it has been about the milestones and the people being added to their family.

I asked Michael about what his recommendation for a family starting out would be. Knowing everything he knows now, what would he do for his own family if he had to do it all over again? Here’s his “best case scenario” response.

Let’s say The Doe Family has their first child. The Doe Family should come in when their child is a newborn, 6 months old, 12 months old, 2 years old, 3 years old, 4 years old, 5 years old, 6 years old, between 5 ^th and 6 ^th grade, between 8 ^th and 9 ^th grade, and finally, at 12 ^th grade. The first years are very important for a child as they change and grow very quickly, so it’s worthwhile capturing them for the first 6 years in a row. Then, you can skip a few years until they change from grade school to middle school, from middle school to high school, and after high school.

If that’s too complicated and you haven’t kept up with that schedule, our best recommendation is every 3 to 5 years. That will loosely capture the milestones of every member of the family.

Once your first child goes to college, they might show up with a special someone at Thanksgiving, and that someone may now be considered part of the family! That is wonderful news, and your family dynamic could be changed in an instant! Make sure to capture your core family before your eldest child moves away.

Here's some recommendation for your child’s wall portraits:

One at 1 year old, one at 3 or 4 years old, one at 8-12 years old, one at 15-16 years old, and one as a senior. The 1-year portrait is a staple milestone that shouldn’t have to be explained. Every child deserves a 1-year portrait! At 3 or 4 years old, your child has a sweet innocence about them, paired with a baby face, and cute baby clothes. You’ll want to capture them before they grow out of them. We both personally love this stage the most, and it’s the one we recommend getting a painting of. We love the scene of the flowers and portrait garden in the morning, or next to a beautiful window with long drapes in your home for this one. At 8, 12, 15, and 17, you’re capturing two pre-teen portraits, one teen portrait, and one senior milestone portrait. That’s only 6 portraits in 18 years. Time will fly!

I hope this helps! If it’s time to schedule your family’s portrait, the summer is a great time to do so! Time is moving fast, so please hurry to get booked in!

Michael Martinez Fine Portraits: Call (713) 355-5345 , or email kacey@martinezphoto.com

Julizza Gomez Portraits: Call (832) 559-0701 or email Amie at appointments@gomezportraits.com .

We would love to help you capture these milestones of your family and loved ones!

I'm MARRIED!

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Tue, 30 May 2023 19:54:12 GMT

Surprise!

Hey all! I have to share this wonderful news with friends near and far who have been following my journey as a studio owner and lifelong romantic ❤️

This past Thursday, May 25, 2023, I married my amazing partner, Michael Martinez. You may recognize him from many of my personal posts, and if you've been a recent client, you may have had the pleasure of meeting him already as he often assists me on shoots. Well, we finally tied the knot and made it official! We are married!

We were super stealth about the whole thing, wanting something intimate (in fact, just the two of us and our church minister knew). We had been in love for quite a while, and were waiting for the perfect time to throw a huge bash, but due to the timing of huge life events (we even got married the same week - 2 days before - my daughter graduated), we decided to tie the knot now and worry about a reception until later. With 3 back-to-back high school graduates in a row (both his daughters and mine), and looking for a new home and furnishings, we just went for "done" is better than "perfect" for now.

Even so, it was PERFECT for US! I can't tell you how amazing our day and experience was. That morning, we had a calm breakfast together at the Nook in Tomball, and then went home and relaxed before getting ready for our 3pm appointment, which I thought was at the courthouse. Michael surprised me by arranging a sweet, intimate setting with our minister, David Ayres, as a loving gesture for me. The little ceremony was at my church's chapel (Bammel Church of Christ). As soon as I realized he had arranged that for me, I cried. When I saw the bouquet of flowers he ordered for me, I cried. When we said our vows, I cried. It was the most beautiful expression of love I had ever experienced, and all the small details he arranged meant so much to me. I am so glad to be with someone who is willing to go the extra mile for me, who is thinking about me, and wants to make me happy.

In case you don't already know Michael, I will tell you he is a great man with great values and is already proving to be a phenomenal husband. He owns a portrait studio in the Heights called Michael Martinez Fine Portraits, where he and Kacey hit it out of the park consistently for Houston's finest families. His studio and portrait garden are unlike anything you'll experience anywhere, and I am so proud of the work he has done to build his excellent business for the last 29 years. He is a true professional and has taught me so much about the craft, that I couldn't help but fall in love with his willingness to share his knowledge, help others in the industry through teaching and mentorship, and witness his uncompromising passion for photography. He is a loving father and a loyal friend. He is the first person who will defend the "least of these" and provide for them in ways only God has seen. I have been lucky enough to witness his generosity and love, and that is what truly draws me to him. I hope you are able to one day meet him if you schedule your session in the future with either one of us!

I know what you're thinking - did they have a professional photographer? The answer is no. We went against everything we love and hold dear, for the sake of intimacy and peace this time. I don't know about you, but Michael and I LOVE our peace and chose to protect it at all costs for this moment. We really were in tune with one another and just wanted a ceremony and vows to celebrate alone without any extra bells and whistles. If a photographer was hired, I would have gotten my hair and makeup professionally done, etc., etc., etc., and I found every new thing added was an extra layer of complication. No worries, though! We plan on getting our portraits done in the near future. You can count on that! I am ready to get something timeless and beautiful for my wall! Meanwhile, our friend Leigh Ann at the church was taking pictures with Michael's cell phone. She said, "this is so intimidating - taking two professional photographers' wedding day pictures!" Haha! I truly appreciate Leigh Ann for stepping in and grabbing the moments for us, despite how intimidating it must have felt.

Thank you to our minister David for supporting Michael in his crazy request, and for coming alongside us on this journey. We appreciate you showing up for us with bells on and a great-looking suit to boot.

Thank you all for allowing me to share this very important and meaningful news with you. I pray you are blessed today and always!

Love,

Julizza Gómez-Martínez

Preserve Cherished Memories

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Thu, 04 May 2023 13:11:49 GMT

A Look Into The Santamaria Home

I have a foundational belief that children and families who have portraits in their homes feel a sense of belonging, connection, and love. This belief coupled with another foundation that all humans are made in God's image, are what propel me to help families celebrate their loved ones through luxury portraits.

I have enjoyed getting to know the Santamaria family through the process of first creating a painting of their daughter, Miranda. This painting was a work of heart as I was inspired by her dress of beautiful vibrant colors. The works of the famous impressionist artist Monet came to mind as I brush stroked the flowers in her dress, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Her hair and face were a perfect creation just as they are, and getting to portray her artistically at this age made me proud and happy for her and her family!

The second project was a commission to create a family portrait painting. Ileana had a vision and we planned to have her session at her beautiful home. The landscape outside by the pool fit perfectly, and I was able to not only highlight their family, but also capture the beautiful scenery they enjoy each day in a place that is special to them. The trees made the perfect backdrop for their loving family. The rain nearly caught us, but thankfully it held off long enough for us to finish outside before going inside for more.

The family portrait was another tip of the hat to Monet with the lovely trees and colors in the background. Brush strokes were loose and enjoyable to the eye. I can't imagine a better way to seal the legacy and love of your family with a beautiful portrait painting like this!

Seal of Approval

I finish every painted portrait with my wax seal. It features the anchor logo and tells the world that your family masterpiece is a Julizza Gómez Portrait.

Ileana has a gift for design and loves to stylize her beautiful home. During her planning session at her home, we were able to identify places and spaces for her portraits and plan accordingly. Although she had planned for a smaller painting, I think she was delighted in what she actually commissioned for the space she wanted to decorate. We joked about how she and Michael made a fun bond while discussing the size and location of her family portrait. In the end, everyone wins! Below are places she enjoys her portraits in her home. She didn't keep the matted prints in her box for long! They are on full display in her breakfast nook, stairway, and as tabletops. Her couple portrait is in the archway that is right outside her bedroom, so they get to see their love each and every day as they wake up and go to sleep.

Thank you to the Santamaria family for allowing me to capture your memories and love for one another through my art. To all others, cherish the ones you love and the moments you share with luxury family portraits that capture the heart and soul of your family.

Senior-itis!

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 20:43:22 GMT

April Showers Bring May Scholars

It has been a busy and wonderful senior year for my beautiful Rio, and I am sad to see it coming to a close! I am not sure if you noticed, but the email marketing and the blog posts have slowed wayyy down since I have been focused on both my kids' development this year. It has come with more challenges than I ever expected, which has caused me to put down the overtime I had become accustomed to putting in.

While volunteering, networking, blogging, social media, etc., have slowed down, our time spent together has gone up, and for that I am glad.This school year was a year of being PRESENT with my kids, and as hard as it is juggling all my different hats, I don't regret putting the work away to watch an episode of X-Files or spend 2-3 nights a week on the mat with them at Tae Kwon Do. Did you know RIO is taking TAE KWON DO?? I am SO proud of her stepping out of her comfort zone. It was a challenge for her to even imagine herself in that class, but she stood in her power when she was at her weakest, and chose to try it for 30 days. Guess what? 30 days have passed and she hasn't even realized it. She loves it! This has been a year of rapid growth for all 3 of us.

With all that said, the year has moved fast for every other senior parent I strike up a conversation with. Since I've been focused on Rio (and with that, SENIOR PORTRAITS), I have done some extensive work in perfecting the studio's offerings when it comes to senior products. I've added options for metal prints, a robust planning meeting to get the most out of customized sessions, and some cool new tabletop products for mementos. I even realized our Senior Oatmeal Boxes can be used as a memory box that can hold all their trinkets, certificates, and awards.

I have been so privileged to photograph several seniors, and here are some highlights of the custom senior sessions below, excluding a couple of the latest ones. Each senior who booked a custom session is being given the opportunity to be featured in my upcoming Portrait Exhibit, "Embrace Uniqueness" that will be taking place May 19th and 20th at our studio in Tomball:

Interactive Portrait Exhibit Announcement: Senior Class of 2023 - "Embrace Uniqueness"

My goal with this exhibit is to nurture an environment of positivity toward all who are featured, and educate those who attend on the importance of embracing Uniqueness as Beauty . I believe each person's uniqueness is truly what makes them handsome or beautiful, and I am using this Exhibit as a conduit to that message. I want our kids (and especially my clients) to embrace and love how they look, just as they are.

Portraits used in the Exhibit will have minimal retouching to help fight against the practice of excessive retouching in social media images and the photography industry.

DATES:

May 19 ^th 5pm-8pm
May 20 ^th 5pm-8pm

LOCATION

Our studio in Tomball: 928 W. Main Street, Tomball, TX 77375

I am so excited to highlight these fantastic individuals and create memories for the time they are enjoying right now. With each print, I know their memory will be seen for years to come. Enjoy highlights of The Class of 2023 Seniors below!

Don't Miss The Moments

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 23:03:42 GMT

I Never Blinked

I promise I didn't blink. I tried as much as I could to keep my eyes wide open the entire time they were growing up. I even made this my career to capture them as often as I could. But, we did sleep. And while we slept, they grew up. It was gradual and fast at the same time. It was beautiful and painful too. There are days I don't remember, despite all my efforts to not forget. Even I, as a professional photographer, with the skill to capture them every day in every way - natural light, flash, silhouette - if I wanted to... didn't. And the little boy and the little girl are now trapped inside these big people. I miss them.

Don't miss the moments. Despite the craving of the days past, I realize I can't keep looking back. My biggest takeaway from all this is being present. I've enjoyed being present, but I wasn't always whole. I fought depression and anxiety, abandonment and personal problems. I was distracted making a life for them and me.

Rio is a senior, and will be moving out in August to attend Texas State. I asked her, "Was it good? (her childhood) Are you going to have to tell your therapist one day that mom was too busy building her business than spending time with you?" She smiled and tried not to undermine my question. She's good at balancing her reactions like that. "No, mom. I really liked my childhood, and you did what you had to do to make a good life for yourself and us. I don't regret your choices, and I do feel like I grew up with a mom, so you shouldn't regret them either. I'm happy you're happy and I'm proud of what you've accomplished."

I can be so hard on myself that even Truth sometimes doesn't get through. But, this time, it did. Truth is, I did everything I could to provide for myself and my kids, and that was filled with Moments that may have been hard and sacrificial, but they were all worthwhile. I didn't miss the moments, or the opportunities, to love myself and them to the absolute fullest, even when those moments didn't have a camera covering my face.

Our last family portrait before she leaves and the dynamic changes completely are below. I just love this moment!

Matthews Family

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 15:12:43 GMT

Impact A Hero

The Matthews Family came to us from our donation to the Impact A Hero non-profit organization. Impact A Hero's mission is "to make a positive impact in the lives of Veterans, Active Service Members and their Families through advancing leadership and personal development, strengthening community and encouraging esprit de corps" (source: website). Corey is a veteran and was very active leader in the organization, and I am grateful our paths crossed! This blended family was wonderful to capture and all smiles. I was more than happy to create some beautiful, lasting memories and portraits for them! Please enjoy the rest of their gallery below.

Fall Family Portraits

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 15:24:45 GMT

Get the most out of your fall portrait experience!

I am so excited the weather is cooling down and the calls are coming in for this fall's portrait sessions! How can you make the most of your fall family portrait session? There are a lot of ways you can maximize your experience and enjoy these memories for years to come!

PLANNING DETAILS - I know, I know! When are you going to get the time to plan a session? It's hard enough to get everyone together, let alone plan it and all think of all the extras. However, whatever you don't put in your calendar, won't happen, so that's the first thing we have to do! We can help you book your shoot, AND book the planning, so you HAVE to do it. If it's in the calendar, and it's not just you, it tends to happen. Once we have planned your shoot together, you will have a better idea of what to do next to pull off the perfect session.

When planning your session, think about the colors you love, the formality you want to have, and how your portraits will look in your home.

Colors - Start with your favorite neutrals - beige, grey, white, black, etc. - then add in some pop colors. Coordinating clothing will be a breeze after you have your color palette!
Formality - This isn't your run of the mill photo shoot! We can get as formal and fancy as you like, or keep it casual. No matter what you choose, make sure the formality is consistent across all members of the family. If Dad is in church attire, then mom and the kids should be in church attire too. If Mom is wearing a formal black flowing dress, then the boys should be wearing suits or tuxedos, and the girls should be wearing formal gowns as well.
Décor - How often would you like to see your portraits? Once a day? 2-5 times a day? Once a month? Once a year? We have a product for whatever your taste is. If you absolutely love your family, their faces, and your tribe is your everything to you, then I recommend putting medium to large portrait(s) in places of prominence in your home. They should be in areas where you spend most of your time together, or are sure to walk past every day. We have paintings, canvases, metal prints and (now) framed collages to fit these purposes and fit the style of your home. If you want to enjoy your portraits at times you least expect, then use an Exhibit Box and store the portraits inside. The Exhibit Box can sit on an entry table, bookcase, or shelf, and you can bring it down and look through them, and switch out the exhibited image as often as you like. Take a look at how other clients have chosen to decorate their homes with their portraits here .

I hope this helps get you started on your portrait experience. Feel free to contact us to book yours today! (832) 559-0701

Santamaria Family

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 17:38:59 GMT

The Love of Family

The shared love and devotion to each other is what makes you a family.

Ileana is a modern matriarch-filling her home with love, support, encouragement, and care. I'm completely in awe of her servant heart! Even during the shoot, she was trying to assist me and Michael with our equipment while in her dress, hair, and makeup perfected. So much so that I had to send her inside when the sky started to sprinkle! I couldn't image a better scene and a better way to honor her and her beautiful family!

I am happy to create a painted portrait of the top image for the Santamaria family to have in their home to see every day, and enjoy for years to come!

Love, Julizza

Love Your Legacy

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 18:46:18 GMT

With Portrait Paintings

I'm so excited to share with you my latest painting. It is of my son, Lathan, for his 13th birthday. One thing I feel strongly about is providing experiences for my children to feel worthy and seen. As a child this was a feeling I struggled to have, and it affected my choices and my life, and still does. I vowed that when I had kids, they would have the love, attention, and feeling of belonging and worth that they deserve. This portrait is one way to remind him that he belongs and is loved in my home. As I look at his portrait, I think of what he may experience as a grownup. No matter what he goes through, he will always know that he was loved and cherished as a child, and that gives him a huge advantage in this world. Portraits like this are the "noise" I want to create against the evil and lies that will surely attack him in the future. He deserves this portrait and many more. His heart is full of love and compassion for others, and that makes me a proud mom. Although he is a far cry from perfect (none of us are), it's still nice to get dressed and cleaned up, and looking perfect for a beautiful art creation that will live in our home forever. I can see his children and grandchildren enjoying this portrait of their father/grandfather some day, and I hope they marvel at the person he is to them, at the love his mother had for him, and the love God had to create a unique person like him. Everyone deserves to be noticed in this way as we are all God's beautiful creations, no matter what stage of life we are in or what we may be going through. I love my legacy, and I love his too, and it's only just beginning. ❤️

First Birthday Sessions Are Now Easier To Book

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 15:50:14 GMT

Celebrate Your Baby's Birthday In Style

Just look at beautiful Sloan! She was such a good baby model for her birthday portraits and I truly loved capturing this memory for her and her family. Her portrait legacy at our studio continues!

The first birthday is always such a wonderful time to celebrate your baby. I remember when each of my kids turned one. I wanted the absolute best pictures of them! I wanted to remember what they looked like and beautiful smiles. The last thing I wanted to do was to miss it completely!

Mom, enjoy this time to its fullest, and don't let it pass you by without getting some wonderful, creative memories!

I know you're busy! That's why I've made it easy to see your options and purchase your birthday session all online at the link below. We will call and hassle you to schedule your date so you won't miss it!

We include custom color birthday balloons and a solid color background in our standard package, which is only $99. Images, prints, and portrait packages are additional. Let me know how I can help you plan this joyous experience for your baby!

Visit the link below and in the comments to see what we offer and to purchase.

FIRST BIRTHDAY SESSIONS

Scholarship Fundraiser for The Giving Gown Foundation

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 13:58:53 GMT

Goal = 20 donors!

I have been in partnership with The Giving Gown Foundation for 10 years, and I'm now going into my 11th in the capacity of the Empowerment Director. I love the mission of this organization - to empower young girls by providing a free prom dress AND opportunities to receive money for college or trade school by way of scholarships. Last year, we partnered together and hosted a portrait exhibit to show the community how much the volunteers and the girls mean to us, and to help the community engage in a way that showed them how words matter. I loved the interactions with moms and daughters over the power in our words and written messages. I believe lives and relationships were changed during the exhibit, and it was such a blessing to see the light bulbs turn on as conversations we never take the time to have were being nourished and encouraged. Although Giving Gown will not be partnering for the exhibit this year, I believe the message is still so important, and I feel a responsibility to continue to teach these lessons and nourish those same (and deeper) conversations between parents and girls. I have chosen to hold a one-day workshop for parents and daughters called "Confident Me" at my studio on Sunday, August 21st. The workshop will cover body confidence and boost self esteem in young people. More details are forthcoming!

Actions matter. Last year, we were able to raise $1000 through the generous donations of those who attended the exhibit and through friends of Giving Gown. I have high hopes that our message is just as strong this year, and that the generosity of the community will come through. I have set a goal to raise $2000 towards scholarships this year!! That means we need 20 people to take up this session offer during the month of July. As an added bonus, each donor will be added to our Giving Yearbook, which will stay in our studio for all to see, and donors can purchase a copy as well.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What's included?

A 30 minute studio shoot
Your choice of an individual or family group session
One background and wardrobe choice
View and order your portraits the same day
A half page feature in our Giving Yearbook that will be kept in our studio for all to see

Can I do an outdoor shoot?

Absolutely! You will need to upgrade this offer by choosing one of the following Add-Ons. Here are your choices:

Print Credit STANDARD UPGRADE - $300
Pre-purchase $300 in product credit and get an INSTANT photo shoot upgrade! Added perks include:

One Hour Shoot
In Studio OR On Location
Your Choice: Individual or Family Session
Multiple Setups
Two Wardrobe Choices
Separate Ordering Session
A full page feature in our Giving Yearbook that will be kept in our studio for all to see
$300 Print Credit

Print Credit BEAUTY UPGRADE - $500
Pre-purchase $500 in product credit and get an INSTANT BEAUTY PACKAGE upgrade! Added perks include:

One Hour Shoot
In Studio OR On Location
Your Choice: Individual or Group Session
Multiple Setups plus Natural Light Setup
Professional Makeup & Hair touchup
Make It A Girl’s Day! Add your daughter, sister, mom, or friend and enjoy a day of pampering. OR…
Make It a Date! Add your husband or partner for a fantastic couple session, just the two of you!
In-Home Style and Concept Session
Up to 5 Wardrobe Choices
Separate Ordering Session
A full spread (two pages) in our Giving Yearbook that will be kept in our studio for all to see
$500 Print Credit

How much are your packages?

Value print packages start at $350 while packages that include a digital file start at $600

Do I have to shoot in July?

You will be asked to schedule your shoot upon checkout, but your session can be anytime before December 31, 2022 ! Sessions that occur in July have an added bonus of a photo gift with the purchase of any package. If you need a date/time customized for you, just pick any date and time at check out and email or call us, and we will move it to the date you need.

What kind of session can it be?

Choose from family groups or individual shoots. We have had sessions that include couples, whole families, only one member (such as a teenage daughter, son, senior grad, or baby's first birthday), mom and dad alone, grandma and grandpa alone, woman or man alone, maternity, or just the kids. (No headshots, newborn, or modeling shoots, please)

What's the attire?

You can choose to have a light or dark background for the studio. For the light background, I recommend off-white, beige, or light hues like baby blues, soft pinks, greens, coral, etc. For the dark background, I recommend black, grey, navy, or jewel tones such as ruby, turquoise, emerald green. You may choose to go as formal as you like, or opt for a more casual look. Formal attire can be anywhere from tuxedos and ball gowns to suits and nice dresses. Casual attire can be button up or collar shirts and jeans to long sleeve shirts, sweaters, and khakis. For outdoor shoots, you will receive an in-person consultation where I will help you with your outfits. Formality should be the same for all individuals being photographed.

How much of the session goes toward the scholarships?

100% of the $99 session fee (minus credit card fees) goes toward scholarships.

How do I purchase/donate?

You may purchase online and choose your Add-Ons HERE
You may call us at (832) 559 - 0701 and pay over the phone. Our office hours are Tuesday - Thursday 9am - 6pm, Friday - Saturday 9am - 2pm.
You may email us at appointments@gomezportraits.com

How do I schedule my shoot?

When you purchase online, y ou will be asked to schedule your shoot upon checkout, but your session can be anytime before December 31, 2022 ! Sessions that occur in July have an added bonus of a photo gift with the purchase of any package. If you need a date/time customized for you, just pick any date and time at checkout and email or call us, and we will move it to the date you need. If you need help, you can call us at (832) 559 - 0701.

I hope you feel inspired to donate, and to enjoy a great savings on session fees! You will love our products, and I can't wait to help you get the most out of this session. Please feel free to call or email with any additional questions.

Thank you!

Love, Julizza

Homer C. Gomez

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Tue, 24 May 2022 21:04:22 GMT

What's His Legacy?

I get emotional when I write about my Dad. Simply adding his picture here caused tears to run down my face. I miss him so much!

There are so many things he taught me that I still use to this day. The most incredible thing about this man to me was what his passion, laughter, and drive created in me. It created passion in me that gives me strength, even to this day.

If I wish I could do anything well, it would be to love rightly and deeply. I was a daddy's girl. He loved me and cared about my safety. He protected me when he needed to. Once I moved away to college at UT Austin, and would come back home to Victoria to visit, he would greet me with a laughter and smile that was contagious. When he knew I was coming, he would ask me what I wanted him to make, and cook it so it would be ready when I arrived. I can still smell the soup he made and I can feel the tortillas in my hands. I can recall what he looked like in the kitchen, back to us, cutting meat or making tortillas at the window.

He watched me graduate with my degree from UT, witnessed me get married, and was waiting patiently to come in and visit when I had my daughter. What I wouldn't give for him to have met my son...

Once I had a new home, he would visit and knock on the walls to see if they were strong and safe for me to be in (haha). He would inspect things around the house to make sure they were working properly. For a short time, approximately 18 months, he was able to greet my daughter home the same way when we would go home to visit. He would pick her up and kiss her, and call her beautiful.

He taught me not to cheat myself out of learning a good lesson. He taught me to reap every piece of wisdom I could grasp from my mistakes. Sometimes he would point them out like a coach (ok, often he would), but sometimes he left it up for me to see for myself. Once the disciplinarian duties were done, he was relaxed with me, and just appreciated me for me.

My son hears stories and uses pictures to get to know his Grandpa. Although he isn't here physically, his legacy lives on forever in me, and in the family he raised. He was such a strong figure, as most strong men are. I wish I could still capture a portrait of him as I remember him - a huge smile and boisterous laughter, sitting in a recliner and looking up at me as I entered the living room, but it lives forever in my heart.

If I could give advice to anyone who loves their family, it's "Don't wait to take their portraits or write your memories down.". It's not easy convincing them sometimes that they need to have their portrait made, but the payoff and memory is so worth it. Father's Day is a special time for me, because it gets me thinking about my own dad. The fact that I wish I could do these things for him make doing it for others even more special for me. I get to do this work so families can enjoy their fathers through the memories we create together. There's no better payoff for me to leave behind, as a part of my father's legacy.

Learn more about the Father's Legacy Portrait Experience

Schedule a Phone Cal l

Easter Bunny Sessions 2022

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 18:43:17 GMT

Celebrating The Risen Savior With Scripture Prints

"He is not here. He is risen!" Luke 24: 6-7

Easter is a great time for reflection and thanksgiving. It's one of my favorite holidays! As a disciple of Christ, it is a cornerstone of my faith. I invite you and your kids to celebrate in the joy of Easter with an 11x14" Bible Scripture Print added to your qualified purchase. This print will allow your child to have a constant visual reminder of God's love for them throughout the years.

EXTRA! Bunnies are coming to the studio! This will be our first year with precious live bunnies. If your child loves them, this will be a great experience! As a new tradition for our studio, it will be a wonderful reason to come back year after year as your children grow.

Your Easter Bunny Portrait Experience* will include:
�� 15 Minute Portrait Session in studio
�� Order Session Immediately Following Your Shoot
�� Complimentary 11x14” Bible Scripture Print Added To Your Qualified Purchase ($650 Value)
�� Portrait Packages starting at $299

Total Value - $900

March 16-18
NOW JUST $199!
HURRY! These slots will sell out!

BOOK HERE

*Bunnies are optional. Please choose "Easter Session - Standard" if you would prefer a session without the bunnies ��

January 2022

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 17:19:29 GMT

A Fresh Fantastic Start To The New Year

Everyone wants their New Year to start off great. My January was so great, a lot of it seems surreal. I'll share the highlights, which are incredible! These highlights come from my trip to Washington DC, where I attended a national photographer's conference, "Imaging". There were a couple of events that I planned to enjoy while there, and was pleasantly surprised with others as well.

The trip to D.C. started out phenomenal with a wonderful gala I was invited to for hitting a big sales goal in 2021. We were gifted a custom cover album with each photographer's work in the pages. I loved seeing my image on the front cover of a book! The night was so super nice and elegant, and I enjoyed meeting new people. Megan DiPiero really knows how to make her guests feel special!!

The second night was enjoyed at an Irish pub. I coach with a second group of photographers called BSA (Business Success Academy) that is headed by an Irish gentleman and his son. This group is extremely diverse with people from the UK, Ireland, and the US. I have been meeting with them by Zoom for the majority of the year, and it was wonderful to finally meet them face to face, in the flesh. We had an incredible time connecting, eating great food, having drinks, and enjoying each other's company. Ronan, Jonathan, Jeanine, and Brad are great people, and they give back freely to those they coach! If you're a photographer that would like to learn more about coaching with us, send me a message!

The conference kicked off and I met the keynote speaker, Mike Michalowicz and got a copy of his book, Get Different . The BSA booth was busy with the entire group showing up to meet and get their pictures with Mike, as well as to help tell others about our Academy. I found my face on a step and repeat banner, and had to get a picture with my picture LOL ��

I spent the next day or two attending conference classes and visiting landmarks in DC. I had never been before, and it was freezing ❄️! Thankfully, Nicole (JG Portraits Studio Manager), had given me her warmest scarf and hat to borrow for my trip before I left, and I was so super grateful! I was nice and toasty around my neck and my head. It was awesome getting to see the places I have only ever seen in pictures and movies.

While at the conference hotel, it snowed!! As a Texas girl who doesn't visit cold climates, I had not yet experienced snow falling on me before, and I was elated to be out in it! Ask all the locals if they like they snow, and they say, "heck no!" Ask me, and I was absolutely loving it! And then about 10 minutes later, I was ready to be warm again. HAHA!

I ended the trip with more classes and seeing my mentors, Greg and Lesa Daniel, present. They were phenomenal as always, and I relearned some of the things I had forgotten.

When I returned home, I hit the ground running. I always do when I return from a conference. It had been 2 years since I had anything to attend, and it was great to finally be around friends and mentors again. January was an excellent month for the business, and I expect the rest of the year to be amazing (at least the part of it I can control)!

Wishing you all a wonderful 2022 as well!

Heirloom Portrait of a Young Girl

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 19:10:09 GMT

Mixed Media Painting

This was a fun and exciting portrait installation! I loved helping out my new friend Liz with a gorgeous piece of portrait art of her darling daughter, Carolina, for their beautiful, love-filled home. This was a joy to create from beginning to end! Mixed Media Heirloom pieces take the longest time to create, but they’re what I love most to do! The end product is worth the wait every single time.

Liz came to our "Words Matter" Portrait Exhibit last spring, and the message truly resonated with her. She herself was doing her best as a mom to express love to her daughter, and she believes that the words we say to our children matter very much. In addition, Liz loved the idea of making someone feel special and beautiful through the act of portraiture. After all, history is full with important people and the evidence to their importance was seen in their oil paintings by master artists. For centuries, people have been celebrated this way, and it was an honor to receive such a service. Modern times have taken away our sense of pride in some ways, and in my opinion, has truly created us to be lesser for it. We have forgotten that we are each individual masterpieces - just as we are. I am on a mission to help more people feel valued and celebrated through the ancient art of portraiture.

Modern tools have afforded us portrait artists a more streamlined way to create mixed media art so that is takes less time and is more attainable, but equally beautiful and long-lasting. This beautiful masterpiece that will act as a family heirloom for years to come. The result is priceless.

When I visited the Crespo home to start planning the portrait of Carolina, I could see that Liz was an avid fan of Frida Kahlo. Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter who was known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and the stories she would tell through them. I saw books and artifacts celebrating Frida and her various works. It led us to creating something of Carolina that was inspired by Frida's use of color and flowers in her paintings, so it would fit in their home and represent Liz's love for the artist's work. The result is what you see above, including installation.

I can't imagine a better way to show your daughter how truly valued she is! Thank you for allowing me to do this for you, Liz! I can’t wait to see what we might create next! Submit a form her e and choose "Heirloom Portrait" if you would like more information on commissioning one for yourself or someone you love.

Thank you for reading!

You are beautiful. You are valuable. You are loved.

Love, Julizza

Valentine's Couple Sessions

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 17:25:21 GMT

What's YOUR love story?

❤️ What's YOUR story? Did you get your mate right the first time? Did it take a few tries? We all seek love with someone who completes us in a way no one else can.

❤️❤️❤️ Unconditional love is rare, but it is a GIFT! ❤️❤️❤️

How do you celebrate it? DO YOU celebrate it? ��

I just love the message behind "Encanto", where Abuela confesses that in her fear of losing the miracle that her love for her husband and children created, she lost sight of who it was for. Her family! That miracle was created so they could live and thrive.

I believe sometimes we forget that our miracle of love is for us and our family... so we can all live and thrive! Setting a good foundation in our marriages are a great way to build, or rebuild, our home. ❤️��

Oftentimes, we neglect our marriage and our relationship ☹️, or take it for granted. In the busyness of life, it takes a back seat to everything else. Before we know it, the years have passed and as the kids leave, we find ourselves surprised to be in the company of a stranger and a love that wasn't watered.

Don't let that happen! Celebrate �� your marriage �� often and with pictures to help your spouse feel special and so you can both remember how happy you are. ❤️

This Valentine's Promotion is an incredible date opportunity for just the two of you! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

You will feel happy and excited throughout the session and it will ignite the spark between you! We will take pictures of the two of you together, and each of you as individuals. It's important to remember you are each unique and an equally important part of your marriage! You will want to make plans to enjoy each other's company directly afterward, so plan a meal or just hang out somewhere! You will feel a strong sense of love for each other all day, so enjoy it!

In a week or less, you will love coming in to view your images together and order your wall portraits, prints, albums, or purchasing a package that has it all! ��

From the images we create, you can enjoy portraits on the walls of your home and in the intimacy of your bedroom as a constant reminder of the reason you came together in the first place - to live and thrive happily together and build a life for your family. ❤️

We are also including an 11x14" Bible Scripture Print ✝️ with your qualified purchase to remind you of the 3rd chord that keeps you together. Enjoy the peace of prayer and scripture over one of your favorite images, and put it where you will see it every day ❤️

Your Portrait Experience will include:

❤️ In-Person Consultation + Styling Session ($50 Value)

❤️ 1 Hour Portrait Session in studio ($300 Value) (outdoor upgrade available)

❤️ Up to 3 Wardrobe Changes in studio (Formal look, Casual look, Plus 1 more!)

❤️ Complimentary 11x14” Bible Scripture Print Added To Your Qualified Purchase ($650 Value)

Total Value - $1000

Just CLICK on the link BELOW to learn more and take advantage of this Valentine's offer!!!!��

https://gomezportraits.bigcartel.com/product/valentine-couple-portraits

Christmas Card Sessions

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Sat, 30 Oct 2021 02:39:18 GMT

Upscale Cards, Beautiful Prints and Ornaments

We started working on a beautiful new set for our Christmas Card Sessions beginning in August this year, and are so excited to create more timeless images with it! Are you unsure of what to do for your holiday and Christmas cards? Let us help you and create a custom card you'll be delighted to send to your friends and family!

Limited Spots are available, so HURRY! Sessions are only priced at $30 and packages start at $199.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO BOOK YOUR SESSION

What did Normal Rockwell and Thomas Kinkade have in common? A wonderful, painstaking process to create the perfect painting. What does that have to do with me? I see myself as a growing and budding artist, never too big for my britches, always wanting to learn more about the masters that came before me, and using them as motivation to move forward. I have worked on these sets to make sure they are timeless in their presentation, and are a space for joy and smiles. I am wanting families to create long-term Christmas décor from the prints we create. Eventually, I will be painting and adding artwork to the options for these sessions so that families can decorate for Christmas with true seasonal masterpieces of their own families. I hope you'll come along on this journey with me, but for now, let's create some cards, prints, and ornaments!

Not sure if you should book? Check out some of our images from past years here !

Love, Julizza

Serving Houston, Tomball, Spring, The Woodlands, Cypress, Magnolia, Texas, and surrounding areas

Thank You, Giving Gown, for Making Me Your Honoree

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 22:48:37 GMT

Montgomery County's Women of Influence

Well, I certainly didn't expect this, but it made my first portrait exhibit even more exciting! Please watch as Bobbi Jo Miller (President at The Giving Gown Foundation ) presents this great news and announcement. Thank you to Jonetta B Productions for capturing and creating this awesome video!

Last month, The Giving Gown Foundation and I partnered up and hosted an interactive portrait exhibit in my studio for the first time ever, and it was a great success! With a vision I had in my head for over 8 years, Giving Gown was able to provide models and a platform to send out a message that we have been sharing since I first came on board. The message is that beauty is not an exterior trait, instead it is actually found within each person, and that WORDS MATTER. Be careful of the words you say to others and the words you say to yourself.

If you would like to read more about this portrait project, please read this Blog .

Thank you to everyone at The Giving Gown Foundation who helped make this happen, and with honoring me in this priceless way! I feel supremely blessed to be involved with this great organization.

MORE GREAT NEWS? Ok. Through the Julizza Gomez Portraits session fundraiser, I was able to donate $1100 towards their scholarship fund. More opportunities to raise funds to follow very soon, in fact. HOORAY!

Words Matter: A Portrait Project Exhibit

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 00:13:04 GMT

In Partnership With The Giving Gown Foundation

Where do I begin? This portrait exhibit was my first one, and it was an incredible success! I was overwhelmed with the positive responses of all those who attended, and witnessed many who were touched by the message we shared. Women and young ladies felt empowered, and I was able to raise $1200 toward scholarships for future Giving Gown Princesses! What an enormous blessing! (Photos below)

This endeavor came about when I approached The Giving Gown Foundation about a self-esteem exhibit that I have always wanted to do, but hadn't been able to before. Approximately 8 or so years ago, I was introduced to The Giving Gown Foundation and asked to speak to the girls on the subject of self-esteem. It came about because I shared a bit of my story with then-president, Ashley Atnip, who was a friend of mine from church. She saw potential in me to be able to relate with the girls who attended the Boutique, and share my story of triumph. She wanted me to be a role model for the girls, and show them how I came from a similar place as they did, went to college, and was working hard to break my generational curse. She believed I could inspire them to love themselves enough to go the distance in life, and to believe in their own beauty. As it turns out, I was still struggling with my own self-esteem, but didn't realize how much until I started teaching the positive messages for Giving Gown. Ashley encouraged me to use the self-esteem lessons that were produced by the Dove Redefining Beauty Campaign to help me along, and it was in exploring those lessons that I was inspired to create an exhibit like this.

I was challenged each year about my beliefs on beauty-both in the way the world defines it, and my own. As the years passed, I grew through self-reflection, prayer, and study, all for the sake of being genuine for the girls I was presenting to. Did I truly believe for myself what I was asking these young ladies to believe? I would tell them they were beautiful just as they were, but did I believe the same for me? I learned pretty quickly that I had some deeply embedded issues to face, and for several years, I challenged my own thinking, what I had been told, what society pushes, and my own terrible memories of being bullied as a child about my looks.

Each year, I kept getting stronger and stronger, until I fully accepted myself as beautiful, scars and imperfections and all. After all those years, The Giving Gown Foundation was good to me, and I was still involved with the self-esteem workshop.

Enter 2020, and COVID-19. We had to cancel last year's boutique, and that broke all of our hearts, but my presentation partner and I did an online presentation instead by Facebook Live to spread our positive self-image message. This year's boutique was also canceled, and I still really wanted to spread our message somehow. So, I remembered the Dove video I had seen all those years ago, and I felt it was a good time in my life to finally try the exhibit out. After all, I had all the ingredients to hold a successful exhibit. I pitched the idea to The Giving Gown Foundation's president, Bobbi Jo Miller, and she was excited! We set up a time to pitch the idea to the rest of the board members, and they loved it too. I had the green light to move forward with an 8 year-old dream!

The Giving Gown Foundation chose 10 participants for me to photograph and empower, which I did. They each were able to choose their favorite image during their portrait viewing, and I worked on their image to be a part of the exhibit. Each participant had a blast at her shoot, and they all gave feedback that they left in higher spirits than when they entered while feeling beautiful, empowered, valuable, and loved. That was good enough for me right there, but there was even more to do! You can see their portraits and read their bios here .

In preparation for the exhibit, the studio got a major renovation. We installed new ceiling tiles, a new ceiling-mounted projector (my old one was done ), and replaced my flowers among many other things. I stored most of my studio clutter elsewhere to make it look as much like a museum exhibit as was possible. I ordered artwork and frames for the walls, and hardware to hang the portraits from the ceiling. It looked GREAT in there! GGF had a balloon column donated by Bon Bon Events, and another balloon arch from Lauren Alvarado, and we set up some easels outside to make it inviting. This exhibit was such a success due to The GGF and their connections!

As people began to come, I enjoyed having conversations with them about self-esteem, and our main belief that words matter . The interactive exhibit allowed those who attended to write positive messages to the participants on sticky notes and leave it for them to keep forever. This practice was life-giving and a welcome respite from the usual negativity we face in the world today. Most of the attendees agreed that the words they say to themselves and others truly do matter, and they appreciated the reminder. The gold, however, was found when I came across someone who understood how important it was to be open to complimenting themselves just like they were complimenting the strangers in the hanging portraits. They were open to improving, to learning and listening alongside their daughters, and were willing to try making that day a day of change. There were some attendees who heard my story and the way I used to talk to myself, and it related with them. Through conversation, I taught them how to take control of their own inner voices and begin to think differently . When we think differently, we act differently and we speak differently. When we think differently, we watch what we say to our loved ones and friends. When we spread positivity, it affects our community and the world around us. In my triumph over my own self-hatred, I was able to become a force for good, and teach others to be and do the same. Now THAT is powerful, and I am grateful for the opportunity!

Everyone loved the exhibit, and I was receiving screenshot texts of some social media posts that weren't visible to me from women who felt like this exhibit was the best thing they had attended in a long while. That filled my heart, and as if that wasn't enough, The Giving Gown Foundation took a moment during our VIP night to announce that they had chosen me as their honoree for Montgomery County Women's Honor of Distinction. View Video

I can't express my gratitude enough to The Giving Gown Foundation and all they have done for me. They have empowered me, and believed in me, never doubted me, and now I know truly how that feels. It feels incredible! If you haven't felt empowered before, let me be the first to say...YOU can do anything you set your mind to do. When you have passion and persistence, you CAN achieve great things, believe me. If I can do it, so can YOU! I hope to see you next year!!

~Love, Julizza

Here We Go!

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 15:11:43 GMT

10 Year Business Goal MET ✅

Here we go! On our way to the “happiest place on earth”, Florida. Having the time and finances to take my kids to Disney has been my business goal for over TEN YEARS. When I made that goal, I was sitting in my first photographer training, and the presenter was talking about making $100,000 in a year. As a photographer?? My mind was blown and I was instantly interested in making it happen for me. I wondered how in the world it could be possible when I was only making a few extra dollars a month to supplement my income, and working long hours just for those. I walked into that course thinking that if I left my career as a teacher and chose to be a photographer instead, it would definitely mean a pay cut, but I wasn’t sure how much. I was prepared to endure that because photography was something I loved doing, and I always knew I wanted to own a business. I never could have imagined where my passion would take me, or what potential it truly had. I certainly didn’t know what it would take to reach my goals. If I could see into the future at that moment-the trials and growth I would have to endure, in addition to the TIME, PATIENCE, HEARTACHE, SACRIFICES, CHANGES, and BELIEF it would take-I would have said, “that sounds nice, but no thanks!” and turned right back around.

Time waits for no one. While I have been building this business, these beautiful kids have kept growing. I was hoping to bring them here when they were smaller, but I just couldn’t afford it yet. That grieved my heart, but you know what? It’s not worth mulling over when the future is bright! I am so grateful that God has been there every step of the way and has proved His faithfulness and love for me a million times over! What an incredible love!! If you could know the amount of times I’ve cried, wondering where the next payment would come from, scared for myself and the food I’d be able to provide for these two precious children, you would probably wonder why I would put myself through that pain and not just get a job. Well, I couldn’t. There WAS NO PLAN B!

I wanted to take a picture at this Florida airport, because the last time I was here was in 2016, and I slept on the floor when I arrived because I couldn’t afford a hotel. I had come to visit a mentor couple who own a hugely successful portrait business, that I had taken a class with at a conference in Dallas. They were not only where I wanted to be financially, but were also a goal I wanted with my family and personal life. They were kind and loving people, with servant hearts, who treated people with dignity and respect. I knew I wanted that for my own business. The conference week was over, but at our last dismissal, I went up to Lesa and told her, “I’m not done.” I wasn’t done learning. I was hungry and needed more coaching. They inspired me so much that I just knew I had to be around them more. Lesa said I didn’t have to go to Florida; we could conference over zoom, but I knew it wasn’t going to be enough for me. I knew I had to go in person because I had faith I was going to see something that was going to affect me, but I didn’t know what it would be. I had faith I would be changed by going there. So I maxed out my credit card to pay for the flight, car rental, and a day of training. I spent the night in the airport and used my YMCA membership to take a shower the next morning at a gym nearby. Greg and Lesa didn’t know my financial situation. They didn’t know I had $200 left in my business account and all my credit cards were maxed. But Gregory, Lesa, and their assistant, Pat (I may need to correct her name later-it was several years ago!) poured love and belief into me like I was a millionaire. That day of training was what I needed, and I remember the moment when belief first entered my heart. Pat got through to me about my worth, and told me “you deserve it” while talking about getting paid for the hard work I put in to creat every portrait. Evidently, that is what God sent me there to hear. The words she said and the new belief that locked itself into my brain, replacing an old belief that I wasn’t worth what people would pay, was the diamond I was buying with every penny and hurt I spent going there. Lesa offered room for me to spend the night in their home, not realizing it saved me from sleeping in the airport twice.

That trip changed my life so much!! I can’t put a price tag on my experience there, or the growth I’ve had since. Many miracles occurred in the last 15 years since I started this business, and if I were able to think clearly enough and wasn’t always in trauma mode, I probably should have written a book solely containing the miracles. My act of faith that this career I loved was the answer that was going to lead me towards the financial blessings I always wanted, was not a mistake. It was belief, manifesting itself into a goal that I’ve had since I was a young girl, starving for more out of life and more for my children. Most of all, I am able to show my kids what a life dedicated to searching and believing in Christ’s unique purpose for me, has done for me. What rewards I have been given for holding on to Jesus with every fiber of my being. It was difficult, but worth it, to believe He loved me even while knowing how awful a sinner I was and am. I focused on forgiving myself and doing my best to bless others with my gift. What rewards I get for the hard work I did, and for believing in God’s faithfulness and grace!. I find the spiritual rewards to be far greater, and that is the lesson I want to pass on to my kids.

While we are having fun, while I pay for the trip 100% myself, I will continually give God thanks and praise. I am so very proud of the fact that I can afford this myself, as a co-parenting mom, and my heart is bursting right now, knowing we are about to embark on 5 days of fun together. God and I are not done with me yet, but I am celebrating coming this far.

God blessed me with dreams, strength, and the belief I needed to attain them. I have spoken to Him every Monday morning for the last 3-4 years of my life, and we have 3-4 hours at minimum, per week together. Without that prayer time, I would not be here. Glory be to God for the transforming work He has done in me! Im not sure what caused so many people to dismiss me, but I think that led me to be able to “see” those who are like me. I see those who are the underdogs, those that others dismiss, and those who feel like they are completely alone. I had very few close humans supporting me along the way, but I am thankful for my church body, who was always encouraging me when they saw me, and the living saints that reminded me that God loved me and cared for me, and they did too. They did not judge or abandon me-they held me up when I fell, and the body helped me spiritually and financially. They checked in on me and that made me feel “seen”... I’m looking at you, Michael Montalvo. And to the one human besides my children who is in my tiny circle now, who stepped in as the friend I needed when it seemed everyone BUT the church and Jesus was my enemy-everyone including even myself (I am my own worst enemy), and pulled me out of the pit of despair, walked beside me in my troubles, I thank you. To the father of my children, and my in-laws, who gave them a steady base while I was away all those nights and weekends, thank you. Each one of my clients who have invested in portraits of themselves, their families, and loved ones, are a part of my success, and I am grateful and thankful for every single one. I am confident that not one person comes through my door that God didn’t purposely send, so I could serve them and make them happy. And of course, my dad, who taught me to go and make something of myself, then turn around and help others like me.

When I get back to Houston, I’ll be hosting my first portrait exhibit in my studio (March 25, 26, 28-link to register and attend is in the comments), which is yet another dream fulfilled. I and my support have been working hard to make this exhibit something wonderful, and I hope you come to see. It may transform your life, and I know it will help the participants in their lives as well. You may be surprised with the blessing you’ll receive in your heart for coming.

I hope this inspires anyone reading this that staying faithful to God’s purpose in your life and to believe in grace. It truly pays off! Go after Jesus and don’t give up! My purpose is still in process, and growth and healing has been very slow for me, but I’m not stopping. God’s purpose for me is actually way bigger than this, and that scares me, but I’m going to continue to give my life over for His cause. I’ll keep fighting to become what He wants me to be while I still have breath in my lungs.

My “why” is with me today, and we’re going to have FUN for the next five days! If there’s anything I want others to be inspired to do, it’s to know Jesus so well while you’re here on earth, that by the time you get to heaven, you’ll be just like old friends. That was my goal from the start. He took this hungry little girl who came from a background of poverty, a girl who used to tuck dresses into her pants so she could have pretty blouses, and caused her to have huge dreams and breathed life and hope into her. I hope that means one day that other little hungry boys and girls will be given dreams and be loved and fed. I hope people who know my story will see my face in them, and are inspired to support, help, and give to them because each one holds God-given potential to inspire the world around them.

If God made this out of me, which I happen to think is pretty awesome, just imagine what He could do through you! Persistence is the key; slow or fast doesn’t really matter. You can do anything you set your mind to! ❤️

Portraits For A Cause

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 05:09:04 GMT

Donations Benefiting The Giving Gown Foundation Scholarship Fund

Many of you are familiar with The Giving Gown Foundation , as I have mentioned several times that it is one of my favorite charities to give to. Its goals are at the heart of what I want for young girls-a sense of confidence and empowerment. The girls they serve easily could have been me growing up, and I love to give back as much as I can through self-esteem talks and volunteering my photography services. Recently, I have partnered with The Giving Gown Foundation to highlight some of these girls, some volunteers, and some sponsors in an exhibit called Words Matter: A Portrait Project . The exhibit will take place at my studio, and will feature portraits of the participants chosen by Giving Gown to be highlighted. I'll be sharing more on that in my next post.

Girls who participate in the Giving Gown Boutique receive a prom dress and accessories for FREE, so that they can attend their prom in style and with confidence. If you have never been, you should definitely consider visiting or volunteering! You can help in many ways from sewing to serving food, to being a Fairy Godmother and helping the young girls find the perfect dress from a large variety of donated dresses. I mean HUNDREDS of dresses! In addition to gifting beautiful dresses, the Giving Gown Foundation seeks to instill confidence in each girl. The girls can also apply for a scholarship, and the Words Matter exhibit mentioned above highlights a couple of last year's scholarship winners.

I was once someone who needed all the help I could get to attend college. I knew if I wanted a chance to break the cycle of poverty in my family, I would have to go to college, and that meant I needed to make great grades. I worked very hard while also working part-time at a job and did so. I graduated in the top 10% of my class. It was foundations like Giving Gown that provided scholarships for me to be able to purchase books and supplies and get me through my first couple of years of school. I graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelors of Science degree in Mathematics, which allowed me to start out with a career in teaching before moving into building my own business. My education paved the way for me to be able to do the impossible.

For a limited time, you can donate and get great photography in the process! In conjunction with the exhibit, I am donating my services. By purchasing a mini session for $99, you will be receiving 30 minutes in the studio with me, and 100% of that session fee will be donated to The Giving Gown Foundation's Scholarship Fund, to help girls who are like me. What an amazing way to help and empower the next generation! Your 30 minute session will involve me capturing you at your best. Don't be fooled, I can create some beautiful portraits of you or your family in 30 minutes! However, if that's not enough for you, and you want an out-of-this-world portrait experience, there are ways to upgrade your shoot. Have questions? Give me a call at (832) 559-0701 or email me at appointments@gomezportraits.com

Thank you for your support! I hope you will consider giving toward this very worthy cause.

DONATE HERE

Building a Legacy

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 13:23:30 GMT

Full Steam Ahead

{Original post date: May 24, 2019}

I’m a mix of emotions. I’m super proud and happy, and completely and utterly sad and broken up. I got my (building) sign up in front of my gallery on Monday, and I saw it for the first time Wednesday. I am SO proud, but I am SO sad that my Dad can’t see it or know about it, and I can’t hear his voice or his response. I just imagine that he would be REALLY proud of me.

One aspect that I didn’t expect when I started this business was to do it alone. That tears me up, but Dad didn’t raise a weak woman. He always told me that I don’t have to depend on anyone, and that I should be independent, and I aspired to be that…and I became that. Things happened as they needed to happen for this dream to come to fruition, and God has continued to bless me. It took a talk with God a few years ago that affirmed me that I CAN do this by myself, and I had a mixed set of emotions then too. I was happy to be told that, but I was also scared. The last time I felt empowerment like that was when my Dad was alive. Leading up to that moment, and every day since, it took hours of prayer, petitioning, and being on my knees searching…to understand what my capabilities are. It has taken a few key people saying some key things during life altering moments to help me as well. God led me to those people.

But without constant prayer, faith, and belief that I had a larger purpose that I needed to fill, I would not have gone this far, committed this much, or fought this hard. I would not have a reason to chip away at the mentality that a woman-that I, especially-couldn’t build a business on her own like this. God needed me to believe that I could do this on my own, and He beckoned me to believe in myself. I had to question my mentality over and over and over again, and still do. I questioned who I was hanging out with, and what I was taking in.

I am PROUD of myself for accomplishing what no one thought I could do, including me. But God knew. And I think my Dad knew. I’ve had to channel his words from when I was 19 or 20 years old. I’ve been trying to channel his words to get to a moment like this, and moments yet to come. I've been using that fuel for so long, and the fuel of the scriptures in the living Bible. It keeps me going. I haven't completely "made it", but I see what y hard work is able to create now, and I want to encourage you to never give up, no matter what you are trying to achieve.

My Dad wanted a legacy for himself, and he has one. I am a part of his, and this is part of my legacy too, and that's how I've always viewed my business. I'm happy that it was his hard work that I channeled to get me through-to create what I've created, and do what I've done. I just want to share this moment with you....I am really proud, and I am really sad.

Rio and Lathan, if you ever come across this, I HAD to do this for you. You mean THAT MUCH to me. You will always mean that much to me-this is NOT about me. It's not. I want you to see what you can do, what your mom did, with the empowerment of where she came from, not the crutch of where she came from. I'm giving you a glimpse of what you can do, because you're starting out way ahead of me, and I will always support you. I love you both.

Image by Michael Martinez Fine Portraits

{1 year, 5 months later}

This is still hard! I simply cannot believe how hard this is, and it's still scary! A rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, giving up then getting up, and barely moving forward when I simply don't want to. My kids and the freedom I have to be here for them, provide for them, and spend time with them, are still the only reasons I keep moving forward. I wish I could admit that what I do is enough to keep me motivated, but to be honest, it isn't. Especially when I feel like I'm in a battle, I feel rejected, or I feel like what I do isn't important to anyone. I think about walking into Lowe's and grabbing an employment application embarrassingly often. Deep inside I know what I do is good and important, but sometimes the signs and the constant failures make me believe its not. I fail every. single. day. Every day. Every. single. day, and I wish I was exaggerating. But, I try. And I'm learning to actually celebrate the wins, and be proud of my trying. It seems harder to be taken seriously as a single minority woman in sales, but I'm learning that I cannot back down for the sake of the kids. Life isn't fair, owning a business isn't easy, and I've been swimming upstream for a long time. But, I know there's a tipping point ahead. A point where all these efforts will tip the market, and what I've done to build this business will be what everyone wants, and I am looking forward to that! With the love I feel from the people closest to me, it's full steam ahead!

Why what I do is different from everyone else:

I am a portrait photographer with my own fully equipped studio in which I create an experience for my clients that helps me empower them as individuals and families through my lens and editing, and makes them feel truly great about themselves. The portraits I create will help them be remembered beautifully, and establish their legacy by being passed down from generation to generation.
I care about long-lasting LEGACY. I only sell products that your grandchildren will see. I don't sell digitals, I GIFT them with your prints. I sell portraits, not images to keep on your phone and go no further. Or even to a consumer printer. That's not legacy, and it's not ever what professional photography was about. I believe that's a lazy way to do business, and it's a disservice to families who feel they're getting a great deal, but are losing memories every year. They spend their money for quite literally a collection of 0's and 1's, no prints, nothing. I'm extremely passionate about that and against it. The generations before us had it right. Go to a professional photographer for professional imaging and printing (doesn't pertain to headshots or commercial product shoots designed solely for web presence, of course).
I work on commission. If I sell, my kids and I eat. No side hustles or baking. This is what I do. That makes me extremely motivated to make you happy and make each image perfect so that you'll want to buy it. There's no $250 fee and I send you the digitals and run and hope you don't have any complaints about your gallery. I have to sit there and watch you react to my work, and help you buy prints, which makes me do certain things during the photo shoot. It makes me fix hair. It makes me look at your figure, your face, and the lighting. It makes me tell you I hate your shirt and suggest a change (sorry). Losing your pictures would be like losing rent money. I'm going to do everything in my power not to. You think I won't show up? Don't worry. I'll be there. If I sell you a wall-sized portrait, I'm going to make sure it looks incredible, and we are both extremely happy on installation day.
I offer on-location or studio portraits • Wall portraits , Wall Galleries, and Portrait Framing • Portfolio Collections of loose matted prints • Portrait Albums • Gift Prints • Framed Collages • Mixed Media Artwork
I have experience capturing families for 13 years, and with making people smile for my entire life. I love people through my camera. That's a gift I carry.
I'm artistic, I can digitally paint a portrait, and I succeed in creating beautiful things that people are proud to show off.
I'm a mom, so I think about all the special little details I love about my kids, and I remember to capture them for every mom.
I'm a jock. So I know what it means when men want something manly and done right.
I'm a Christian. So I'm going to show you kindness and grace, and I'm going to strive for impeccable customer service. However, I am not perfect! When I fail, I will apologize and fix my mistakes and make them right as quickly as possible.
I'm a business owner. So it matters to me what my business reputation is. If you love doing business with me, you'll tell your friends and they will too. I will treat you with respect. If I can make you happy, I will.
I'm a networker. I understand your headshot communicates more to your prospective clientele than 1000 words. I will get it right. I will also connect you with my network and bring value to your life and your family by presenting the people I know on my social media platforms. I believe in strong families. So I will use my resources to give my clients tools to build their strong families.
I'm a photographer. I understand my camera, lighting, etc., but I'm a professional too. So, I'm always in training to get more looks, more poses, more ways to communicate through pictures. There is no ceiling to my learning in this profession, and I learn something new every day in my craft.
So many more minor details, it's hard to list them all, but I hope you'll come in and see for yourself!

Love, Julizza

Fall Family Portraits - November Special

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 01:48:23 GMT

For this month only!

Book a family session and spend $1500 or more on prints and get all your digitals from your session!

What are the steps to booking a family portrait session? Give us a call and we'll take your deposit for an outdoor or indoor session right over the phone! (832) 559-0701. Then, we will go through these steps to ensure you have an optimal portrait experience!

1-Consultation

2-Portrait Session

3-View/Order Session

Consultation: We will discuss what you want in family photos! Who will be included in the portraits? What type of look are you going for? Where will the portraits be displayed? How can we optimize your wardrobe?

Portrait Session: Relax and have FUN! It will be a GREAT time! I've been doing this for more than 13 years, and you can rest assured that you will have a great variety of images in your gallery-better than you even imagined. Our most common problem? Too MANY awesome ones!

View/Order Session: Come in with the hubby and have a moment to enjoy a slideshow of your portraits set to music. Make your selections of favorites and choose from our incredible selection of products of how you'll want your portraits to exist forever. On the wall as a canvas or metal piece of art? In a portfolio box? In an album? The choice is yours! Enjoy!

You can always count on this:

Friendly, helpful attitude
Professional lighting
Professional posing as well as candid shots
Perfect colors (no neon green grass or orange faces, or whites so bright you can't see the person in the picture!!)
A great gallery of beautiful images
An awesome and professional experience!

Call us today to get started!

CampShe Pictures

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 12:09:15 GMT

Women's Event benefitting Heels to Halos

CampShe is a ladies night series in The Woodlands/Northwest Houston. They host events where woman can laugh, make new friends and experience new things, from cocktail and wine classes to self-defense to releasing frustration.

After moving to town, founder Dezrae Derksen realized she wasn’t the only one who wanted to develop a strong group of local ladies, and that ladies who’ve lived here for years wanted to mix up their experiences. So CampShe was born.

Dezrae and I were introduced and we immediately hit it off over the phone talking about hosting an event together. I pitched an idea of some way to empower women while taking pictures and making them feel beautiful. Dezrae got excited as her mind immediately went to how she can integrate the two for her CampShe women. The women in CampShe earn "badges", much like girl scouts do, and she thought they could earn a "red lip", "eyeliner", "glam hair", and "catwalk" badge by participating in a night of learning, then they could walk down a red carpet Hollywood glam (Marilyn Monroe) style, and have their picture taken. We could then raise funds for Halo House , which is a new favorite charity for me, that I'll write about soon!

The night was so fun! Dezrae had makeup experts doing women's red lips, Cherry Blow Dry Bar doing hair, and even had a former model/catwalk coach teaching them how to walk down the red carpet fashion-style.

Before the event, I studied for the best way to pull off the bright Hollywood lights setup. I had a beauty dish set up high behind me, a backlight on the floor behind them, and I tried to create shadows using a flash and a laundry basket, but that didn't pan out. That was ok, because I felt the effects of what I had going on were great as they were. During her shoot, you'll see that Marilyn had a bright light in front of her and some backlighting.

I "attended" an online photo conference the week prior, and one of the presenters lit his subjects in exactly this fashion, for exactly the same results, and I was super excited to try it out for myself. I perfected it in the studio a couple of days before the shoot, and it was ready to go that night. The women must have thought I was preparing for a space liftoff with all the equipment I had to bring! But, it was fun for them, they truly loved and enjoyed the pictures, and I enjoyed making them and raising a little bit of money for Halo House.

Thank you, Dezrae Derksen, for allowing me to be a part of your special event! Here are few more of my favorite images below.

Are You Ready?

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 22:52:03 GMT

May We Make a Portrait Out of You?

Pictured above:

Angela Aja is the founder and CEO of Angela Aja Coaching, Best- selling author of Summoned to Soar: Five Stages of the Rise of a Woman and Co-Founder of The Flutter – A Virtual Empowerment Center for Women. She is a certified life coach with over 30 years of mentoring and coaching experience, training heart-centered, faith-centric leaders to shape impactful lives for themselves and their communities.

I was happy to do a Beauty Shoot with Angela and learn about how ALIKE we are! Angela has a vibrant soul, and I appreciated getting to know her. The shoot got emotional, and I appreciated her showing her heart to me. It never ceases to amaze me how much women simply need to feel listened to and valued. It was my pleasure to create something indicative of Angela's life journey and I can't wait to share it with you! Tune in for a few more images of Angela coming soon as part of an Artist Project!

LEARN MORE ABOUT ANGELA

Some Like it HOT

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 20:53:34 GMT

Let's GLAM! Event by CampShe September 25, 2020

Ladies, its time to find that dress that makes you feel fabulous and join us for a night to remember! We will learn how to do a perfect winged liner, red lip, and Marilyn Monroe hair. We will learn to walk the red carpet and have a 1950's inspired photoshoot by Julizza!

Vendors

Makeup artist

Pin up hairstyle artists

Catwalk coach

What's a night without a purpose? We will be raising funds for Heels to Halos , an organization whose vision is to see women in the sex industry healed, delivered and set free.

We will walk through time and celebrate the women who have paved the way for us to be anything we want to be.

SIGN UP HERE

Think Like A Boss!! Feature podcast with host Kristie Castilow

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 22:39:02 GMT

Episode 7: Portrait Artist, Julizza Gómez

I was featured on a podcast!! Many thanks to Kristie Castilow, host of the Think Like a Boss! podcast. She was so kind to think to interview me for this wonderful service she does for the business leadership community. Please tune in to listen to not only my interview, but the others as well! Kristie is an incredible host! ~ Julizza

Kristie Castilow:

People ask me all the time who did the beautiful photos on my website and social media. Well, now you can hear about it from the photographer herself, Ms. Julizza Gómez! Listen to Julizza share details about her Portrait Art creations and the special experience she creates to make the photos flawless and unforgettable!

EPISODE 7: PORTRAIT ARTIST, JULIZZA GÓMEZ

Business Insurance? Facebook LIVE with Courtney Weidner

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 21:58:03 GMT

Interview with my friend, Courtney Weidner

If you are someone who needs business insurance, I certainly hope you will check out Courtney Weidner from Weidner Insurance. She has become a fabulous resource and friend of mine and I would trust her to take care of any of my friends' insurance needs.

Courtney knows her stuff!
Courtney is an insurance NERD! Loves to read those coverage contracts and will look yours over for you.
Courtney is GENUINE, HONEST, PROMPT, and RELIABLE

Give her a call at
(936) 441-3517

Courtney Weidner Insurance

2020: The Year of FAMILY

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 03:41:53 GMT

It's already a part of history. Make it a beautiful part of YOURS.

If COVID-19 taught us anything, it taught us that the most important thing in life is FAMILY. We at Julizza Gómez Portraits are choosing to celebrate this fact!

***

"The Great Pause" was a time for staying home, being together, and sheltering in place. It will always be remembered. What will you do to commemorate this time in history? Let us help you create something HISTORICAL for your legacy, and for future generations to look back on and enjoy with pride!

***

Book us for your family portrait and receive a special 2020 picture Christmas tree ornament and 25 gorgeous Christmas cards to share with family with your purchase.

Limited Time Only!

Rio Celeste

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 03:25:52 GMT

Turning 15

"Rio Celeste" I'm excited to reveal this one! I took a little bit to post because I chose to go the extra mile and perform the vision I had in mind. It would have been faster and easier to just throw up the edited image as it was, but my true desire was to create a painted portrait of her, and this one caught my eye from the moment it was captured. I digitally painted it (and still may go back and tweak some things), but I am SUPER EXCITED about the outcome!!! I LOVE IT! I have yet to decide which image from her gallery will be the wall portrait; we may end up with more than one. I hope you like it as I do! She loves it and is really growing into a beautiful young lady. I can't say enough about how proud I am of her and all she is. Still super in love with you, Rio! You are and always will be my muse, and as always, "I hope you dance". <3

Click here to get more information on how you can join in the "I Hope You Dance" Artist Project for your daughter(s) or yourself and your daughter together.

One Year Anniversary of Village Square Studio

julizza@gomezportraits.com (Julizza Gomez) — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 02:34:49 GMT

Thankful for Our First Year!

I CAN'T BELIEVE A YEAR HAS ALREADY PASSED! I am so proud of what has been accomplished. THANK YOU to all who have supported a local. minority, woman-owned business. This year had been a whirlwind, and we got hit with a pandemic to boot. I honestly have had an incredible year of personal growth, and am nothing but thankful for this wonderful career and opportunity to make people happy with portraits.

Although it's one year at the Village Square studio, it marks 15 years since I began this journey in portrait photography. Over the years, my style has changed and evolved. I am influenced with art from past, and I study them in order to create timeless works of art myself. At this point in my career, I am focusing on making people happy while honoring their legacies through family portraiture as well as empowering women with their own genre of portraits. It's an incredible gift to be able to provide a way for families and women to remember a moment in time for 100+ years.

To my seasoned clients who have stuck with me for 10+ years, THANK YOU for helping me as I grow! Your belief in me and the way you value me has made this growth possible. For all my new clients, THANK YOU for being a part of this amazing journey and making it a success. You are all what makes this business work, and I am grateful to have you as clients and friends. God bless!

Spring Style

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:44:53 GMT

Spring is almost here! That means in the world of fashion, Spring styles are out and ready to be worn. This is one of my favorite seasons when it comes to clothing. Having worked in clothing retail for quite some time, it was always exciting to get the new styles ready for the floor, coming out of the neutrals of winter, and into bright, beautiful, flirty colors and patterns. This article will fill you in on Spring styles and trends of 2020 and give you inspiration for your wardrobe!

Currently my online carts and Pinterest page are filled with romantic florals and pastels, as well as bold patterns - leopard and snakeskin prints are very trendy right now. Dresses are one of my favorite items to buy because they are easy to throw on and accessorize with, so I love that Spring brings lots of dress options! Julizza and I got a chance to go out to some local shops and do some trying on (and shopping of course). This season brings so many reasons to buy. We have spring break coming up next week, and Easter just around the corner. It is also the beginning of gala season!

Our first stop was Tumbleweeds and Notions which houses 31 Roots. They have such great clothes and lots of different options! Take a look at these gorgeous outfits for some inspiration!

We had so much fun at this store, the ladies there were so awesome and helpful! We will definitely be back!

The next and last stop on our shopping trip was Vida Bella Boutique in Hughes Landing. We were able to find a fun outfit with a bold snake print patterned pant, as well as a beautiful dress for a gala! Julizza also left with a gorgeous red dress that will be perfect for events! Stay tuned on social media to see said dress! �� Check out our awesome finds below.

Thank you to Tumbleweeds and Notions, 31 Roots, and Vida Bella Boutique for the amazing finds and inspiration!

Galindo’s Barbershop Branding

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 17:36:31 GMT

Galindo’s Barbershop has a unique style and branding concept. When I first met with Zak at his shop, the first thing I noticed was the sleek, minimalist, strong branding. The ceiling, walls, flooring, seating, and furniture were all black. It felt like I was in an upscale, custom room. It was very different than the barbershops I’ve been in before! We discussed his business, the feeling he wants to communicate to his clients, and his overall goals. We looked at his website and I gave him some ideas on how I could help him brand himself further. Zak chose to start with providing headshots of his current barbers. He looked on my website and found a lighting scheme that he liked, and it was on me from there to create for him. He chose a high-contrast and powerful one-light look, which was consistent with his branding. We scheduled two different days to shoot (one day at each of his locations) and I got to work on my plan for the setup. I knew he had black brick walls, so I used that to my advantage, but brought along a black background just in case. Zak wanted the images to feel masculine, so I customized the lighting scheme to do just that. The results are incredible! I love that Zak’s website will be updated with headshots of his barbers that will match his branding of “sleek”, “upscale”, “minimalist”, “manly” and “clean”.

This is not your typical barbershop! Zak sends his barbers on trainings to make sure they are up to date on the latest haircuts and styles. He also takes the time to have trainers come in and educate his staff on how to treat, trim, condition, and cut in order to get unruly beards under control. Galindo’s cares about your time, they are open 7 days a week and you can schedule your appointment 24/7 with their app. They care about how you feel, with good vibes when you walk in, and a free beer while you wait. They care about how you look, they only hire competent, licensed barbers with at least 2 years of experience to make sure you get the absolute best quality this area has to offer.

Thank you Galindo’s Barbershop for choosing Julizza Gómez Portraits to help you with your headshots for your business! I am here for you, I’m happy to provide incredible professional services for you, AND I care about your success! Check out Galindo's website and schedule your appointment today!

Want a more behind the scenes look? Make sure to watch the video !

Turning Over a New Leaf

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 21:43:23 GMT

Happy New Year 2020

Do you know what I love about a new year? I love that you can use that day like a switch. Although it's simply another 24 hours, another full rotation of the earth on its axis, just like the one before it, and the one that comes after it, somehow January 1st can be the start of something new. You can flip the switch, reset your life on that date, and you can more easily put the past behind you than on other days. It is a new beginning, and I love that people use it like that for themselves. For most of us, circumstances haven’t changed, yet something DOES change-our outlook on them. Most of us want to start off the new year with positivity, hope, and promise. Otherwise, New Year’s resolutions wouldn’t be such a popular practice. Many of us have waited for December 31st JUST so that we CAN ditch our negative outlook, and focus on a more positive one. There’s just something about that day that makes it much easier to go through with it.

While you are being positive about yourself, please remember to be positive for others, too. Everyone has their own journey they are walking, and often they are trying to walk a new walk too. Be compassionate with those around you trying to turn a new leaf. You don’t have to be a part of their new journey. Just allow them to have it. Don’t be that voice that echoes in their head as motivation to prove the naysayers wrong. Be the voice that tells them they can do it, and if you can’t be that voice, then be a silent one.

I am turning over a new leaf, flipping the switch, starting anew. I have chosen to pursue my photography as art more this year than ever before, and focusing on the things I want to create. I want to focus on my purpose: to love people. I want to help people love themselves too. I still possess the talents and gifts that have gotten me here, and I am thankful for them. This year, I will be adding on to them without fear or reserve. I am creating to please God, my clients, and myself, and I can’t wait to set myself up for it.

2019 looked like a success to everyone watching, but truthfully, 2019 was a survival year for me. I went through so many trials and hardships with my personal life and business, that it’s hard to believe it all. So many things that come easy for other people seemed to always be hard for me. There were times I wanted to quit. There were times I forgot what it was all for. There were times I thought God wanted me to fail. There were times I felt no one understood me at all. Times I knew I was being underestimated once again. Times I was told my work wasn’t worth the investment. Times people passed up the art I created and bought absolutely nothing, Those killed me and my finances, and it was hard to recover mentally and convince myself I was in fact worthy once again. No sales led to not being able to pay the bills, but we got by with help. I have always been independent, have always made my own money, and have never asked for assistance. I had to do that this year. That was humbling, but I learned that I will do whatever it takes for my kids to have what they need, and that I will work hard to make my dream provide for us financially as well as keep me balanced creatively. Depression kept me from focusing for 10 months, spanning from last year to near the end of this one. Getting back up was only possible with God, weekly prayer walks, and daily meditations.

2020 will be SO different! I can feel it in my bones. I’m the happiest I’ve been in a very, very, long time. I love my little family. My relationship with my ex is phenomenal, and my kids are doing great. I’ve worked hard to have harmony in my home, and I’ve gotten over the failed relationships of people who saw me only as an opportunity to make their lives better while making life difficult for me. I see who is on my team, and its clear who never was. I can sense who would rather judge me and talk about me rather than understand me, or help me. My depression was linked to all of those terrible situations, and I’ve done the last of my grieving over it. I see the promise of tomorrow and the gift of the present in the faces and hearts of my children. I never want to waste another minute worrying about the hate.

I can’t wait for this year to knock the socks off every year before it! The peace for myself that I have patiently waited for has finally arrived, and I get to see it manifest in the beautiful art that I will create moving forward. This is far from a New Year’s resolution-it is a new walk of life. Lord willing, my kids will only see love, confidence, happiness, and beauty on my face going forward.

If you are struggling, please don’t give up. Peace will come and you will experience it. Just hold on to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, because He truly loves you and wants the best for you. Hold on to the precious moments of connection with your children. Focus on the joy of being human, of existing in such a time as this, in being a father or mother, a partner, a husband, or a wife. Those are blessings no one should take for granted.

You have a gift to give the world, and that is to BE YOURSELF. Enjoy who YOU are. If you are fierce, be fierce. If you are strong, be strong. If you are funny, be funny. Take the time to seek out your weaknesses and work on them. Don’t lose yourself to your surroundings and let others decide your attitude, or what is best for you. Pray and let God guide you. Let your heart and mind work together. Be both logical and passionate. Sometimes, life isn’t about following your heart all the time-that can actually be the wrong thing for you. Tell a close friend what you’re going through so as not to make emotional decisions all the time. Let them help you think logically. Look at people’s actions; don’t rely on their words. Don’t waste time doubting yourself, as hard as that seems. Believe in yourself, believe in those you love, and support them. Don’t waste time trying to convince people to love or care about you. It doesn’t work that way. Love yourself, take care of yourself and those you are responsible for, and give life your best. True friends will see that, and want to help you. You are worth it!

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and I wish you bountiful blessings, a Happy New Year, and a prosperous 2020 for you, your friends, and your family!

Love, Julizza

What " Legacy" Means to Me

jh@jhportraitartist.com (Julizza Gomez) — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 16:54:06 GMT

Legacy, for me, isn’t simply about monetary wealth; it’s about a different type of wealth. Legacy is the wealth of intangibles that I leave behind. Legacy is the mark I make on the world during my brief moment here, and the type of ripples my existence makes. What lives were changed for the better because I existed? What was I able to give away or teach others? Did they see a better way of dealing with conflict? Did they learn how to have compassion on others? Did they learn how to live less selfishly? You cannot truly gift or teach what you do not have or practice. If I was able to give someone else strength, courage, compassion, inspiration, hope, faith, belief, kindness, and pure love…then that, to me, is “legacy”. What the next generation will remember about me are all of these things, more than anything, and I will always be ready to give them the reason for the hope that I have-Jesus. He lifts my head in times of trouble, and He is the eternal spring from which I am watered. My strength has never come from me, but from the Lord Jesus who lives within me. My head is lifted once again, I have stepped at least one foot forward daily, and here I go again. I am proud to be the daughter of an incredibly strong King.

What would you tell your family? Father’s day video

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 17:40:45 GMT

If you had 5 minutes…

What would you tell your family? As a bonus on this promotion , I am including a time capsule 5 minute video of dad (and/or step-dad) addressing his wife and kids. What I miss most about my Dad is his VOICE. I want to give children an opportunity to have their Dad tell them they love them on video as part of this promotion. It isn't just a picture. It’s a legacy, a memory, and an everlasting GIFT.

Purchase the Father’s Day Promotion

HURRY! PROMOTION ENDS TOMORROW

Your Life Matters

Mon, 27 May 2019 17:42:32 GMT

Your life matters. I read a meme recently that said, “if you want to honor our fallen heroes, be the kind of American worth fighting for.” I took that to mean that each of us should be good citizens, believe in freedom and everyone’s equal right to the pursuit of happiness. I figured it mean to be a good person-positive, happy, and useful. It seems like oftentimes people begin to believe that they and their lives and talents don’t matter. But, to all of the heroes we remember today, all of our lives mattered. They mattered enough to go to war and die for.

I wanted to spend some time away on sabbatical and New Orleans is one of my favorite destinations. I fell in love with the arts and culture of NOLA the first time I visited 8 or 9 years ago. Since my sabbatical landed on Memorial Day, I wanted to create a patriotic photograph to present to you. I was determined to get something profound to give to you, and I figured the National WWII Museum would be the perfect place.

I wasn't disappointed! Upon my feet hitting the pavement outside of the parking garage, I felt immediately patriotic in the surroundings. In my head, I thought I would capture a dynamic display of American flags and get some award-winning photograph. However, what I found was something I truly connected with, and put aside my aspirations for the red, white, and blue. My photography feels best when my subject is saying something to me, and this monument’s presence was overwhelmingly loud in its silent reverie. I was thankful I came across it, and to be brought “home” the true reason we have Memorial Day.

From the description, “The Squadron Leader briefs his fighter pilots before the mission, and the young pilots mask nervous anticipation with steely resolve. They muster the quiet courage needed to fly yet another mission in spite of heavy losses. The five lighter figures depict spirits of fellow pilots already killed on previous mission. They are gone, but not forgotten.

The sculptor, Fredric Arnold, drew from his personal experience flying combat missions in P-39s, roving the skies over North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. After six months of combat, Arnold was one of a handful of P-38 pilots still alive from his aviation cadet class. Following the war, Arnold vowed to convey the incalculable human cost of war and pay tribute to the more than 88,000 U.S. airmen killed during World War II. He created this mission briefing scene in clay and cast it in bronze, completing the seven-year project at the age of 94, just two years before his death in 2018.”

What I learned while taking pictures of this piece was that each character in the scene has a story. Upon talking to a woman who had close connections to the artist’s family, I learned a little about some of the spirits. Although not one of them represents one man in particular, they are inspired by true stories.

Spirit standing alone: This pilot is standing alone because as he went after an enemy, he broke out of formation and exposed himself to fire. He was shot down and perished.

Spirit touching soldiers of pilots on bench: This pilot had fallen the day before this briefing, and was there to encourage the rest of the team.

Spirit with crossed arms: This pilot is frustrated because he made a move in the air that got himself and another pilot killed.

Spirit consoling pilot with crossed arms: This is the man he got killed, consoling his comrade, saying something like, “it’s ok, sometimes these things happen”.

Mr. Arnold and one other pilot of their original group of 14 pilots survived combat, and the two remained close following the war. They vowed the “last one standing would do something to honor” their fallen buddies. He fulfilled that vow 70 years later by creating “Lest We Forget” Monument to memorialize his fellow WWII aviators. He died at 96, a lifelong artist who appreciated beauty wherever he found it, but went to war when the need arose.

I walked away with a deeper feeling of appreciation in my heart today, and I am thankful for Mr. Arnold for upholding his oath to his Squadron, and for his beautiful creation. Happy Memorial Day to all. Your life matters.