{Mi primer viaje a México l Cabo San Lucas Wedding Photographer}

Well here it is……finally!  Sunday I got back from my first international trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  Earlier this year, I applied to a posting online.  A fabulous photographer, Ed Keeley, needed a 2nd photographer for a corporate event.  I really wanted to apply, but to be honest, I almost didn’t.  Ed said he preferred a photographer with event experience.  So keeping true to my ever aspiring self, I decided that wedding receptions were like events and I applied.  I interviewed a few weeks later and found out I got the job.  I was SO super excited because not only would I get to be shooting in Mexico, but I’d be staying at the MOST fantastic resort….all expenses paid.

Esperenza, is an enchanting, secluded resort with world class service and amenities, great accommodations, beautiful views, two private beaches, private swimming pools, one of the most beautiful spas I’ve ever seen, and just an ambience that oozes romantic, relaxing, and refreshing.  The only BAD thing was that Nathan wasn’t there with me!

So here’s a quick run down of the week before I get to some of my favorite images!  I arrived on Monday evening and settled in.  Tuesday we had a quick morning meeting with the event planners and then I spent the rest of the day on the beach.  Wednesday the work started!  We greeted the 35 couples attending the event, took their pictures and then quickly changed for the welcome dinner that night.  The dinner had an absolutely stunning set up, as you will see in the pictures below.  It was a “fire table” so they lit the tall center pieces when it got dark with fire.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday was full of activities for the couples.  Waverunning, Deep Sea Fishing, Cooking classes, Zip Lining, Golf, Spa Treatments, etc were all part of the choices.  I covered Waverunning and Sailing/Snorkeling.  They had their award dinner and then on Sunday we all left.  It was a lot of work!- think 4 all day weddings in a row, but it was fun, I learned a LOT of new things and it’s an experience I’ll never forget……makes me want to do more international jobs Here’s some of my favorites from the week!

First the arch of Cabo San Lucas.  This is where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean.  I was lucky while I was on the boat to snap this picture as boats were moving out of the way.  Seriously on either side of this frame there are about 3-4 boats, lots of waverunners, etc.  It’s a popular spot The other image is of “Lover’s Beach”.  You can only get to this beach by boat and it’s great for swimming.  Right through the rocks on the other side is “Widow’s Beach”  That side is the Pacific Ocean with big waves and a pretty bad undertow and swimming is not allowed there.  Isn’t the color of the water amazing?….and SO clear!  Not like our murky waters here in Washington, that’s for sure!

Now onto the hotel.  I posted some images on my Facebook of my room and a few others.  This first beach one was part of those.  The hotel had two private beaches, this was one of them, and it was just so relaxing.  QUITE  a difference from Cabo.  When I was at the main beach there, waiting for the waverunners to come back from their tour, there were 3 cruise ships in port and the beach was packed with people and vendors!  I think I had the same 10 vendors ask me like 2,000 times if I wanted different products.  NO, NO, NO…..no tengo dinero (I do know a little spanish), but you can’t blame them for asking, that’s how they make a living….  Anyway, here’s some more shots of around the hotel, everything is outdoor, the lobby, the 3 restraunts, everything, and I loved it!

They had the coolest statues and artwork around the hotel, and the main infinity pool was so gorgeous!  The other two pools were pretty fabulous too.

You can partially see the other beach here.  This is where I spent Tuesday!  They had these beds under palapa roofs and let me tell you friends, I was in Heaven.  You can’t see them in this picture, they’re just around the corner, but  I would lounge out on the chair and when I got too hot, I would go dip in the ocean and then nap under the roofs on the bed. Whenever I bring Nathan back, we’re spending a FEW days like that, just us, the waves, the beach, the sun and the breeze.  OH!  and of course a few frosty drinks from the mexican cabana boys We each had a concierge to take care of us, mine was Caesar and I think there MUST be a criteria of being super good looking, and SUPER nice to get that position.  Caesar was BOTH and Danae I did snap a shot of him for you!….I’ll share with you privately!

I got to see and hear a real Mexican Mariachi band.  They played as the guests were arriving.  They have some GREAT singers and it was very lively!…made me want to get up and dance right then and there, but I restrained myself folks!  In my heart and mind though I had the clackers and I was dancing my heart out!

I didn’t see the spa until Saturday, the last day.  An unfortunately I found out that day that IF you are a guest at the hotel, you can spend time at the spa in their water area for FREE!  Steam caves, hot and cold water pools, and lounge areas are part of the free services.  Of course they have all outdoor treatment rooms for men and women where the magic happens.  Massages and all kinds of other treatments happen here, and it was beautiful!

As I said in the beginning, the welcome dinner consisted of a fire table and of course we got to see fire dancers!  They were pretty cool with the drums, the dancing and the fire.  The table was truly a work of art!

Lastly I got to actually go out on one of the activities and it was SO fun!  A lot of the water activities were done in Santa Maria Bay (I think that’s what it was called).  The two wave runner groups went there, as well as the snorkelers.  I went with the group that was sailing/snorkeling.  The water was just crystal clear and this beautiful aqua color.  I guess one of these houses is Michael Jordan’s (I found out later).

Ok, time to fess up!  I have a sort of phobia about swimming in large bodies of water.  I don’t know where I got it from, as I didn’t swim in too many when I was younger- a few lakes and oceans every now and then.  But my phobia is that fish will eat my toes.  Yes, yes, go ahead and laugh, but as I was watching and photographing the snorkelers my worst fears were manifesting themselves!  The snorkelers all had bags of tortilla and bread, and the fish are so domesticated that they just swarm, and I am NOT overstating that!  I think I would have freaked just a little if I was actually in the water!  This trip was a last minute one and I didn’t wear my swimsuit.  The Captain of the boat kept saying I could get in with my clothes on, they would dry by the time we got back to the marina.  ”Thank you very much, but NO THANKS!”  I said.  I just KNEW those fish would eat my toes!!!  After hearing the stories though I think it’s something I MAY try with Nathan……maybe!

Also, while we were waiting for the waverunners to return, one of the event staff was having a hard time choosing what purse to buy from the vendor.  Have you heard of these?  They make these purses out of candy wrappers!  The detail and quality that this man and his family put into the purses was evident, compared to some of the other guys selling these purses.  I can’t imagine the time it takes to fold each wrapper the same to create the patterns he had, but her $80 for 3 purses was well spent and I’m sure he and his family were grateful for the sale that day…..isn’t the beach gorgeous?  The bad thing was, it was a slow day for tourists on the beach so as other vendors saw all these purses laid out, they kind of swarmed us trying to entice us to buy their product too.  I got my kids 3 Mexican Wrestling masks, you know, like Nacho Libre?  I’ll post pictures of those later, they LOVED them!

All in all it was a great job to be on, even if I did get a little sick, ok actually a LOT sick and I’m still getting over it, but I didn’t drink the water!  I DID however learn that you should bring cash, because your credit/debit cards will not always work, and that’s it’s normal for the room staff to put all your toiletries away for you, and put your shoes back in the closet if you leave them out, and I DID learn that I love a turn down service where they put jazz music on and a warm bath after a long days work…hmmmm MAAAYBE I can teach Nate to do that for me…..my own personal turn down service in Silverdale Washington?……we’ll have to have that talk when he returns!  Happy Thursday!

♥ ~Katie