An Avid Disney Fan Family From Chicago
Disneyland is a magical and fun place to be for any occasion.
Disneyland is a magical and fun place to be for any occasion.
DISNEYLAND MAGIC: A PHOTOSHOOT TO REMEMBER
Disneyland is the perfect place for creating memories—whether it’s family bonding, a best friend’s day out, a romantic date, or a magical photoshoot. The energy, the colors, the nostalgia—everything about it makes for the most enchanting backdrop.
So when my friend Josan reached out to me for a special Disneyland shoot—celebrating her baby girl’s 6-month milestone and her 2nd wedding anniversary with her husband—I knew we were about to capture something truly heartwarming.
There’s something about Disneyland that makes every moment feel even more magical. The smiles, the laughter, the sparkle in their eyes—it wasn’t just about taking photos; it was about preserving the joy of that day, freezing it in time like a scene from a fairytale.
Stay tuned for the memories we captured—because this shoot was nothing short of pure Disney magic.
#disneylover
This photoshoot also made me sign up again for the annual pass. (which was so worth it!) I used to take Disneyland trips almost every week last 2016.
THE MAGIC OF LIGHT & COLOR
Photography isn’t just about capturing a moment—it’s about setting a mood, evoking a feeling, and telling a story. That’s why, whenever I do a session, I create different presets on Lightroom to match the vibe of each set of photos.
For every shoot, I organize at least two or more folders per setting—each batch carefully curated to create a distinct mood when viewed. I don’t just edit; I craft an aesthetic, a visual language that brings the photos to life.
And of course, I name my presets to match their energy. For this Disneyland session, I played with a few:
Mermaid Princess – for Sushi’s first magical portrait
Fairydusted – capturing their family’s dreamy, whimsical glow
Violet Dreams – a soft, enchanting haze of nostalgia
Each preset tells a different part of their story, bringing the magic of Disneyland to life in its own unique way. You’ll see.
A FAIRYTALE MOMENT: THE CASTLE COUPLE SESSION
No Disneyland photoshoot is complete without a couple’s session in front of the castle—the ultimate storybook backdrop for love, magic, and happily-ever-afters. It’s a scene straight out of a fairytale, and I wanted the editing to reflect that same dreamy essence.
For this set, I used two of my favorite Lightroom presets from the six I created for the session:
🎡 Cotton Candy – Soft, pastel hues with a whimsical glow, like a dreamy sunset at the park.
💜 Violet Dreams – A deeper, ethereal touch with hints of nostalgia and fantasy, making the moment feel timeless.
Each preset plays with light and color to enhance the magic of the moment, bringing their love story to life in the most enchanting way. Stay tuned for the final shots—you’ll see exactly why these two presets stole my heart.
Cotton Candy Preset
My client, Josan, set this beautiful photo of her as her Facebook Profile Picture.
GRATEFUL FOR EVERY MOMENT
I’m so grateful to have had the chance to capture these amazing people—who I now call friends.
One of the most beautiful things about photography isn’t just the art itself, but the connections it creates. I love turning clients into friends and friends into family. Every session is more than just a job—it’s an opportunity to be part of someone’s special moments, to freeze time, and to preserve memories that will last a lifetime.
It still amazes me how my passion for photography has opened doors to experiences like this, bringing me closer to incredible people and unforgettable stories. I’ll never take that for granted.
If you’re an avid Disney goer or a Disney lover and want to capture magical moments with your best friends, partner, or family, let’s make it happen!
📩 DM me on Instagram @alphinarocks for consultations and rates. Let’s create something magical together!
Three Lessons 2016 Taught Me About Life
It's okay to suck at something. Making mistakes is a way of learning new things...
Mistakes are learning opportunities.
I used to freak out when my photos didn’t turn out exactly how I envisioned them. If they weren’t perfectly edited, manipulated, or aligned with the impossible standards I had set for myself, I would spiral. I would beat myself up for every perceived flaw, every tiny imperfection. It haunted me.
I wanted my work to be perfect—to be great—even though I was still learning. I was obsessed with mastering everything immediately, without giving myself the grace to grow. But in time, I realized the truth: I was just being impatient. I was trying to fulfill an unrealistic goal, expecting expertise without embracing the journey.
So, I decided to rewrite the narrative.
I wrote a list of affirmations for myself—reminders to defeat burnout, to embrace imperfection, and to allow myself to grow at my own pace.
It’s okay to make mistakes.
It’s okay to not be great at something right away.
Every mistake teaches me something new—about my craft and about myself.
Failure isn’t the opposite of success; it’s part of the process.
Growth happens in the space between imperfection and persistence.
Photography, like life, is about evolution, not perfection. Mistakes aren’t signs of failure—they are proof that I’m learning, expanding, and refining my skills. Perfection isn’t the goal. Progress is.
And now? I create with freedom—knowing that every shot, every edit, every moment is a step forward.
Time is indeed a gift.
I had to lose my grandmother and grandaunt—two beautiful souls—to truly understand the weight of time.
Time isn’t something we can touch or see, yet it is one of the most precious gifts we are given. I used to believe that once-in-a-lifetime moments were the big milestones—the dream job, the grand adventure, the ultimate goal. But I was wrong.
I’ve come to realize that time itself is a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
Every second, every minute, every hour—once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. No amount of longing, regret, or nostalgia can bring it back. That’s when memories step in. Memories are the echoes of what once was—stories to be remembered, cherished, or forgotten. But no matter how vivid, they remain in the past. The only thing we truly have is the present.
So, I ask you:
What does it truly mean to live in the moment?
Are you fully here, or are you caught up in the past?
It’s okay to reminisce. It’s okay to reflect. But to live in the past is to be trapped in time—held back from what you’re meant to do, who you’re meant to become.
Time doesn’t pause. Life doesn’t wait.
So, make the most of what you have, right here, right now. Accept. Move forward. Be present. Because in the end, the most valuable thing you will ever own… is the moment you are living in.
Patience is key.
Patience is a virtue, but more than that, it is a form of self-mastery—a discipline, a quiet strength that shapes the way we move through life.
It’s easy to say, "Be patient," but true patience is something deeper. It’s not just about waiting—it’s about how you wait. It’s about trusting the timing of your life, finding peace in the process, and allowing growth to unfold naturally.
Everyone can have patience, but not everyone is willing to master it.
Because mastery takes effort. It requires self-awareness, restraint, and faith. It asks you to surrender control, to understand that rushing won’t make things happen faster and that the best things in life come to those who are present enough to receive them at the right time.
Patience isn’t just a skill—it’s a power. And those who master it? They move through life with grace, wisdom, and unshakable confidence.