Capturing Family Memories in the Riviera Maya, Mexico | Tulum Family Photographer

The Riviera Maya is more than just a tropical paradise; it’s a treasure trove of memories waiting to be captured. Families flock to this stunning part of Mexico for its white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and rich cultural experiences. As a photographer, there’s nothing more fulfilling than preserving these moments for families to cherish forever. In this blog post, I’ll share how I approach capturing candid family moments in the breathtaking setting of the Riviera Maya, blending the natural beauty of the environment with the genuine connections that make family vacations so special.

Family vacations are about more than just the destinations; they’re about the connections, the laughter, and the shared experiences that strengthen bonds. Candid photography captures these authentic moments, offering a glimpse into the real dynamics of a family. It’s about freezing those spontaneous hugs, playful splashes in the ocean, and the unfiltered joy of exploring a new place together.

When I photograph families in the Riviera Maya, I focus on these candid moments. While posed shots have their place, it’s often the in-between moments, the ones where everyone is relaxed and being themselves, that tell the most compelling stories. A child chasing a wave, parents stealing a quiet moment together while the kids build sandcastles, or a family walking hand-in-hand along the shore.  These are the memories that last a lifetime!

The Riviera Maya offers an incredible backdrop for family photography. From the serene beaches of Tulum to the lush jungles of Playa del Carmen, every corner of this region is teeming with natural beauty. The vibrant colours of the Caribbean Sea, the soft golden light at sunset, and the vibrant green jungles provide endless opportunities to create stunning images that families will treasure.

One of the keys to successful candid photography is creating a relaxed atmosphere where families feel comfortable being themselves. During a shoot, I encourage families to engage in activities they would naturally do on vacation, whether that’s playing a game on the beach or simply taking a stroll. This allows me to capture them in their element, resulting in photographs that feel genuine and unforced.

It’s also important to be patient and ready for those unexpected moments. Children, especially, can be unpredictable, but that’s where the magic happens. A sudden burst of laughter, a spontaneous dance on the beach, or even a tantrum can make for the most heartfelt images when captured with care and sensitivity.

At the heart of my photography is storytelling. Every family has its own unique dynamic, and my goal is to tell their story through the images I capture. By focusing on candid moments, I can create a visual narrative that reflects the true essence of their vacation in the Riviera Maya.

Photographing families in the Riviera Maya is a rewarding experience that combines the art of candid photography with the natural beauty of one of the world’s most stunning destinations. By focusing on authentic moments and incorporating the region’s breathtaking scenery, I’m able to create images that not only capture the essence of a family’s vacation but also become cherished memories that will be passed down for generations.

If you’re planning a family trip to the Riviera Maya, consider investing in a professional photographer who can document your journey in a way that feels true to your experience. After all, vacations come and go, but the memories, and the photos, they will last forever!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Heather

candid photos in Tulumprofessional photographer in Tulum, Mexicophotographing children in Tulum, MexicoFamily photographer located in the Riviera Maya, Mexicocandid family beach photographer in Tulum, MexicoCandid family photographer Playa del Carmen, MexicoChildren playing at the Caribbean SeaFamily photography with a candid approachFamily and children photographer in Playa del Carmen, MexicoThe boy at the SeaCandid family photoshoot in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Well Hello there | Playa del Carmen Family Photographer

It sure has been a while, yikes!  Not to make up excuses or anything but I’ve been consumed in so many other projects this past year that I completely abandoned my blog.  It makes me sad, or maybe it’s disappointment, to look and see that the last time I was on here was over a year ago.  I’ve shot so much since then, new families here in Mexico, as well as all my lovely clients back in Ontario during the Fall, and not to mention the thousands of photos I’ve captured of my family.  Anyways, enough about why I’ve been away so long, I’m here now and I have oodles to share!

For now, I’m going to leave you with a peek at this family’s beautiful candid session.  During our time together we were lucky to enjoy the beautiful setting sun.  The change in light, as the sun fell below the horizon, was absolutely gorgeous!  It was as though Mom knew ahead of time what Mother Nature had in store for us because she selected the most perfect dress for the occasion!  Wouldn’t you agree?!

I must say, it was a pleasure meeting some fellow Expats and even more awesome having the opportunity to document their love.  It was honest and unforced and inspiring, to say the least!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Heather

Family photos in Playa del Carmen, MexicoBaby photos, Riviera MayaCandid family photos, mexicoCouples photographer in Playa del Carmen, MexicoBaby photos on the Caribbean SeaPlaya del Carmen, Mexico candid family photographerSunset baby

Sunset Family Session | Playa del Carmen Family Photographer

This sweet family was my first in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. They broke the ice for me and allowed me to learn about the new environment I was shooting in, all while capturing these playful, fun-loving images of their family enjoying the warm, Caribbean sunset.

Not only were they my first clients but our first friends as well. The Dad was actually our real estate agent and spent endless hours taking us around the Riviera Maya to find our dream home. We spent so much time together in our first few weeks here, and got to know each other quite well, that he actually ended up offering my husband his first job here. Amazing right!! I’d say so! They now work together in the real estate world and are building not only a booming business but also an even stronger friendship.

There was a big bonus for me too, having this family as my first client. The Mom is Canadian, born and raised, and while she’s been here for many years, you can just imagine how much we had to talk about. It was nice not having to struggle with a language barrier on my first session too, that added pressure may have taken me down. Overall, it was a match made in heaven, well, for me at least!

All of this combined made for the best first session I could have imagined here in beautiful Mexico. I always feel in my element with a camera around my neck but this brought me to whole new level of comfort while working in the new environment.

I will forever be grateful to these three lovely people. For helping me break the ice, for allowing me to share my passion with them, and also for referring my business to others after having worked with me. I can’t even tell you how much I appreciate you Brittany and Hugo. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Heather

candid family photographer
Family Photographer Heather Clemente
Heather Clemente Photography in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Children Photographer Heather Clemente Photography
Sunset photography by Heather Clemente Photography
Family Photographer Heather Clemente Photography in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Baby Photographer in Playa del Carmen
Baby Photographer Heather Clemente Photographer

www.heatherclementephotography.com | heatherclementephotography@gmail.com | +52 984.125.1257

Missing Babies | Playa Del Carmen Newborn Photographer

It’s been 9 months since I’ve worked with a newborn baby. Man, to say that out loud actually hurts. I knew I would miss this line of work but never did I imagine that it would be this much.

When I left Canada I thought I would be leaving behind this line of work completely. Turns out that doesn’t have to be the case at all. There’s tons of young families here, and I’m super eager to work with them, and so, I’m going to do everything in my power to become known as ‘the’ newborn baby photographer in Playa Del Carmen.

In order to do this, I’m going to ask you, my lovely loyal clients, to pop on over to google and provide the new business name with a review, pleaseeeeeeeee.

You see, my previous business name was well known in Ontario and I’ve been receiving inquiries on a monthly basis regarding newborn sessions in Burlington which was slowly breaking my heart having to repeatedly tell potential and past clients that I was no longer in the area and sadly could not document their newborn baby. The name change for the business had to happen for many reasons, and that was certainly one of them. In the process of changing my name, I’ve lost all the positive reviews surrounding my business as well, which yes, I knew would happen but is a rather hard pill to swallow. I worked hard for each and every one of those positive words spoken about my art.

And so, I would really appreciate if you could take just a moment to pop on over to google, search the name Heather Clemente Photography, scroll down a little and on the right side of the page you should see an option for “write a review”. I’m not asking you to write anything that you don’t believe is true, if you were unhappy with my work, absolutely that needs to be shared, I would just love for potential clients to have some sort of idea of what they can expect when hiring me.

With many thanks, and because I just can’t post without images, how about a peek at my very last newborn session in Ontario.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Heather

Playa Del Carmen newborn photographer
Heather Clemente Photography
Heather Clemente Photography in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
detailed newborn photography by Heather Clemente Photography
Photography by Heather Clemente of Heather Clemente Photography
Family Photographer Heather Clemente Photography
Baby photography by Heather Clemente Photography
family photos by Heather Clemente Photography in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

www.heatherclementephotography.com | heatherclementephotography@gmail.com | +52 984.125.1257

Twenty Twenty One | Mexico Lifestyle Photographer

It’s been a while since my last post, a little over a year to be exact, and while I had no intention of leaving my beloved photography journal blank for that length of time, what can I say, life got in the way. My personal world changed, got super busy, and left me with not a lot of time for what I loved….photography and writing.

Twenty Twenty One was a difficult year for many. In Canada, the province of Ontario kept going into lockdown and then a slow phase of re-opening from mid 2020 all the way into, well it’s still happening now in Jan 2022. It was a very difficult time to live through, both my husband and myself were self employed and we were forced to shut down our businesses. No income, a mortgage on our house, and plenty of bills to be paid. Life became heavy and uncomfortable, so, we changed it, in a big big way.

In mid Feb 2021 we decided to put our house on the market, it was a sellers market and one that we felt could benefit us greatly. Our house sold within a week, with a 8 week closing, which didn’t leave us much time at all. We decided to sell absolutely everything we owned and move to Mexico. What a whirlwind those few weeks were! We packed our lives into 8 suitcases, 4 carry on’s, and 4 backpacks, and started on a new journey.

We landed in Mexico early May 2021 and hit the ground running. We spent weeks looking at property and real estate and had a ton of options presented to us, from oceanfront, to the middle of the jungle and everything in between. After countless hours of searching we decided to buy land and build our dream home in a gated community, close to schools and hospitals, in the city of Playa del Carmen.

In the process of our life change I felt my business needed to change along with me, as it’s not only what I do but is also a very big part of who I am. While I loved my previous business name, and was very attached to it, it just didn’t feel well suited to this new chapter, and so with that, let me introduce you to my new business……….welcome to Heather Clemente Photography where the service is everything you’ve grown to know and expect, with heartfelt experiences and candid captures. My goal is, and always will be, to provide my clients with beautiful imagery, captured from the heart, for a lifetime of memories.

And so, here we are, 7 months later, the beginning of a New Year, and our home is close to complete. Our lives have found a new rhythm and were settling in beautifully to the new life we’ve created for ourselves. Now that life feels a little more settled, you can expect to see me here, on my beloved blog, a lot more frequently. I hope you will continue to follow along, and forgive my absence these past 12 months, while we hit re-start and found a new way of life.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Heather

admin - January 4, 2022 - 8:11 pm

Thank you so very much Roxane! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your lovely comment xo

Roxane Bay - January 4, 2022 - 7:02 pm

I am so very happy for you. I love your new name… I am very confident in saying that you will do well in your new home/lifestyle.

https://www.pineclubgolf.com/