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Monthly Archives: June 2015

Christy & Nick Tie the Knot | El Paso, Texas Wedding Photographer | Doubletree Hotel

30 Tuesday Jun 2015

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I had the honor of capturing Christy & Nick’s beautiful wedding in El Paso, Tx. It took place in the lovely Doubletree Hotel in downtown on June 19th, 2015.

The day started in the bride’s hotel room. Being able to capture her getting ready with the help of her beautiful brides maids was full of emotion, there was laughter, silence and happy tears! Her sister, grandmother, and mother helped her get into her wedding dress. After, most of the bridesmaids were in tears! “You look GORGEOUS!” “OMG! I’m crying!” Some of them yelled! They all came together so say a little prayer for the future bride. A prayer was said in spanish by Grandma.

I then proceeded to the nervous yet anxious groom. As he went up to the altar he was all smiles. Smiling at family and guests. Once, it was time for his gorgeous bride to enter the room he took a deep breath and the look on his face when he saw her was priceless! Immediate tears were streaming down his face! I will admit I was bawling my eyes out too! I’m a sucker for the groom’s first look!

The ceremony was lovely! They shared their vows and the bride couldn’t contain her tears!

The night ended with John Legend’s song “All of me”. The bride and groom were adorable! They sang to each other while dancing the first dance!

I wish both Christy & Nick a lifetime full of happiness! I cannot thank you both enough for allowing me to capture your special day! It was truly an honor!

Vendors:

Valerie Makes Stuff – Cake

Blossom Shop Florist- Flowers

Men’s Wearhouse- Tuxedo

David’s Bridal- Wedding Dress

Bridals by Lori

Blow a Blow Dry Bar

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Wedding, El Paso, Texas

Wedding, El Paso, Texas

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Beautiful YOU 2015 | Laura Gordillo Photography | Phoenix Arizona Photographer

05 Friday Jun 2015

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Breast Cancer Awarenes, El Paso

Meet BEAUTIFUL Shy 🙂 When Dez contacted Shy about participating in Beautiful YOU, she told her she would wanted to include your sister in a few pics. She wanted these images captured because since being diagnosed her sister has been her caregiver! When Dez asked me if that would be ok, I told her OF COURSE! I loved that she wanted to include her sister! This lady right here is fighting a tough battle! She’s been diagnosed with several different types of rare cancers and is trying to make her way to Texas to be seen at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is hoping and praying for answers. Sadly her insurance does not cover this and needs help! PLEASE click on this link: GoFundMe

To read more of Shy’s story please read below:

Hair:TheBoyz DoHair Make Up:Chik A’ la mode Make Up: Redafied Beauty

MY NAME IS CHEYENNE WROTEN A 28 YEAR OLD SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO BOYS, ANTHONY (9) IZAYAH (8)… IM ABOUT TO TELL YOU MY STORY AND HOW IT BEGAN… IT WAS A MONTH AFTER MY 27TH BIRTHDAY, OCTOBER 24TH, 2013, TO BE EXACT… I FELT A LUMP IN MY LEFT BREAST… NEVER DID I IMAGINE IT WOULD EVER COME BACK CANCEROUS… IN NOVEMBER OF 2013 I FOUND OUT THAT IN FACT THE MASS I FELT WAS MALIGNANT, I WAS IN SO MUCH DENIAL I THOUGHT I WAS FINE… IN NOVEMBER OF 2013 I ALSO HAD TO HAVE A ULTRASOUND OF MY THROAT BECAUSE WHEN I WENT IN FOR MY CONSILTATION WITH THE SURGEON SHE TOLD ME MY THROAT WAS SWOLLEN AS WELL… RESULTS FROM THE ULTRASOUND CAME BACK AND THEIR WAS THREE MASSES IN MY THROAT… I COULDNT GET INTO A ENDOCRONOLOGIST UNTIL FEBRUARY 27TH, 2014… DECEMBER OF 2013 COMES AND I HAVE MY SECOND SURGERY ON MY LEFT BREAST TO DO A COMPLETE LUMPECTOMY… MONTHS GO BY AND ITS FINALLY TIME FOR MY FIRST ENDOCRINOLOGIST APPOINTMENT. .. SHE TELLS ME JUST BY THE ULTRASOUND WITHOUT HAVING THE RESULTS FROM THE NEEDLE BIOPSY THAT SHES CERTAIN ITS PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER… THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH COMES AND I GET THE PHONE CALL RIGHT AFTER WORK THAT THE THYROID CANCER IS STAGE 3 AND THEY NEED TO PERFORM SURGERY IMMEDIATELY… MARCH 13TH, 2014 I HAVE A COMPLETE THYROIDECTOMY… AFTER THIS SURGERY MY DREAMS OF EVER BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL SINGER, ARE GONE BECAUSE I HAVE SUCH NERVE DAMAGE I CANT EVEN HOLD A NOTE ANYMORE… AFTER THIS SURGERY I BEGAN TO HAVE A FEAR OF PEOPLE AND COULD NO LONGER LEAVE MY HOUSE, I COULDN’T GO TO WORK, I COULDN’T GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, NOTHING… AT THE END APRIL I HAD RADIATION FOR THYROID CANCER, AND DUE TO A CT SCAN FINDING A MASS ABOVE MY RIGHT KIDNEY, THE WEEK AFTER THE RADIATION I WAS BACK IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ANOTHER IMMEDIATE SURGERY… IN JUNE WE FOUND OUT THE THYROID CANCER WAS BACK… IT IS NOW METASTATIC PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER STAGE 3… THE BEGINNING OF JULY OF 2014 I WAS BACK IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ANOTHER 2 SURGERIES FOR MY PORT TO BE PLACED AND FOR MY SECOND NECK DISECTION… IN OCTOBER OF 2014 I HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER SURGERY TO REPLACE MY PORT AND I ALSO HAD MY 2ND DOSAGE OF RADIATION FOR THYROID CANCER… IN DEC OF 2014 WE THOUGHT THINGS WERE STARTING TO CLEAR UP AND GO AWAY WHEN ANOTHER SCAN PROVED OTHERWISE… THE PAPILLARY THROID CANCER IS BACK FOR A 3RD TIME… AS WELL AS NEW MASSES… I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT I WILL NEVER RID THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE, ILLNESS YOU WOULD LIKE TO CLASSIFY IT AS BECAUSE I MAY HAVE WHAT THEY CALL LI-FRAUMENI SYNDROME… AS OF MAY 2015 MY BREAST CANCER IS THE ONLY CANCER IN REMISSION AND I AM STILL FIGHTING THIS BATTLE WITH EVERYTHING IVE GOT..

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Beautiful YOU | Laura Gordillo Photography | Phoenix Arizona Photographer

04 Thursday Jun 2015

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Meet BEAUTIFUL Sasha!! Taking her pictures was such a GREAT experience! She was so shy at first, then BAM! She worked the camera beautifully! My camera loved her! I showed her a few back of the camera pics and she was THRILLED! She couldn’t believe the person in the pic was her! She told me she hardly ever wears makeup and gets dolled up and she was so thankful for the experience! This amazing survivor has ended her cancer treatment and is now on remission! Isn’t that the greatest news EVER!!? Please keep this wonderful mother of 3 in your prayers! Please read more of her story below :

Hair:TheBoyz DoHair Make Up:Chik A’ la mode Make Up: Redafied Beauty

Prior to cancer I was a normal single mother to three very spirited children (by spirited I mean highly active) trying to provide the best life and atmosphere for my children. Teaching my children values about God was on top of that list. Finding out that I had cervical cancer surfaced a lot of feelings and demons I thought I had already dealt with. When my pap smear came back abnormal the doctor wanted to wait to do a colposcopy, but since I had a scare 5 years prior, I told her to schedule a colposcopy right away! After the call back informing me to come in ASAP I was told I had cervical cancer. I felt as though the walk from the back to the car were the longest moments of my life. I had this fake smile to appear as though everything was okay, but as soon as I sat in the car I cried like a baby. I thought, “why me!, Haven’t I been through enough”. & “What could I have possibly done to deserve this?” To be honest, that pity party lasted a couple of days. Towards my friends I “faked”this positive attitude because I didn’t want anyone to see how worried, sad or how angry I was. I was angry with myself, anyone who ever hurt me and so much more. By the end of the second week I really had to take a good look at myself, read my bible and just really be “real“with God. Talk to him about my fears and just really vent to him. I cried, screamed, shouted….and after all the complaining, I realized that I had so much to be thankful for. PSALM 3:1-8 , James 1:3-4 My children were alive and healthy. I still had a beating heart, a job, a car, a roof over my head and so much more. I had to remember that I had storms prior to cancer. And in that moment when I thought that nothing good could come out of my storm he made a way! And blessed me ten times over! Cancer is just a little hiccup compared to all what my God has done for me. Since then I have never had to “fake” it (although I’ve had to check myself a couple of times and get out of my own feelings) I know there is a reason for all this and as twisted as his sounds, I am grateful for these storms because 1) I know there is a light and the end of this & 2) I can bring awareness to others. So to everyone going through their own storm, know it’s going to work out for your good. And although your journey may not be done yet, please let this comfort you. 1 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

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Beautiful YOU 2015 | Laura Gordillo Photography |Phoenix Arizona Photographer

03 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by lgordillophotoblog in Uncategorized

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arizona, avondale, breast cancer, Breast Cancer Awareness, cancer, chandler, El Paso, gilbert, glendale, goodyear, litchfield park, palm valley, peoria, phoenix, photographers, photojournalistic, professional, scottsdale, surprise, tempe, texas

Meet Beautiful Janet! What can I say about this wonderful woman! She is a TRUE fighter!  She’s suffered so much, life has dealt her a bad hand. You’d think she’d question her faith and God. But she remains positive through it all! She does this for the immense love she has for her daughter! Being a single mother I can’t even imagine having cancer and trying to care for a child at the same time! BUT she manages! I am sure her daughter is proud to have such a warrior for a mother! She even had the courage to allow me to take pictures of her warrior scars! What a brave woman! Please read more of her amazing story below :

On July 27, 2012 at 1:27pm my world was turned upside down for that was when a nurse told me that I had Breast Cancer. I was a single mother of a beautiful 10 daughter living in Charlotte NC with no family close by. When I was diagnosed I was at Stage II but two weeks later when I saw my Oncologist for the first time my cancer had progressed and I was then at Stage IV. At the time I was diagnosed, I thought my life was so on track. I had just moved to Charlotte in 2010 after being recruited for a dream job in a male dominated field (I was a stock broker), we had moved into our condo, Arianna had finally gotten use to her new surrounding, my divorce was in the works……Arianna and I were really happy.

My diagnosis completely blindsided everyone in my family, Arianna and I had just returned from a family reunion where I had seen my mother and the rest of her extended family. My Cancer wasn’t found by discovering a lump in my Breast for my tumor was only 1cm large and was very deep within my breast tissue, however the cancer had broken through the tumor wall and gotten in my Lymph nodes and was spreading fast. I did monthly exams and got regular mammograms (it just wasn’t time for my 2012 exam). My cancer was discovered because my arm started swelling from my elbow to my wrist. I had seen my doctor at the time (which was a female) in April who dismissed my arm swelling as water weight. I felt that wasn’t right and changed doctors but didn’t push the arm swelling until it continued in July. My new doctor was very persistent about what he felt was wrong and even called me at home to push the mammogram……I owe him my life.

Once diagnosed my concerns turned to Arianna more than myself…..What was going to happen to my daughter? Who was going to care for her, HOW was I going to take care of her? I became a mother late, I was 39 when I had Arianna. It was the BEST blessing I could have received, I was 4 months when I found out I was pregnant after being told I could not have children and I am so proud to be a mother. My daughter is my number one priority, she is the reason I fight EVERYDAY, I will walk through fire for her.

Having cancer and being a single parent period is the hardest journey anyone can endure, it brings about soooo many challenges as well as concerns. I have been very honest with her from day one, as soon as I found out I came straight home and told her. Her first response was “Why us” and I responded “Why not us, God picked us to walk this road for a reason. I don’t know why yet but just know that not everyone can do this but we were picked.” She has never asked me why again. I heard her tell one of her friends one day when they asked her how she handled having a sick mom and she responded with such conviction “I don’t worry because God’s got this”…..talk about a “mommy proud” moment. I know it has been hard on her as far too many times she has been my caregiver instead of a child. And all I want is for her to have a normal life.

After a year of what I thought was COMPLETE HELL, chemo made me so sick I was in the hospital after my first three treatments (which brought about a whole new concern, “who was going to care for my daughter for a week while I was in the hospital?” Sometimes I had no one and I would leave after 2 or 3 days because I had no place for her to go). I would be so sick I was confined to my bed, I could not care for my daughter. The chemo was tearing my body apart so they would switch me to different chemo medication several times until I was placed on maintenance chemo in January 2013 which I currently still take. I had one treatment of the maintenance chemo, took a nap, woke up and I couldn’t feel my hands or my feet…..I had developed severe Neuropathy, I had such nerve damage that the nerves weren’t even firing anymore in my feet. It can be so bad at times that I’m confined to the bed before dusk everyday.

From the moment they told me I had Breast Cancer, I knew I wanted BOTH of my Breast removed even though my cancer was only on the right side. On April 14th, 2013 I received a double Mesectomy, on April 13th, 2014 I received my breast implants. In addition to my mesectomy, I have had tumors in my brain twice (the first being June 2013 and then again in December 2014) for which I received radiation for, I had to have surgery on my MCL as well as a partial knee replacement. I had to have emergency back surgery to have several disc fused and a mass removed that was pressing on a nerve in my back rendering my leg unusable.

I know that I will be on chemo for the rest of my life, if I stop chemo my tumors come back. The damage to the nerves in my hands and feet is suppose to repair itself a year or two after I stop chemo. Since that will NEVER happen, I will never regain that feeling, never wear REAL shoes, never walk normal or like a lady should. But regardless of how poor I feel my quality of life is one thing for sure…..I’M STILL HERE!!!!! STILL HERE to watch my daughter grow up, laugh with my mom and do my best to leave my mark on this world.

Hair:TheBoyz DoHair Make Up:Chik A’ la mode Make Up: Redafied Beauty

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Beautiful YOU 2015 | Laura Gordillo Photography | Phoenix Arizona Photographer

02 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by lgordillophotoblog in Uncategorized

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arizona, avondale, breast cancer, Breast Cancer Awareness, cancer, chandler, El Paso, gilbert, glendale, goodyear, litchfield park, palm valley, peoria, phoenix, photographers, photojournalistic, professional, scottsdale, surprise, tempe, texas

Meet BEAUTIFUL Connie! It was a pleasure taking this amazing lady’s pictures! She was a bit insecure at first. She kept telling me how she didn’t like to take pictures because she didn’t think she looked nice in them. I told her she was CRAZY! I showed her a few back of the camera pics and she was so impressed! Just look at the images below! Isn’t she stunning! I kept telling her she had that model in her and worked the camera beautifully! I LOVED capturing her laugh and smile! It was contagious! I couldn’t help but laugh with her! We chatted about her son and all the obstacles she’s had to endure, since being diagnosed with cancer. She has a wonderful spirit and am I thrilled to know her treatment ends in July! PLEASE keep Connie and her son in your prayers!! Read more about her story below:

Hair:TheBoyz DoHair  Make Up:Chik A’ la mode  Make Up: Redafied Beauty

Last November, my life changed in ways I couldn’t even begin to imagine. I had been really tired and not thinking clearly for a few months and it was determined that I was severely iron deficient. After being on 1000 mg of iron per day, my levels increased but then severely dropped. I was let go from my job at the end of October because I wasn’t performing up to par. I called my doctor and said let’s figure this out before I get a new job. She recommended a colonoscopy as I had just turned 50 that February. On November 13, 2014, I had a colonoscopy and the dr didn’t even have to wait for the biopsy – he knew that the tumor he had seen was cancerous. My world collapsed and all I could think about was my 12 year old son. How would I tell him? What would happen to him if I died? So many thoughts swirled through my head! My out-patient surgery that day turned into a day long ordeal with me sobbing most of the day. I had to have lots of blood work, a CT scan and other tests. It was all so surreal. The next few weeks consisted of dr appts and testing. Time to process all of this was non-existent and I was putting on the happy positive face for my son while I inwardly suffered with the knowledge that I had cancer and nothing more at that time. I never had time to think before I was in surgery 4 short weeks after the colonoscopy and diagnosed with Stage IIIC colon cancer. Four short weeks after that I was starting chemo. 

>>
>> Life had been turned upside down with no job and having to go through treatment but not fighting was never an option. Figuring out life, treatment and finances became a priority. Singleton Moms has helped alleviate a lot of that. They provided support, friendship and basics that I didn’t even know I needed. The other moms have given me perspective on my situation and I feel truly blessed to know them and to know I am not alone. Having cancer has made me cherish each day with my son, I no longer sweat the small stuff, I say I love you more to more people, and I thank God that my cancer is curable and that it is possible that I will see my son grow up to be an amazing man. My treatment will be done in July. Six months ago I thought that was a lifetime. Now I look at it as the beginning of a new life – one in which I will take nothing for granted because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Beautiful YOU 2015 | Cancer Survivors | Warriors 2015-06-02_0002 2015-06-02_0003 2015-06-02_0004 2015-06-02_0005 2015-06-02_0006 2015-06-02_0007

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