I'm looking back at some of our photos from a month ago and can't believe it's over!  I miss the Riviera Maya. 

Now I'm just waiting on Del Sol Photography to edit and send us at least a sneak peek of our cenote shoot on April 22, 2013. We decided this special shoot would be our wedding gift to each other. We wanted that beautiful experience Del Sol is known for.

We email our questions and concerns to Ael who answered them promptly and professionally.  Matt Adcock and another awesome photographer, the sexy Debora, captured the day. Matt was from the U.S.A. and Debora from Italy. Both speak Spanish and English fluently. They have a whole team of photographers including Sol, who is Matt's beautiful wife. 

This photography team is not your point-and-shoot photographers. They are truly incredible artists dedicated to their craft. You will see it in the excitement in their eyes and the smiles on their faces. Their style requires the use of natural light with minimal editing. I don’t care as long as long as the artist is happy with his/her work! Then I’m a satisfied client.

 They picked us up at our hotel in a van complete with a huge cooler with, beer, water, all kinds of soda and juices and fresh fruit to keep us hydrated throughout the day. I remember the fresh pineapple which tasted like candy!   They took us to a local cenote, Chiken Ha.

  I didn't want to trash my wedding gown so I had a white gown with shimmering rhinestones and sequin details for the shoot. I had a headband tiara I got from Etsy.com which was handmade in Turkey. So I was totally blingy! I had Matt singing Rihanna's Diamonds! This guy was hilarious!  My husband was comfortable attired in tan pants and a white shirt.

He was interested in the process of photographing what the clients want. He asked what we wanted our photos to “feel”. We wanted something romantic and magical. The jungle was full of beautiful spots to photograph. My husband and I didn't have the gumption to do the optional naked Adam and Eve shoots but we were all over that park with our clothes on! There was this wonderful smelling incense in clay pots that help set the visual mood and created that seductive smoke. Smoke and mirrors as they say!

 This shoot was not for the faint-hearted or those with physical disabilities because we climbed on rocks and trees, balanced on them and swam in chilly waters! We had pictures taken among the beautiful wildlife of the Riviera Maya. There were these elusive Mot-mot birds that Matt was chasing. Finally we came to a cavern and on one tree there were 4-5 mot-mot birds! I'd like to think my deceased father had sent them.

Matt was so knowledgeable about the flora and fauna!  He had so much enthusiasm and so inspired by everything! He was so excited about this little insect which landed on Debora's shoulder. It was so unusual and had a beautiful irridecence. Deb almost freaked out thinking it was a biting insect! Oh, the risks they take for their clients! On Youtube.com, a groom lost his wedding ring and Matt was all suited up in diving gear looking for the Precious! Wow, what dedication! By the way, the heat of Mexico will make your appendages expand and the cold will make your vessels contract, so guard and pay attention those rings!

 There was an altar to a fertiltity goddess, Ixchel, in the cavern. They lit torches, candles and more of that sexy incense for the full effect. We were mesmerized! Matt and Deb were sensitive and patient with us. We are not professional models but I hope they took our "good" sides! Haha!

Matt asked if it was a problem with our beliefs if we took pictures at a Mayan goddess' altar. My husband and I are open minded and we respect all beliefs and religions so it's not a problem for us. 

 Props were encouraged. I couldn't think of any so I brought our wedding paraphernalia: veil and wedding cord (crystal beads). They did some fancy tricks with those! Matt gave me jewelry for my feet. They photographed my aching toes!  Then there was the actual cenote shoot. We knew it was going to be cold when Matt and Debora slipped into their water suits! Yikes! We submerged into the chilly waters. The cold was shocking to the system especially we spent half the day in the sun and humid jungle. Even goosebumps were captured!

 Matt had special equipment to help with the lighting and keeping his cameras dry.  It took awhile to get used to posing underwater. I did a “mermaid swim” and my hair floated around my face I couldn't see where I was going. So they both jumped in to get me! I was fine except for a bit of water up my nose! Matt took pictures with me and my husband in, on and over the water. When it was time for the locals to pray to Ixchel, we had to keep our voices down and to a minimum.

The weather changed from sunny to cloudy and soon the rain came. That didn’t stop them!  We photographed in the rain!

Are they expensive? Sip that cerveza. That’s a matter of perspective and your bank account. 

 I know every shoot with every client is a learning experience and unique for these artists. I hope our story is unique. The photographs will definitely show our story.

These gallery-worthy photographs will be priceless when we grow into our old age, look back on these photos and see when we were young and daring.