SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. One thing that I haven't revealed is that I am a product of a single parent. My mom raised me with the help of Jehovah, God. To be raised, in what some would consider a challenging situation, was a blessing in disguise. Why? It taught me to be resilient, but even more, it taught me about women. My mom is a strong woman who doesn't know the meaning of the word 'quit.' She taught me lessons about women that otherwise I wouldn't have witnessed. It taught me that the beauty of the female is not only to be admired but respected. Also, their exterior is only a complement to who they are and not what defines them. What defines them is who they are, what they struggle with, what they achieve. They are to be treated as individuals and not that all women are the same. This is why I wanted to dedicate a series to the women of strength I have met throughout my life, including photography sessions. This session is dedicated to my mom.
Yajahira, yes, she does photograph great, but that is not the reason why I chose her for this series. It's her work ethic. I've actually known Yajahira since she was a kid. She is the daughter of my neighbor back when I used to live in Escondido. Living in a manufactured home, houses are set close together, so it would be a routine to hear them rushing in and out of their home to go to practice or to go to the game and hearing them doing chores. When I would go out to tend to my yard, I would always see Yajahira as the one to take care of her younger siblings. She was always doing something to keep the house moving forward. I always felt like she was her mom's go-to-girl, especially during the dark times her mom really needed her. That work ethic transferred over to her college days where she studies at the University of California, Riverside. She has transformed herself into a confident woman that is down-to-earth and approachable. My wife and I are proud of her. Always have been. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, she will travel far in this world. We will be there to root for her.
