CREATE TRAVEL PHOTOS THAT MATTER
I work with photographers who love to travel, but who want to do more than just follow the Instagram trail. Photographers who understand that the real essence of a country lies within its people and its traditions, not just its photogenic landmarks. Photographers who don’t just want to take portraits, but who want to understand the culture and history that shaped the people behind those portraits. I work with photographers like you.
We’ll get off the beaten track and away from the crowds. To towns that barely see tourists, to the real Mexico. A Mexico where Charros stroll through town on their horses. Where the indigenous Huichol people grow corn the same way they have for thousands of years. Where village elders share the stories of their ancestors over firelight. And where the Mexica (or Aztec) dance through the night in their beautiful, feathered regalia, celebrating the coming of a new moon.
We’re not here to take photos, but to create them. Inspiring ourselves from the people, the myths, the traditions and the stories that have shaped Mexico. And you can join us.
It’s Time to Take your Travel Photography to a Better Place.
ABOUT JP STONES
I started these cultural photography workshops because I was frustrated at not being able to create the travel photos I wanted to. Candid photos are fine, but I wanted my portraits to show the personality and history of people – to show the real Mexico.
A great portrait is a blend of many factors: the model, the environment, the lighting, and the composition. But, most of the time, travelers can’t control any of these factors. I wanted to change that by bringing tourists and local communities together, in a harmonious way. Because the more we learn about different cultures, the more we respect those cultures.
You can read press coverage about JP Stones at Good Light Magazine, Chiiz Photography Magazine, Phoblograher, NeoMexicanos. or by just typing “JP Stones Photography” into Google.
ABOUT THE MODELS
The strong ties I’ve established with local communities will let you experience Mexico’s fascinating cultural heritage first hand. I’m fortunate to be able to work with several indigenous groups within Mexico. These include the Wixaritari (also known as the Huichol) and the Nahuatl speaking Mexicaneros. The word ‘Mexico’ actually comes from Nahuatl – the language of the Aztecs.
I also work with Charro (Mexican Cowboy) communities in Jalisco and Nayarit.
All the models I work with regularly are paid a generous percentage of the workshop fee. They are also paid a percentage of every print (they feature in) that I sell.
Read our Cover Feature on Good Light Magazine
In their recent Culture issue, I had the opportunity to chat with the team at Good Light Magazine about my photoshoot planning process. Read about how I take an idea from concept, planning and through to execution. Available on the blog or at Good Light Magazine.
WHY MEXICO?
I fell in love with Mexico many decades ago: with its people, it’s history and natural beauty. So choosing Mexico as a base was an easy decision. There is far more to Mexican history that the Aztec Empire. The long-lasted Mayan civilization also shared these lands, creating the only fully-developed writing system on the American continent. Spanish influennce in Mexico then gave birth to an entirely new set of cultural markers: Folklorico dancing, Charros (the Mexican cowboys), the Escaramuzas and of course, the Mariachi.
Mexico’s stunning landscapes – from lush jungle, endless beaches, colonial pueblos and arid deserts – serve as a beautiful photographic canvas to this colorful culture.
