If you’ve ever attended a community event or family photoshoot, you may have met Gracie – the warm smile behind the camera. Long before she built decades of experience behind the lens, she was a teenager with a disposable camera, capturing football games, dances, and every little moment of her high school life. 

 

And for the nearly 12 years, this magazine has been lucky enough to feature her talent for capturing families and individuals on well over 100 covers.  She sets the tone for each edition with ability to begin telling a story well before you turn the first page. 

 

Gracie’s professional journey began at 21, when she met her husband, Eliseo, while she was in college. He already owned a photography business, and she was immediately captivated by his art. “I was mesmerized by the way he saw pictures,” she recalls. Many of their early dates took place in his basement darkroom, developing black-and-white film. 

 

Now, their partnership extends far beyond those early days. “We still create together,” she says. “But now our time also includes dance lessons, hiking, concerts, and trying new restaurants.” 

 

Some of Gracie’s first “clients” were her sons, Logan and Reagan. “When they were little, they were my models—my guinea pigs,” she says, laughing. Though her boys didn’t always love being in front of the camera, they became her inspiration. “Their smiles are my driving force. I look at those photos and say, ‘This is why.’” 

 

As her children grew, the photoshoots became less frequent, but the memories more meaningful. She’s created separate photo collections for each of them, so they’ll have keepsakes to carry into their own homes one day. 

 

Her understanding of photography’s power deepened when her son suffered from febrile seizures. She began volunteering with the Children’s Miracle Network, photographing families and raising funds locally. During one shoot, she photographed a premature baby “no bigger than a soup can.” That moment changed her. “That’s when I fell in love with babies,” she says softly. “They’re so precious, and these tiny moments deserve to be captured.” 

 

Through experiences like these, Gracie found her purpose – using her camera to celebrate life, support families, and give back to her community. 

 

For over 23 years, Gracie and Eliseo have worked side by side, initially specializing in weddings. As their clients started families, many returned for maternity and newborn portraits—sessions that Gracie quickly fell in love with. 

 

When they work together, she focuses on details while he manages lighting. “We really balance each other out to create something beautiful,” she says. 

 

Gracie’s first camera was a Nikon F100 film camera, and she credits that experience for teaching her the fundamentals. “With film, you had to know your lighting and exposure – you couldn’t rely on auto settings. Learning photography that way gave me an edge.” 

 

Her sessions today range from fine art children’s portraits to family shoots in local landscapes. She loves Hart Park and Seven Oaks for their natural light and scenic nooks, while her studio offers a softer, more controlled environment. 

 

The studio itself is always evolving. “Children’s fine art photography demands constant innovation,” she explains. “I’m fortunate to have loyal clients who keep coming back, so I never want to give them the same thing twice.” 

 

Her studio has become a creative space that grows alongside the families she photographs – and the city she calls home. 

 

Over two decades, Gracie has watched Bakersfield transform. “Where I used to shoot in open fields, there are full neighborhoods now,” she reflects. Yet she continues to find beauty in unexpected places – sometimes even behind an alley. Having photographed “every corner of Bakersfield,” she’s developed a deep appreciation for her city’s evolving landscape and diversity. 

 

“If you stroll through any of our neighborhoods, they’re so multicultural,” she says. “You can learn so much from your neighbors and their traditions.” Through her work, she’s witnessed ceremonies rich in color and culture, and seen families grow over generations. 

 

“Many kids I photographed as newborns are now graduating – or having their own children,” she says proudly. “That’s the heart of my work. I’ve always said we’re your photographers for a lifetime.” 

A defining shift came during a trip to Monterrey, Mexico. Gracie photographed an indigenous homeless man who smiled faintly while raising his hands. When she later studied the image, she was struck by its emotional depth. 

 

“I kept staring at it, wanting to know his story,” she says. “His hands told me everything and nothing at the same time.” Though they hadn’t shared words, his eyes and posture spoke volumes. “He wasn’t unhappy – just tired. Those hands had lived a lifetime.” 

 

That photo changed how she saw her craft. “Every person has layers of experience hidden beyond what meets the eye,” she reflects. From then on, her photography became an act of storytelling – capturing dignity, emotion, and humanity in every subject. 

 

“There’s so much that can be said with a photo,” she adds. “You can say everything without saying anything at all.” 

When Gracie first began photographing babies, she positioned them wherever parents placed them. Now, patience and intuition guide her work. “You can’t rush it,” she says. “You have to listen, see how they feel, if they’re comfortable.” 

 

Her sessions may take longer, but the results are genuine. “I see every client as if they were my own children. When I’m happy with what I capture, I know the parents will be too.” 

 

Her favorite shots often come from unplanned moments – like a diaper mishap or an unexpected giggle. “Those are the ones families treasure most,” she says, laughing. “The ones that make everyone smile years later.” 

 

She loves the unpredictability of her work. “With those shoots, you never know what to expect – you never really do.” 

 

Gracie’s sessions are also about listening. Adults often open up about personal milestones – like surviving illness or celebrating multi-generational bonds. She recalls photographing five generations of women in one family. “It was beautiful to listen to all that wisdom and love passed down.” 

 

Working with children has also taught her empathy. “They’ll tell you if they don’t want to do something,” she says. “Until you listen to their needs, you won’t get the shot you want.” 

Photography, for Gracie, has been as much a mirror as a lens. It’s taught her patience, confidence, and acceptance of imperfection. “I’ve always wanted things done fast,” she admits. “But photography forced me to slow down and see beauty in the waiting.” 

 

She describes herself as a perfectionist who’s learning to let go. “Sometimes I have to stop, step back, and realize – it’s already perfect.” 

 

While she doesn’t take as many formal family portraits at home, she still values capturing real moments. “The last thing we want to do in our free time is take more pictures,” she laughs. “But we always make sure our quality time – family dinners, vacations – is captured somehow.” 

 

Her philosophy has come full circle: “Candid, real moments are what matter most. Cherish them, even if it’s just on your cell phone.” 

 

We’re so thankful to have Gracie as such an integral part of the Greet magazine team. We can’t imagine doing this without her.  The next time you have a memory like a wedding, family gathering, or a newborn’s first photos, call Gracie.  Let her capture the moment, the essence, and the memory.