North Padre Island, Texas. I only moved there because I saw on YouTube that you could drive your car on the beach! I did the swimwear Photography for Cheeky Bikinis.

Behind every polished pageant photo is a lot of teamwork, laughter, and hard work. While the model holds her posture, fixes her expression, and stays camera-ready, I might be in the sand, kneeling on rocks, or chasing the light to get the perfect angle. Great images don’t just happen—they’re created through effort on both sides of the camera. The model brings confidence, grace, and focus. The photographer brings vision, direction, and sometimes a little dirt on their knees. That’s the magic of behind the scenes. Two people working together, giving their best, to create one unforgettable image.

Years ago, Alexis stepped in front of my camera with a quiet grace and a heart of gold. Even then, there was something steady about her — a natural poise that couldn’t be taught. What I’ve always loved about working with young women in the pageant world isn’t just the crowns or the titles. It’s witnessing the character behind them. Alexis went on to become Miss Teen New Mexico USA and later Miss New Mexico USA — titles that reflect not just beauty, but discipline, presence, and inner strength. Looking back at these images reminds me of how powerful those early moments can be. Sometimes you can already see the foundation before the spotlight ever arrives. So grateful for the seasons we get to capture. — Cristal Hollywood Modeling Skool

https://www.skool.com/skool-community-9362/hollywood-modeling-skool?p=e2d98389

Prom nights are one of the few nights a year I genuinely look forward to being fully booked. For five straight hours, I don’t sit down. The line never ends. One student steps off the set, the next steps on. Dresses in every color, every sparkle, every silhouette you can imagine. And every single time — even after waiting in line watching me pose everyone else — the first thing they say is: “I don’t know what to do.” And I smile. Because that’s normal. They don’t need to know what to do. That’s my job. Prom isn’t about modeling experience. It’s about the dress. The dress is the character of the night. Whether it’s dramatic in the back, detailed in the front, sleek and simple, or full Cinderella moment — I pose to flatter the dress. Because when the dress shines, they shine. That’s what people don’t realize about posing. It’s not random. It’s not copying Instagram. It’s understanding lines, fabric, structure, movement — and building the pose around the design. Prom night is fast, chaotic, joyful — and honestly, one of my favorite classrooms. Real-time posing. Real-time confidence. Real-time magic. And here’s the part they don’t even realize. Standing in front of them isn’t just “the prom photographer.” It’s a professional model from LA. A pageant photographer. Someone who’s worked in front of and behind the camera for decades. But they don’t know that. They’re just there because their parents handed them a check and said, “Go get your prom pictures.” And then they step onto my set. For three minutes — sometimes less — they get 100% of my focus. On them. On the dress. On the details. On the way the fabric falls. On the way they stand. On how to turn slightly so the back shines if that’s where the magic is. And when they see the image? That’s the part I love. Because in those few minutes, they weren’t just “next in line.” They were seen. That’s the work I love the most.