AJV Original - Wedding & Special Events Photographer

06/17/2026

🎬 Quad Cities Latino Cinema Series 🍿✨
📅 Mark Your Calendars—Tickets Coming Soon!

Presented by The Last Picture House in collaboration with AJV Original, the Quad Cities Latino Cinema Series celebrates the stories, music, culture, and heart of the Latino community while supporting local Hispanic nonprofit organizations.

Whether you first experienced La Bamba, Selena, Stand and Deliver, or In the Heights in theaters—or you're discovering them for the first time—this is your chance to experience the magic on the big screen with your family and friends.

But this is more than just a movie.

Each screening includes themed experiences, special activities, and unforgettable moments inspired by the film. Plus, 100% of every ticket sold benefits that evening's nonprofit organization, making every ticket a way to support our local Latino community.

🎥 2026 Film Lineup

🌹 July 15 – Selena
Hosted by LULAC Council #5285 (Moline)

🎓 August 19 – Stand and Deliver
Hosted by the Greater Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

🎸 September 15 – La Bamba
Hosted by Mercado on Fifth

💃 October 14 – In the Heights
Hosted by LULAC Council #10 (Davenport)

One ticket. One unforgettable experience. One big impact. ❤️

06/10/2026

¡Qué orgullo, Anamaría! 💪🇲🇽🇺🇸

At last night’s City Council meeting, we had the special honor of recognizing former City of Moline employee Anamaria Rocha for her lasting contribution to Moline.

Nearly 10 years ago, Anamaria refreshed our official City logo. A decade later, her design still represents us every day on city vehicles, signs and official documents.

Her work has become a lasting part of Moline's identity, and we wanted to make sure she knew how much it means to us.

Thank you, Anamaria! 💙

06/07/2026

🐼🎉 A Quinceañera + Pandas = An Unforgettable Combination! 🎉🐼

Ariana and her Pandas got the party started the right Way!

06/07/2026

✨💖 Congratulations, Ariana, on your Quinceañera! 💖✨

What a beautiful celebration from beginning to end! 🎉 From the gorgeous venue to the incredible dancing!

Thank you for letting us be part of such a special day. Wishing you a future filled with happiness, success, and many more reasons to celebrate! 🥳💕

06/04/2026

Last night at Modern Woodmen was one to remember! 🚗
Perfect weather, amazing cars, and the chance to celebrate my birthday surrounded by family.
It doesn't get much better than that! 🙌🎂🔥

06/03/2026

I will be celebrating my birthday at the baseball game today!
Cheering on Los Bandidos and supporting Latin Persuasion!

Free Ferris Wheel rides, too... I am in!

06/03/2026

🎉 Today I turn 34, and to celebrate, I picked 34 random images from my archives.

These photos are just a tiny glimpse into a journey that has given me nearly 100,000 images and more than a decade behind the camera.

There are a lot of talented photographers out there, and there will always be new ones coming up. But the truth is, there is no one quite like me.

As a first-generation Mexican-American, I've been fortunate to experience life and culture on both sides of the border, the United States and in Mexico. Those experiences have shaped not only who I am, but also the way I see the world through my camera.

For more than a third of my life, I've been telling stories through photography. I've photographed everything from major music festivals and cultural celebrations to intimate backyard gatherings and once-in-a-lifetime family moments. Every event, every person, and every community has added another layer to the way I tell stories.

What sets me apart isn't that I'm claiming to be the best photographer. It's that my experiences are uniquely my own. The culture I've lived, the communities I've served, and the moments I've witnessed have given me a perspective that can't be duplicated.

I'm not saying I'm the champion of photography—but after 11 years behind the lens, I know I've earned my place as a heavyweight contender.

And here's the crazy part: these are just 34 random photos. Not my portfolio pieces. Not my greatest hits. Just 34 moments pulled from nearly 100,000 images. If these are the random ones, imagine the best of the best.

That's why I can say this with confidence: there may be many photographers, but there is only one me.

These 34 images are just 34 reasons why I still love what I do.

Thank you to every couple, family, organization, performer, athlete, and community member who has trusted me with their memories over the years. You've allowed me to tell stories that matter.

Here's to 34 years of life, 11 years of photography, and countless stories still waiting to be told. 📸❤️

05/31/2026

💍✨ Congratulations to Katie & Jacob on an amazing wedding day! ✨💍

The venue was beautiful, the food was delicious, and your family and friends had me laughing all day long! ❤️😂

I love weddings like these—full of love, joy, and great people. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness, laughter, and unforgettable memories together. 🥂💕

05/29/2026

🇲🇽 De Allá somos y Aquí Estamos 🇲🇽
From Colonia Gervacio Mendoza, Guanajuato, to the Quad Cities!

In a small town where the evenings belonged to neighbors, laughter carried through the streets, and children played until the sun disappeared, she learned early that life would ask much of her.

Jovita Lopez at just 12 years old, with little more than determination in her hands, taught herself how to sew because she had no clothes of her own. Needle by needle, sleepless night after sleepless night, she stitched together more than fabric — she stitched together a future for her family.

By day, she cleaned, washed clothes, gathered wood to cook, and cared for her children. By night, she worked endlessly to finish her costuras on time. From the heart of a tiny town in Mexico came a woman whose sacrifices would one day help raise two engineers.

What she misses most is her abuelita, the kind of love that still calls you home even after goodbye.

The hardest part of coming here was the language, and learning how to exist in a world so different from the one she knew. But in the middle of fear, uncertainty, and long drives to Iowa City during her husband’s cancer treatments, she also found kindness. She found people who reminded her that even far from home, humanity can still feel familiar.

And while her roots will always belong to Mexico, she says her favorite thing about being here is the people she has met and the opportunities this country can give.

De Allá Somos y Aquí Estamos.

Because sometimes the strongest women come from the smallest places… carrying stories the world was never meant to forget.

05/28/2026

Latin Persuasion Car Club X Bandidos Del Rio

Next week, Latin Persuasion Car and Bike Club will be the highlighted organization at the Copa Diversión game sponsored by Group O at Modern Woodmen Park — and I would be lying if I said they weren’t one of my favorite organizations to work with.

Founded in 1993, Latin Persuasion is more than a lowrider car and bike club — they’re a family built on culture, respect, pride, and community. Through toy drives, food donations, and supporting local families, they continue to make a positive impact year after year.

What makes them special isn’t just the cars and bikes — it’s the love and unity behind everything they do.

Don’t miss next week’s Copa Diversión game at Modern Woodmen Park as we celebrate an organization that truly represents community, culture, and heart. Join us on June 3, 2026, for a night filled with pride, energy, and community spirit.