With its grand architecture and lush greenery, Rice University’s campus has become a top destination for photo shoots celebrating engagements, weddings, pregnancies, proms and especially quinceañeras.
“If you want the classy, elegant, unique, fantastic background, I always say go to Rice,” said Houston photographer Juan Huerta, owner of Quinceañeras Gallery Photography + Video.
Through its portrait photography program, Rice provides professional photographers the flexibility to explore multiple spots across campus for unique backgrounds, providing families with a variety of stunning options. The program requires photographers to first to register with the university, then schedule portrait sessions.
“It’s very clean, it’s very safe, and it’s very welcoming,” Huerta said. “That’s what you want to have when it comes to a shoot.”
That’s why he said he recommended it as a location for a quinceañera session with Bertha Camarillo’s daughter Emmelyn, who arrived wearing a dress in the perfect Rice blue.
“We had already purchased her dress before we hired Juan, before we knew we’d be at Rice,” said Camarillo. “It was just a coincidence that the colors matched.”
The quinceañera marking a girl’s 15th birthday is a vibrant tradition among Latin American families, especially in Mexican culture. This coming-of-age celebration has grown popular in the U.S. as families look for unique and meaningful ways to honor this special day. Comparable to a debutante ball, the quinceañera represents a young woman’s transition to maturity and often includes a church ceremony followed by a lavish party with the guest of honor dressed in a formal gown.
“One of the most important things to have is the beautiful portrait that is going to preside over the entrance for the big day,” Huerta said.
That necessitates a preshoot at least a month before the main event, Huerta said, adding that he has been drawn to Rice’s campus because it offers an unmatched setting that transforms quinceañera portraits into works of art.
“The architecture is mesmerizing,” Huerta said, noting that the mix of classical and modern elements across campus lets him tailor each session to his subject’s personality and style. “I think it’s one of Houston’s jewels when it comes to architecture.”
For her primary quinceañera portrait, Emmelyn selected one of the photos taken at Rice, where her dress, the vibrant campus greenery and the striking architecture came together to create an unforgettable image. The portrait embodied the elegance and sophistication her family had envisioned for her big day, perfectly capturing the spirit of the quinceañera tradition.
“We had never really walked the campus before,” Camarillo said. “Afterward, Emmelyn mentioned something like, ‘Maybe Rice is somewhere I could go to college.’ She really liked it!”
Learn more about Rice’s portrait photography program here.