A professional security team winds through narrow streets at night in Mexico, following their boss, José, in his Ferrari, to make sure no incident occurs. The bodyguards maintain constant communication and close proximity to their "principal" at all times. As a result of Mexico's persistent violence, many of the country's elites choose to take protection into their own hands, by hiring private security forces.

Members of a private Mexican family's professional security team travel behind their boss's car, poised for potential action. As a result of Mexico's persistent violence, many of the country's elites choose to take protection into their own hands, by hiring private security teams and bodyguards.

A fortified barbed wire fence adds another layer of home protection for Jose' family, dividing inside from outside and public life from private life. While many Mexican homes feature exterior walls (a legacy of Spanish Colonial architecture), security fences and high-tech surveillance equipment are modern additions to daily life.

Alejandro, one of José's bodyguards, prepares for a long day of work. Several of José's bodyguards share this house while on duty. The home has the feel of a college dormitory. Room decor shifts between targets used as wall art and religious ephemera.

José, (right) and his brother, greet guests outside a Mexican cathedral before the advent of the brother's wedding, while being carefully watched by a member of their professional security team.

Blending in with wedding guests, José's lead bodyguard, Gabriel, discreetly communicates with other private security agents who monitor the arrival of family members and friends to the Mexican cathedral where Jose's brother got married.

Jose's brother's wife greets guests at her civil wedding, minutes after becoming officially married. The event took place at a luxurious private setting. Bodyguards from various elite families flanked the garden's perimeter. Only a few guards stood closer in, allowing the family to enjoy more privacy during their intimate family event.

Close friends of José's family enjoy a small private party celebrating the civil wedding of his brother. Bodyguards from various elite families flank the venue's perimeter. Only a few guards stand closer by, allowing the family to enjoy more privacy during their intimate family event.

Mexican private bodyguards protecting multiple elite families man the edge of a festive wedding reception thrown by José's family. Many guests arrived in bulletproof vehicles. Their bodyguards stood guard until guests began to leave at 5 a.m. José provided a special room with food for the dozens of bodyguards who attended, so that they could stay fortified throughout the long party.

Jose's wife clutches her daughter on the way to school, accompanied by their personal bodyguards. Each family member has a security agent accompanying them at all times, outside the home, since they are most vulnerable to kidnappers while out in public.

José's daughter prepares to attend her "princess" themed birthday party while one of her personal security guards stands on alert at the beauty salon. The guard stayed outside at first but moved inside after seeing a suspicious person enter the outdoor restaurant next door. Each family member has security accompanying them at all times outside the home, since they are most vulnerable to kidnappers while out in public.

Members of a private Mexican family's professional security team travel behind their boss's car, poised for potential action. As a result of Mexico's increasing violence, many of the country's elites have take protection into their own hands, by hiring private security forces including bodyguards. Finding reliable security is not an easy task, as there are few certified bodyguard schools in Mexico.

José urges his dog off the sofa while family members enjoy watching movies with surround-sound inside the privacy and safety of their own home. Bodyguards stationed outside give a sense of added security.

Jose's wife's personal bodyguards wait for her during a routine trip to a beauty salon. Wherever she goes, security agents are always waiting and watching as they perform their jobs day in, day out.

Jose's lead bodyguard, Gabriel, prepares for a long day of work, his gun juxtaposed against a symbol of his religious conviction. Gabriel takes one of his instructor's message to heart. "When you wake up every morning, you have to be thinking today is the day. It could happen at any moment," he said.

Needing few words, José and and his lead bodyguard, Gabriel, communicate about their next move. No matter where the family go in public, the private guards are always nearby. While many families wish their bodyguards could be more discreet, others flaunt them as a symbol of prestige. José sees them as a necessary part of living in Mexico, being from an elite family. Unlike many bosses, he endeavors to treat them with respect and give them consistent training opportunities.