1. Tell us about yourself...
I’m a
natural-light family and beach photographer in San Clemente, California. I
spend my days raising my three daughters (ages 15, 13 and 5) with my amazing
husband. My happy place is the beach, where I find inspiration and peace. I have a degree in journalism and worked for
a number of years as a PR professional. Then after my two older daughters
started school, I went back to school and got my early childhood education
units and taught preschool for 3 years. I find all this, as well as life
experiences, contributes to my photographic style and preferences.
2. What ignited your passion for photography, and what fuels it now?
I’ve always
been interested in photography, like most people who are photographing today.
When my older girls were born and little, I spent a bunch of money for portraits
because I appreciated good photography. I noticed that the portraits were
beautiful but not necessarily natural or capturing our every day. So, when our
bonus baby was born (8 years after my middle daughter) I decided to invest in a
camera and learn how to use it. What I found, along with getting more natural,
every day images of my family, was that photography gave me the opportunity to
focus on the beauty, joy, and love unfolding in the daily chaos of family life.
From that realization, photography went from a way to record moments to a
spiritual practice. Photography continues to be a source of joy as well as a
way to center myself. It’s helped me discover more about who I am and why I’m
here.
3. What's in your camera bag right now, what do use the most? the least?
In my bag I
have my camera (Canon 60D), my prime lenses (35mm 2.0, 50mm 1.2, 85mm 1.8) and,
at the moment, a Speedlite because I’m challenging myself to understand flash
photography. I go in phases and right now I’m in a 50mm phase, so I have been
using that the most. I probably use my lenses equally but in phases. And, I
rarely use the flash.
4. What's your dream project or shoot?
My dream
shoot is very natural, relax moment of connection between people. I’ve been
dreaming about a farm table shoot with candles, strings of twinkly lights,
flowers on the table, a bottle of wine and 5 of my closest girl-friends all
sitting around laughing and connecting. I think there are so few opportunities
to photograph women in a naturally beautiful way. Both my online and in-person girl friends
have been such a tremendous source of strength and inspiration for me. I just
want to capture the beauty that radiates from them in photographs.
5. What is the biggest challenge you face as a photographer?
My biggest
challenge is turning off the negative self-talk and objectively seeing my work.
Sometimes I have my mommy goggles on and other times my-own-worst critic
glasses. Honestly, I have really benefited from submitting photos to weekly
online challenges because it requires me to look at my photos creatively from
the perspective of a theme. Regardless of whether my images get selected or
not, I benefit because I took a moment to look at my work from a different
perspective and risked putting it out there.
If you had $500 to spend on photography...
How should you
spend it? I shouldn’t spend it…I should add it to my savings for a Canon 5D
Mark III!!
How do you wish you
could spend it? On a class or workshop and some Lensbaby glass.
How would you
really spend it? An external drive, printing my fine art photos and creating a
custom logo.
7. Is there any one thing you wish someone had told you at the very beginning
of your photography journey?
The feeling of
discontent or inadequacy is the thing that will move you forward. When you have
moments of confusion as to what to do next or you feel completely lost and
overwhelmed, just remain open because the guidance and growth will come. That frustrated,
defeated feeling really is a great indicator that you are moving into the next
phase of development. The insight will come. Maybe you will see something
online or find a book or talk to a friend and, even if it seems insignificant
at the time, it will move you forward.
Thank you so much, Julie, for joining us this week!!
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