Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Senior Portraits | Deadlines


Deadlines for yearbook and senior pictures are approaching, I have a two openings for the second week of October.  If you are interested in scheduling a session, I would love to talk with you.  You can reach me here.

Friday, September 2, 2016

Scheduling 2017 Seniors now | Bellevue High School Senior Photographer

Scheduling 2017 seniors now.  I would love to talk to you about your session!  Please feel free  to contact me here.


Friday, August 12, 2016

Before and After | Bellevue, WA portrait photographer

I thought it would be fun to post some before and after from some of my photo sessions.  Enjoy!

If you are interested in scheduling your senior pictures or sibling portraits feel free to contact me here.  I would love to talk with you!


Friday, July 1, 2016

Backyard wildlife | Bellevue Portrait Photographer

I had a little visitor about 30 minutes ago.  It made my day!  

Seeing and photographing the wildlife on the property brings me such joy.  It's very different from photographing client portraits, it's so much more challenging if I'm shooting through glass and even outdoors as these beautiful creatures do not remain idle for long after they've smelled, seen me or heard the click of my shutter.  Of course, mama is never far behind, which is something to be mindful of at all times.  I'm just as passionate about photographing wildlife as I am my portrait clients. Wildlife is like a spark and a wonderful compliment to my day job as a portrait photographer.


BUT THIS made my weekend!  Enjoy!


Thursday, June 9, 2016

Wildlife challenge | Redmond Portrait Photographer

I was nominated by Stephanie Kuwasaki to do the Nature Photo Challenge for 7 days. Here is day 2.

This just happened last night! Momma bear and her two cubs, one of which climbed up a tree lightening fast when I went outside and the other not quite ready. The little one kept looking up and assessing the tall tree repeatedly (which was pretty cute) and decided to stay close to mom.

Momma kept one eye on the her cub that was already up the tree and she made eye contact with me, but when she went for a second helping (from my now broken latched bear resistant toter that she moved and got into with complete ease ) I wanted her to stop, so I didn't have garbage all over my yard--a little was fine, but seconds... no ;)

Please excuse the quality of these images, it was nearly dark and I was pushing my settings.


Monday, June 6, 2016

Northern Lights | Redmond, WA Portrait Photographer


The aurora showed up this morning, later than expected and a bit weak, but that's how it goes sometimes...  sit and wait... and if you're lucky you see the colors on the horizon and maybe some pillars of light.

This was taken from Duvall, WA


This one was taken from the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal 


Friday, May 20, 2016

Catching up on some editing + Bellevue Portrait Photographer

Catching up on some editing while I have a chance.  This is perfect weather for photographing sessions right now, not too hot and not too cold.  Overcast days are the best for scheduling sessions, so there's no harsh shadows and light changing every other minute.  I am currently scheduling 2017 senior sessions and if you are interested in booking a session with me, I'd love to hear from you!

Contact



Monday, May 9, 2016

Northern Lights | Mother's Day 2016


About 1:10 am Sunday morning I was just about asleep after a few long days when I decided very spur of the moment to head out to see if I could catch the Aurora closer to home. I was too tired to drive up north, so I ended up on a country road in Duvall and was able to see the Northern Lights in front of me and overhead. Certainly not like my previous captures, but worth leaving my warm bed. These were taken around 1:45 am on Mother's Day


Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Design Transition | Bellevue Portrait Photographer


Changes are coming!




My website is being redesigned (yes, once again!)  This time on an entirely new platform that will be offer a much better experience for the visitor.  Unfortunately, there is a quite a learning curve and it's taking a bit longer than expected.

Along with this process my blog will be redesigned and ported over to the new platform, which will take some time--possibly weeks--ouch!  In the meantime, I have been posting on my social media as I do not want to further delay the time frame by creating blog posts on the old platform.

I've provided the links below where you will be taken to my personal and professional posts until this transition is complete.

Thank you so much for visiting!

Julia

Website + Social Media Links:






Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Bellevue Portrait Photographer | New website design for 2016!



My website has been redesigned for 2016.  I'm looking forward to the 2017 senior portrait season, boudoir sessions and sibling portraits this year!  I would love the opportunity to discuss your session with you.  You can reach me through my contact page on my website (link below.)  






Tuesday, January 26, 2016

A wonderful afternoon | Bellevue Portrait Photographer

My nephew was recently home on break from his first year at college.  I have loved him from the day I heard he was in his mom's belly.  I waited at the hospital (through a 4.9 earthquake) for his arrival. I changed his diapers, showered him with enough kisses to last a lifetime and accompanied him while we waited for his sister to arrive into this world one snowy night and again when his brother was born.  I have watched and photographed so many of his basketball and LaCrosse games over the years...

So it comes as no surprise that when it was his time to head out of state to college, I was a mess. I teared up at the thought many nights leading up to his departure and again the last time I saw him before he left. On that last day my brother took a photograph of the two of us, a single image that tells an 18 year story, which you can see in my August Reflections post.

One of the benefits available to him as he headed off to college is technology, although it didn't feel like much of a consolation for me at the time, but I was wrong!  We connect more than when he was home. Before he left, our lives intersected on holidays and special events which doesn't allow for that special one on one time that I so appreciate.

So when I learned the date he would be home for the holiday break, I started counting down the days and texting him the new count every Thursday and we'd text a bit on Sunday's during Seahawk's games.  Once he was back, we  arranged  to meet for lunch and he agreed to let me take some photos of him afterwards.

He let me know during lunch that he had to leave by 3pm to avoid rush-hour traffic. We had a nice conversation and then headed out.  It was cold and windy day, but sunny and beautiful too.   On the way to the park we listened to music and we were singing, good times!

I was very mindful of his schedule, but he assured me he was doing fine on time.  When I realized it was getting close I started to worry he told me, "Don't worry Aunty, this is fun!" Hearing him say he was having fun made my heart melt, I wasn't alone, he was having fun.

It was one of the best days and one I will remember...  I took these photos which not only left me with memories of a wonderful afternoon, but of a time in his life where he's finding his independence, transitioning from a boy to a man and beginning to map out his future (although I was able to see the boy that day too, as you'll see in the images below.)

I look forward to his next break and creating more memories and doing something he enjoys, since he so graciously accommodated me with photos that day.















Thursday, January 14, 2016

Reflections | December 2015

I apologize for the delay in getting my December Reflections posted  I had been without a computer since December 23, 2015.  My old workhorse has been retired and since it was holiday season, delivery was delayed.   The new computer finally arrived on January 5th and it's taken me time to get it setup and configured properly  There is never a good time to be without a computer when you're running a portrait business, but it could have been far worse if this happened during the busy season-- so for that, I'm grateful.

On one of the frosty mornings in December where it was 23 degrees at my house I was looking toward the back of my property where I saw something white that looked like one of those styrofoam egg cartons.  My first thought was a bear got into my neighbors garbage toter and dragged his garbage onto my property (it's happened before.).

I ran for my binoculars and went to the window for a second look.  I could see it wasn't an egg carton, but what was it?  And then it hit me, could it be?  I wondered if what I was seeing could possibly be the rare elusive ice flowers?  I ran for my camera and out the door in my jammies and sure enough, there they were.  For me it felt like Christmas all over again!

I found the the one that I was seeing from the house, I hurried to take pictures (they melt quickly--as soon as the sun hits them.) I took a moment to look around and it felt magical. There were several and many were hard to access for a picture, but I did my best,  After a few minutes I realized that I didn't feel the cold. I was filled with excitement!