Photography Blog | The Life and Times of Julie Harris Photo Blog | Photography Blogs. Welcome! This is where I show my work and write about what stirs me. Mary Ellen Mark says, "Reality is always extraordinary". I live by this. I'm a documentary photographer with a thirst for love, life and truth... a true bohemian at heart. In an industry saturated with trendy processing techniques and emphasis on style instead of substance, I strive to make honest images that are full of emotion and reality. Please visit and comment often!
I honestly can’t think of a more beautiful day in the life of portrait session. Danielle asked if I could do some portraits of her and her baby girl, skin to skin. She wanted to capture this fleeting time between her and her 5 month old daughter, breastfeeding, bathing, snuggling… It was so precious. So natural. So perfect. I absolutely love these images and was honored to be able to snap a few shots of these intimate rituals between Danielle and baby Ava.
Sometimes there aren’t enough words to describe an experience… and sometimes these words just seem cliche and overused. Love. Sweet. Beautiful. Amazing. These are all overused words—especially by me. When I sit down and blog about a particular wedding or family or “experience”, I often draw upon these simple words, which rarely do justice to my imagery. But there are no words for Megan and Dylan’s love that won’t dilute or spoil the magic that is there. I love to write, but when there aren’t words, there is an image and I can capture much more with a click of the shutter than I can with a word—that is why I love photography–it is a simple expression of a moment or person’s spirit. All I can say about Megan and Dylan and their fairy tale love is that it blows my mind. I cry and smile more around them. I am filled with hope–that true love and friendship are in fact alive. And I am simply blessed to have been able to document this relationship. Megan and Dylan have moved to Nashville, and I made them promise that they would be in touch. These two inspire me. They are “special”. They have that “something“. And I hope that they will be a part of my life for a long, long time. Enjoy these tear jerking images from Megan and Dylan’s perfect wedding at Modis in Breckenridge, CO….
I just have to say that Megan and Dylan had a dream team of vendors: Coordinator Emily Campbell of Bella Design, Cynthia Goodberry, the Denver Makeup guru, and Leon Littlebird as the officiant. It was perfection.
I’m curled up on the couch with a bowl of oatmeal and a strong cup of black coffee meditating on my last day of my working season and reminiscing over the last 7 months. Normally I’m in Paris this time of year–sleeping in until noon, then making my own crepes for “breakfast”, then hitting up a cafe to read, write, ponder, rest. It sounds romantic and refreshing, no? It is incredibly romantic and refreshing and I’m mourning that I’m m not there this season. But I have a little monkey inside of me that is due on January 18th and they won’t let me fly. So, I’ve been working instead—working hard. 7 or 8 shoots a week–30 plus weddings–sometimes back to back on the weekends, post-production, premieres, blogging, meeting with future clients, etc, etc. I’m tired. But even more than tired, I’m simply ready to bring Paris here to to be really present for the first time this entire pregnancy. Something has fundamentally changed in my heart and spirit over the last few months. Being able to feel this little girl inside me kick like a little field goal kicker, hiccup 4 times a day, turn from breech to normal, breech to normal… I’m falling in love. I never thought this would happen to me. I’ve never really wanted to have children and while I love working with them, have never really thought about the real miracle of life. I’m such a student of the human condition—I love people’s personalities–quirks, moods, remarkable traits, etc. And being pregnant has brought me even deeper into the wonder of the human psyche. What will my little girl be like? Will she be wild? Shy? Will she be grumpy in the morning or chirp independently? Will she love to travel like her mama or will she be a philosopher and truth seeker like her Dad? It doesn’t really matter to me as long as she is healthy. And I want to foster whatever spirit she might have–even if it looks nothing like mine. My one true wish for her is to be wild and free like children should be. I want to give her a safe, loving environment where she can dress however she likes and color on the walls….
So I’m officially taking maternity leave this weekend. No more shoots until I feel ready–which will most likely be months after this monkey arrives. This is my sabbatical–though it’s not in Paris, but on my living room couch. I want to be present during this amazing time in my life. I want to gear up to be a good mama and also an amazing artist. I want to laugh at the changes that are happening with my body and embrace my new outlook on life artistically. I want to blog because I want to blog again. I have about 30 weddings from this past summer that haven’t been blogged. I want to have the time to really reflect on those weddings and post them with my heart and because I want to–not because I should. Alex and Matt, Megan and Dylan, Lee Lee and Michael—you guys are first on my list. I’ve truly had the most incredible last 7 mind-blowing months. I’m going to revel in this time and stay in touch right here on my blog. Please stay tuned. My adventures, I believe are just beginning….
Photo above by Paige Elizabeth
Love these and you!
(11.21.2011)These are, as usual, fantastic!
(11.21.2011)That's a very confident woman who will let her body be photographed and shared with all the world 5 months after baby. Bravo! Precious!
(11.21.2011)What a beautiful mother and baby! The photos are gorgeous.
(11.21.2011)LOVE ... of course!
(12.02.2011)These are so beautiful and awesome, Julie. Love the intimacy shared between mother and daughter.
(12.09.2011)How simply wonderful. I would give anything to revisit those early days with my daughter, and this Mom has the next best thing. These photos really shout with joy and love.
(05.03.2012)