Julie Hamlin with Lensbaby Trio 28

A: I try to capture moments. Something that others may not necessarily see as a photograph. Whether that be my little boy simply sitting on the floor, or holding a sparkler, or a beautiful flower facing the sun, my camera is most certainly always ready to capture it. If I am planning a shoot with a client, such as the little boy in a field of sunflowers, I plan ahead with which lenses will help me tell the story best. Behind the scenes is simple, unhurried, in the moment, just capturing something beautiful.

A: I began taking photos as a young kid using my parent’s 35mm film cameras. I don’t remember a time in my life when photography wasn’t something I loved doing. I continued through HS and college, learning how to develop in the darkroom, end eventually moved in the digital world! Photography has always been a creative outlet for me, and when I began my business, I had decide that telling people’s stories through my lens was a dream come true.

Julie Hamlin with Lensbaby Velvet 56

A: Practice, practice, practice! Play with different lighting, different subjects, and different settings. Be patient as manual focus lenses require a bit more focus and stillness. Once you see it in-camera, you’ll know!! The results are worth the little extra effort!

A: Tacos :)

A: Growing up in New Mexico, and shooting in B&W film, Ansel Adams was the first professional photographer to inspire me. I learned how to see the colors laid out in front of me, and transform them into black, white, and grey scales. In college, the work of Ruth Bernhard (again in B&W) was a tremendous inspiration as I began learning shadows and the human form. Her techniques on using light applied to the human body is something that transcends through all genres, and I apply it to nearly everything that I photograph. Annie Leibovitz has also always inspired me. Her ability to capture not only posed, but raw candid imagery is absolutely incredible.

Julie Hamlin with Lensbaby Velvet 56

A: I find very few things to be actually difficult. I love challenges and learning new things. I push myself and I hustle in this industry. Technology going astray may be the Achilles heal of any photographer though. I am a professional full time photographer, and there are obvious difficulties being self employed, but it is a blessing and a privilege to get to do this for a living!

A: We laugh! I am a very relaxed photographer who always has such a great time with my clients. We make the best of every situation. I am never in a hurry, I can easily make jokes, and above all else, I make sure my client know they are my priority!

A: I am mainly self taught with the exception of taking classes in HS and college, and learning the basics of compositions, rules and color theory. I am certainly self taught in the digital era of photography though. I have taken several courses online through the Click Photo School, and I am incredibly honored to be a Click Pro Elite in the Click Community. I am constantly educating myself online as technology is ever evolving!

Julie Hamlin with Lensbaby Trio 28

A: I believe finding magic in the mundane, everyday details of someone’s life make the best photographs. Noticing what goes unnoticed is my job, and documenting it beautifully is what I strive to do. I never rush. I go into a shoot willing to discover beautiful things. Even when I shoot for myself creatively, I strive to find the magic that I haven’t seen before.

A: People inspire me. Their stories and their emotions are incredibly inspiring if you take the time to notice and listen. And listening with my lens is something I have learned to do. Simplicity inspires me. A photograph doesn’t have to be complex to be incredible. Light inspires me. I get so excited when I see beautiful light. Even if I don’t have my camera, light makes me happy. It inspires me to get creative and make something beautiful. My son inspires me. I want him to be proud of what I do :)

A: “Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.”

Julie Hamlin with Lensbaby Trio 28

A: Newborn babies. All their tiny details! (And I usually capture them in black and white!)

A: I am an emotive storyteller. I prefer candid imagery, capturing emotion, pulling emotion out of my clients, and preserving those moments forever.

A: Freezing time. Documenting moments otherwise forgotten forever. And the connections that I make with my clients. It is such an honor to have them want to spend time having me document their lives, even just for a moment. And when they send me pics of the photos that I took, hanging on their walls, it is the best feeling!

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