The Life and Times of Julie Harris

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February 24, 2013

Kris and Myranda’s American Indian Wedding

Myranda and Kris had the most beautiful American Indian wedding at the C Lazy U Guest Ranch in Granby, CO. on September 8th. It was feathers and guns, leather and choppers, gun metal and crystals. It was love potions, high fashion and horses. Drum circles, teepees, and bald eagles. I’ve never photographed anything like it and I was so honored to work alongside such amazing artists as Myranda, all her incredibly talented, stylist friends, and of course Erin Hornstein of Plum Sage . You all made this wedding an absolute dream.

January 17, 2013

Marika and Pete’s Denver Greek Wedding

Marika and Pete had a huge Greek Wedding in Denver at the Assumption of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Cathedral followed by a beautiful reception at the Hyatt Convention center. Heather Allen of Table 6 did an incredible job coordinating the days events. The modern details were impeccable and the all white decor, glorious. And I don’t think I need to speak for the party photos below. Opaaa!!

I loved working with Marika and Pete–Marika is my new “Bride of many Faces”– she is so expressive and full of life! And Pete–well he simply had me in tears all day with his emotions. He is a sweeeeet heart!

January 12, 2013

Nadine, Natalie and Baby Jimmy

I’m not telling a lie when I say that these three kids are the reason Ramona is here today. Cynthia’s kids brought so much sunshine to my life that I started to think I might be open to having one or two myself. Really. Each one, so entirely different, but all gregarious, bright and so so sweet. I can sit and talk fashion with Nadine, draw viruses (yes, viruses) with Natalie, and cuddle up with baby Jimmy who already protects Ramona from his kitty cat. Each one has my heart. And their mama–Ahhhh, their mama–well let’s just say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I love you, too Cynthia!

January 4, 2013

Katy and Orlando’s San Francisco Engagement

I was so honored when Katy contacted me to do some engagement and family portraits in their hometown of San Francisco. It is always a treat to get “away” for a day and shoot in an entirely new environment. I flew in Thursday morning and was back home by Friday afternoon. It was a short jaunt, and without Ramona or Jesse with me, I seriously got the best night sleep I’ve since I was 6 months pregnant. The trip with worth it just for that. But seriously, Katy and Orlando are ADORABLE. I love their energy. They are playful, loving and if I can say so, pretty freaking sexy! I had a great time photographing them down at the embarcadero and then outside their amazing home in Pacific Heights (where they have the most excellent views of both the city and the bay).

I have been playing with the idea of going back to shooting film exclusively–at least for smaller shoots like this one. I shot 3 rolls of 36 ex Fuji Velvia 800. I overexposed these by a stop and a half for the darker mid-tones and then tweaked them a bit in Lightroom for skin tones and black and white conversions.

December 17, 2012

Wes and Callie’s New Orleans Wedding

I was given the incredible honor of being flown to, and put up in, NOLA to photograph Callie and Wes’s New Orleans wedding last month. The ceremony and day’s festivities took place at the most insane venue called Race and Religious. It’s two old creole cottages built in 1853 (one being the old slave quarters) joined by a small sky bridge on the corner of Race and Religious streets and is seriously maybe the sweetest venue I’ve photographed. By sweetest I mean the most amazing, gorgeous, rustic/ chic space for any kind of shoot-let alone a wedding. In fact, this place is so great that Anthropologie shot their 2012 fall catalog there. And of course Callie and Wes, with the help of Elyse of Tying the Knot Wedding Coordination made the place even that more fabulous with their impeccable taste. It was rustic French meets Southern elegance.

What made the wedding however wasn’t the incredible space or the gold painted succulents, but the fact that Callie and Wes’s marriage unified a perfect little family. Wes has three beautiful children that Callie is obviously head over heels for. And they for her. It was simply a fairy tale.

November 23, 2012

Jenny and Keith at Wild Basin Inn

I’ve been saving this wedding for a special occasion. I thought the holiday weekend would be a perfect time to break out one of my favorite weddings of the season. It’s from way back in August, but ohhhh… it’s a good one!

10 Facts about Jenny and Keith:

1.)Jenny wore the most fabulous wedding dress that was designed just for her. Couture, if you will.

2.)Keith’s best man looks exactly like John Stewart.

3.)Jenny’s favorite beer is Red Stripe, Keith’s is a White IPA. I know this because instead of a unity candle, or mixing of the sands, they drank a ceremonial suicide beer.

4.)Jenny and Keith made their parents custom Kleenex boxes with photos of them on it for wedding day tears.

5.)Jenny knows every word to Naughty by Nature’s “Down with O.P.P” and performed it at her wedding. She didn’t miss a beat.

6.)Jenny and Keith’s dogs get nervous diarrhea.

7.)Jenny and Keith have three of the sweetest dogs in the world.

8.)Jenny and Keith are two of the sweetest people and the world.

9.)Jenny and Keith received the best vows I’ve ever heard at a wedding. EVER.

10.)I have never laughed harder at a wedding.

November 15, 2012

Bailey and Brian and Parker Villa

I’ve been excited to blog this wedding for awhile now. I loved it. Bailey and Brian are a super laid back couple with super duper great taste in music and beer, and a super, ooper, duper great taste in those they’ve chosen to surround themselves with. It was a wedding that was like a long deep breath amidst an otherwise crazy weekend. Caitlin and I actually felt extremely relaxed at this one and had a really good time. I may or may not have been out on the dance floor on a couple of occasions. I loved Bailey’s dress, and hairpiece and wreath. I loved the pom-poms on the chuppah, the cake, the jars of lentils. Did I mention that I loved the music and beer? It was an overall superb wedding! Kudos, Bailey and Brian. Let’s catch a show sometime

November 14, 2012

Cara, Herb and little Addie

Meet Cara, Herb and baby Addie. I met Cara at a breastfeeding support group back in April. A kindred spirit and fellow artist, I was instantly drawn to her, and her sweet Addie is just six weeks younger than Ramona. It’s a friendship that I hope will continue to unfold. Cara and Herb had me over to do a “day in the life of shoot” which is my very favorite style in which to photograph. We started at their house in Addie’s nursery where Herb and Cara shared the task of dressing the little monkey, then a late morning nap and then on to their Saturday ritual of walking the Pearl St. Farmers market and a stop at their favorite coffee shop. It was really fun to watch and document a day in this families life. It made me excited for having a few open Saturdays next summer to participate in my own weekend family traditions.

Thanks, Cara and Herb for letting me document this moment in your family’s life so honestly.

November 9, 2012

Kendra and Jason’s Denver Engagement Session

Funny story behind Kendra. Back in 2009, I met Kendra two weeks in a row. She was a bridesmaid in a wedding on the 18th of October, and then attended another wedding the week after–totally unrelated set of friends, both brides in the same dress. It was kismet. I was supposed to know her, I guess. Since then, Kendra has been a loyal follower of my blog and I’ve been able to keep in touch with her. When I got her email that she was getting married, I almost started jumping up and down. I’m honored to be shooting her and Jason’s wedding next August in Aspen.

Jason, Kendra and I met up at the Cherry Cricket to fire up our engagement session. The Cherry Cricket was where Kendra and Jason first met, so it was only fitting that we start there. Two pitchers of beer and a shot of patron later, we were having a riot and enjoying one of the most beautiful days this fall. It was GORGEOUS out. I then got to meet their two pups and hear Jason woo Kendra on the piano. It was a really fun engagement session and I feel like I really got to know Kendra and Jason even more. Already looking forward to their wedding next season!

November 1, 2012

A Bittersweet Farewell

I should be packing right now. The movers are coming at 6pm and it’s 4:30. I’m drinking a beer, listening to Waylon Jennings on vinyl and typing on this computer for probably the last time ever in this beautiful space. My little baby is with my mom and has been with her everyday for almost a week, just so I can get things done. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ve been working 70 hours a week. That’s shoots plus post production plus premieres plus meetings plus album designs, mailings, customer service, etc. I’m drowning this time every year, but this year it’s different because I have a baby. And up until the last couple of weeks, I have also been a full time mom. You do the math. As Clinton says, it’s “arithmetic’. There has been no time for me. And I can do that… for awhile. But after 9 months of trying to make all of this work, I am finally throwing up the white flag and letting go.

I will always be a photographer. I wouldn’t be Ramona’s mother if I weren’t. It’s who I AM. My identity is completely wrapped up in my work and will always be. But starting December 1st I am simplifying. I’m simplifying my packages, I’m simplifying my work space, I’m even simplifying my wardrobe. And as hard as it is sitting here with tears streaming down my face saying goodbye to a chapter of my life, I’m ready for the next. I’m ready for some land. I’m ready for some peace. I’m ready for 20 weddings instead of 30 and I’m ready to have a semblance of my personal life back. I can’t wait to take long walks with Ramona, take her to the library, or to the pool just because. I’m ready for the spa—-ahhhhh the spa, which I haven’t visited since my little bean was born. I’m ready to TRAVEL!!!!

Jesse and I bought this incredible space just 3 1/2 years ago knowing that it was an investment property and that it might make more financial sense for us to lease it one day. And it’s come down to that. We can own this amazing space and make a tiny profit from it now. And I can bring everything home to confine my life into one working space. I’m actually really looking forward to it.

Let me reiterate. For any of you who are thinking that I am quitting or am going out of business, I am absolutely not. I am still and will probably always be a full time wedding and portrait photographer. I just won’t be working like a mad woman. I’ve made some of the best work of my life this season simply because I realized that my work is ME. As much as my family is ME, my work is ME and seeing two worlds collide this season, actually extracted some of my finest creative juices. I was in an “alpha-state”, if you will. I’ve posted a few images that I’m quite proud of below, just because. And believe me, now that I’ll be working from home there will be much more blogging and much more clarity in my “voice” as an artist. I hope you will all follow me down this new path and will be able to see the new spirit in my work. I’m very excited. But until I feel the freedom, I’ll let these tears flow and feel the loss of surrendering my home away from home. Good bye 2405 W 32nd Ave. You were a dream come true. Literally.