Paris 10/19/08: A six week sabbatical to reclaim my
“You need to claim the events of your life to make yourself yours”. Anne-Wilson Schaef
It may seem ironic that I title this series of blogs a “sabbatical”, and am still blogging. However, this will be a different kind of blogging than what I normally do. I will not be taking any shoots or blogging any past weddings or portrait shoots for the next six weeks (unless I shoot something here that I want to blog). I am truly taking six weeks away from my life as I know it, to find my heart and fall in love with photography again. It’s not that I don’t love what I do–or somehow think that wedding and portrait photography isn’t art—it is indeed and I am quite confidant that I am an artist in this “industry”. But I shot close to 40 weddings this season and probably doubled that number in portraits. I’m pretty tired. Please know this— I do love what I do and feel very blessed to be able to make a living as an artist. I love all my clients and I love blogging their sweet stories everyday. However it’s only natural that any extended period or piece of work draws heavily on our artistic wells. Julia Cameron says this, “Overtapping the well, like overfishing the pond, leaves us with diminished resources. We fish in vain for why, ‘just when it was going so well!’ The truth is that work can dry up because it is going so well.” And that pretty much sums it up for me at the moment. I’m out here for six weeks to stock the pond!
I’m staying in what the Parisians call a “Rabbit Cage” in Montparnasse. My flat is no more than 300 square feet–no TV, no bathtub, no back yard or washer and dryer—just the bare basics, and (aside from no bathtub) I’m totally excited with this. It’s currently 1:30 am in Paris and I’m spilling my heart out…. I forgot to eat today, so I found a can of peas in the cupboard at my flat, and and am chasing them down with cheap red wine and cigarettes (it’s Paris)! I’m feeling pretty bat shit crazy, but will say that I am already starting to taste rejuvenation and rest (despite the not eating, smoking and drinking thing). 
I plan on blogging pretty intimate snip bits during this little adventure, as well as posting some of my daily images—Please feel free to follow along on this journey with me, and know that after 6 weeks in Paris, I will surely come home ready to conquer the world—As a refreshed and fiercely creative Julie Harris.
These next few images are me warming up—they are images of or around my flat, and an exploration of Monparnasse and the cliche’s that I have held about Paris—-Yes. Cafe life is the life here and I love it! With no itinerary or daily agenda, I find that sitting at a Cafe is a daily ritual for me—two or three times a day, even!
The little Dimos Girls….
I went over to my dear friend juli’s house the other day so that she could help me figure out some major computer issues that I was having (she is a genius). I ended up staying for pizza and to watch the debate. All I can say is that I am so grateful for my girlfriends…. I know that I could be going through anything in my life and have a solid support around me. Juli is one of those very special people in my life—and she has a gorgeous family. I took these images of her two daughters Luci and Merci while we were out on her front porch in five points waiting for pizza. I just wanted to share these….
I love you jules!
Sara and Gregg
Sara and Gregg’s wedding in Keystone was traditionally and symbolically, a continuation of the wedding that took place back in January…. This was the second time that I had the honor of photographing Sara and Gregg’s wedding. The first ceremony took place at Sara’s parents home in City Park back on January 12th—it was truly the most intimate wedding that I have ever had the opportunity to photograph—I think there were all of twelve people there. Needless to say, I was very excited to get to reunite with these two families once again this fall, and participate in the continuation of this union—this time with all of their friends and family. I want to make note that Sara and Gregg have the greatest families—rarely do I get to work with two families who embrace each other like the Stracks and Seligs do—their support system is truly a treasure.
Thank you Sara and Gregg, for once again allowing me to play a part in this incredibly beautiful time in your lives…. you have truly taken a place in my heart and I wish you all the happiness and health that this life has to offer.
Julie and Ryan at Ten Mile Station
Let me first start out by staying that I don’t just make up nice things to say about my clients to make these posts sound more romantic or interesting. I think long and hard about what makes each wedding/union special and stand out from others so that each wedding post is as unique as the couple that I work with. That being said, I know that I often say in my posts, that “this couple is so in love”, or that “they belong together”, etc, etc. These things are true—and let’s hope so, because these are weddings that I am blogging, afterall.
However, there is something so amazing about the love between Julie and Ryan. I felt so completely hopeful and amazed by them that I actually left feeling like I wanted to fall in love all over again with my husband. This love that exists between Julie and Ryan is true and once in a lifetime and totally magic— seriously what girls dream of all their lives—- TRUE LOVE! The way they kissed each other and looked at each other and cried over how wowed they were with each other…. it was simply a fairytale wedding, and is a fairytale love.
To top it off, these are two of the most beautiful and kind people I have ever met. Julie is a sweetheart. Just a complete doll, and Ryan adores her. There are really no words to describe how much I loved being a part of this day. I actually think it may have changed my perspective of love forever. Truly.
…wow—hope these images can live up to this rave! 
Julie and Ryan decided to see each other before the wedding to share a private moment. I love this when my couples let me share this moment with them, and allow me really key into the moment when the groom first sees his bride—Ryan’s reaction was, well, stunned.
Julie is actually clutching her heart here…. what emotion!
I love the emotion that spills out in these next two images…. Julie and Ryan could not hold back their tears.
….and joy!
I did not set up this shot—this was taken right after the wedding party recessional. Everybody was cheering and celebrating—-for good reason! Look at these two!
Carissa and Rich at Elk Ridge Ranch
Carissa and Rich had a beautiful wedding the the Elk Ridge Ranch, just 20 minutes outside of Breckenridge. It’s hands down one of my favorite venues– not only because the views during the ceremony are simply breathtaking, but also because you feel like you’re on top of the world and away from everything else—-it’s quite intimate.
After the ceremony I drove Carissa and Rich down to a small lake for 10 minutes alone—I love this moment between the bride and the groom—it is the sweet spot for making images with true authenticity. Carissa and Rich just melted together and payed no attention to me…. which is exactly what I want when I’m shooting a wedding….
Amy and John at Donovan Pavilion
Sometimes an image can speak 1000 words…… I’ll let these do that, but if there is one thing I can say about Amy and John, it is that these two are the most adventurous, cool cats! They made me want to take a year off and travel the world with the man that I love—-and simply to live life to its fullest. As cliche as this sounds, Amy and John have found love and life in each other, and this I admire.
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