Summer

The summer night is like a perfection of thought. 

~Wallace Stevens

Balloon Fest 2011

Summer is hot, happy and amazing.

That makes it a perfect season for hot air balloons. And don’t mind waking up at 5 am.

It is oh, so worth it.

I forget dreams just as often as I forget to floss,

so might as well weak up and start building sweet memories on both mine and my children’s lives.

Those,

I’ll remember forever.

 

            

              

Baseball

I’m a wolverine AND a baseball fan.

And I’ve been missing my school days, and going to the games.

I  go to the games no ones cares to go to. Like last Wednesday. On the first 30 minutes it was pretty much me, my husband and the players. I didn’t have to fight for a place with other photographers, and I could get super close to the players.

And then, I pretended (it is true. I still play pretend) I was a Sports Illustrated photographer. – not the swimming suit photographers. The ones who actually cares about sports. Though I think my pictures might be just a little “artsy” and dramatic for them.

Great night. Great game.

PS- Sorry about the huge logos right in the middle of the pictures, but you might see them without it somewhere else pretty soon. ;)

 

Giveaway

So two years ago a little voice told me I could do something.

Something besides eating chocolate without feeling guilty.

That I could do whatever I could put my mind into: and that was take my talent to the next step. Study, practice and practice some more and become a professional photographer.

JT Photography was born April (I wish I knew the exact date) 2009.

And since that it’s just been beyond words. I haven’t had a month without work, and sometimes months where are can’t fit sessions in. It just blew my mind.

And I could name tons of people here, but it is just easier to say you.

Because truly, it was and is, you.

You were the one who called me, who believed and appreciated my work.

You and my husband. He was the little voice.

And still is.

He was the one who believed in me from the beginning, and because of him I am here until this day.

Because of him and you.

So,

long story short I want to give you a present. Actually, my husband is.

I am giving away a photo session (family or couple) to you, and you only need to do two (maybe three) things:

1. Like my page on Facebook.
2. Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page answering the question: “What makes you smile?”. The best answer will win a family or couple photo session.
3. Aaaaand – this isn’t really a requirement, but gosh, I would love if you share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook. (it might give you some extra points with my hubby – since he will be the one who will choose the best answer)

Just one more thing: The photo session will happen either at the Salt Lake or Utah Valleys. So, anyone can participate. Just keep in mind that if you live in another state (or country) you will have to come to good old Utah for it. Also, the photo session will happen between the moths of June or July of this year.

The winning entry will be announced here on May 1st 2011.

Good Luck to you all!

Simple

I love writing. But you know what I don’t like? College writing classes. I went to several during my college years, and is not that they bored me, but there were always so many rules to be followed! You need a topic sentence at the beginning of your paragraph, you have a certain way to build your phrases and so on. And that happens with other humanities/art departments, including photography.

There is obviously a better way to write as well as to photograph, but is there really a right way to do what is supposed to be a free expression of thoughts and feelings?

I don’t know anyone who became famous or acknowledged for doing exactly what everyone else was doing.

I am always researching my field of work, and sometimes come across the dilemma if I should go all the way with my equipment, having a light meter, strobes, color pallets and all of the hundreds of gadgets a photographer can have (and they are so cool!).

Since I started taking pictures I decided I wanted to keep simple.

I remember my first wedding. I had only my Canon Rebel XS camera, no off camera flash and only my kit lens. – crazy.

Crazy, I say!

But it worked.

I was waiting for the couple with my husband on one busy wedding day in Salt Lake City. I saw many photographers with their huge bags filled with all kinds of lenses, and at least two 5Ds around their necks.

I was almost crying on my husband’s shoulder, when I realized why I was there: to capture memories for a couple who were just starting their lives together. I have practiced, studied, and most of all, loved what I was doing. And it was enough.

Now, I’m not saying that just because you got your DSLR camera, and like to take pictures, you should go crazy and photograph a whole wedding without even knowing what the Manual mode is for. What I am trying to say is: don’t be afraid to keep it simple, and keep it the way you want it to be.

Don’t make rules on what should not have rules, but love and dedication.

Being yourself is the best thing you can be.

A word.

It is said that you should never mix religion with your professional life, and there is truth in that. But how can I do that if religion is the essence of my work?

My inspiration.

I am a Mormon.

I take pictures of people of my faith, as well as people that would discard my work right away if they knew I am a member of the Latter-Day Saint Church.

Lately, my clients have been asking me how I get certain shots. Other photographers have been sending me e-mails asking me to teach them to have their clients smile freely and carelessly while having a stranger hold a black box in front of them.

This past Saturday, after a family photo session, the father turned to me and said “you have a wonderful spirit”. At first I thanked him and thought about it no longer, but as I drove home that phrase kept coming back to me as if it needed to be shared. As if not just my clients, but I myself needed to smile freely and carelessly, regardless of how people would react when they knew about my religion, particularly about this post.

I was always a Mormon, but I wasn’t always a photographer nor did I have an amazing plan to be one. It happened, and it continues to happen until this day. My camera and I have a bond- or more like a deal, that we would portray happiness, love and everything that has to do with what I believe. And I believe in God, Jesus Christ and their everlasting love for us.

Last Sunday, still puzzled by what that father said, I watched this short video:

I watched while smiling and crying of happiness.

I finally understood my deep desire to create moments through my camera that would last forever.

And thank YOU for making that happen. And I would also like to express my thanks to my church and my beliefs. Those are the things that make me smile. It is through my faith that I am inspired.

Religion never held me back from my dreams. Religion was what actually helped me fulfill them.

And this is by no means a post where I’ll send missionaries to your door, nor a “subliminal message” to get you to join my religion.

This is a expression of love, to what shaped me to be the professional I am today.

My testimony.

And that is why my work and my religion can never be apart.

With love,

Juliana Turner

Thank You.

On this Thanksgiving I am thankful for YOU.

Thank YOU for choosing Juliana Turner Photography.

Since 2008 JT Photography has been successful because of YOU.

I truly believe that everyone deserves beautiful pictures, without spending a lot of money for it.

And because of that, every costumer who has a full family photo session on November and December 2010 will receive a 10% discount on their next full family session.

 

Thank You.

 

For being amazing.