PhotoMura Images | Beauty & love in the everyday

ZooTunes With Friends

Julie | PhotoMura Images — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:15:57 +0000

I attended my first ZooTunes concert recently to hear to ukelele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. Jake is from Hawaii (!) and a truly amazing musician. Plus, he looks like he’s having so much fun on stage, it’s infectious. The ZooTunes concerts are wonderfully casual, and we snuck in some wine along with our picnic foods. “Professional” cameras aren’t allowed so I brought my Lumix GF-1 which is compact and doesn’t look as “pro” as my Canon 5d MkIII. It doesn’t have much of a telephoto, so there aren’t any great Jake photos. My friend Connie, looking ever radiant.

And though it was a sold-out concert, when Jake played Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” you could hear a pin drop. I think even the animals were hypnotized by the song’s beauty, as interpreted by Jake. This clip isn’t from ZooTunes, but I wanted you to be able to hear it for yourself.

Of Cats and Men

Julie | PhotoMura Images — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 04:56:52 +0000

I had the pleasure of seeing Grand Master Jimmy Mirikitani at the Wing Luke Museum recently. If you haven’t seen the film, The Cats of Mirikitani, please stop reading now and find a copy and watch it. For me, it’s a testament to love and a spirit that would not be extinguished. Jimmy Mirikitani was homeless, living on the streets and making art in New York City when documentary filmmaker Linda Hattendorf became intrigued by this man, and started to film him. We learn that Jimmy was born in the US but his family moved to Hiroshima, Japan when he was young. There he witnessed the deaths of many of his family members in the bombing. After moving back to the US, Jimmy rebuilds his life, which is then interrupted by the Japanese American internment camps. Many years later, Jimmy is in his eighties and is living on the streets. After 9/11, Linda, out of concern for Jimmy’s safety and health, takes him in to live in her apartment. Then his incredible story unfolds, and love and friendship begin to heal old wounds.

How many times have we turned our faces away from the people who are homeless, in need, fragile? Linda Hattendorf did not, and the love and affection that she and Jimmy have for each other is deep and sustaining. Jimmy’s now 93, and living in an apartment and still making art. Love truly does heal.

Jimmy flashes the peace sign whenever he can, saying “Make art, not war.”

And a rare PhotoMura sighting, courtesy of Lucky.

Photo fun with Beth

Julie | PhotoMura Images — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:19:48 +0000

My good friend, Beth, of Mama Knows Her Cocktails, has a tantalizing website full of cocktail recipes, entertaining tips and gardening gems. She has been busy sharpening her photographic skills and one afternoon we got together to work on a few studio set-ups. If you’re interested in learning more about craft cocktails in a down-to-earth, non-fussy way, Mama Knows Her Cocktails is for you. Is anyone thirsty yet?

Beth is a natural photo stylist. photo_session_2 photo_session_3 My version of the photo. See Beth's site for her version. photo_session_5 A borage blossom for a finishing touch. photo_session_7

The Divine Miss M: A Family Portrait of Love

Julie | PhotoMura Images — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 05:29:04 +0000

What a joy it was to photograph Rob and Rob and their baby, Miss M. This family came together with the help of the good work of Amara, a non-profit adoption agency in Madrona. I’ve worked with Amara for four years now, and this experience has shaped how I define love and family. Seeing the love in Rob and Rob’s eyes for their daughter warms my heart. And this family is so darn attractive, even the dog has a great smile!

This is how love smiles photomura_family02 photomura_family03 photomura_family04 photomura_family05 Miss M strikes a pose. Baby toes! photomura_family08

Weekend in La Conner, Washington (a little of this, a little of that)

Julie | PhotoMura Images — Wed, 30 May 2012 17:30:19 +0000

Lucky, Kai and I spent the weekend exploring the quaint town of La Conner, and doing a little hiking near Deception Pass. There was more eating and drinking than hiking, I’m afraid. But the weather was unexpectedly lovely, and a good time was had by all critters, both two- and four-legged.

Olivia’s Senior Portrait Ssession in Fremont

Julie | PhotoMura Images — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:57:32 +0000

Meet Olivia, high school senior, actress and self-described nerd. We had a great time photographing her senior portraits in Fremont, WA, one of my favorite places for photography. Olivia is so lovely and easy-going and we had fun walking around Fremont looking for interesting locations.

I love the roses painted on this wall. Coincidentally, this wall was painted over the next week. Glad we were able to photograph lovely Olivia in front of it before it went away.

We had perfect weather, but Olivia and her mom rented a couple of great umbrellas from Bella Umbrella for use as fun props. I love the way umbrellas frame Olivia’s face.

Congratulations Olivia! I know you will have amazing success no matter what you choose to do and I can’t wait to see what the next chapter in your life holds.

April’s “Angels” : Commercial Work

Julie | PhotoMura Images — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:00:57 +0000

It’s great to work with a business owner who doesn’t take herself too seriously. April Lane, of April Lane’s Home Cleaning, and I had some fun recently when working on new website photos of her staff in action. We did a take on the famous Charlie’s Angels pose with four of April’s employees. April’s team are grime fighters indeed! (I am so glad I can’t hear you all groaning…)

Lovely Late Bloomers

Julie | PhotoMura Images — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:21:27 +0000

Some roses from my garden. Late bloomers, kind of like me.

Creative Connecting

Julie | PhotoMura Images — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:50:15 +0000

Last month I had the opportunity to attend a powerful networking event called The Creative Connection. Subtitled Women*Passion*Business, it brought together women who, as co-founder Jo Packham described it, “express their heart with their hands.” There were sessions on blogging, developing a business, working with sponsors, to name a few. Ultimately, my takeaway message was, be true to your voice, be true to your heart, and keep believing yourself and your work.

Because it was the Creative Connection, every detail was presently so beautifully. The conference included four meals and each time the table decorations were stunning. I love details, especially creative and pretty ones, so I was in heaven. Christine Hoffman was responsible for all the table decorations, as well as the Barnes and Noble tables.

One table setting featured eye candy from Matthew Mead, along with a lovely necklace from The Vintage Pearl, and another used fabric from Kaari Meng’s French General as a centerpiece.

Even the Barnes and Noble tables in the marketplace were dressed for the party.

I had the pleasure of meeting Holly Becker, writer of the wildly popular decor8 blog (no, that’s not me in the photo with her, just in case you were wondering). She was one of the keynote speakers and her warmth and charm filled an entire ballroom.

And of course, the food was fabulous, and beautiful.

Cupcake party. The cupcake is sitting on a chocolate chair!

Even the ice tea was presented beautifully.

The credit for all of this wonderfulness goes to the Dream Team of, from left, Nancy Soriano, Jo Packham, visionary and editor-in-chief of Where Women Create and Where Women Cook, and Brandy Shay (missing: Christine Hoffman).

Jo signed my book, Where Women Cook Celebrate!, and somehow, she knew what was in my heart.

Bonnie’s Birthday Photo Booth

Julie | PhotoMura Images — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:30:06 +0000

Photo booths are my new favorite thing to do at a party. Take a few silly props, add some enthusiastic friends, shake well and voila! Here’s a recent photo booth from Bonnie’s birthday celebration. There’s music, so turn your speakers up or down, accordingly.