Hi, my name is Julie Moses. I am a wife, mom of four, a homeschooler, artist, art teacher, and photographer. I also help admin an online photography community called Snap Maven, which I founded along my personal photography journey in response to feeling overlooked and unimportant. Often the best way to get inspired is to inspire others.

My personal photography journey is fairly long and convoluted, starting back when I was a little girl with a 110 camera and a poor dog model who was a very patient model. I graduated through different film cameras as I got older but they were always point and shoot versions. Even though I was fascinated with photography and loved taking photos, I never imagined myself as a photographer. Photography was too technical, expensive, and time consuming, so I just stuck with drawing and painting as my creative outlet.

It was after a series of life altering events I realized that there is no time like the present to pursue your passions because tomorrow isn’t promised and I took the plunge and bought my first big girl DSLR camera. I was shooting manual within a week and I have not looked back. I shoot almost everyday now and I am always trying to sharpen my shooting and editing skills.

The absolute best advice hands down is to not compare yourself to anyone but the photographer you were yesterday. Trying to be as “good” as someone else is a complete waste of energy because no matter how hard you may try, you can never actually “be’ someone else, so just be you and rock the hell out it.

Because of my art background, I learned how to draw inspiration from everything around me, but I am especially aware of the inspiration I find in my everyday life. Many of my favorites painters chose to depict normal everyday scenes of family life, I find I am pulled in that same direction. Paintings, movies, books, and quotes offer even more inspiration.

I have been studying fine art in the forms of drawing, painting, and printmaking since I was in junior high, I studied it in college as well, though family life started before I was able to get my degree. I studied on my own though and this has really informed my ideas on how to use composition, color and other design elements in my imagery. The technical aspects of photography I have learned mostly on my own through books, online tutorials, youtube, and trial and error. I have been blessed to have participated in several workshops that were centered on the creative inspirations of photography as well.

I always have several projects going at once. I have an ongoing 365 project as well as several documentary projects I plan to turn into books at some point. My current endeavors are geared toward curating my work for stock image collections.

My very favorite lens is my 28mm 1.8. It lives on my camera probably 75% of the time already so I could easily shoot with only it for a whole year.

The Art of Photography – The first is from a youtube podcast called The Art of Photography. It’s actually 9 different videos about the elements of photography composition. It’s an amazing compilation of images from iconic photographers and how their images have utilized these different elements. By becoming aware of these elements and how to use them, you can become much more purposeful and intentional in your shooting.

Zone System: The Basics – The second is one of the best explanations of using the zone system that I have come across. Many tutorials really over complicate the technique to the point of sending non experts running for the hills, but this one is really simple and easy to understand. it just so happened to be from Click it Up a Notch too!

Frequency Separation – The last one is from another another video channel on Youtube called Phlearn. It’s all about a retouching technique called Frequency Separation. It’s a really great technique to create a great complexion without overdoing an edit to the point of turning models into pore less dolls.

My favorite image right now is one I just took this week of my daughter in the backyard reaching up to try and pick a lemon off of the neighbor’s tree which hangs over into our yard. it reminds me that I am not anywhere near being done yet, and that now more than ever I need to keep reaching for my goals.

I shoot with a full frame Canon 6D. I only own three lenses at the moment, a 28 mm 1.8 EF, a 50mm 1.8 EF, and am 85mm 1.8 EF. The primes work really well for me.

I am in love with Kerry Cheah’s work over at Red Bus Photography! Her use of light, especially in indoor spaces just amazes me.

In the technical aspects I still struggle with white balance and skin tones here and there, but I have had some great advice on post processing from Summer Cates, who teaches a great class specifically on skin tones.

I really love to print my photos in books.

I have a whole collection of Star Wars Pez dispensers. I attach them to the hot shoe of my camera to give my subjects a focal point when I want them to look at the camera.

I really want to get into street photography.

The best place to see my new work is over at my Facebook page.