Portraits For Haiti

Hi Everybody! I don’t know one person who hasn’t been deeply touched and devastated in their own way due to the mind blowing earthquake that took place in Haiti just weeks ago. The footage of the mass destruction and the loss of lives is enough to keep me awake at night. The horror to have your husband/wife or worse yet, child missing or found dead, just turns my stomach. My heart goes to everyone involved but especially the children. Perhaps it’s because I myself am a mom, but I just can’t get the images of the injured and children out of my head. Already there were so many children who were deemed orphans before the quake hit but now the number of parent-less children is overwhelming.

I have spent the last 3 months writing snail mail letters to deployed soldiers, via the remarkable group Soldiers Angels.
It has been incredibly grounding for me and hopefully grounding for our deployed men and women. I haven't talked about it before now...I was doing it for me but I see how by spreading the word, you might think about writing to a soldier, too.

Well, the ravishing and talented Jenna Karowski of JFK Weddings asked if I would be willing to donate a day or portrait shooting to help the children of Haiti. My answer? Totally.

Myself along with some of my lovely photographer friends are coming together to put on a special portrait event to help raise money for the devastation in Haiti caused by the recent earthquake.
We are all giving our time and talents to do portrait sessions all day on Sunday February 21st, for donations. ALL proceeds will go directly to the cause.
If you have been thinking about getting professional pictures (your kiddo’s, family, senior, pictures with your sweetheart or anything else) done or if you haven’t had a chance to donate yet, this event is for you. We will be making 30 minute appointments for all day Sunday February 21st, 2010.
If you are interested in securing your portrait session please email me directly at PortraitsForHaiti@jfkstudios.com and I will promptly email you back with more information and get you scheduled. Appointments are being taken on a first come first serve basis and spots will fill up quickly, so email today!
Thank you to Jenna Karowski, Jessica Hanaumi, Emma Smith, Shannon Hodson & Amanda Mays for volunteering your time and talents to help make a difference!!

What I've Been Up To

Hi Everybody!

This time of year has always been a wonderful time of creative mixup mashup inside my head, and right now is no exception. Below are a few examples of what I've been up too while I'm not blogging...I'm off to Texas on Wednesday to shoot my cousin's wedding so today's blog is short.

I'm really into this quote from "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron...


"Being creative is different than living a creative life."


I am SO into living a creative life, but too much I think we get the two confused. Having to "be" creative is a sort of a judgment call, it brings pressure to mind because "being" creative to me is seen as something you either have or you don't. Obviously that's ridiculous because we are all creative by nature...creativity has a depth and a breadth that is far more than drawing or painting or singing or any of the traditional aspects I think of....to me, it's a relief to remember I can choose to live a creative life...that's a verb. I can DO that.

I got on the drums the other night with my ipod on. Sure there were other things to do. But I wanted to follow along and let Dave Grohl give me a private lesson...after about 45 minutes I needed a hearty drink of water! Later that night when we had a jam session, everybody agreed I rocked exceptionally hard...Brent laughs at what 45 minutes of practice does for me...and what's weird is that the feeling lasts...the feeling of honoring yourself, letting it all out, and having others recognize it is just extra confirmation, but it does feel good.

Is there something you've forgotten to do in a while? Is there a burning desire you're ignoring, living with a little tiny itch of dissatisfaction that you can't place? Be open to letting it creep it's way out from where it's hiding inside of you...even if your Inner Critic is telling you why you shouldn't. If it's too much, at least listen what your Inner Critic has to say...cause the truth is you have a right to living a creative life as much as any other beating heart that's ever beated.

Magical Lights

Hi Everybody!

Well it's December and I was stunned to hear my daughter say "Mom Christmas is in a week!"

Does that surprise you too? Or are you well aware of the date because you are eyeballing it on the calendar each day, hoping to keep everything together, your giving, your recieving, your joyful and grateful attitude..............yeah.........me too.

I'm glad to get the tree up right after Thanksgiving because Christmas is my favorite day of the year. It's pretty much always been my big SHE-bang since my birthday is the 26th. It lands on a saturday this year--yee haw! I have nothing planned. I don't want to miss out on an opportunity to insist the family all does something I've always wanted to make 'em do (you know how Moms are haha)...but I'm a little distractible so unless I write 'em down, I can never remember what all those epic things are unless I find them in my lil spiral notebook I carry with me whereever I go.

So while I'm pacing myself with my photography errands and items to complete (and I'm right on schedule), I'm going to share the spectacular view of Seattle last week at dusk...

Isn't it something else or what? I will always fawn at pretty lights :)

And just because I'm in the Holiday Mood, I thought I'd post a teaser of one of my weddings that has yet to be completed!! Do I EVER do that? No! Check out a peek of Carly & Erik's Seattle Wedding:

I hope to have it posted before I leave for San Francisco to celebrate with my amazing business coaches, Karen Buckley & Fay Freed at the Wisdom Connection...it's a quick weekend trip with an evening at our friends' Becca & Patrick's, and some wickedly fun shopping at Union Square downtown...

Do you wanna see what I've been shooting like crazy over the past month or so? Well when I get back I'll show ya! Til then, have some cocoa or eggnog and take it easy and feel the love this season.

Photographer Preview Success!

Hi Everybody!

I am about to leave to go drop off a wedding album(-oooh-which reminds me--I need to grab some quick shots of it before it goes to it's home)and off to a wedding rehearsal, the last wedding of the year...I LOVE winter weddings!

But first I wanted to post a few pics from the first ever Photographer's Preview night at Julie Watts Photo Studio. Check it out!

Okay so this was me before anybody showed up...I've got a sweet mirrored wall that is fun to play with when you are all set up and still have a few minutes to spare before people start showing up...it's safe to say we all had a great time...lots of talking and taking turns shooting Lindsay & Julian! It was a great way to start off my TWO events at the studio held back to back, Photographer's Preview and Client Appreciation Open House! And I could NOT have done it without the help of my secret weapon (and the secret weapon of many brides), Atiya Canley, owner, You Are The Star Wedding & Events!! http://www.youarethestarweddings.com/

You will be hearing more about her soon, as I have been kicking around the idea of having interviews here on the blog. I think that would be fun. I get to meet so many interesting people...it's one of the best parts about being a professional photographer...

Okay gotta run!!

What's Happening December 4th and 5th????

Hi Everybody!! Whether you're a photographer or a client, I'd love to see you and hang out at one of my TWO events coming up VERY SOON!!

On Friday, December 4th at Julie Watts Photo Studios, portrait photographers are invited to a very special, "Photographer's Preview" on Saturday, December 5th.

I hope to see you there, photog friends, and please, bring a friend! It will be a FUN NIGHT for sure!!

Clients!! I am so excited for you to come check out my newly updated Studio space! If I've never photographed you in my studio, come see what it's all about!

Saturday I'm raffling off a GALLERY WRAP CANVAS WALL PRINT and some lucky client who comes is gonna win it!! Come say hello and see if one of YOUR pictures is on display! You'll recieve a crazy 50% off regular print prices JUST in time to send to Grandma Hildegard in Toledo for the holidays! Knock out half of your Christmas list in one stop...beautiful portraits never go out of style and are always appreciated for years to come...in fact beautiful portraits are the one affordable gift you can give that becomes more valuable over time to those that love you the most.

Stay tuned!! I've been setting up the new studio with brick red paint, tile & wood flooring, and MORE!! Mark your calendars and come out and say hello December 4th or 5th!

Mode Organic Salon's Fall Hair Fashion Collection

Yay! The official flyer for tomorrow night's big event!! I'll see you there!!

Mode Organic Salon's Art Opening!!

Hi Everybody!

It was been a brisk October with zillions of shoots and one more GLAMOROUS wedding to show you! But today's post is "time sensitive" so I'm going to get right to it!

I was fortunate enough to be asked by Mode Organic Salon in Seattle to shoot their Fall Hair Fashion Collection!! I'm not going to lie; this was a big shoot for me. . .I got to go location scouting (my intuition must be honed in pretty good because my first stop ended up being my favorite from the whole day). On top of that, I shot a test shoot, filed for my first Use Permit, and coordinated/gathered props and talked concept with the graceful and amazing Selina from Mode.

One huge part of being a photographer for me is being THANKFUL. And OH BOY was I when I saw that, on SHOOT DAY, the weather was absolutely divine for playing with for just this kind of shoot. THANK YOU MOTHER NATURE!!

The shoot was a total success thanks to all of the hairstylists, make-up artists, and models who totally BROUGHT IT! And if that wasn't exhilerating enough, Mode is having an Art Opening!!

Our "Where the Wild Things Are" inspired art opening is on Thursday, November 5 from 6-8pm. The Mode Artistic Team has created our first collection of looks for hair for Fall/Winter/Holiday '09. We styled some models and held a photo shoot to capture the looks in the Washington Arboretum and will be showing the photographs (shot by Julie Watts) at our Downtown location. We will also be showing some beautifully dreamy landscapes painted by Irene Wood. Last, but not least, our models will be at the salon with hair done up Avant-Garde...

Allissa & Cory's Laurel Creek Manor Wedding

Hi Everybody!!

Alissa & Cory had an awesome wedding. It was WAY BACK WHEN in September on the 6th. Gosh aren't the seasons moving quick? Feels like EONS ago!! I'm so excited to get to "reminisce" already!

Ahhh. One of the few minutes Alissa & Cory spent together alone on their wedding day at the beautiful Laurel Creek Manor in Sumner, WA.

Ask me how much I love an birdcage veil. ASK ME! Oh my gosh...TONS. Tons. They are so instant-vintage glam I can't stand it.

We dodged a few rain showers and Mother Nature looked happily upon us. It dried out just when we needed it...I always love shooting after the rain because the colors are so vivid, even the concrete and stone shimmers...

The ceremony was undercover and backlit....one of my absolutely favorite ways to photograph a ceremony...everbody let's look at how adorable Alissa is listening to Cory! :)

Below is the menfolk....


I am totally for a minimalist approach to photographing ceremonies. Strip it bare down to the raw emotion, I say!

This is one of my favorite groom shots...Cory said something about the wedding photography part of his wedding day was way more fun than he thought it was gonna be. I was like " I know!" haha! If a groom has been a groomsman in a prior wedding I've done, then he already knows that I'm pretty fun to work with! Heck, I grew up racing BMX bikes for 7 years, being one of the only girls around. I have one older brother and our dad who built cars and married my high school sweetheart who builds cars. My son even builds cars with legos. So I appreciate guys for who they are (which is definitely different than how women are!!) and let them know they can go ahead and be guys and be themselves in front of my camera. I can capture the fun stuff but also show their ultra cool side...definitely a feel most men want on their wedding day...

I absolutely love the above and below pictures.

And this one below? Of the walking kiss? This was right after they left the ceremony as man and wife. I'm the ONLY one on earth who witnessed this and so glad I was there to catch it. It's freakin' perfect..OH you guys are too cute. Congratulations!!

Some divine dancing....

Some bustling and reception prep beforehand....

Some after-ceremony celebratin' !

If you wanna see Alissa and Cory's ENTIRE wedding slideshow, just click HERE.