What's Going On?

Some of you may know, but Julia Kauffman Photography has some big changes to announce!

At the beginning of June, we officially relocated to Ellicott City, Maryland.  A few days after graduating from our respective colleges, JKP and boyfriend made the 10 hour trek in search of real world jobs and a fresh start! Although we really miss the beautiful Charleston beaches and weather (not to mention family and good friends) it is exciting to get a taste of big city life from being so close to D.C. and Baltimore! 

Boyfriend quickly got a job as an engineer and JKP has just started a job as an online marketing/SEO intern.  It's very exciting to get to learn the behind-the-scenes tech stuff that goes along with marketing your brand.  JKP is getting lots of good info that will help find new photography clients in Maryland.  

The plan is to start putting out some exciting images again soon so that all you JKP faithfuls can "visit" Maryland through pictures! Please bear with us as it may be slow-going until we can build a client base in a brand new town.  

In the mean time, here are some photos that capture what our last few months have been like!

a beautiful trail we found by our house

a rainy DC United game

the famous Ellicott City bridge!

date night!

a snap of our apartment

boyfriend's birthday celebration

What have you all been up to?  I'd love to hear what's been happening since many of my readers have just graduated college.  Leave a comment if you like!

Here's to a new start! 

Love, 

JKP

Corey and Arley {portraits}

Meet Corey and Arley!

Corey and Arley met at Furman freshman year and have been together ever since.  They are both very dedicated students, active in their greek life, and very loved by their friends.  After graduation they're headed to UVA law school and Washington D.C. to take on the world!

 I was so glad I was able to shoot them in the spring time, with so much sun and color!

I was so excited they wanted to shoot on this cute bridge, and we got some really nice shots on it!

(they're always laughing)

After a sunny walk around the lake, we moved to the belltower to get some classic Furman shots.

(Seriously, how cute!)

Check out Arley's killer shoes...

I had such a blast with you two, thank you so much for choosing me to capture your special relationship! 

The Importance of Less-Than-Perfect Relationships

"Aha!" moments are wonderful windows of clarity, and I was fortunate enough to have one today.  Killing time on Pinterest, I came across a quote I'd heard a thousand times and promptly written off:

  "If a relationship doesn't make you a better person, it's the wrong one."

Before when I heard this quote, my mind immediately jumped to partner and love relationships.  It obviously still applies; it's not okay to be with someone who makes you a lesser or more unhappy version of yourself.  But because I am lucky not to have a difficult relationship with my partner, today I thought of this quote in light of my other relationships.  

At first, I considered a few people who I have a less-than-perfect relationship with.  The easiest choice would be to leave these relationships in the past, moving on to a chapter with only positive influences.  But that's not life.  Life isn't a one-way roller coaster with increasing altitude, life falls so you can appreciate the rises.  And so it is with some relationships.  Your time may not be spent holding hands skipping through a field of green grass, and in some moments it may be hard to remember how the relationship began in the first place.  

But having a one-sided relationship can teach you how to listen.  

Being in a relationship with someone who takes advantage can teach you what it really means to give.
  

It's important to have these wrong relationships that can teach you important lessons about personal strength, patience and resilience.  

Just my two cents.

-JKP

Thursday's Thanks, Vol. 3

By this Thursday, I had a lot to be thankful for. So, I'm making this post a two-parter!

To start, I am so thankful for nurses.  Before I could go off and enjoy a wonderful spring break with my dad (more on that to come) I had to have some medical work done.  It turns out I'm fine, but I had to go through some pretty un-fun procedures.  But through it all, the nurses I encountered made me feel very comfortable and relaxed.  I know that doctors usually get all the credit, but I have to say that it is the nurses that do the dirty work preparing the patient, and I think their job may be harder.  I HATE needles, in fact I cried when I got shots up until I was about 19, but this week (thanks to the nurses) they seemed to slide right in.  To all the nurses reading this or those going through grueling nursing school, just know that one patient is grateful for you and all your hard work! Thanks for making this past week as much of a breeze as it could have been for me.

With all of that out of the way, my dad and I set off to enjoy the rest of my spring break in Washington D.C.! As we were about one hour away from the hotel, we learned about the coming snowstorm that was supposed to be "the biggest snowstorm in two years."  I rolled my eyes, thinking it was just my luck, and in that moment I was very ungrateful.  The news only worsened as the weather-people predicted that all transportation would be closed the following day, our first day in D.C.  When we woke up the day of the snowstorm, it looked pretty grim except...there was no snow.  Even so, all federal buildings were closed and transportation was limited.  We decided to brave the conditions and we headed into a fairly cold and wet D.C.  We hit up all the Smithsonian museums and pretty much anything we could see indoors.

The next day was beautiful, bright and sunny! And we certainly took advantage of that.  We started our day at 7 am, grabbing a bite to eat before heading to get tickets to see the Bureau of Printing and Engraving.  From there we went to almost every monument and memorial, the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery and the International Spy Museum.  Because my dad was in the active duty military from when I was born until I was in college, this was an amazing opportunity to spend a few uninterrupted days alone with him!  I am so grateful for it, and I had the best time.  I wouldn't have traded this spring break for anything :)

Here are some photos from our trip! Enjoy! And to all you on spring break right now, be safe and have fun!

-JKP

Thursday's Thanks, Vol. 2

When it has rained for a few days straight, it may be hard to be thankful for precipitation.  It's kind of like being thankful for bland food when you have a cold--more of a thanks-but-no-thanks kind of thing.  

But I'm trying to be thankful for the rain this week.  Sure, it soaked in through my sneakers, left my make-up streaky, and made my footsteps sound like squeaky alien voices (I'm just getting all my negativity out of the way now) but I can think of a few ways that it made my week better too.  

The rain made my hot tea taste like nectar of the gods.  As I slowly slipped it, I could feel the warmth spreading outwards towards the tips of my fingers, which were turning a curious shade of purple.  I highly doubt a hot cuppa would have tasted so good on a dry, sunny day.  

Secondly, the rain saved me from killing my teeny tiny, struggling, rose plant over there in the corner of the window.  I had put it outside to soak up some sunshine, but forgotten to water it.  Since it's on its last legs of life due to the cold weather, it might have died if all the rain this week hadn't given it a drink.  

Although those are just two examples, here are some other reasons why I am thankful for the rain this week:

                       -fluffy white duck butts sticking up out of the lake

-exponentially better nap ambiance

                                 -colorful rain jackets and umbrellas on my walks to class

                  -a valid excuse to wear my comfiest sweatshirt!

Has the rain made you grateful this week? What are you thankful for? Post in the comments below!

-JKP

A very special day.

My smile is 1000 miles wide. 

Happy 9 years, my love! 

Here's to 99 more.

Love, 

Julia.

Trisha {portraits}

Meet Trisha.

I've known Trisha since freshman year, and she is one of the most spunky, bright, and beautiful people I know.  So, when she showed up to our photo-shoot in a rainbow dress, I wasn't even a little surprised :)

 We started in the woods around campus (thanks to Hannah Woodard Photography for the suggestion!)  despite the mud from the rain of the past few days.  

Making the best use of a photographer's worse enemy: direct sunlight! This might be one of my favorite pictures from that day. 

Trisha is a biology major, so we set up a fake lab scene to capture the spirit of her major, though I bet you can spot a few fire safety issues in this picture...

 Towards the end of our shoot, we walked around campus to get some good old "Furman" shots in:

 I don't know why I love this last picture so much, but I do.  Sassy, sweet, and sincere, I think it truly embodies Trisha :)

Enjoy!

-JKP

(Don't) Jump for Joy

I have to let you guys in on a little secret: I HATE jumping pictures.  I can't speak for all photographers, but I can think of no other way to ruin a picture more quickly than to have your subject jump.  I get the premise; it's a fun way to use your body to convey the meaning of strong joy. And I won't lie, I've seen some pretty cool jumping shots.

But in most cases, this is what happens: someone counts to three while the subjects leaps into the air, immediately sending any clothing they're wearing upwards.  At the same time, the photographer is frantically trying to focus on the moving subject.  The result: blur, belly, crazy hair, and an overall pictures that looks as if you've just been electrified. Just to prove it, here's a recent jumping picture of me.

Not my finest moment.

Don't let a jumping shot happen to you.  Posing can feel very repetitive if you don't have some great moves in your arsenal.  I once read a great photography tip for posing that said, "If it bends, bend it."  Pictures become much more interesting when the subject takes up space in the frame.  During your shoot, try bending your knees , cocking your hips, using your arms to create a space, bring your hands up to your face, bend your wrists, etc.  So, instead of resorting to jumping, check out some of these poses you can do to still get a fun and interesting picture! Here are some posing tips and tricks.  If you need more inspiration, head over to the Pinterest page and check out the board for poses!

-JKP

Shanda and Family {portraits}

This past weekend, I had a blast shooting one of my best friends and her family!

Sweet mother and son

Beautiful grandmother and grandson!

CUTE DJ!

The sweetest lady I know.

Beautiful Gabby

Stunning Shanda :)

Is there any other word than sassy?

And charming Cheryl :)


This family is so special to me, and believe it or not, they were one of my first photoshoots as Julia Kauffman Photography! They are all on their way to big things, and with the love of the people that know them they can do anything they want!

Enjoy!

-JKP