Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie O’Neill.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Julie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I used to live overseas with my husband and I loved capturing the beauty of all the countries we visited. When we moved back to the US I took that love of photography and started using it to photograph my newborn son. Soon people began to ask me to take photos of their kids, families, and celebrations. What began as a hobby blossomed into a business. Within a year, I had great group of regular clients and I was photographing everything from maternity sessions, newborns, family sessions, birthday parties and baptisms.
I wanted to stretch myself and I was really drawn to the story-telling aspect of photographing weddings. Once I photographed my first wedding, I was hooked. I love the details, the romance, the commitment, and the celebration. Sending my first bride and groom their gallery felt like sending them a work of art.
Now, I have a steady stream of weddings along with other types of sessions that give me a perfect balance between my job as a photographer and having the flexibility to stay home with my three boys!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the most part, my journey into photography has been so much more successful than I had ever imagined.
However, like any new venture there were some struggles along the way. I had to learn to overcome my fears of what people thought of my work, and my insecurity with not being good enough. In our world of social media, there is always a long line of talented people to compare yourself to. I have to remind myself that it is not a competition and that each photographer sees things uniquely and beautiful through their own lens, and different people will appreciate different styles of work.
Julie O’Neill Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business is unique in the sense that I shoot many types of photography. At the start of my business I thought that I needed to decide one area to specialize in, but after 3 years, I’ve decided that I really love the variety. Going from one type of photography to another keeps me challenged, engaged, and fresh.
Another unique aspect of my business is that I shoot weddings with my husband! He was really my first teacher and mentor in photography and while he is not a full-time photographer, he is so talented! I love having him as my second shooter. We know each other so well and we work together so seamlessly that it makes the day flow smoothly for everyone. We are both completely enamored with a beautiful love story so shooting weddings together feels like a fun date for us!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I still feel a little bit in awe when I walk into one of my client’s homes and see my work up all over their walls, or have my own wall covered in Christmas cards from my clients.
It reminds me that my job makes memories for families to cherish for years to come. It’s also a great feeling when your clients become your friends!
I also look for ways to make my business one that gives back to others. I love to find ways to use my time and talent to benefit others. So far, I’ve been able to donate several sessions for school fundraisers and most recently for a gala benefiting an amazing organization called Redeeming Love. To be able to donate to an organization that fights sex trafficking in Southern California brings new value to my work for me.
Pricing:
- Family Sessions begin at $125
- Newborn Sessions begin at $200
- Wedding Packages begin at $1,500
Contact Info:
- Website: www.julieoneillphotography.com
- Phone: 619-981-0886
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @julieoneillphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julieoneillphotography
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/julie-o-neill-photography-fullerton
Image Credit:
Julie O’Neill Photography
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