Passionate Photographers Choose AsukaBook

AsukaBook is proud to shine the spotlight on our customers! We love the great images these photographers capture and the high standards they set in the industry.

Julia Kelleher

https://www.jewel-images.com
https://www.jewelUeducation.com

Tell us about your company or studio.

Portrait Photographer, Julia Kelleher, M. Photog. Cr., CPP, specializes in newborn and family portraits out of her boutique Bend OR, studio. In business since 2006, her studio Jewel Images Portrait Design offers its clients a photographic style that is timeless, textural and artistic, and Julia specializes in creating heirloom art, specifically focusing on parent-baby relationship images. Since moving her studio from Portland, OR to Bend, OR in 2009, it has grown from running her entire business solely, to now operating with employees and thriving despite a slow economy. Julia has earned a PPA International Silver Medalist, Gold Level Photographer of the Year and 4 Kodak Gallery and 3 PPA Loan Collection awards for her images. She is also a PPA Master Photographer and Photographic Craftsman. Picking up her first 35mm film camera at age 14, she put it down after college to pursue a love of broadcast journalism, and spent over a decade traveling the country anchoring the news and covering general assignment stories for all three television networks. After working Portland, OR's ABC affiliate for 6 years as an on-air anchor/reporter, she left television news to pursue photography full-time. Her experience with the news industry, and expertise in media relations and public communications have given her the speaking skills to and communication techniques to help other photographers understand their clients, and improve their businesses.

Julia's teaching experience stretches worldwide for Time Exposure's ProSelect software, and she also is featured as one of a handful of instructors for the world renowned professional photographer's video series Photovision. Also an Imaging USA, PPA SMS Business Mentor and PPA affiliate school instructor, Julia excels at topics from lighting and posing newborn relationship portraiture, to marketing, in-person sales and media relations. She coaches photographers in client workflow and business systems management, and offers workshops and private mentoring in both newborn portrait art and sales training.

Why photography?

The art of it is what inspires me. When you can take a simple, sweet and loving subject (newborn) and turn it into an art piece, a statement, an emotion; it takes photography to a new level. It touches people. It intrigues them. It makes them wonder what you were thinking when you created it. I love that mystery. i love the history. To capture a new family (newborn), is to give them the first recorded memory of the legacy of their family that will go on and on for generations. It's a huge responsibility and a humbling honor. What a gift to give someone with your talent! And, how fortunate we are to be able to do it.

Why do you use AsukaBook?

AsukaBooks are simply divine. Rich, textural and elegant. They ooze quality, consistency, and are just a delight to page through. I've used many album companies in my career and AsukaBook leads the pack when it comes to quality AND value. Their "white glove" check service is unbeatable and to think it's included with EVERY album? Now I don't have to worry about pressing the "submit" button. AsukaBook has my back and I know they care about my album as much as I do.

Any selling tips for other photographers?

ProSelect, ProSelect, ProSelect! It's an amazing program and truly allows you to SHOW what you want to SELL. We've heard that mantra so many times and it's true. Second, price yourself right, so your business is profitable and you are earning what you are worth. Don't let insecurity and lack of confidence in your art keep you from making a living at it. You have a the ability to "see" and that's why your clients hire you! So have confidence in that and charge what you are worth to your clients. Finally, develop creative products so clients know what TO DO with their images. All too often, photographers take the images and then leave it up to the client to figure out what to do with them. Give them a creative solution and make something beautiful that they will treasure forever! Then, you've got a client for life who will cherish what you did for them for always.

What else should people know about you?

I'm a former national ice dancer/figure skater. I also spent 11 years as an on-air television news anchor and meteorologist…aka "the weather girl!"