Julie Bulanov is a Seattle-based based wedding and portrait photographer who is fascinated with the art of life through photographs. Her goal is to capture portraits, candid moments and intricate details in the most beautiful way she can. When Julie isn’t shooting or spending time with family, she’s enjoying some alone time while antique shopping. Many of antique pieces she finds are incorporated into her work, which you can catch glimpses of on her stunning Instagram feed, where we first discovered Julie's beautiful work.
Julie carries the Brixton in Antique Cognac.
ONA: Why did you become a photographer?
JB: Photography has always been a passion of mine. I remember as a child, when we would go to the store as a family, my parents would let my siblings and I each pick a toy, and I always chose camera film. I come from a rather large family. Between the parents, the siblings, the cousins, the aunts and the uncles, our house was always full of people, full of life and that is what I loved to capture. Not only did I love capturing our family moments together, I developed a knack for it. It was not until I had my first child that I began to consider a career in photography. After my first son was born, I quit the job I had at the time and began looking for something that would allow me to spend more time with my son, and something that would allow me to work on my own schedule. This is when I picked up a camera again. I had always loved playing with photography and now I had the opportunity, the time, and frankly the need to get back into it, it was a kind of "return to an old passion" moment.
ONA: What camera do you shoot with? What is your “go to” lens of choice?
JB: I shoot with Canon 5D Mark II and III cameras. As far as lenses are concerned, I mostly shoot with prime lenses so my go to lenses are the 35mm f/1.4L and a 50mm f/1.2L.
ONA: What sort of project drives your creativity? What is your dream project?
JB: Simply put, the perfect setting for the perfect moment is what drives me. I love creating, building, finding that perfect place to bring people into, a place that brings out those intimate moments between loved ones. I mostly shoot outside in nature but I often incorporate props that I build myself (or that I make my husband build) into my shoots. My props often have a vintage or rustic theme to them. My dream setting is the French countryside. I would love to shoot a wedding in a French vineyard!
ONA: What is the hardest thing about being a photographer?
JB: Work/family balance. As a photographer, my schedule has to accommodate the needs of my clients, and as a parent, my children are my priority.
ONA: Describe your style of shooting.
JB: I consider myself a natural light photographer. Even indoors, I try as much as possible to find a natural source of light to bring into the image.
ONA: In one sentence, what advice would you give to a photographer just starting out?
JB: It has been my experience that true creativity requires us to set aside our fear of failure, so do not be afraid of mistakes and follow your own vision, because it’s your style that will set you apart.
ONA: How did you hear about us?
JB: I first came across ONA a few years ago through a Facebook post by fellow photographers Yuriy and Julia Manchik. At the time, I was actually searching for a new camera bag and I was super excited to find something that fit my style so perfectly!
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