I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to meet and interact with a lot of local artists in the area; one of my favorites is photographer Julie Birkemeier. Julie got her start in photography in high school. Envious after hearing about a classmate’s experience in photography class Julie convinced her advisor to let her take the class her senior year. That course launched her passion and she’s been at it ever since. A photography major at Webster University, Julie graduated with flying colors and was immediately snapped up by the same photography studio she interned with during school. Julie says that her most valuable experience was learning about lighting and how to interact with subjects; two subjects near and dear to the heart of any photographer. Julie’s work really appeals to my love for macro images and natural light. Julie’s photographs implore the viewer to experience everyday objects with fresh perspective gaining a new appreciation for fine detail, “I thrive on focusing on the little details of life that often go unnoticed.”

While working at the commercial studio, Julie started shooting weddings and has for several years now artfully captured the joy of many happy couples in her lens. If you’re looking for a top-notch, affordable photographer, Julie is your girl. The girl’s got talent in spades; this shutter bug’s business continues to expand, with her most recent foray in to the land of pet photography, now the primary focus of her photography business, a natural next step for this mama of two kitties and best friends, Francis and Sherman.

Always ambitious, this animal-lover also runs a full-service dog walking and pet sitting service called Mutton Chops. This year, Julie hopes to blend the two lines of business in to offer her Mutton Chops clients photography services as well. Staying true to her style, when photographing people’s pets she captures the details that make each animal unique – a freckly leg, extra long whiskers, sad eyes or a wet nose. “I want to capture the soul of each animal in my work.” I was lucky enough to have my pooch, Mackie, and my special-needs kitty, Mr. Wobbles, model for an extra special fancy photo shoot a couple weeks ago. I absolutely loved the results!

To see samples of Julie’s work, follow her on Twitter, or find out more about her photography and pet services…

http://jbirkemeierphoto.etsy.com
http://jbirkemeierphoto.blogspot.com
http://flickr.com/photos/juliebirkemeier...
http://twitter.com/juliebirkemeier
http://jbirkemeierweddings.squarespace.com
http://www.muttonchopspetservices.com
http://twitter.com/Mutton_Chops_

Holly is the Arts & Crafts Editor for Girls Guide. You can check out her site, South City Studio, to see her handmade jewelry, read about her upcoming craft shows and learn more about her artsy self. You can contact Holly by Emailing her – holly [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @southcitystudio.