Julie Paisley is an established international wedding and lifestyle photographer based out of Nashville Tennessee. Julie is obsessed with shooting weddings and she loves her job. Her style is very candid, romantic, dreamy and it comes through in her work.
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
There comes a point in each photography journey where you get a little tired, burnt out, uninspired, and sometimes want to quit. Weddings, especially, are stressful, emotional and downright hard work. Sometimes you get into a rut and become a robot of sorts. Every wedding is different but what we do is the same. Detail shots, family shots, wedding party, it’s really easy to just “do your job” and move on to the next one. Two years ago, that was me…
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
Wedding Photography © Julie Paisley, ChaosclickBlogger.net
I had gotten to the point that I didn’t even like my work anymore. It was solid and my clients loved it, but to me, it was missing something. I still LOVED my job and poured my heart and soul into each client, but my images lacked something. I felt that I was click, click, clicking, and I wanted to slow down and give more. I asked myself how I could do this.
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
Wedding Photography © Julie Paisley, PhotographyBlogger.net
My answer was to shoot film. Yes, I went backwards. Traditionally, people would get started in film and move to digital. But, my story is not like everyone else. I didn’t always have a camera in hand from the time I was a kid. I didn’t spend hours and hours in a darkroom in high school and college. Sure, I was always taking pictures like the rest of the world, but my first love was teaching and the photography just “happened” for me, starting with digital. Film was foreign to me and SCARY, very, very scary. I had a successful digital business, why would I even consider something like this? I though film was hard because:
1. I can’t see the results immediately.
2. It’s expensive.
3. People look at you like you are crazy.
1. I can’t see the results immediately.
2. It’s expensive.
3. People look at you like you are crazy.
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
BUT, I knew this is what I needed to do. So, my journey to “refocus” began.
I had no idea where to start. I didn’t know what camera to buy or how to shoot it. Heck, I didn’t even know how to load and develop film, but I knew I wanted to do it. So, I did what everyone else who needs to know something does, I Googled it.
I started buying books – Film is Not Dead, Elizabeth Messina’s, Jose Villa’s. I read them cover to cover, making notes along the way. I was so excited to begin this journey and next bought the Contax 645. YES! I didn’t start easy with a rangefinder or a 35mm. Nope. I bought the big daddy, and that excitement was short lived.
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
That camera is a beast. It’s heavy, it’s intimidating, it’s slow (manual focus), and I used it twice and put it away. No way. This would not work for me. I fell in love with the look but how could I shoot a session or a wedding with something like this? I need to catch the moments, and I convinced myself that there was no way I could do this with the Contax. I sold it and bought a 35mm SLR, and it felt right. I could do this.
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
The 35mm SLR felt just like my digital. The only difference was that I could not see what I shooting. It was intimidating, but it made me slow down and really wait for that moment and not just click, click, click. I started feeling like I wasn’t a robot. I watched for things. I made sure the shot was perfect before I took it. It gave me my love of shooting back. I was in the moment and knew that this is what I was missing.
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
I graduated back to the Contax 645, and I shoot both medium format and 35mm. It’s been quite the journey trying out the different film stocks, the labs, and finding the right exposure combination that works for the look I want to achieve. It has been one of the hardest but most rewarding years of my career. I am finally where I want to be and my path is clear. I have found my photography voice and am now re-focused.
Wedding Photography © Chaosclick
Here’s a quick promotional video where Julie’s wonderful personality shows through.
You can check out Julie’s website at juliepaisley.com. You can also follow her on herFacebook and Pinteretst.
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