Julyssa Schenk Photography bio picture

  • WELCOME!

    Hola Y’all. I am Julyssa Schenk and I am thrilled you stopped by Julyssa Schenk Photography, Welcome! But enough about you, let me gush over me …

    I am an Arizona photographer of families, children, newborns and, on occasion, music bands and weddings. More than that, I am a mother to THREE beautiful children (no bias here!) and have been married to my STUD of a husband for ELEVEN self-discovering years!

    I LOVE piecing together my style from TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Nordstrom Rack. I am passionate about running long distances and challenging myself physically. And if you want to make me laugh, just turn on America’s Funniest Home Videos (weird, right?). Music of all kinds is a great source of pleasure in my life as is decorating. In the end, what brings me the greatest measure of joy is being surrounded with those family and friends who love me just the way I am.

    I look back at my life, a mountain of moments, a large collection of memories, some captured, some alive only in my mind and I wonder at it all … how fast it has gone, the ups, the downs, the accomplishments, the failures … and recognize it for what it is … a Journey.

    My “photo-journey” has helped me see the world differently, see myself differently, navigate emotions, and leave my imprint on the world. I want you to be a part of my journey as an observer, as a participant, in whatever capacity. So stay awhile and enjoy.

May 17 2013

Gilbert, AZ Children Photographer | Mesa, AZ

“Children will not remember you for the material things that you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.”  - Richard Evans

Just yesterday I was going through my phone and re-watching videos I had taken a year ago.  Kids change so fast … soooo fast.  Makes me wonder if I really enjoyed the moments as much as I think I did.  Makes me wonder if I really will remember their little voices or other small details or will it all fade away with time.  I think that I won’t forget … but watching those videos is a realization that time moves quickly and that there are details that are forgotten.  For this reason … I will take more videos and I will make sure I capture my kids just the way they are because …

I don’t want to forget…

The way they held hands.

The sweet way Nyomi looks at Nadya.

The way they look at each other.

Nyomi looking for ladybugs.

The way Nadya held her hair out of her face.

Their favorite stuffed animals.

The way Dylan’s hair sticks up at the back.

The way Nyomi stands when she’s feeling anxious.

The way Dylan always follows Nyomi around.

How goofy Dylan can be.

The way Nadya looks at Nyomi.

The way they run and smile.

The way they bond.

I’m one lucky mama.

Filed in: Children
comment
May 15 2013

San Francisco – my sister and her family

I visited San Francisco at the end of April to finally meet my new little niece!  I kept seeing instagram and facebook photos of her and couldn’t wait to meet the little girl behind the big smile.  She didn’t disappoint at all.  I had so much fun seeing my sister and her family.  I even made my first trip to Alcatraz.  Wow … it was pretty cool!  I even managed to capture some photos of my sister and her family while we were walking around.

I hiked Lombard Street with my sister, took a ride on a trolley and visited Golden Gate park.  My weekend in San Francisco was so much fun!

Can’t wait to go back and capture them again!!!

Filed in: Family
comment
Apr 30 2013

Just US 2013 | April

Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible — the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.
- Virginia Satir

Please go check out Melissa Schuett, from Milwaukee for this month’s circle!!!

Filed in: Personal
comment
April 30, 2013 - 7:09 pm

Melissa - Perfectly gorgeous!! I will be consulting with you before my family gets our pictures taken professionally to make sure we coordinate – you have an eye for it!!!

April 30, 2013 - 7:20 pm

Suzanne O'Brien - Oh, you are killing me with this one. I absolutely adore everything about your post this month – perfect quote, incredible scenery and of course, your gorgeous family. You little’s look in that last one is pure perfection – well done, my friend!

May 1, 2013 - 2:41 am

Pam Parisi - Love these!! Can’t believe you got all three kids to cooperate!

Apr 22 2013

Phoenix, Photographer | Beauty

Honored when Jeanette LeBlanc  the photographer, writer, friend asked ME to take her portraits.  We clicked right away when we first met last year.  Right away she told me that she liked my style and wanted to take my pictures.  I was like WOW, me … sure!!!  But it was hot, it was summer then came winter and … meanwhile she had seen my work and then asked me to take hers!!  So we planned.  We listened to music for inspiration, I went to her home and went through her wardrobe and we started a board on Pinterest.  Her hope was to become vulnerable and open herself up … to experience … to trust AND it happened.

I was scared.

I was scared to photograph another photographer … especially one that told me that she had not been in front of the camera by another photographer in a loooooooooong time and maybe just once.  Thankfully, she also told me that she loved the connection that my images have.

This is Jeanette’s reaction upon receiving her images:

“It feels wrong to say ‘those are amazing ‘ about pictures of yourself. But wow. Those are amazing…And such a gift. I can’t even be hard on myself, because I can only look at see beautiful. thank you. thank you. thank you. a million times over”.

 -NOW-

Please don’t wait to lose 10 more lbs, you know I’m talking to YOU and to myself.  I keep hearing from women that they are waiting to lose 10 – 15 lbs … don’t wait.  You are beautiful right now!  You are worth it right now!  When you lose the 10-15 lbs… you come back and we’ll take some more portraits:)

Filed in: Beauty
comment
May 7, 2013 - 7:49 pm

Heather Zimmer - These are amazing. You are indeed talented! Ms. LeBlanc is a stunning model and an amazing person. Nicely done!

Apr 12 2013

Arizona Custom Photographer | Challenge Winner

I’ve been a member of the Bloom Forum for a year now.  I was completely inspired last year so I immersed myself in trying to get my work out for others to see .  I wanted to connect with other photographers and I wanted to be accountable.  So, as a new member of the forum I submitted my images into challenges.  The first challenge I entered was a self portrait.  I was stepping out of my comfort zone and started to be creative with my own self portraits.  Taking my own self portraits helped me find my style a little more and definitely made me vulnerable.  That image I submitted  won me a very great prize … a new and stylish Ketti camera bag.

The second image that I recently submitted was just this past month.  I won the March happy-go-lucky challenge with Nyomi’s jumping in the rain image.  I won a seat to an online workshop that is helping me define my style better by Stephanie Moore and Kara May – Defining Yourself Workshop.  I also won the Luxe Natural Backgrounds from Miss Modern and $80 credit towards My Four Hens shop.

Super excited to keep pushing my self and getting out there.

Filed in: Bloom Forum
comment
April 12, 2013 - 5:48 pm

Lauren - Congratulations!! Your work is amazing and it has been inspiring to witness bravery in action as you continue to push yourself, developing your craft and putting yourself and your work out there for the world to discover. Way to go!! I always look forward to seeing what comes next from you.

April 16, 2013 - 2:25 am

maren - Congrats! I am not at all surprised :)