Hi, I'm Julia
Family portrait photographer
Lover of art
As a child, I wanted to be many things when I grew up. A tennis player, a circus performer, a chef, a writer. While all of these things seem a little random, they all focus on one thing: entertaining and delighting people.
And while I never ended up in any of those career paths, I found an amazing life calling that does just that - and that calling was portrait photography.
"A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people."
- Annie Leibovitz
Discovering Photography For Confidence
I said it too: ‘I hate having my photo taken’.
When I hit university, however, my perspective changed. There was no choice but to be in front of the camera for small university assignments, and I began to embrace being in photographs because of it.
It hit home when my grandfather passed away, and I didn’t have any portraits of him. I felt ashamed that I had been studying a three-year photography course, and never once sat down with him to take his portrait.
Enough was enough. It was time for me to embrace photographs. A wake-up call that photographs go beyond ‘yourself’.
It is my belief that portraits increase self-esteem, create self-love and celebrate our beauty.
Not only this, but photographs are one of the single most important treasures that future generations will have of us.
A Connection To The Past
Sitting on the floor of my parent’s living room, a cardboard box and old envelope in front of me. Sprawled out are dozens of small photos. Small enough to fit in the palm of my hand.
These were the memories of my Grandparents in their youth. And the everyday moments of their young family in suburbia.
Forming a connection to these lost moments was powerful – I felt connected to a history that I was never a part of, yet at the same time it seemed I always was.
I learnt the importance of capturing the now. The everyday. The people we love – together.
My Happy Place
In 2020, I’m so grateful for the opportunities people give me to capture their memories.
Based in Melbourne, at the edge of the Dandenong Ranges, surrounded by trees, wildlife, mountains and my dogs. With the sound of bellbirds and the soft touch of a light breeze. That’s my happy place, and I’m lucky enough to call this my workspace.
My studio is one of my favourite places to be. It’s here that I have the opportunity to meet and photograph so many wonderful people, and capture beautiful family portraits.
When I’m not photographing, I’m spending time with my partner and our dog Felix. We both love to travel, visit new restaurants, and photograph the natural world.
Things I LOVE
Family Portrait Photographer
I create memories that are treasured.
I create confidence & self love.
I create works of art.
Awards | Qualifications | Publications | Collections
- 2020, Highly commended in the Animal Category, Capture Magazine’s Top Emerging Photographer’s Competion.
- 2019, The Portrait Conference – one silver award and four bronze awards.
- 2019, Rise Awards – two Bronze awards.
- 2019, The Mono Awards – Highly Commended in the people category.
- 2018, Highly Commended in the Landscape Category, in the Capture Magazine Top Emerging Photographers competition, for series ‘Stillness & Reflection’.
- 2018, Launched Julia Nance Portraits
- 2017, Highly Commended in the Art category in the 2017 Capture Magazine Top Emerging Photographers competition, for series Young Poise.
- 2015, Finalist Capture Magazine’s Top Emerging Photographer’s Competition – Advertising category.
- 2014, Winner Sally Brownbill Folio Consultancy Award.
- 2014, Winner for Two Girls Building, Abbotsford. RMIT Enchanted Competition.
- 2014, Graduated from RMIT University Bachelor of Arts (Photography) with Distinction.
- 2012, Runner Up in the Yarra Ranges Council Photographic competition.
- 2011, Awarded Dux of the Arts – Tintern Schools.
- 2011, Award for Studio Arts – Tintern Schools.
- 2014, BA Arts (Photography), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, graduated with Distinction.
- Over 8 years of experience in studio lighting and photography.
- More than 10 years of experience in photographing people and portraits.
- More than 10 years of experience with Adobe Photoshop and retouching.
- 2018, Image featured on the Nikon Australia Instagram and Facebook Page.
- 2018, Written Article. Featured on ‘This Woman Can‘ website.
- 2018, Images and interview double page feature in Tintern Grammar School Magazine ‘Factis‘ (print and digital copies)
- 2017,Images and written article featured in Fiji Airways in flight magazine Fiji Time May/June issue. Printed and digital copies.
- 2017,Image featured in the National Geographic Your Shot Daily Dozen, January 13, 2017.
- 2017,Image featured on ‘Discover Ocean’ Instagram account.
- 2016, Image Jonathan from the series Lovers chosen for inclusion in The Annual magazine by Capture (Emerging Category, published in Hard copy and electronic editions).
- 2014, Image Swan chosen for inclusion in The Annual magazine edition by Capture (student category, published in hard copy and in iPad edition).
- 2012, Yarra Ranges Council magazine front cover.
- 2014, 2 pieces in the Tintern Schools permanent art collection. Swan, The Writer.
- 2014, 3 pieces in the Two Girls Building permanent collection, Abbotsford. Swan, Resignation, Lift.
- 2014, 1 piece in the private collection of Peter Cahill, art collector and Director of the Domain Hill Property Group: Swan.
- 2014, RMIT Graduate exhibition RAW.
- 2013, RMIT Second year photography exhibition.
- 2012, RMIT First Visions photography exhibition.
- 2011, Tintern Schools Year 12 Art Exhibition.
