
Jenny Watts – Dallas TX Photographer | Maureen Wilson – McComb MS Photographer | Jasmine Sargent – Bismarck ND Photographer
San Diego CA Child and Family Photographer | Photo of the Week
On a very warm New Year’s Day, Brooks and I went down to the beach for a late afternoon visit. After the sun went down and everyone was leaving, I turned and saw Brooks standing all alone out in the ocean on this little rock, surrounded by water. I wish I knew what he was thinking about out there. So Brave. So strong. He looked like he was ready to tackle the world.
He continues to inspire me to be a better person … through his strength, his laughter and his love.
A perfect way to start the new year.

We have 12 amazing photographers in our group today, so please continue on with the always inspiring Andee Tate | Crave Photography | Utah Photographer.
Here is a little background on {elevate} a fine art photography exploration.
‘I love art. It’s been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I wanted a world that was removed from the mundane simplicity of everyday life.
But of course, life comes in and we grow up and move on. There isn’t enough time in the day to even shower, much less indulge in artistic flights of fancy. We have children, get a job and acquire debts. We cheer soccer games and kiss booboos and wash that same cup for the thousandth time. We forget the past and become “adults.”
And then one day, we pick up a camera. And take that first shot.
And all that youthful longing comes rushing back—it’s as if we have been drowning all these years and someone finally pulled us back to the surface. Color comes back to the world, color that we had never noticed was missing.
Coming up for that first gasp of air is exhilarating. For me, I couldn’t get enough of photography. It consumed me as I was suddenly able to express everything inside, all this longing that had been pushed aside for so many years. I would stay up nearly all night working on a new project or a fun idea. I would read everything and had a huge list of photographic concepts I wanted to try out.
But of course, again, life comes in. We want to share our newfound gift and now there are photography debts to be paid too. So we leave that list of concepts and turn our passion into our job. It’s fun and rewarding and exhilarating in a different way. But appointments and editing and deadlines leave little room for personal expression.
But I’m still that hopelessly romantic girl. And I still have a list of creative ideas a mile long that I would love to complete. Henri Matisse stated, “An artist is an explorer.” I often feel like that, though perhaps it’s just a journey of self-exploration, understanding myself a little more. So I decided to take a little time each month to explore photography as an art form, to elevate my understanding of both art and myself, and allow that deeply artistic side of myself a chance to spread her wings.
Created by Nichole Van, I banded together with a handful of other photographers to create a blog project focused on exploring the fine art side of photography. Each month, we will post a photo or series of images focused on art and photography. There are no rules. Just post what comes from the heart and allow the inner artist a chance to explore and fly.
So welcome to {elevate} a fine art photography exploration’ ~ Nichole Van
25 comments
The light on his face is simply beautiful. He does look brave and courageous and hopeful…
This is so beautiful. Love the light and his expression as he is standing on the rock. It is really wonderful.
Love the serene feel of this shot! The colors are gorgeous!
beautiful light and colors! love the reflection! He is so cute!!
This is gorgeous! This is one for your walls! Huge! I’m so in love with this image!
Jules, I just love how he is looking forward. Love the emotion and feeling here! Like there is so much to look forward to!
jules,
there is a stillness here that is so peaceful, so calm.
he is a very sweet boy; i can tell. i love how our muses are usually right under our noses, or in most cases, our feet, each day!! ![]()
i too love the color after the sun has completely set, but still emanates just enough to expose the last moments of the day…
beautiful- love how he’s out there in the middle- so pensive.
gorgeous jules! i love how he is surrounded by water!!
Beatiful! In so many ways!! Thank you for sharing
Wow Jules! This is such an amazing image, I totally agree, B looks so brave standing on that rock surrounded by the ocean waters, I LOVE his expression looking off and the light hitting his handsome little face!
i was instantly pulled in by this image. the colors and mood are divine. he is a gorgeous guy, and this is a beautiful photo to have forever of him!! beautiful work jules.
Gorgeous shot! Love everything about it!
amazing! you are amazing jules…and brooks is just the perfect little subject.
Incredible image Jules, it would be hard not to be inspired by this photo. He was probably taking in the beauty of his surroundings just as you always seem to
That light is perfect and how it shines just on his face! LOVE this Jules!
Oh what a sweetie! This is beautiful, Jules.
The falling light on his face gives such a feeling of warmth and peace. Beautiful image Jules.
Great work Jules! Amazing shot;)
The setting sunlight is beautiful here. Love his contemplative expression too.
wow, this is awesome Jules
This is my new favorite of yours, Jules. I love how his form mimics the lines of the pier and how the sun is illuminating his little profile and how it’s almost dark out. It makes me wonder how he got there and what he’s thinking.
man I am so jealous of y’all beach time!! so gorgeous!!
Yum! What beautiful light! Just perfect!
That’s a beautiful image Jules. I love the way the light illuminates his face.

Jenny Watts – Dallas TX Photographer | Maureen Wilson – McComb MS Photographer | Jasmine Sargent – Bismarck ND Photographer
San Diego CA Child and Family Photographer | Photo of the Week
8 comments
[...] Jules Trandem – San Diego Family Photographer [...]
What a perfect shot! I’m sure they are head over heels for this one!
What a gorgeous shot Jules. Just perfection – two handsome men.
[...] Sargent – Bismark ND Photography | Jules Trandem – San Diego CA Photography | Jenny Watts – Dallas TX [...]
STUNNING!
[...] Jules Trandem – San Diego CA Photographer | Jasmine Sargent – Bismark ND Photographer |Maureen Wilson – McComb MS Photographer [...]
love this shot and i ADORE your bw conversion… so great!
so beautiful!! you are so good!!
As photographers, we are always looking for ways to challenge ourselves. This year I am taking on an exciting new challenge, a 26 week project. It is similar to the 52 week project most of you are familiar with, except this year we are working on techniques along with our themes. Our themes for our 26 week project will be more thought provoking, so it will be fun to see the different interpretations. I am working along with 11 other AMAZING photographers, 6 of my favorite photographers from my last group and 6 crazy talented news ones, who will be challenging me as the year goes on. Each month we will have a different technique we are working on, and each week we will have a new theme.
For the month of January, our technique is unique lighting and our theme is “view from up here”. After you see my picture, be sure to continue clicking through the different photographers links so you can see the complete circle. Be sure to come back in 2 weeks to see our next theme, you don’t want to miss it!
Last weekend Brooks and I took off to the beach for our last day of Christmas vacation to look for ‘unique lighting’ and try to shoot something for our theme today, ‘view from up here’. I love using light and often look for backlight for my images. On this day, I tried for something different, I waited for the sun to go down and looked for more unique lighting … shadows and different light sources. I ended up really enjoying the challenge and will continue to look for unique lighting in my sessions.
With this one, I know I’m only ‘slightly’ above him … but it’s my ‘view from up here’ and ‘unique lighting’.

And by now it was completely dark out so we wandered around to find a different light source.

It was fun to explore and look for something different. I appreciate this challenge so much and look forward to the months ahead.
Please continue on with Aubry Startin | Phoenix Family and Wedding Photographer.
19 comments
Love it, Jules! He’s getting so grown up looking!
He is so cute! I love the lighting here, the shadows are great.
Love the Barber lights:) He has such a sweet face!
Oh what a neat location! Cool perspective
LOVE that first one…gorgeous gorgeous light. so excited to check out your new group!!!
cute shot of your best model.
LOVE these! <3 <3
Wow the shadwing in the first shot is amazing Jules, love this!
The first picture is just gorgeous. I love the light. His eyes are just mesmerizing. I love your processing on the second and the bokeh in the background. He is so cute!
Oh, I just love these especially the black and white! Totally gorgeous!
These are beautiful! The look on B’s eyes on that first image melted my heart! So excited to see a whole another year of your sweet boy and his fun adventures.
ummmm geez these are beautiful! That first one is awesome!!!
I absolutely love the moodiness of the b&w! You’ve already started off the year perfecting the first challenge assigned!
oh jules,
these images are amazing!
wow.
i am in love with them.
that b&w conversion is so gorgeous!
i love how brooks is so cooperative for you. he is such a sweet boy.
looking forward to viewing your challenges over the next 26 weeks!
I always love your challenges … and Brooks is always such a great model! I love your black and white conversion and the lighting is awesome. <3
Love the group and theme and challenges. I’m looking forward to seeing 25 more posts!
What a darling child he is! Love these, Jules!
love both of these!! you need that first one in your house!!
[...] case you missed my first post of this new project, here is a little information about [...]
Here we are again, ready for another year of ‘just us twelve times’. This year should be even more fun! I have joined up with another group of photographers to encourage and celebrate the opportunity to be in some of the images with our own children… not always behind the camera.
Promise to give it a shot! Last year, I completed this project with one image every month that included just us! We used the remote for a few of them and for the rest, I got the settings ready and just handed the camera off to someone nearby … my sister, a friend, the babysitter, my nephew, a teacher. That’s all there is to it!
This month, I met up with Allison Jacobs (from this group) in Oceanside, to explore and shoot. Thanks to her, I’ve got my first month all set!

Please continue on with the circle with Jayme Franklin | San Francisco Bay Area Family Photographer.
San Diego Family Photographer | Jules Trandem Photography on Facebook | The Bloom Forum
22 comments
Sooo sweet!!
Love this! Such a sweet shot!
it’s perfect friend! so jealous of flip flops in january!
You two are adorable, and it looks like you both have a great relationship.
[...] super excited about} and you can follow the links to see everyone’s image starting off with Jules Trandem | San Diego Child and Family Photographer. We will be posting twice a month and one of the posts will include an image that has me in it. [...]
Jules you totally inspire me! I’m blown away by all of your shots from last year, I can’t wait to see what you do this year. The love between the two of you is so radiant.
Love this shot, soo cute and love the setting/composition.
He looks so much younger than he is, here, Jules!!! Shows he’s still your little baby, even though he’s growing up!! LOVE it!
I wanna climb on your lap too!!!(that sounded dodgy didn’t it) But Mr B has me reeled in hook, line and sinker. His face shows me that he is in the safest place in all the world and that makes me want to be there too. Ain’t nothing more delicious than a boy loving his mama with all of his heart. yum yum yum.
I just love this. Love everything about it. Perfect of you and perfect of Brooks. So great!
hi jules!
i am so happy to be on this journey with you this year.
this image is amazing!
oh my goodness…love how you two are sitting and the light is just magical.
i am so jealous of that light with all of the darkness we have here.
beautiful first month, my friend!
Dang it that is cute! So beautiful and clean. I am excited to see what you guys come up with for a 2nd year in a row. Thank you for the inspiration!
I have to agree that this boy loves his momma and the camera by the looks of this shot!
love it. i should start this.
Love this Jules! That fence makes the perfect setting. You & Brooks just look perfect! Love it.
Oh Jules.. You will treasure these! So beautiful.
oh man, I adore this!!! I love the hug!
I am so excited to be doing this with you! I always loved seeing your just us images over the past year! I also love how much your boy loves you! yall always have the sweetest images! And I am super jealous that you and Allison got to hang out!
I’m always in awe of your mother son images.. and this set up against the white picket fence is another gorgeous image! He is so precious Jules!
Jules, I LOVE this picture! such pure love, it melts my heart. You are precious! Judy
Jules, I am thrilled to share this project with you this year. I loved following your Just Us posts last year. This photograph is a perfect way to kick-off the project. I hope that many more people will see these posts and become inspired to do the same. Happy New Year Friend!
Oh I love it! Just think, it won’t be long and he won’t be able to fit on your lap anymore. He has grown so much!
by Jules
10 comments
Goldendoodle cuteness – photo(s) of the week - [...] Jules Trandem – San Diego CA Photographer | Jasmine Sargent – Bismark ND Photographer |Maureen Wilson – McComb MS Photographer [...]
MomMom - Wonderful expressions and fantastic light. A great photo.
Big News! [Hazen Maternity Photographer] » Bismarck Newborn Photographer | Hazen Baby & Child Photographer | Jasmine Sargent Photography - [...] Jules Trandem – San Diego Family Photographer [...]
Jasmine Sargent - Oh this shot is awesome! Such a fun memory for them!
megan - Beautiful shot! One of the best parts of being a kid…being thrown in the air by your daddy!
PHOTO OF THE WEEK 01.19.12 | NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER IN MS » maureen wilson photography | mccomb mississippi newborn and child photographer - [...] Sargent – Bismark ND Photography | Jules Trandem – San Diego CA Photography | Jenny Watts – Dallas TX [...]
Tara - Beautiful, Jules! Someday I am coming to CA so you can photograph our family!
maureenwilson - so love it!! and that is some serious air
Dena Robles - Such beautiful light here and a perfect catch (yours and hopefully his too!)
Carrie Terrones (las vegas photographer) - In LOVE with this image!