Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Kahlbaugh.
Julie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My passion for photography started at 15 I began capturing the beauty of nature, cityscapes, and people who were close to me, like my friends and neighbors.
Fast-forward to 2016 (age 21), I began working as a photographer for Local Pittsburgh magazine, where I had the opportunity to photograph diverse subjects like food & beverage, art, theatre, and portraits. After leaving Local Pittsburgh, I transitioned into freelancing and have since worked with notable clients such as Visit Pittsburgh, Very Local, Inventionland (featured on The Science Channel), Action Housing PGH, Bike PGH, and several other local businesses.
Through this experience, I’ve refined my focus to food, beverage, and portraiture photography.
I’m driven by a passion for creating visuals that reveal the heart and soul of each business, as well as showcasing the people who bring them to life.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve been through many challenges since starting my career. Things like imposture syndrome, low self confidence, and anxiety have come up time and time again. It wasn’t until leaving a really bad relationship that I finally started to see who I am and found ownership in my work.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in food, beverage, and portraiture photography.
I’m known for being the photographer at Trace Brewing, a brewery specializing in craft beer, here in Pittsburgh. I’ve been their photographer since before they opened in 2020. They host several events, including Disco Sunday Disco, which is a 6 hour long event full of DJs and dancing that’s really blown up. I’m usually always there capturing folks enjoying the music & hanging out around the brewery.
I’m proud of myself for pushing through all of the bad that I experienced while trying to figure out my direction with my work. I was on the verge of quitting photography last year, but I held on, and now more than ever, I can finally see my path.
I think my editing style sets me apart. It’s clean, moody, and rich in color. I’ve had several people tell me that they know what my work looks like when they see it & that’s such a compliment to me.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Being genuine, kind, and hard working. Pittsburgh is such a small city, and I truly believe that most people here just want to work with people that have those qualities. If you’re a shitty person, people will find out, and you will have a really hard time getting anywhere here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://julescreative.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliekahlbaugh/
