My Story

Hi all, I’m Julia, let me introduce myself! I've always been drawn to capturing candid moments, raw emotions and the essence of different personalities which is why I specialise in personal photography and portraits.

Whether it's a special gathering, holiday experience, family picture, or an active day out, I love being able to document those natural, unposed moments that truly showcase who we are.

about me julia russ queenstown personal photographer

What is personal photography and how did I get this idea?

When I was younger my uncle invited us to a family trip, a luxurious weekend away in another city with lots of activities planned. A personal photographer and guide accompanied us and showed us his home town, while disappearing in the background with his camera during activities.
Just a little while after we got back home, a photo album appeared in our mailbox with all the memories from the trip! Having all these amazing moments captured by a professional and coming back with those images left a big impression on me and I was always wondering if I could do the same for other people one day.
I am now fortunate enough to life in this beautiful town where I am able to make this goal happen!

My degree in graphic design helped me focus on my eye for composition and detail as well as my personal editing style. Years of travelling and meeting all kinds of people was a big asset to further developing these skills.

When I'm not behind the camera, you can find me outside on hikes and bike trails, exploring the rivers on my jet boat - generally having a fun day out with my friends.