Throwback Blog Post to an entry I made on March 29, 2013   Today I remember What you did for me, Sacrificial love nailed to a tree Weeping Daughters, Mothers, Brothers all laid at your feet Death brought forth Anew, Reality The cup was not taken It had to be bared So that in turn My life could be spared Faith Challenged this heart of stone Love revealed, Like no other I'd ever known. Broken down, No where left to hide. The light of a new day, Once more revived.                                  ~ C.M.Juleson One of my favorite places in the world is a cemetary in Mercedes, TX.  Our Lady of Mercy Cemetary . Some of the tombs have been in the ground since the early 1900's and though I've never known anyone, to whome the grounds are a final resting place, my adoration for the place has grown over the years. The cemetary is sentimental to me for various reasons. It's a peaceful place where many conversations were shared with friends late at night or early morning hours. It was a place of refuge for a 19 year old girl who just wanted to go and sit and escape the realities of life. It served as a reminder that there was an end and eternity lay ahead ...

Cator Woolford Gardens at the Frazer Center Jenny & Luis June 6, 2015 All images on this blog are the property of Christina Juleson and protected by copyright law June 6, 2015 was a beautiful warm summer day to get married.  You would have never thought that the heat was nearly in the 90's as Jenny remained calm, cool and collected in the bridal suite at The Cator Woolford Gardens .  Surrounded by her closest friends and family, she eagerly waited in anticipation in finally becoming Mrs. Ocampo. Completely adorned in her gown and shoes, the real beauty was in witnessing the expression of emotion that overcame Jenny as she looked at herself in the mirror and realized that she would be sharing the rest of her life with Luis, this was their wedding day. I can't imagine any other bride wearing this wedding gown.  This silhouette was perfect for Jenny and she looked absolutely stunning in it.   Jenny started planning a year in advance for their wedding at The Cator Woolford Gardens.  She thought of every detail, even down to her Benjamin Adams London heels in her wedding day color. I was so happy to be able to work with Keeyahna with The Design Experience Weddings & Events  .She and her team are always on their A game to make sure the day runs smoothly . Luis was overcome as he was finally able to set his eyes on his ...

Today I celebrate a woman who has been in my life for my entire life, my very first best friend, my playmate, my roommate, my go to person, my "I can't find my t-shirt, why did you take it out of my closet"?, my wanna strangle and wrestle me to death - sister Lisa. She was my first real life baby doll.  I can't remember the day she was born, but by the pictures I've seen I'd say I was pretty excited and over the moon over her.  As we grew up, we did everything together.  There wasn't a time that we weren't there for one another.  We played with mom's make up, dressed up, played Barbie, road our Big Wheels, played at the beach, watched Saturday morning cartoons, plotted against our nanny and even attempted on several occasions to catch fireflies in the woods behind our trailer home.  Christmas time was always our favorite and going to the carnival with mom and dad was always fun because we couldn't wait to see what Dad would win while playing carnival games. We had an awesome, oblivious childhood, filled with laughter and the occasional fight here and there. As years progressed things weren't always so happy but even though we didn't have much we had each other and we always found a way to have fun. Lisa was the first to learn how to swim, she was always much smarter than me and I envied that about her for much of my life. She had a ...

How many times do we all reach out to God in life wanting things to go our way but only find ourselves empty handed?  Or are we - empty handed? Sometimes, the best things in life happen when we're not given what we want. We want to stomp our feet and become heavyhearted when things don't turn out the way we'd wish but sometimes, "No" is exactly what we need.  God doesn't cater to our wants and what we think we need. He does care when we're disappointed or hurting because we can't understand His reasons.  However,  God has a much better view of the complete picture - we just need to learn how to get a different perspective.   

Alberto & AngieEngagement SessionFreeman's Mill ParkJune 1, 2014It was a perfect day to photograph Angie and Alberto this past Sunday.  Ray and I had the privilege of meeting them and their two adorable boys. As I approached the children on the playground with camera in hand, I could hear another child say "those boys are famous".  I couldn't help but giggle.   Alberto & Angie met in their awkward years as teenagers.  Angie's brother couldn't have possibly known that on the day he became friends with Alberto that his best friend would someday ask to spend forever with his little sister Angie.  However, that's exactly what happened three weeks ago when Angie was taken off guard in the romantic, beautiful setting of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  Alberto, on bended knee made his request and Angie said yes.Congratulations Angie and Alberto we wish you many years of happiness to come!

Kennesaw Mountain Photo Session May 20, 2013 I hung up the phone and spent a moment in silence as the tears flowed down my face.  Erica's story completely overwhelmed me.  I have captured many emotional and important moments over the years but this photo session was truly inspired by God's spirit.  I've created my own ideas in the past as to what creative point of view I wanted to use to accomplish my goal but this time short glimpses of images immediately started introducing themselves to my minds eye.  It's unlike anything I've every experienced before and it was a completely amazing gift that I feel I was given.  Erica lost her best friend last August very suddenly. Many hard months have followed since she hasn't been able to have a conversation with her mom face to face or to be able to embrace her lovingly in her arms. These days, the words she shares, are spoken into the wind from her heart to heaven. Erica's request was to have photographs taken in a red dress she had worn to a gala recently. Her mom's favorite color was red. Some time ago, her mom was photographed in a red dress which is now a cherished possession that Erica clings to.  This session was to honor the woman who nurtured her all of her life and a tribute to her best friend and best mom in the world.  She is greatly loved and missed.  I know that Momma was smiling ...

John 14:1-4 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:16-27 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using. The wall was made of jasper and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the elevent jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. ...

Despite all that I've been through in the last week, I consider myself to be one lucky girl. I have been so eager to share my experience with you all from my visit at Smith's Olde Bar on Friday the 21st. Sadly I had to take an emergency trip out of my beautiful state to the desolate landscape of Rio Hando Valley Texas (another story for another time). Had I been able, the following pictures would have been up for all to see within 24 hours. The Affenders opened up the night in a very big way. I love hearing new bands in the intimate setting that Smith's Olde Bar offers. I've told you all before, if you are in Atlanta, you MUST check out Smith's Olde Bar. The venue is awesome and I've yet to be disappointed! The Affenders are officially the first band that I've photographed in a concert setting (exciting!). The music was great and the experience of bobbing in and out of the crowd to capture the images of the band was so much fun. Everyone in the crowd was loving the music and you could feel the energy and vibe that the band was putting off and it was awesome! I love when a band has a killer drummer and The Affenders definitly do. To top things off and make it super sweet - She's a super cool rocker chick and the girl can keep a beat like no ones business. You can check out the awesomeness that is The Affenders by clicking HERE. It was a huge night for Nine Times Blue as it was ...

Ryan & Jennifer Canales Poole's Mill Park November 24, 2012 Wowsers - have things been crazy.  It pretty much took the entire month of January for me to recover from all the craziness of November and December, much for which, I am extremely THANKFUL. I'm so excited to finally be able to share the photo sessions from the last part of the 2013 year. We will begin with - Jennifer and Ryan - Wed on November 24th 2012. I was so happy to be able to spend time with Jennifer and Ryan again.  Driving out to the location I thought back to their wedding day and how happy everyone was and how stunning Jennifer looked in her wedding dress.  I remembered how excited  Ryan was putting on his final details on his suite with his groomsmen and how lovingly he looked at Jennifer throughout the day. It only occured to me, minutes before my arrival to photograph them, that we had scheduled their photo session on their anniversary date.  Since the previous November, Ryan has achieved the goals that were placed before him, in service to our country and Jennifer has had several accomplishments of her own this past year and is as proud as ever of her man and happily anticipating what the future has in store for them both. The weather was about 42 degrees on the day of the session, but you would have never known it by the way that they worked together to ...