{Project Survivor} Louise

  Louise is the mother of a teacher in my building, and she comes in and volunteers almost every day.  She is spunky.  She is dedicated.  She is the woman that I aspire to be when I grow up.  In her 80s, she has more zip and energy than most younger people hope to have on a good day.  And Louise is a cancer survivor.
  It's not something that she talks about frequently, but Louise is simply a "get it done" and move on kind of woman.    She doesn't make a big deal of it, but it is a big deal!
  Eleven years ago, after her husband passed away from cancer, Louise decided to go in and get checked.  They found a very early stage form of breast cancer, and due to the fact that they found it so early, they were able to remove it, and she was able to move on cancer free.  Louise shrugs off her experience, and says it was really no big deal.  But it was!  Beating cancer is a HUGE deal!  She is such a strong woman, and the ability to put "cancer survivor'' on a list next to all her other amazing attributes leaves me astounded at the kind of woman she is.

She is a story of hope.  She is a story of life.  She is a story of a survivor!

In honor of Louise, and all who have conquered cancer, donate to the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life! 

Welcome to Julie Bean Photgraphy

  When I first started out doing my phototgraphy, I happened to stumble upon it.  I had bought a nice camera, so maybe I should use it, right?  I never intended or could have foreseen what it would turn into.  When I look back at some of my first photos, I literally cringe.  I wasn't very good  had no clue what I was doing!  I thought that Lightroom (photoshop editing) + DSLR (nice camera) = amazing photography.  Boy, was I wrong!!
  Since then, it has been a constant process of seeking out learning and growing opportunities.  I've taken classes, spent countless hours soaking in others' knowledge and researching on the internet.  (Jessie Murphy and Kate Podjan have been true mentors to me!)  I feel with each new session, I have a deeper knowledge base than in the last.  I never feel, and I won't ever feel, as thought I have it "all figured out," but that's the art.  That's part of the intrigue .  It's knowing that I can continue to grow that brings me back to this art.
  So why this long story, for the reason I am changing my photography name?  Because as much as I am constantly growing and changing, I also have to remember to go back to my roots.
  As long as I can remember, my sister has called me "Julie Bean."  It's who I've always been, and it's who I'll always be.  It's who I am, just as I have always had a creative bug in my soul.  It took me many years to embrace that creativity.  Growing up I didn't always understand it.  I had to realize that just because my creativity didn't look like everybody else s, that it was no less creative.
  I could look around me at what other artists are doing with their photography, and think less of mine because it is different.  I could try to embrace their methods and techniques, but at the end of the day, I realize that I have to be me.  I just have to be Julie Bean.

Welcome to Julie Bean Photography.

 You can check out the new and improved website at juliebeanphotography.com or our facebook page at facebook.com/juliebeanphotography

{Kim and Greg} Engaged!

  Kim has been a friend of mine for the past 8 years.  We've been though hard times, and we've been though some of the best.  We went to Purdue together, and since I've known her, she's always been a breath of fresh air that lightens up my life with her 'lay it all out attitude.  She's genuine, and a truly one of a kind woman I am so blessed to know.
  Years ago, I received a call from Kim.  She had met this amazing man named Greg.  She said, "Greg went to your high school.  Do you know him?"  Since my high school is really big, I get this a lot, but most of the time, I don't know who they are talking about, or at best, the name sounds familiar.  But in this case, it seemed REALLY familiar.  I thought, how odd!  A friend of mine who is from Chicago, and went to Purdue with me, has met a man from my hometown, after college while in Chicago.  When they talk about small world, this was what they were referring to.  Because not only did his name sound familiar, when Greg and I finally met in person, we realized that we hung out at the same friend's house while in high school.  His friend Sarah was my boyfriend's younger sister.  Crazy!!
  So here we are, a few years later, and my husband Ross and I have a great friendship with Greg and Kim.  We have been saying for the last year that we need to get up to Chicago for a weekend with our good pals, but it just never seemed to work out.  Until about 2 months ago.
  I sent Kim a message and I said, "We are coming to see you.  Let us know when."  We put the date on the calendar for this past weekend, and the rest is history.
  We spent this past weekend with Kim and Greg, slumber partying it up in their loft apartment, going out to eat to pizza, sushi, and Thai places.  Staying up too late, and eating too much, walking all over Old Town, where they live, and having one heck of a weekend!  I just can't remember having this much fun in a long time.  We had missed them so, and when we got back together, it was as though time hadn't passed at all.
  While Ross and I were there this weekend, and as we walked all around the great city that is Chicago, I snapped some pictures of Kim and Greg, being their love bird selves all over the city in which they met and fell in love.  I am so blessed to have been able to take their pictures, and to have them as friends.  I wish them so much happiness.  So, so, so very much happiness!!