Julie Parker-Garza :: photography + giveaway!

"Second Star to the Right" by jpg photography

"I would have to go with my pirate ship series set of two in the metallic finish," muses Julie Parker-Garza when I ask her for her best recommendation for holiday gifting.  "One customer I had gave one to her husband and one to her daughter, because they love Peter Pan so much!  I think these prints evoke feelings of an epic voyage about to be embarked upon, and who doesn’t love a grand adventure?"

Indeed!  Julie (JPG Photography), a San Diegan, has given her Etsy shop the apt tag line "Owl & Pirate Ship Photography," and her barn owl portraits are to die for.  They are incredibly stunning and certainly comprise Julie's best sellers on Etsy, though JPG has a lovely variety of prints to offer her customers.

"You Precious Thing" by Julie Parker-Garza

"[My inspiration is] finding the beauty in the mundane," Julie says.  "I am a daydreamer--always have been. I dream of cobblestone streets, faraway lighthouses, and forests brimming with creatures. Unfortunately, where I live in San Diego (while beautiful), it’s difficult to capture what I dream about. Instead, I look for what is immediately around me, and try to breathe some magic into that. An ignored flower in a parking lot is transformed into a beautiful blossom in the quiet mountain side; a crowded beach is now a dreamy sparkling seaside destination, and an old vessel in the harbor is transformed into a pirate ship, about to set sail for treasure!"

"Beaches 1" by Julie Parker-Garza

Julie's workflow and description of her space evoke similar dreamy imagery: "I hunker down in the evenings and begin the process of sorting through photos, then open up Photoshop and begin tinkering around in a very organic matter.  I let the image to speak to me; often the piece will let me know how it should be transformed. I listen to music, usually something like Stars, Midlake, or Bowie.  I sing along as I work.  I sometimes name my pieces after a particular lyric that spoke to me.  Sometimes I feel like I am transported into those magical places I have created in my head and in the image. If I am editing photos from a photo shoot, like a wedding or family shoot, my workflow is more structured. I stay true to the scene of the day, but I can't resist adding a bit of magic." :)

The magic continues for Julie's customers, too, as she likes to include a couple sweet surprises with her Etsy orders when they ship.  "I like to include a small free print or two as a 'thank you.'  For every order I get, I am always blown away that someone purchased my work. The feeling that someone is hanging something on their wall that I created, that in a way they are inviting a part of me into their home—it feels amazing."  (I can TOTALLY relate to this!)

Win your choice of print from Julie!

Anna Delores readers can get a piece of JPG Photography's magic, as well!  Julie is giving one uber-lucky reader his or her choice of image from the shop in an 8x8", 8x10", or 8x12" print (up to a $26 value).  To enter the giveaway, visit JPG Photography on Facebook to give Julie a "like," plus add JPG Photography to your Etsy favorites!  Added bonus?  Follow the Anna Delores blog (you're already here!).   

Leave us a comment here to let us know you've entered (and for fun, let us know which image you might choose if you win!).  Remember to enter before 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2011, which is when entries will close.

More places to find Julie Parker-Garza ::

• Blog: http://jpgphotography.typepad.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jpgphotography.etsy
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/_jpgphotography
• Julie's illustration shop on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/noodlehug