About Julie

Born and raised in Sumter, SC, my interest in art emerged at a young age.  I have drawing books dating back to the age of five.   After school art lessons were on the agenda off and on until high school graduation.  At 18, I attended the University of SC, Columbia and graduated with a B.A. in English and a Cognate in Art History. Moving to Mt. Pleasant after graduation, I discovered the Gibbes Museum art studio and signed up for various oil painting classes in the evening after my 9-to-5 job.   When I was given a manual film camera and I had no idea how to use it, I discovered the Gibbes Studio offered photography classes with J.D. Cummings (eventual co-founder of the Center for Photography).  I promptly registered for the evening classes and learned how to shoot slide film and how to print in a darkroom.  In fact, I was so taken with the process, I set up a darkroom in my laundry room at home.  After a couple of years, I did go digital and began helping a local photographer with her weddings and family sessions.  Eventually, I left my 9-to-5 job after 15 years of employment and began my own photography business which included weddings, family, fine art and commercial sessions.  My images have appeared on magazine covers, magazine articles, brochures, billboards, and websites.

 

For 13 years, I was very fortunate to have many clients I saw regularly for family sessions. Bride and groom clients who later became clients for newborn and family sessions and bridesmaids from clients’ weddings who became my wedding clients.  I also am grateful for several commercial “gigs” that lasted for several years and all the wonderful people I met and photographed along the way.  Sadly, my beloved mama was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and in 2020, I headed home full time to Sumter to help my father with her care.  She passed in 2021, but I remained to help my dear dad whose health was in decline.  Dad passed in 2024.  My parents are very loved and sorely missed every day.    

 

Present day, I am launching my new website of fine art photography.  I have been experimenting with my technique since 2019 -2020.  My library of images, I estimate to be around 25,000 currently, is extensive and varied.  Each fine art piece takes weeks to create.  For more information on my creative process check out my artist statement on this site and storefront.  Thanks for reading this and for shopping on my website!  Please let me know if you have any questions through the contact link.

Kind regards,

Julie G. Rowe