About Me
My background
Hey everyone! My name is Julia Dommel, and here is a bit about why I chose to pursue photography.
I am a current senior at Woodland Regional High School which lies in the small town of Beacon Falls, CT. I started getting into photography my freshman year through my school's journalism program, and I've been in love with it ever since. My purpose is to deliver the emotion of an event to a person through photos. I want to make people feel something, specifically feel the emotions of an event through their eyes only.
Outside of photography, I am a student-athlete (volleyball), a member of my school's Student Government, a journalist, and a part-time employee on a farm. Sounds like a lot, right? One thing about me is that I love to stay busy, and I prefer to be challenged. You may see this as a good trait or a bad trait, but I love to push myself to the brink. You always find your true self through adversity
My experience
I started photography in my freshman year of high school. I looked up to the journalism program’s older photographers and decided I wanted to be like them someday. Skilled, respected, and valuable to the program. From there, I started to build my skills, I acquired my camera, made a social media platform, and built my name. It quickly turned from a school-affiliated activity to my own freelance business. I have worked with several high schools in my area, shooting every sport offered. I have also shot collegiate sports for Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart University. I have worked with several organizations in my community, such as the local firehouse, little league teams, student clubs/programs, family photos, senior portraits, and more. I have compiled three years of experience since. I fell in love with the process. and never turned back.
My vision
As an athlete myself, I know the importance of feeling seen. We’ve all had moments where we doubt our ability, lose motivation, and no longer feel the love for the game. In those moments of need, hearing a ‘good job’ from a coach or a nod of approval can be the difference between giving it your all or giving up. Photos allow me to make athletes feel good about themselves. They keep the photos, frame them, share them, and look back at them. It is also incredibly gratifying to see people post or share my work; it reminds me of the value of my work and the importance of community in the photography world. In the future, I hope to work with a professional sports team, or for a big sports corporation such as ESPN. My goal is to make it to the big stage, capturing events that are meaningful to society.