Local photographer’s passion gets publicity
by AMANDA WINTERS
While many people know Julie Lawrence as an editorial-style wedding photographer, her photographs and tours of wolves at a sanctuary in Tenino now are known on a national scale.
The Sequim woman has been the official photographer of Wolf Haven International since 1998 and in the winter gives photo tours at the sanctuary. The tours, which consist of her leading camera-carrying groups through the wolf sanctuary and giving photo tips, were featured in Delta Airline’s Sky Magazine in December and it snowballed from there. Soon after, The Weather Channel and CNN.com also wanted to feature the tours.
“A lot in life is about timing,” she said. “Wolf Haven has given me some good exposure.”
Lawrence spent several years as a photojournalist then as Wolf Haven’s photographer before moving to Sequim in 2004 and establishing her wedding photography business, Julie Lawrence Studios. Since then she has maintained her photographer status with Wolf Haven on a contract basis.
“I do weddings and I do wolves,” she said with a laugh.
Wolf tours
Lawrence’s wolf photo tours are No. 10 on Delta’s list of top 32 things to do when it is 32 degrees outside. Between Quebec City and the best ice hotels in the world is her wolf tours.
“Wolves are more active in cold weather,” Lawrence said.
People show up with all levels of camera gear and she gives tips on how best to capture photos of the wolves.
“My favorite thing is when the wolf does something great for a photo and I hear all the cameras clicking,” she said.
The Weather Channel featured her photos in a segment and CNN.com will use them for an upcoming travel piece, she said.
“Hopefully my images of the wolves speak volumes,” she said.
Connecting with wolves
Lawrence said photographing wolves requires flexibility, creativity and patience while waiting for a “magic connection.”
“They are so beautiful and graceful,” she said. “Some people feel almost a mystical connection, like wolves are looking in their souls.”
Lawrence said it is fostering that connection she enjoys so much about the wolf tours.
While the publicity is nice, she remains very humble.
“I don’t really think I’m special or anything, but to me it is a huge gift to be able to do what I do,” she said.
Reach Amanda Winters at awinters@sequimgazette.com.
