Juliana Bellitto

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Self Portrait

Juliana Bellitto grew up Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Her close-knit family is the inspiration and subject matter of her work. Her love of photography began in eighth grade when it was first introduced to her through a school workshop. Ever since then she hasn’t been able to put a camera down. The summer before high school she received her first film camera, a Minolta x700. Juliana wanted to continue her photography practice, but had to teach herself everything since her school had not art program. In order to bring photography into her school, Juliana started a photography club. Every week she would go out with her friends to do fashion shoots around the school. These times were always the highlight of her week, and Juliana knew that she wanted to follow this path further.

Juliana's first darkroom print

After high school Juliana chose Tyler because it was close to home and she could visit her family often. It seemed like the perfect fit. While at Tyler she has continued to work with her favorite type of photography, portraiture. She is inspired most by the people around her. She loves working with people that she knows because she can capture intimate portraits of them.  She tries to preserve these special moments between her family and friends. 

 

 

 Juliana is inspired by one of her favorite photographers Sally Mann, and shoot pictures with the same intent of remembering.  As Sally Mann’s son has said about her work, “you can see it in her eyes when she is about to take a picture because she is trying to capture something she doesn’t want to forget.” Juliana takes pictures the same way, always capturing something to be remembered. 

Written by Paige Thatcher