Julie Blackmon is a photographer from Springfield, Missouri who focuses on documenting the chaotic yet charming dynamics of family life. She was born in 1966 and grew up in a large family of 9 children. Blackmon takes inspiration from Dutch genre paintings depicting everyday household scenes. Her photos capture the innocent humor and spontaneity of childhood through portrayals of her own children and their interactions. Rather than posing her subjects, Blackmon allows her photos to feel candid and realistic in depicting the messy realities of parenting young kids.

1. Julie Blackmon
Photographer
kelly denaples

2. Biography
• Born in 1966
• Springfield, Missouri
• Eldest of 9 children; Mother of 3
• Themes of her work:
• Timelessness of family dynamics
• A home in disarray, filled with
boisterous, rowdy children
• Suburban charm and quirk
• “a Jan Steen household”
• Inspired by Dutch genre painting

3. Biography
• Julie Blackmon is a photographer from Springfield, Missouri, where she
has resided her whole life. She was born in 1966 and is one of 9
children. Growing up in a very full household, and now being a mother
of 3 children herself, she has always been interested and amused with
the timelessness of family dynamics. Her work is greatly inspired by
Dutch genre paintings, which depict moments of everyday life typically
in a household setting. In the statement for her series Domestic
Vacations (2008), Blackmon refers to the Dutch proverb “a Jan Steen
household” which refers to “a home in disarray, full of rowdy children
and boisterous family gatherings.” Blackmon’s photos take a charming
perspective on life with kids, and there is realness about her work that
isn’t perfect, prim, or proper. This partly comes from the fact that her
models aren’t models at all, but instead her actual family members.
Most of the kids are young enough that they aren’t self-aware and don’t
instinctively pose in front of a camera. This allows her to capture the
innocence and shenanigans that come along with childhood.

4. -Julie Blackmon
Domestic Vacations (2008)
“These images are both fictional and
auto-biographical… As an artist and
as a mother, I believe life’s most
poignant moments come from the
ability to fuse fantasy and reality: to
see the mythic amidst the chaos.”

5. Floatie
2006

6. New Baby
2006

7. The Hamster Handbook
2014

8. New Chair
2009

9. Inspired by Norman Rockwell’s Moving Day

10. Take Off
2009

11. Thin Mints, 2014
Abbey Road
The Beatles, 1969

12. Flying Umbrellas, 2007 Green Velvet, 2007

13. Black Leather
2005

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