Every photograph is a place remembering someone.
Julian Martinez has spent seven years photographing the people of Northern New Mexico — against the mountains, the adobe, the aspens that were already here before any of us, and will be after.
— a quiet second, kept secret
Eighteen entries from seven years of showing up — for seniors stepping into who they're becoming, for two people finding each other, for the families that made them.
Some of what follows has no caption. Some of it needs one. The land doesn't explain itself either.
Senior SessionA '56 Chevy that's been in the family longer than he has. Some things in New Mexico don't need staging.
Senior SessionInitials carved into aspen bark by someone else, years ago. She found the tree on her own.
Senior SessionChile ristras and a green door that's been repainted the same color for decades.
Senior SessionStill in season, still herself — a jersey doesn't come off just because there's a camera around.
Senior SessionA cottonwood old enough to have its own weather.
Senior SessionThe tassel says '25. The grin says it's really happening.
Senior SessionCaught looking back — literally.
Senior SessionFound this exact spot mid-bloom. It won't look like this again until next June.
CouplesA whole roll of aspens turning gold at once, and they were too busy laughing to notice.
SiblingsSnow on the railing, breath showing in the air, and neither one in a hurry to get back inside.
CouplesLate light does half the work.
FamilySix people, one afternoon, one hillside — everyone showed up for this one.
FamilyThe next generation, mid-frame, mid-laugh. This is usually where a session ends — and where the actual point of one shows up.
Two different weddings, two different couples, and one quinceañera — all from this season.
WeddingsThe trees were still holding their leaves, and neither of them let go first, either.
WeddingsHer mom fixed her hair one more time than it needed, and neither of them minded.
WeddingsFour guys and a promise none of them would let him hit the ground.
WeddingsA veil that took its own path in every gust, and a bride who let it.
WeddingsSomebody handed the flower girl a bouquet of her own to hold, so she'd stand still. It worked for a few seconds.
QuinceañeraFifteen, and already knows how to fill a doorway.
QuinceañeraAll that tulle finally had somewhere to go — straight into the grass.
The journal above is curated. This is everything else — keep scrolling to walk through it.
Senior Session — a different car, same instinct
Senior Session — the jacket earned every patch
Senior Session — unhurried, on purpose
Senior Session — the cold doesn't slow anything down
Senior Session — the same door, further back
Every session includes the same thing: real time, real light, and every edited image handed over.
Senior Sessions
$185One hour, two outfits, one location — enough time to actually relax into it.
Family Portraits
Starting at $200The whole group, or just the two of you who made it a family in the first place.
Couples
$185For the two of you, whatever stage that's actually at.
Headshots
$150One hour, professional, no adventure required — though we'll still find good light.
Gallery coming soonParties & Events
$185 / hourWhatever's actually happening gets documented as it happens.
Gallery coming soonWeddings
$250 / hourThe whole day, or just the parts that matter most to you.
Every session — all six — includes professionally edited, high-resolution digital images with a full digital release.
Julian Martinez.
Seven years photographing Northern New Mexico — evenings and weekends, around a full-time job at UMB Bank he's held for nine. He serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters, investing in the same city, Española, where most of these photographs were taken.
If it's happening near here, there's a good chance he already knows the light.
Española · Santa Fe · Los Alamos, NM — and about an hour past that