High school senior Mason Ratliff stands on the beach by the Hotel del Coronado. Three people surround him, running around and making him look the best that he can.
Two photographers circle each other, taking turns posing him, instructing his every move. The third person is assisting in lighting, all eyes on him.
It’s a new photography concept created by Coronado resident Juliane Morris. Her partner in this duel is Joel Ortiz.
“Dueling photographers”
Inspired by dueling piano performances, she coined the term “dueling photographers” for those wanting one photoshoot with two separate styles of photography.
Morris isn’t new to creative business ventures like this one, having her background in business and graduating with her MBA in Management & Strategy from Western Governors University in Utah.
She also previously worked a marketing job at Johnson & Johnson as the Innovation Activation Specialist.
Morris continues to work in that industry as a freelance marketing specialist for Upwork when she’s not taking pictures of all things Coronado or San Diego, including her upstart dueling photography business.
Not a competition
Although this term suggests a sort of competition between the photographers, it’s really not, Morris explains.
“The word dueling is funny. If you just think of dueling pianos, like really, they’re playing off of each other and spurring each other on to do more interesting and better things. That’s what the dueling is about,” she says.
Morris has been a photographer for the past 30 years, and recently moved to Coronado a year ago.
More photos from the artist
Popular photographer
Even though Morris has been here a short while, she’s become a popular photographer in San Diego, having her pictures featured on TV stations FOX and KUSI recently and in The Coronado News.
In the past year, she has worked and collaborated with other photographers, helping with posing and as a second shooter, but has never done anything like what she’s doing now.
“You might think that there’s competition, but it’s actually a lot of really lovely support.”
-Juliane Morris on photographers in San Diego.
“There’s just a really supportive, collaborative group of photographers in San Diego…You might think that there’s competition, but it’s actually a lot of really lovely support,” Morris says.
Out of these photographers is Ortiz.
Working together
Morris said Ortiz needed some assistance, so they started working together at some events.
“His pictures are awesome, but I would’ve done this – which isn’t better, it’s just different,” she said.
That’s the idea behind two professional photographers for high school senior Ratliff.
“So this is a way for us to supplement what we do and create these interesting short opportunities and windows of time for potential clients to hook up with us in a fun way,” Morris says.
