About julie stauffer

Colorful wildflowers blooming in a vibrant green field.

Julie Stauffer has spent more than fifteen years at the forefront of iPhone photography education on the East Coast, helping people discover that the most powerful camera they own is already in their pocket. Blending deep photographic expertise with a lifelong passion for teaching, she creates workshops that are welcoming, inspiring, and transformative for photographers of all ages and experience levels.

Her photographic journey began long before the iPhone. Julie spent a decade photographing weddings throughout the New York tri-state area, capturing both the grandeur and the quiet, fleeting moments that define a day. At the same time, she worked with the New Canaan Nature Center, documenting its celebrated Secret Garden Tour. Whether photographing gardens, weddings, or families, her work has always centered on storytelling—preserving the ordinary and extraordinary moments that shape our lives.

In 2013, Julie embraced a creative shift, turning her attention to the iPhone as a serious photographic tool. Through extensive study and experimentation, she mastered its nuances and developed a signature class series designed to help people see more clearly, compose more intentionally, and create photographs with meaning. Along the way, she found an unexpected joy in bridging generations—teaching senior citizens, millennials, and everyone in between how to unlock the creative potential of their phones.

Now in her third decade as a professional photographer, Julie’s primary focus is iPhone photography instruction, a natural return to teaching after earlier careers as an elementary educator and a childbirth/Lamaze instructor. Her personal work has evolved into expressive, in-camera images using multiple exposure and intentional camera movement—photographs that move beyond realism to become images about something rather than merely of something. Her interest often creates abstract photographs that originated as a realistic file.

Based in Lancaster and Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, Julie continues to teach, create, and explore the art of seeing with students.

What students say about Julie's iPhone photography classes

I mainly want to thank you for the excellent iPhone photography workshop. It had the right balance of general tips on what makes a good photograph, practice taking shots and introducing Snapseed to me and C. Having three separate sessions helped to space out the training so we could absorb it better. I'll need to follow up on the leads you gave us on tutorials. You have given me a spark to restart my photography hobby after a 5 or so year layoff. I know I have a long way to go to get anywhere close to your knowledge and your stunning iPhone photos, but the journey should be fun. D.O.

I feel I’ve been given a solid grounding in a fascinating new activity that doesn’t require extraneous equipment – like a sewing machine, or guitar, or watercolor set. Gadget lover that I am, I’ll find playing around with my phone and all its fun apps as relaxing as meditation and as absorbing as a great TV mystery. Forget about laundry and cooking, this is way more fun! A.C.

I truly feel that I learned a lot and gained confidence in using my camera in new ways. Your clear explanations and hands-on approach made the class both enjoyable and very beneficial-not just for me, but I’m sure for everyone who attended. I really appreciate the effort you put into making it such a worthwhile experience. C.O.

Julie has taken me out of the point-and-shoot era and put me in a new place. With her instruction, I find myself looking to see a better way to view the shot - and then how to improve it with editing. Looking at her creations is an incentive to stretch my imagination! S.D.

Thank you so much for your amazing iPhone photography class! Somehow, you managed to be all of an impressively skillful photographer, an inspiring artist, and an amazing teacher. I am a retired teacher, myself, and – wow – you were so relaxed, positive, and open, no matter how basic or convoluted the questions were. I learned a lot about how to make good use of my new iPhone’s camera features and how to take better photos that I, myself, actually like. Your openness and encouragement spiked my excitement and confidence to pursue photography further. Thank you! I am recommending your class to all my friends who like photography!

J.B.

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