
Nationally acclaimed, Houston-based photographer Julie Soefer '99 is one of the most sought-after photographers in the United States. Her work spans multiple industries including hospitality and design, food and beverage, and portraiture. Her photographs have been featured in such esteemed publications as, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Food & Wine, Texas Monthly, Elle Décor, and InStyle. Julie regularly works with major national and international hospitality campaigns including Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott Hotel Groups, and is the main photographer for Thompson Hotels. A credit to a keen ability to connect with her subjects, her portrait work includes national celebrities and local Houston faces, including José Altuve, Dennis Quaid, Kelly Wearstler, Whitney Port, Tilman Fertitta, Carl Lewis, J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Foyt, and the official Kinkaid portrait of her photography mentor David Veselka. In addition, Julie is the sole photographer on various design and culinary books, including The Beauty of Home by Marie Flanigan Interiors, Julep: Southern Cocktails Refashioned by Southern cocktail-bar pioneer Alba Huerta, and Cook Like a Local: Flavors that Can Change How you Cook and See the World by famed Houston chef Chris Shepherd, which received a James Beard Award nomination in 2020.
Born and raised in Houston, Julie joined the Kinkaid family in sixth grade. Embracing her creativity as a sixth grader, she was first chair in the Upper School band. In her freshman year, she transitioned her creative pursuits to photography under the direction of Kinkaid photography teacher David Veselka. Julie credits Mr. Veselka for exposing her to the world of photography which she vigorously pursued throughout her time at Kinkaid. During her junior year, she was awarded the grand prize in the PIEA International Student-Teacher Photo Exhibition and Competition, and in her senior year she was named the number-one high school photographer in the state of Texas by the Association of Texas Photography Instructors.
After discovering her passion for photography at Kinkaid, Julie moved to New York City where she earned her degree in Photography and Imaging from New York University’s Tisch School for the Arts in 2003. Shortly after graduation, Julie was hired as the still photographer on Morgan Spurlock’s feature film SUPERSIZE ME where she created the iconic image used for the movie poster, which became one of the most famous movie posters of all time. Julie’s first full-time photography job was as the first assistant and studio manager for one of her personal photographic heroes, Arnold Newman—a legendary pioneer of the environmental portrait. During her time in New York, she also worked for celebrity photographer Andrew Eccles, producing photo shoots for major motion picture studios and television networks.
After nearly a decade on the East Coast, Julie headed back home to Houston and established her commercial photography and art studio, Julie Soefer Photography. While building a thriving commercial business, she continues to cultivate the artistry of her work. She celebrated her first solo photography exhibition of her fine art photography at the renown Barbara Davis Gallery in 2010, and was a finalist winner for New York’s prestigious Hearst Photography Biennial in 2011. When she is not traveling for photoshoots, she creates editorial and fine-art prints in her Montrose-area photography studio, which is outfitted with a full working kitchen for culinary shoots, and a hair and make-up studio for fashion work. Next door to the studio, Julie resides with her geologist husband Chris Vandewater and their three beloved dogs Buster, Ziggy, and Dakota.