Death, Rebirth & the Liminal Space Between ..

These thresholds are sacred portals .. rites of passage we must all walk through to grow. And I am verily grateful for each and every stage of the journey.

But let me tell you, it feels sOo good to be emerging from the shadows, and deep in the birthing canal of transformation. My life fell apart, and in that unraveling I discovered a rare and golden opportunity to start over. So I'm rewriting the script .. reinventing myself & shedding old skin.

Leaping into the unknown is terrifying, but also thrilling and one must surrender control and trust the process. And with the love of my family, friends, and community, I know this leap is possible.

So here it is - my NEW beginning.

I’m launching a business!

Bringing Timeless Photography Back to Life.

And I would be honored beyond words to receive your support as I rise to stand on my own two feet again, and this time as a single mama.

The Secret Mission to British Columbia...

After a year of dreaming, I recently crossed the waters to Salt Spring Island, where I had the honor of studying the antiquated art of tintype photography with my dear friend and mentor, Sydney Woodward.

Syd is not only a remarkable photographer but a generous teacher. In the quiet hum of his studio, he poured out his knowledge, guiding me through the alchemical dance of light and chemistry. With hands-on training, I shot portrait after portrait, watching each face bloom onto plates, like ghosts summoned from another time. Each portrait felt like a whispered conversation between the past and present .. a world held in a gaze.

Why Tintype?

In this digital age where most of our pictures live inside our phones, this work feels even more meaningful, sacred, and necessary.

This medium feels like home.

There is mystery here. Magic. Timelessness.

These aren’t just photographs .. they are soul portraits, capturing your essence in silver and light. Tangible heirlooms meant to last, passed lovingly from one generation to the next.

Maybe that’s why it resonates so deeply with me. My father, a polymath who's curiosity seemed boundless, passed down this love of freezing beauty in time. When I was seven, he built and designed our house that we moved into complete with a darkroom so he could develop his own B&W photos. I would sit with him for hours, watching in awe as he performed magic and conjured our family photos to life beneath the warm glow of red light. That sense of wonder has never left me.

The Dream:

With your help, I want to open a tintype portrait studio.

A place that invites us to slow down time. Where lovers, families, and individuals can step into a pool of light and leave with something sacred, that will be cherished and passed down through the hands of generations.

But the tools of this craft are as rare as the images themselves.

Specialized cameras. Hand-mixed chemistry. Light-safe spaces.

Everything must be sourced with care to breathe life into this vision.

Your contribution will help me create a space where memory is preserved with intention. Where moments are captured not in pixels but in silver & soul. And where a single mama can work from the safety and comfort of her own home and support her two beautiful children : )

This is more than a business.

It’s the revival of a nearly-forgotten art.

It’s a way to honor time, and the people we love.

It’s the heirloom you leave behind.

The Studio:

The universe, in it's wisdom and divine order, provided the perfect studio .. right under my feet!

Literally.

My basement!

Quaint, simple, and with just the right amount of space. It even has a separate entrance!

And the bathroom? No windows .. making it the ideal darkroom!

No windows means no distractions. Just the perfect stage for a little sorcery. Part alchemist’s chamber, part funhouse .. a place where shadows dance in the mosaic of mirrors, light bends and reality plays tricks on itself.

This summer, I transformed that forgotten bathroom and conjured it into my own sanctum .. a darkroom of dreams, a hall of mirrors where you can lose yourself in infinite reflections, bathed in the velvety glow of red light. It began as a whisper of an idea, a vision that would not let me go .. and then voilà .. the mundane dissolved into something mysterious, magnetic, and alive. Piece by piece, I gathered mirrors like relics, each one an oracle, a door to another plane. The ceiling vanished under many coats of black paint, darker than the midnight sky and the walls drank in the deep sanguineous hue of vintage wine.

Now, I can hardly wait to usher people into my studio and watch their eyes widen at what I’ve created as they step into this magical space that feels both secret and infinite. Soon, clients will wander into this crimson labyrinth and watch their images emerge from nothingness, like spirits summoned from the ether .. that delicate, alchemical moment I cherished sharing with my father as a little girl. And my heart swells to know my children will now stand where I once stood, in that same crimson light, watching magic bloom in the dark : )

Next up:

Remodeling the portrait studio. And opening my doors to you all, very soon!

Ways You Can Support:

I know many of you live far away .. in other states, even across oceans .. and may never have the chance to step into my studio in person. Still, you’ve reached out with love, curiosity, and encouragement, and I can feel it. If your heart calls you to support this dream from afar, please know your kindness means the world to me. It is seen. It is felt. It is cherished.

While some of you may give with no wish for anything in return, I want to offer a few ideas .. small acts of exchange, gestures of gratitude, and ways for your generosity to ripple outward.

One option is to “pay it forward” by sponsoring a tintype session for someone who might not otherwise be able to afford one .. perhaps an elder with a lifetime of stories etched into their face, or a mother in any stage of her journey: pregnant, nursing, or holding her little one close. As a single mother myself, I know how precious these moments are, and I want to open my doors to as many as I can, regardless of means. Your gift could place them in front of my camera, where we will honor their beauty, their resilience, their love.

Another possibility: I have a secret method of transforming any digital photograph into a tintype. So if you’d like something tangible in return for your donation, you can send me a favorite image, and I will wave my magic wand and transform it into tin and then mail it to you. It’s not quite as charming or the same as standing here in the studio with me under the red glow, but it’s a way for a piece of this craft to find its way into your hands. And for you to immortalize your favorite picture into something indelible that will outlive you. We can discuss details privately, with contributions beginning at $200.

Whether you choose to give as an act of kindness, paying it forward from one soul to another, or as an exchange, please know that every offering .. no matter the form .. helps fuel this vision and keeps the magic alive.

For my local friends, I’ll be offering portrait sessions, heirloom packages, and creative collaborations as a thank-you for your love and support. (Please reach out to me directly! -juliakamalagreen at gmail dot com)

From the bottom of my heart - thank you.

For believing in me. For standing with me.

For helping me turn this dream into something real, sacred, and everlasting.

Thank you all for your LOVE & support!!

Can't wait to make some magic with you!

With love,

Juwels

** No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.