Photo by William Camargo, 2025.

Contact: Julieleopo@gmail.com

Currently located in Orange County and Ventura County in California. Available for freelance and travel assignments.

Julie Leopo is a California-based, award-winning photojournalist whose work explores culture, politics, identity, and social issues. Her passion for visual storytelling began at age 10 while photographing family road trips between Santa Ana, Calif., and Mexico. With over a decade of freelance experience, her work ranges from moments of celebration and quiet joy to investigations exposing political corruption and inspiring civic engagement. Since 2019, she has served as Director of Photography at Voice of OC, mentoring early-career photographers. Her work has appeared in Voice of OC, Los Angeles Times, KCET, KQED, LAist, Vice, OC Weekly, NBC News, NPR, The New York Times, CalMatters and others. In 2021, CCNMA named her one of California’s Most Influential Latina Journalists.

CV 

Visual Journalist- Award-winning photojournalist focused on community-centered storytelling in Southern California, with an emphasis on public art, immigration, and civic life. Her work highlights Latino and immigrant communities.


Director of Photography, Voice of OC, Orange County, Calif. 

2019- Present 

  • Established a long-term photographic record of civic life, immigration, and political engagement in Orange County

  • Supervise, train, and edit student photojournalists contributing to daily newsroom coverage and long-form reporting

Freelance Photographer 

2015- Present 

  • Report and photograph stories on immigration, public art, community life, protests, and local politics across Southern California

  • Produced photo essays and visual coverage for nonprofit, public media, and legacy news outlets

Chapman University Adjunct Professor 

2021- Present 

  • Teach foundational photojournalism, ethics, AP-style caption writing, and visual storytelling

  • Mentor students on portfolio development, field reporting, and newsroom workflows

  • Emphasize ethical decision-making in the field and representation of vulnerable communities.

Awards and Recognitions: 

2025- Los Angeles Press Club- “An Original Chicano Barrio in Santa Ana Gets a New Mural and

Pocket Park”, Third place 

2025- OC Press Club- “An Original Chicano Barrio in Santa Ana Gets a New Mural and

Pocket Park”, Best Photo Essay, Third Place 

2024- California Newspaper Association- Photojournalism- Third Place 

2024- California Newspaper Association- Photo Essay- An Original Chicano Barrio in Santa Ana Gets a New Mural and Pocket Park, Third Place 

2024- OC Press Club, Best Health and Wellness Story- ‘Becoming a Civilian Again,’ Veterans Use Equine Training to Combat Mental Stress, Third Place 

2024- OC Press Club, Best Feature Story, Battling to Survive Santa Ana’s Street Car, Second Place 

2023- Los Angeles Press Club, KCET, “In Oxnard, Latinos by the Beach Create ‘A New Reality’”, First Place 

2023- Press Photographers of Greater LA- Trans in Highschool, Third Place 

2023- Press Photographers of Greater LA- Portrait Award of Excellence 

2021- CCNMA Latina Journalist of the Year - Finalist 

2023- California Newspapers Association, Racism is Gentrification.” Second Place 

2023- California Newspapers Association, Pride and Culture: Santa Ana’s Fiestas Patrias, Fourth Place

2022- CCNMA Ruben Salazar Award,“ In Oxnard, Latinos by the Beach Create 'A New Reality” Finalist 

2022- California Newspapers Association, Are Santa Ana’s Historic Murals Doomed to Fade into History, First Place 

2022- Orange County Press Club- The Holidays Look Different for Families of the Incarcerated in Orange County, Third place 

2020- California Newspapers Assocaition, The Long Bus Ride Home, First Place 

2016- Orange County Press Club- Best Slideshow, Summer In The City: Innocence Lost and Found, First Place

Exhibitions: 

2024- Reencuentros: Seeing You Again 

2016 -Art Week in Berlin :Focus PhotoLA 

Board Affiliations: 

Board Member Press Photographers of Greater LA- 2023- 2025. 

Education: 

Associate's Degree in Photography

Cal State Channel Islands- Bachelor's in Chicano Studies and minor in political science- 2025- current 


Press and Media Coverage 

Photojournalism Students Receiving Hands-On Experience

Reporter and photographers say they were assaulted by Trump supporters at Huntington Beach rally

Voice of OC Director of Photography Julie Leopo Named One of the Most Influential Latina Journalists in California

Panels and Talks: 

2025- National High School Journalism Convention “Publishing your Photos Beyond Campus” 

2025- Visiting Lecturer at Las Fotos Project 

2024 Fotolandia - “The Price of Talent: Creating Equity for BIPOC Creators.” 

2022- Orlando Suero Legacy Talk at Boca De Oro Festival 

School presentations: 

2025 “The Camera as a Tool” - Anaheim High School

2025-  Visiting Lecturer on Photojournalism Sage Highschool

2025- Career Day - Jefferson Elementary 

2024- Visiting Lecture on Photojournalism- Santa Ana College 

2023- Visiting Lecture on Photojournalism- Segerstrom Highschool 

2023- Visiting Lecturer on Photojournalism- Circulos Highschool 

Judging: 

2016 - 46th Congressional District Art Competition