Currently located in Ventura County, California. Available for freelance and travel assignments. Speaks English and Spanish.

Julie Leopo is a California-based, award-winning photojournalist.

Her work is grounded in a commitment to visual accountability, amplifying underreported communities and documenting the civic life of Southern California.

Her path to visual storytelling began at age 10, documenting family road trips between Santa Ana, California, and Guadalajara, Mexico, early images that shaped her connection to place, identity, and community.

Since 2019, she has served as Director of Photography at Voice of OC, where she mentors early-career photographers and teaches photojournalism courses at Chapman University.

In 2021, California Chicano News Media Association named her one of California’s Most Influential Latina Journalists, in 2022, she was a finalist for the prestigious Ruben Salazar Award for her photo essay, “In Oxnard, Latinos By the Beach Create A New Reality” published by KCET.

Her work has appeared in Voice of OC, LAist, CalMatters, Los Angeles Times, KCET, KQED, OC Weekly, NBC News, NPR, The New York Times, and others.

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.

Voice of OC Director of Photography

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

2022- California Chicano News Media Association, Ruben Salazar for “In Oxnard, Latino’s by the Beach Create a New Reality” -Finalist

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 Association, 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:

Orange Coast College Photo Alumni

Associate’s Photo Degree- Pierce College 2025

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

2025 Dean’s List, Cal State Channel Islands

2026 President's List, Cal State Channel Islands

Press and Media Coverage

Shaping Tomorrow’s Visual Storytellers

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- Seattle 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- Moderator 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

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