Explore Rochester

SUPPORT THE EXPLORE ROCHESTER COMMUNITY FUND For over a decade, @explorerochester has passed the camera to a different contributor every week — showcasing our city via over 500 unique perspectives. Now, as we celebrate 10 years with a photo exhibition at @roco137 , we’re using this moment to invest in the future of our community. The Explore Rochester Community Fund was created to support the next generation of photographers in Rochester. The fund exists to sponsor resources, workshops, and classes for young photographers who may one day become contributors themselves. We’re proud to be partnering with @flowercityarts and supporting the continuation of the work that they do with the Studio 678 Photo Club — an incredible after-school photo program that has served middle school students in the City of Rochester since 1999. We’ve included more info about them and about this fund via the link in our bio. The best way to support is by buying a print. Our goal is to sell all 502 prints in the exhibition so that this visual archive can live on in the homes, offices, businesses, and spaces within our community — a beautiful reminder of the perspectives that have made up this project and the support that you gave in purchasing a print. Each one is $40 and they are available by going to the front desk at @roco137 and telling them that you’d like to buy a print (or 2). Take a piece of the exhibition home with you while you still can. THE FINAL DAY TO BUY A PRINT: SAT, MAY 10. Want to give more than $40—or less even? Donate $1, $5, $10 or any amount via the link in our bio or at fund.explorerochester.us Since the beginning, @explorerochester has been community-driven, not for profit, and made up of all of us. It’s been about connecting people with people, and people with place. We’ve launched the Community Fund in order to amplify that mission and multiply our impact. We’re aiming to create a legacy that lives on well past this exhibition and this platform as a whole. Please help support however you can—simply sharing this post goes a long way. Thank you, Steve, Justin, and Intern SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY FUND — fund.explorerochester.us #explorerochester

We’re excited to share with you our upcoming exhibition “Explore Rochester @ 10: A Decade of People and Places” Opening First Friday, March 7 at Rochester Contemporary Art Center, this exhibition celebrates the first ten years of one of Rochester’s most significant Instagram accounts: @explorerochester . The exhibition will feature a curated installation of over 500 photographs, one image from each contributor from the last decade. We can’t wait to share more in the coming weeks!

August, 2023. My friend posted a story showing her absolutely crushing a workout at a local gym I had heard of many times before, called Burn. I’m not the type to love initiating my own work out at an “open gym” - I simply don’t know where to begin. From day 1 at Burn, you walk in, and you can mentally check OUT. That was exactly what I needed. Guided work-outs, different every time, with the most encouraging coaches and community. It is now 2026, I have completed 462 camps, including working out while pregnant and postpartum with both of my babies. With Burn & my INCREDIBLE nutritionist, Lora Doughtery, I gained 50 lb and lost 52! Do it for a better version of yourself. Do it for your kids, for your family. for your friends. Your body and your future self will thank you. NOTHING beats that morning routine, the endorphins, and the satisfaction of earning that morning shower. // @juliahart____ 6/8 #explorerochester

“Let’s call it “Good Light”, because there will be really nice lighting inside...” BOOM - a business was born! We are ELATED to bring to the area, Rochester’s first enclosed vintage Photo Booth. Built completely by hand, it is truly more than just a business to us. One of our first dates (at Six Flags Darien Lake) Raleigh and I sat in a photo booth and snapped a few photos together. Little did we know, a video was also being recorded. Sent to our emails, and found years later. Today, our mirrors at home are lined with photo booth strips from countless weddings, mall tips, vacations, and more - and each one is precious to us. I have said for years - when you think “take the photo” you have to do it right then ... because if you don’t, that moment will pass you by. That is why we love the booth so much! It guarantees a printed memory that you can keep, save, and cherish, FOREVER! We can’t wait to see you in that “Good Light”! (follow us on Insta @goodlightbooths ) we appreciate your support! // @juliahart____ 5/8 #explorerochester

COLOR HUNTING is trending - or whatever you Gen Z kids are calling it! I invited my photog friends to join me at the Public Market to “color hunt” not knowing it was the creativity my soul needed. It is easy to get into the rhythm of routine. Family portraits, newborn portraits, wedding, repeat. As much as it does still always (somehow) feel fresh for me, it doesn’t always feel the most creative. The color hunting is IT guys. You’ve got to try. No fancy camera gear needed. Just a few friends, a cool location, and your phone’s camera. In an ever-busy world, I think it is important to stay CREATIVE. Check out my most recent hunt with some amazingly talented local photographer friends, where we shot at Rochester’s iconic Lilac Festival! // @juliahart____ 4/8 #explorerochester

My sasha fierce is Julia Hart. Hi - it’s nice to meet you! Julia Hart was a lil dream of mine, started officially in 2014. I photographed the original Arbor Loft ribbon cutting, I have great friends who are florsts and bakers and DJs, I’ve seen venues open and close, and yes - I have THE CRAZIEST WEDDING STORIES EVER (and I would love to start a podcast anonymously, but it would be too obvious who I am - maybe one day?!) I could NOT love my job more. I get to go to a WEDDING every weekend?! WHAT! I still find extreme excitement in this. I know I am blessed to have found a career that I genuinely and passionately ENJOY to my core. I also photograph families, newborns, businesses, events, seniors - you name it, I’m your girlie. I will also say that early on in the industry, you learn very quickly if weddings are for you. They are quick, they are pressure-filled - and I have learned that I thrive in these situations. The pressure fuels me in the best way. Here is one of my favorite wedding photos that I have ever taken! (it’s my favs Matt & Kailyn and I have now taken photos of their I do’s AND their 2 beautiful children - again how lucky am I to be able to call this my job!?) 5 points to whoever guesses where this photo was taken anddddddd GO! // @juliahart____ 3/8 #explorerochester

Psalms 55:22 “Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you.” I just needed to be sustained. Postpartum was consuming me, one clocks tick at a time. Nothing flashy, nothing fancy, nothing straight from the heavens with ribbons attached - I JUST needed to be sustained. This verse was living water to my soul during this season. If anyone knows me, you know that I often will say “it’s just a season”. And friend (I can assure you) that it is just that - a season. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us that there is a time for everything. A time to laugh & a time to mourn. Now having gone through postpartum twice, I can attest to this. Jesus didn’t pull me out of this season, he walked with me THROUGH it. “He will never leave you nor forsake you”— He hasn’t left you, he walks WITH you, alongside you, holding you, collecting your tears. All you have to do is look up. Start with a simple prayer - He is eager to hear you. // @juliahart____ 2/8 #explorerochester

Tree Town Cafe is such a staple in our summer rotation. It is the perfect place to grab a coffee with a friend, or meet up for a play date. Mom orders a ”snickerdoodle” latte, while the kiddos pick out some penny candies. It’s a win-win! Do you know why Tree Town is so special to me? I’ll tell you. It’s because before I watched my kiddos fingers perusing the cookie section and making me a fake lunch on a little tikes stove top - this was where mom & dad dated. The same bench they sit on is where we dreamed of them. Watching young moms and dads on the playground and yearning to one day be them, that was us. The day before my daughter was born, we found our selves at Tree town. Pre planned C section, pre everything unknown. Maybe that’s why we love it so much? Because we made it through, and after the chaos settled, our favorite bench was still there. // @juliahart____ 1/8 #explorerochester

Introducing our week 593 (Yr. 12 Wk. 20) contributor: @juliahart____ ⠀ ROCHESTER! Hi friends, so glad you are here ❤️ My name is Julia. Like most of you, I wear lots of hats. I am a wife, a mom, a friend, a Jesus follower, and an ultra-encourager and just truly a half-glass-full kinda girlie. I love people, I love stories, I love LOVE. I think pushing yourself past your comfort zone is key and often where you’ll find the most beautiful version of yourself. I grew up in Rochester NY (in my Penfield bubble, specifically). The city was always a mystery to me. As most do in High School, that mystery began unraveling first by visiting a very sticky “Java’s” with friends and struggling to parallel park on Park Ave. With many trips over the years to Highland Park and the Public Market, who knew I would end up spending the majority of my days photographing weddings, events, and SO many people in Rochester for the last 13 years! We are SO lucky to live in a city that is truly SO photogenic.  I hope you join me this week as I delve into some areas of my life that mean so much to me: my postpartum journey, my relationship with my creator, starting a business as a young woman, and more. Love ya!  ⠀ #explorerochester

I can’t wait to hit the stage again at the @rochesterlilacfestival this Sunday (tomorrow!) at 5:30pm! We’re opening up for @thelonebellow with my full band. It’s been an honor to play there over the years and it’s crazy to see how our set has grown! Bring your mom and i’ll see you there!🪻🪻🪻 // @claudiahoyser 8/8 #explorerochester

Record archive is a place you can’t miss in town. They’ve been gracious enough to host my recent album release show and sell my first vinyl records! We also filmed a music video there, for a song called “Duke Devlin,” about the hippie who never left Woodstock! It feels like going back in time when you walk in and I could spend hours sifting through all the records on the shelves. @recordarchive // @claudiahoyser 7/8 #explorerochester

Rochester has so many amazing places to perform and listen to music and I’ve been lucky to play at countless local venues for years and years! @PreservationBeer is an awesome spot to check out in the village of Fairport as well as their sister location @lock32Brewco in Pittsford! Plus they have one of my favorite IPAs called the “side seam.” Photo by Aaron Winters @steeladw // @claudiahoyser 6/8 #explorerochester