Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake Johnson.
Hi Jake, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My parents bought a Canon AE-1 when I was in high school. It seems like we would take the film to the grocery store to get it developed. I sort of adopted it, mostly documenting mischievous acts of teenagers. Seeing the pictures always made my day. It wasn’t long before I took over on my dad’s first video camera as well. My brothers, friends and I would shoot ridiculous movies. I would edit “in camera”, so to speak, rewinding the VHS tape over the ‘mess ups’ and then reshooting. With wardrobe sponsored by thrift stores, and a soundtrack blasting radio tunes we recorded on cassette tapes from our boom box, many bad ideas were born. I guess that’s where this all began: playing around with cameras, trying to have fun and making art. Then life evolved and I enrolled in a fine art photography class as a freshman in college. My architecture-centric physics and calculus classes suffered when I realized I wanted to take pictures all day long. Major events followed that harnessed and refined my vision. A 2-year mission to Chile. A BFA in Photography from Brigham Young University. Work as a studio manager for a professional commercial shooter in Los Angeles. Today I create both still and video imagery for various companies in diverse industries, in and out of the studio. But the goal has always been the same: take pictures, make art, have fun
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, the road for freelancers is naturally up and down, and for me, it was also winding…winding through different industries, and various formats. Started shooting on film. Then DSLR’s. Then mirrorless. And A.I. is now hugely disruptive. You have to decide what to embrace. Grasp on to what you love, then love your choice. The early years required an intense grind to generate enough revenue to support my little family. And after a few years we got ahead, and for many years we were solid and growing. Now I feel that grind that came with those early years, as A.I. is killing photo/video jobs for artists. But it feels good to dig in deeper again and remember what it takes to make something succeed.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Most of my career I have lived in the Phoenix and Salt Lake City regions, and so in these medium-range markets I have ventured into various photographic genres to stay busy: portraiture, architecture, food, lifestyle, health, sports. I like becoming familiar with so many different brands and companies. We did a big shoot just this week for a new client, and I enjoy getting familiar with a cool product and the team behind the brand. I just really love the production process, as challenging as it can be sometimes. I think I work well with people, being patient, and very thorough. I feel like my clients trust me and know I will find a way to create what is needed, within a budget that makes sense for everyone.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I think I was quiet, very introspective as a young boy. I always liked art, and drawing…making things on my own. As I got older I made a lot of weird stuff and expressed myself much more. Asked my prom date out with a cassette tape playing Black Flag in a big Missy Piggy doll head. Painted my bedroom walls and ceiling with my artwork and lines I read in books. I wrote a lot. Lots of pen marks on my bed sheets at night. I also loved sports since I was little. Played soccer, basketball and baseball growing up. I was also told I was “gifted” and had these special classes at school where we explored deeper topics and got do much more creative projects and trips. Religion was also a big part of my childhood, believing in a loving God and a joyful path through Christ. All these things played into who I have become.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jakejohnsonpictures.com
- Instagram: @jakejohnsonpictures
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jakejohnsonut
