Coronado based photographer Leigh-Anne Johnson has a special talent for capturing those precious moments people often want to preserve and cherish for years to come. Johnson specializes in lifestyle photography: wedding, engagement, family, senior and maternity.
Four years ago, Johnson could not have predicted she would eventually become a professional photographer. She started her tertiary education as a musical theater major, but that didn’t quite pan out. She then studied abroad in England before returning to her hometown of Maryland to study communications, majoring in marketing, which led to seven years business and marketing experience.
The daughter of a photographer, Johnson has always been surrounded by photography and has spent much of her life with a camera in her hands. However, it wasn’t until her first pregnancy in 2010 that she began to take the art of photography seriously and commenced the journey from amateur to professional. Johnson recalls, “I never knew I was going to get into photography professionally. I’ve always been artistic. I never knew what outlet I was going to use to express my creativity and I’m glad it is photography, especially because of the military lifestyle.”
Pictured: Photographer, Leigh-Anne Johnson
Like many Coronado families, Johnson and her family know and understand the strain one endures as a result of the transient military lifestyle. Her husband, Brian, is a helicopter pilot. Together with their three year old daughter, Brynn, they transferred from Virginia to Coronado, “We’ve been here for six months. It’s been pretty awesome.” Incidentally, Johnson has family ties to the island, “My Mom was actually born and went to high school here because my grandfather was in the navy.”
Rewind several years, back to 2010. Johnson requested and received a Canon Rebel XS camera as a non traditional “push present” from her husband for the birth of their daughter. Once she figured out the basics of professional photography she started photographing friends and family for free, then eventually started taking donations. Johnson remembers, “The more photos I took, the more I began to understand composition and how to capture people at just the right moments.”
Johnson then reconnected with an old friend, who is also a successful photographer. Johnson was fortunate to be mentored by her friend, “I started picking her brain about the business. She was an open book. She taught the basics of what I needed to know with my camera from a technical point.”
Johnson officially started her business in 2012. She recalls, “When we were in Virginia, Brian was gone with the Navy the whole time so that’s kind of why I started the business. I was like, I’ve got to do something to keep my mind off of it.” Word of Johnson’s talents spread and her new venture evolved into a thriving business.
In the early days, in addition to being mentored by her friend, Johnson also looked to the internet and books to learn her craft, “I turned to the internet, Youtube, purchased a new lens and really studied. I studied books and asked questions of other photographers.” These days Johnson continues her learning by taking classes, “I am currently schooling myself in light and how to use off-camera flash. How to use light where light is not really available.I am investing a lot of time and money in professional development.”
When asked what a client can expect from a shoot, Johnson explains, “When clients approach me about a family shoot, for example, I walk them through and give them advice on what to wear as a lot of them actually ask me. I encourage them to wear something that will bring out their personality. I discourage them to wear the same thing or the same colors.” Johnson aims to make clients feel at ease during the shoot, “I’ll direct you, I’ll guide you. Once we are warmed up, I just get you to do your own thing.”
When photographing children, Johnson delicately advises clients not to scold their children before the shoot, even if they have been misbehaving, otherwise parents are setting themselves and their children up for an unsuccessful shoot. Johnson suggests that parents allow their children to, “Let them do their thing,” promising that her clients will end up with better pictures than they would have imagined, “A lot of parents are shocked when they see final product from the session they thought went horribly, but no.”
One striking characteristic of Johnson’s photography is her ability to capture her subjects in an uncontrived, almost candid state, which makes for a more interesting and artistic shot. Johnson divulges her tactic,”When I am taking photos I want to capture people acting like themselves. Acting like they would when I’m not there. I tell them I am like a fly on the wall.” Johnson still caters to people who are interested in traditional, posed photography, but finds when clients view the more candid shots, they are thrilled with the finished product.
When asked about any funny work stories, Johnson laughs, “I have stepped in dog poop a lot of times. I did it just several weeks ago,” Johnson explains she was photographing a family in their backyard. Holding her camera, focused on the family, Johnson stepped backwards, squishing her shoe into one of the family dog’s fresh deposits! Apparently the dog didn’t usually relieve itself in that part of the yard.
Johnson comments that her rates are “affordable” and can be found listed on her website here, along with a portfolio sample and addition biographical information. Johnson also has a Facebook page, which can be viewed here.
All photos ©Leigh-Anne Johnson Photography, supplied by LAJP.
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Siobhan Bailie
Staff Writer
