Today we’d like to introduce you to Charissa Johnson.
Charissa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I was little my mom banned how often I would take photos. Film was expensive and I’d shoot an entire roll on one sunset. I’ve been in love with photography ever since.
I really began to get into photography in high school when I took several film classes and developed my own film. I would often lose track of time in the quiet retreat of the dark room. I loved photography. I also loved people, and ended up getting my MA in counseling, became a licensed counselor, and did art therapy and school counseling for 10 years.
During that time I continued doing portraits and weddings part-time with the dream of pursuing photography more full-time in the future. While I loved counseling, it was intensive and I got burned out. At that point, I decided to really focus on my dream of doing photography more full-time. I’ve absolutely loved it. My journey here has shown me how two things especially – laughter and creativity – bring healing and wholeness, and I love how photography combines these.
Now a Chicago and destination wedding, family, newborn, and dance photographer, I can’t believe how lucky I am to be doing what I’m doing. I get to work with the most incredible people and wouldn’t change it for the world!
Has it been a smooth road?
There are always ups and downs in owning your own business, dealing with the expenses involved, and investing countless unpaid hours into growing and learning. However, I feel like as long as you have a teachable attitude, the growing pains are pay off and are worth it. To think that the photos I take will be not only enjoyed by my clients, but by their children, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren — that’s more than worth it to me.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Charissa Johnson Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Charissa Johnson Photography offers Chicago and destination wedding, family, newborn, and dance photography. My sessions are candid, relaxed, and focus on celebrating each person’s unique story. I’m happy giving poses when needed/asked, but my favorite is to capture you just being you with the people you love. Often people who don’t like to be in front of a camera (I don’t either so I know how they feel!) tell me that they had so much fun during their session and what they expected to be awkward was a really special time. That’s my goal for every session.
Another portrait photography I specialize in is something I’m calling “recovery photography.” This premium photo session combines art therapy and photography. It is especially unique to you and your story, the struggles you’ve been through, and the voice you’ve found through them. These sessions are for the person with scars; the woman struggling with depression, the man who hates his anxiety and PTSD, those dealing with cancer, the woman trying to get back onto her feet after a divorce, etc. We all have our own scars and these sessions give you a tangible way to appreciate your journey and the changes along the way, whether you’re at the beginning, middle, or end of a particular season in life.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
From Colorado originally, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the less-mountainous Chicagoland. I’ve been pleasantly surprised. While mountains fill my soul like nothing else, Chicago is quickly becoming my favorite city. The unique architecture, the river that runs through the heart of the city, the lake that hosts incredible sunrises, the surprises, and grit… As Carl Sandburg so aptly puts in his poem “Chicago”:
“Hog Butcher for the World,
Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,
Player with Railroads and the Nation’s Freight Handler;
Stormy, husky, brawling,
City of the Big Shoulders”
I love this city of big shoulders. It carries all of us in a special way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.charissajohnsonphotography.com
- Phone: 720-301-4909
- Email: info@charissajohnsonphotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/charissajohnsonphotography/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/charissajohnsonphotography/
- Other: www.pinterest.com/chars_johnson/
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