Introducing Johnna Brynn! Our Missouri ” 50 | 50″ photographer.
Well, here it is! Our first 50 | 50 Photographer post! We’ve been compiling a list of our favorite photographers from each of the 50 United States and we’re beginning with a great photographer from Missouri, Johnna Brynn. This Missouri Photographer is a travel, lifestyle, wedding, fashion, portrait, and commercial shooter with some great work and a very nice, clean website. She’s also started an incredible non-profit organization that provides the tools for children to express themselves through photography called Star Shooter. Here are a few shots of Johnna’s favorite work.
We were able to ask Johnna a few questions about herself as a photographer, and here are her answers.
How did you get into photography?
Photography got into me. I was fascinated with picture-taking since childhood. Of course, that’s what you hear most photographers say, but it’s true. I then put the camera on the shelf to pursue other passions in life, like helping children. I was a social worker for 6yrs. After a handful of years, I picked the camera back up again and went traveling around the world. My camera exploded with creativity and “photography got into me” again. I considered life was too short to let the camera collect dust, therefore I started my own business March 2009.
What do you love about photography?
The way I can call forth someone’s destiny. I can declare a beauty within the person that they or others may not have seen. (more in detail in last question)
What’s your favorite type of photography? (weddings, portraits, commercial, etc.)
I have always loved travel photography, as I grew up overseas as a missionary kid, and was continually amazed at the beauty of culture. Since I’ve become a “professional,” I am learning more about what I like. I’ll always love to photograph children, and I have recently discovered I love the beauty of two people in love… so weddings are quickly becoming my new favorite.
Who’s been your biggest influence as a photographer?
The internet. All the photographers that are on the internet. Seriously, if I hadn’t been exposed to so many photographers online proudly displaying their portfolios, I may just not have believed I could do it too. I do have to admit my mad obsession with Sarah Rhoads http://sarahrhoads.com. She seems to shoot from her core, and that’s what I aspire to do. Live and shoot from who I am and what I’ve been put on this earth for -to encourage others to see their beauty and to live fully in that.
What piece of advice would you give to any aspiring photographer?
JUST DO IT. I heard Jasmine Star http://jasmine-star.com once say “I’d rather fail at something I love, than succeed at something I hate.
What has been your favorite moment during a shoot so far?
It’s actually that moment right after I’m done with a shoot, that I’m in love with. The gratification is overwhelming, when I feel I’ve “captured” someone’s beauty that was hiding and it’s all in my camera ready to be exposed.
Explain star-shooter a little.
“Star Shooter: phototherapy for kids” is a 501c3 nonprofit organization I founded in July 2008. The mission is to equip children with a tool for expression using photography and allow them the opportunity to discover the “star” within themselves. I have invitations in 2010 to work with kids in China and S. Africa, which I am very excited about. Learn more about Star Shooter on our website: http://starshooter.org.
Who’s the one celebrity that you would die to photograph?
To be honest, I’ve never thought about it. I’m honored to photograph anyone.
I noticed you’re a canon shooter. Does that mean you’re a fellow Nikon hater? (you don’t need to answer that : ))
Nooooo, never a hater of anything! (well, ok, maybe a PC-hater. ha!) I actually shot with a Nikon up until I got the 5DM2 this summer. I believe it doesn’t matter what brand you have, it’s all just a tool in assisting your creations.
What do you strive to do with every picture that you take, what emotions do you try to envoke?
Great question. That’s exactly what I try to do every time. Evoke emotions. I try to evoke those emotions that I see so clearly within a person that they often times hide. I guess I better mention I have a Master’s in Psychology, and sometimes I just can’t help but to analyze a person while I shoot and attempt to “call out their destiny.” To call out that person I believe God created them to be, and let them see clearly the beauty that exists within them.
Make sure to keep an eye on this insanely great photographer and what she’s doing for the world of photography!
Johnna Brynn
www.johnnabrynn.com
www.johnnabrynnblog.com
www.starshooter.org
Thank you Johnna for allowing us to share your passion!
Jennifer & Bobby’s wedding is coming up in February so we needed to get their engagement pictures done really soon. They have been working on their house all year or have been out of town and we haven’t been able to do their pictures. The only day we both had open just happened to be the coldest day in Tampa’s history! I don’t actually know the high for the day but I think it was around – 30 – Thats freakin cold! We all had fun though!
