Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanna Tillson.
Hi Joanna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Ever since I can remember, I have done photography as a hobby. When I had my own senior photos taken for graduating high school, I connected with my photographer on a level beyond just being a one-time client. She became my mentor; I helped her shoot some weddings, and she really encouraged me, although I felt like I didn’t want to be a photographer because the weddings stressed me out! It took about ten more years of practicing photography and taking art and Photoshop classes to realize I will always have photography in my life. So, I decided I might as well start a business and see what happens. I officially started my business in 2019! My work is inspired by your stories. I’ve taken photos of families with new babies, people starting a new business, people celebrating quitting their jobs to be their own boss, people marrying the love of their life and having the best day ever, people commemorating the life of a pet, and many headshots, which I hope helped people get their dream job. Being able to capture those stories, those moments, forever is why I keep picking up my camera.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In general, my main obstacle is a lack of confidence. If I could give myself advice when I was starting, I would say there is no “right” timeline. It’s easy to have ideas, but making them happen takes longer than I could ever imagine. I handle this challenge by focusing on my own wins, comparing myself to others never helps. Something else that helps is having a community of other creatives around me who understand the struggle. My friends go above and beyond to help me figure out how to prioritize and implement my unlimited amount of ideas.
I also have a more specific obstacle: I think I tried to niche down to serving one demographic way too early before I knew what I could really do with my art. I decided early on I was a branding photographer for small businesses. They are still among my favorite clients, but when I broadened back up again, I felt more inspired and could work with more people! This taught me not to listen to all the advice I receive, which comes back to confidence. It’s ok though, lessons are learned through trial and error.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am obsessed with noticing. I capture real moments, creative processes, and anything that shows the magic of natural things.
In order to observe and capture this magic, I cultivate an environment that is safe and open. With me, there are no bad ideas, no forced smiles, just real life shown in the most aesthetic way possible. People look best when they are feeling like themselves. I am really proud of the range of emotions shown in my work. My goal is for working with me to feel easy and for your photos to feel like they reflect who you are.
I also love crafting and look forward to opportunities when I get to make something for a shoot. I’ve made fairy wings, a huge crescent moon backdrop, and lots of flower crowns! I’m excited to see what I can make in the future.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m a big fan of podcasts; I listen to Oh Shoot by Cassidy Lynne, which is a photography education podcast. Many of the episodes are Q and A style, and she also discusses relevant photography trends and business practices.
A non-photography podcast I listen to is called Demystify Magic, it’s a chill, discussion-style podcast about science and spirituality.
I also highly recommend Julia Trotti on YouTube, I’ve learned a lot about posing and camera techniques from her.
Pricing:
- Branding sessions start at $500
- Portrait sessions start at $300
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joannarayimages.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/joannarayimages
