James Johnson, Photographer
Los Angeles Area Wedding PhotographerBy Appointment Only
Venice, CA
Phone: 310/822-6168
www.jamesjohnsonphotography.com
Email or request a proposal for your event from James Johnson, Photographer
Click thumbnails to enlarge image
Service Area: Southern California and destination weddings worldwide
About This Company
Truly great photographers are like magicians, only instead of pulling rabbits out of a hat, they coax extraordinary images out of a camera. At least that’s what James Johnson does. If you talk to his wedding clients about their experience with him, you’d better leave plenty of time to listen—they never run out of accolades. One of them, a producer, did manage to express their collective admiration succinctly: “I could’ve hired ANY photographer in Los Angeles, and I hired Jim because I had never seen work as good as his. His photos were so original and his eye for capturing special, emotional moments between people was truly awe-inspiring. He is a genuine artist and I do not give that compliment lightly or often.”
James was a successful commercial photographer, who only backed into wedding photography because a friend cajoled him into shooting her wedding with this irresistible challenge: “I want something out of the ordinary. Do for me what you would do for yourself.” James followed his own instincts, and the resulting images were so beautiful they moved his friend to tears. Within a week she had booked him another job. As for James, he still smiles when he thinks about it. “I worked harder than I’d ever worked in my entire life, but it was the most exhilarating thing I had ever done. I was so happy to have touched someone so deeply.”
If it’s the emotional bond with his clients that motivates James, it’s his artistic vision, amazing technical skills and sheer tenacity that create the images. His photographic prowess was mostly developed during his long association with one of the top advertising photographers in the world. From producing big ad campaigns to appearing in them, Jim has worn every photographic hat on either side of the camera. He not only knows how to shoot in every conceivable (and impossible) lighting situation, he knows which type of film will render the precise quality he’s trying to achieve. “Jim has a brilliant eye,” says a caterer. “He sees things so differently than most others, and sees things that most others would just overlook.” The effort he expends on each job is astonishing. As one incredulous coordinator observed, “This guy will jump up on roofs, ladders, just anything. I think he would hang by his heels to get the best shot. And yet, he’s never intrusive.”
Jim’s preparation for the wedding day starts weeks before, with an informal “engagement shoot” on the beach near his house. “This was one of my favorite pre-wedding memories,” confides a bride. “Jim is so easy going and fun that within minutes we were both totally relaxed. He managed to capture us—our spirit and our love for each other—in just a few shots. The pictures that we got from that day are some of the best I’ve ever seen.”
On the wedding day, that feeling of mutual comfort gives the bride and groom the freedom to be themselves, and James the freedom to create, as one bride put it, “the most beautiful pictures you could imagine—actually better than what most people could imagine.” On top of his mastery of the camera, Jim uses unique film processing and print presentation formats that expand the bounds of photography. Whether he’s hand-tinting an image or conjuring up an other-worldly infrared tableau, he’s always inventing something fresh, something artful. “I want people to wonder what’s coming next,” he says. “I want each album to look interesting page after page.”
Early on in his training, one of James’ instructors gave him this advice: “Dare to see.” Well, James dares to see, not just with his eyes but with his heart. “My clients take a leap of faith with me, and I want to reward them with something amazing,” he says. “If I can give them a photo that will be on someone’s mantel in 100 years, that’s a wonderful legacy.”
In Business Since 1992
310/822-6168
www.jamesjohnsonphotography.com
Email or request a proposal for your event from James Johnson, Photographer
Tell a Friend
Who will be working at your wedding?
We heard raves from brides and fellow wedding professionals about all of the Certified by The Guide wedding vendors on our website. If we didn’t, they wouldn’t be on our website. Search our vendors or read more about what it means to be Certified By the Guide.
Rehearsal Dinner?
Here Comes The Guide is a great tool to use to find your rehearsal dinner location! And, Read more about how to personalize your rehearsal dinner.
Like it? Save it.
Wishing you could save a list of the places and services that interest you? You can. Register for MyGuide and:
• save your favorite locations and services
• email several of your favorites at the same time
• share your selections with your family and friends
• make notes to yourself about each location or service
Wedding Dresses
We’ve selected the best California bridal salons to help you find your wedding dress. And, get great deals on your wedding dress and see entire wedding dress designer collections at California Trunk Shows.
Wedding Locations
Have you found your California wedding reception venue yet? Your rehearsal dinner location? Find over 1,100 California wedding locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Central Coast, Wine Country and San Diego! We’ve done the hard work and research for you, including giving you pricing info for each reception site.