Today we’d like to introduce you to Deanna Johnson.
Hi Deanna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved photography, but for most of my life it was just a hobby. I was finishing college in a completely different field when my little sister asked me to photograph her wedding — she was on a tight budget, and I was the one with a nice camera. That experience was the spark I needed, and what started as a favor for family quickly grew into a full business.
I began as A Day to Adore Photography, but two years ago I rebranded to Deanna Johnson Photography, reclaiming my own name. I’m based in Kansas City but always up for a reason to travel.
I specialize in photographing incredible humans and their stories — authentic love stories for couples and families, events for nonprofits like Steps of Faith and Pawsperity, and brand imagery that captures who my clients really are.
My process starts with getting to know people: what they want to see in their photos, and what makes their relationships unique. From quiet moments to laughter-filled celebrations, I aim to create timeless images that bring people back into the feeling of a moment — beautiful, genuine, and worth looking back on for years.
I’m also deeply involved in the planning process, making sure everyone feels relaxed enough to actually enjoy getting their photos taken.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I started my business 17 years ago, so I’d probably describe it as a little bit more of a roller coaster than a smooth road. I originally started my business in my hometown of Pocatello, Idaho, and three years in moved across the country to Kansas City, Missouri. Moving a business, always brings challenges and for me the biggest thing was to build a new network of collaborators and vendor partners that I could work with. Word-of-mouth has always been very important to my business and so building a network of people that I trusted to work with me and to refer my business was definitely a huge part of the journey.
At the same time that I was building my business, I was also growing my family. Planning for busy seasons around the birth of a child was a unique challenge. As a solo entrepreneur, there were no benefits or maternity leave so I had to be very careful with my timing to ensure that both my family and my clients would be taken care of as my life shifted. Looking back I’m so grateful for the amazing clients that I had that were nothing but supportive during that time of my life. I had to learn to be very flexible with how, and when I worked in order to balance the needs of my business and the needs of my family. As with everything there were times of struggle to create those routines and there were times when things went smoother and we’re a little bit easier to manage. Being adaptable was the most important thing during that time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a photographer based in Kansas City, though I’ll take any excuse to travel for work. I specialize in photographing incredible humans and their stories — that shows up as intentional, authentic love stories for couples and families, event coverage for nonprofits and business events, and brand imagery that helps businesses show who they really are to their own clients.
My process starts with getting to know people: what they want to see in their photos, and what makes their relationships unique. From quiet moments to laughter-filled celebrations, I focus on creating timeless images that bring people back into the feeling of that moment. I’m also very hands-on in the planning process, whether that’s mapping out a wedding day timeline or talking with a family about how they naturally interact — the goal is always for everyone to feel relaxed enough to actually enjoy getting their photos taken.
What sets me apart I’d say is a combination of genuine curiosity and community investment. I’m a self-described “workshop junkie” — I’m always looking for ways to learn, whether that’s studying filmmaking to sharpen how I see framing and light, or picking up lessons from completely different fields. I also believe deeply in showing up for people beyond the transactional level: volunteering at events, building one-on-one friendships with people I’ve met professionally, and genuinely caring about the people in my network, not just what they can do for my business.
I also think confidence has played a role in setting me apart — not in a flashy way, but in the willingness to keep trying, keep asking for help, and keep taking risks just to learn something new. That persistence, paired with a real love for the people I photograph, is what I hope comes through in the work.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I absolutely love the book Art and Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland and the Creative Act by Rick Rubin. I also love perusing vintage fashion, art, and photography books that I find at thrift stores and used book stores.
I also love a good audio book while I edit and am always taking book recommendations. I’m about to finish Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and Meryl Streep’s reading of it is absolutely beautiful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://deannajohnsonphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannajohnsonphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deannajohnsonphotography
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-johnson-bb72a8100/
