Hello and welcome! My name is Sherri Johnson and I am a photographer in Los Angeles specializing in people and places.
I've had an interesting career full of amazing opportunities. It started with my first job as a photographer at the age of 17, when I worked at a children's portrait studio in the mall. There, I learned how to capture the smiles of children (without saying "cheese") and how to pose large groups. We would develop the film and print the pictures on-site within an hour. I loved seeing parent's reactions of their children's portraits and knowing the pictures would be cherished for years to come.
I attended Northern Illinois University to study psychology, art, and science. My favorite memories include photographing events for the school's paper, taking horseback riding lessons for a year, and traveling to China to teach English.
My first job out of college was retouching real estate photos full-time at VHT studios. On the weekends, I would photograph Chicago's nightlife and got really good at taking pictures in the dark. Soon after that, someone on Myspace recruited me to shoot my first wedding. I loved being a part of such a beautiful day and feeling all the joy and energy from everyone who attended. I was instantly hooked to shoot more.
In 2008, I relocated to Los Angeles with a dream to photograph year-round, in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I've been lucky to capture over 250+ beautiful weddings, design 45+ custom photo albums, and collaborate on over 200+ engagement portrait sessions. I've partnered with wedding planners and venues including OC Beach Weddings and the Long Beach Museum of Art. I’ve captured cool events including Sony's Destination PlayStation (traveling to Cabo, Costa Rica, and Arizona) the E3 Expo, and promotional events for Hong Kong and Chile Tourism. It's been an incredible journey!
In addition to my work with portraits and events, I've also kept busy doing residential real estate photography capturing over 4,500+ properties for realtors, architects, and interior designers, showcasing homes with dynamic and visually compelling imagery. I've always thought it was an honor to see a glimpse into Hollywood's most stylish homes and getting a chance to meet the interesting people who live there.
A couple of my favorite properties: Ojai Farmhouse Tour and Toy Factory Loft Double Penthouse
Samples of commercial shoots: SPACES Menlo Park, CA and Rogers Behavioral Health
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I diversified my skills in videography. I got a drone for aerials propelling my career even further (yes, pun intended). In spring 2021, I was recruited by a global real estate marketing company to work full-time creating media of commercial properties. Within a few years, I achieved recognition in the top 1% of drone pilots worldwide and played a pivotal role in setting new standards for the growth of the photography department. Honestly, the coolest part of the job was driving the free Tesla.
Samples of my corporate work including photo / video / drone / matterports: The BORA 3170, EATON, and The 900
Selfie with my awesome coworkers circa 1998, working as a photographer at Picture People. Vernon Hills, Illinois.