Least you think my life only revolves around photography, I’d like to share a little more about my interests.  Smoking food is another passion I’ve acquired and my family enjoys. I have been playing with a smaller unit over the past year and have had a blast with it. This year I decided to take my smoking a little more serious and bought a Bradley Digital Smoker. After receiving my unit this past weekend, I was amazed how easy it was to assemble and after a couple ‘seasoning dry runs’ it was time for something tasty. My wife was clearing out the freezer and we had some whole chickens that needed to be smoked. I took two chickens and halved and placed a dry rub on them. I then prepared the remaining chicken “Tandori Style’ and placed it in the fridge to be marinated overnight.

I do have to say that the ease of use and the quality of the smoke that I received was by far superior than my old smoker. The chickens turned out amazing and the family enjoyed them and look forward to tonight’s dinner. Later this evening when it cools down, I am going to attempt ‘cold smoking’ some cheese, wish me luck……

The statistics are out there: one of three couples meet online. Tom and Jennifer are part of that growing trend. They met on match.com. Each of their own two children were part of the wedding party. The weather could not of been more perfect, cool and overcast. I love not having to compete with the sun’s harsh shadows. The couple requested what has become a signature shot for me, the rose petal shot. Not every location has what it needs to make the shot possible, so it’s fun when it does. The groom gave a wonderful speech during the reception in Jennifer’s native tongue, Tagalog. It really is the unique moments that set each wedding a part and give them a flair all their own. Thanks to my friend, Matt, for second shooting with me. Congratulations to Tom and Jennifer! Enjoy the memories.

What a blast it is to photograph friends! There is such a relaxed atmosphere when you really know the client. My wife’s best friend, Lorena, allowed me the privilege of capturing images of her darling children. The oldest, Leanna, obviously takes after her beautiful mommy while her younger brothers take after their dad, Will. I trust they will enjoy the memories I’ve captured for them. Our two families will be creating new memories with our annual trip to Las Vegas. Not everyone can mix business with pleasure, I am blessed to be able to do so. Enjoy the images!

Since we had ventured to Arizona, it seemed logical we should head to one of the wonders of the world: the Grand Canyon. It was a first for the whole family to stand before the glorious site of the Canyon. The first glimpse you get does nothing less than take your breathe away. It is truly awe inspiring. I struggled between enjoying the spectacular view and keeping my children away from the edge. Very little of the Grand Canyon has railing or fencing that keeps children safe from falling over, which made for a very nervous daddy of four. However, I still managed to capture several images of God’s handiwork. I’m looking forward to future trips with the children that expose them to the majesty of God’s creation, and of course, a chance for me to photograph it. Enjoy the images…

Destination: Mesa, Arizona

Purpose: Family wedding

Attending: the whole family!

I really enjoy the opportunity to photograph in a new location, then again, what photographer doesn’t. My wife’s niece, Kayla, was getting married which allowed for the whole family to attend the event. So after several days of packing we left So. Cal and headed to the Phoenix area. I have to say, Kayla made me feel, well, a little old. I’ve known her since she was a little girl, how was it possible that she was getting married.  The Arizona desert made for a beautiful backdrop for Kayla and her groom, Kyle. It was a beautiful wedding and thankfully the weather was about 20 degrees cooler than is typical for that time of year.

An additional blessing, my wife Kelly was by my side as my second shooter. Kelly has helped me before, but it has been a few years since we’ve enjoyed the opportunity. It’s a good thing she’s my wife, because she just might give me a run for my money! She’s getting good, actually, really good.

The entire Johnson family extends their congratulations to Kyle and Kayla and prayers for a wonderful life together. Enjoy some of the images from their day…

I had to make sure I had it all. I didn’t want to forget anything. Thousands of people would be awaiting their opportunity at a memory and it rested on my shoulders to be organized and prepared. Isn’t it so much more than just be organized, though? It’s what you’re packing when you plan important events. Ask any expert in their field. They want more than just any equipment, they want what they can count on time and time again. Typically, you learn these lessons because you know from past experience when you’ve been let down. I knew I was not going to be let down, I would be packing all my Profoto equipment for this two day event.

Here’s what I loaded up:

* D4 2400 with two Acute2 / D4 heads
* D1 Studio Kit 1000 Air with Air Remote
* D1 Studio Kit 500
* Softbox 5′ Octa
* two Softbox 3×4′ RF
* two umbrellas
* Sekonic DR758 light meter
* Several Pocket Wizards
* Several Mathews C stands

All of this transformed into three separate stations at our church on Mother’s Day weekend. The moms along with their families were able to choose from three different backgrounds to coordinate with their attire. This offering of free portraiture has become a tradition offered at our church. I’ve had the privilege of being a part of this for several years, and in years past, my equipment has let me down making post-processing a lengthy nightmare. This would be the first year I wasn’t fearing color shifts or light variations. I used a Sekonic light meter along with the ColorChecker Passport to ensure consistency, and this made my post in Lightroom only take a couple of hours.

With the technical concerns behind me, I found myself enjoying the opportunity of serving others and giving back. On Saturday evening and all day Sunday, we captured memories for the moms and their families. It was such a sweet blessing to be part of it all. I enjoy seeing everyone putting forth that extra something and arriving dressed up and looking ever so precious, especially the littlest ones. The moms radiate such joy at having everyone together for a portrait. All weekend long, I was honored with their gratitude and thanks. However, nothing reminded me more of why I was doing what I was doing until one family in particular thanked me. They expressed their appreciation for last year’s portrait because since last Mother’s Day, their mother had passed away. They cherish the portrait from last year. It’s a moment like that which gives me all the encouragement I need to keep providing this service each year.

Giving back to the church or your community will always bring reward beyond your own human comprehension. The time and energy you offer up to others comes back a hundred fold. I understand many of us find it difficult to even manage to get their own to-do list completed and find time to spend with family. I’ve noticed, however, when I give of my time and talents, I am still able to get the other things accomplished as well. Are you carving out time for others? Have you found a way to give back? Each one of us has a talent. Discover yours, and put it to use. You’ll never be sorry.

My dear wife Kelly hasn’t exactly had the ideal Mother’s Day for the last several years. And a choice I make each year is a big part of that reason. Before I get much further, let me say, I do something special for her before and I make it a point for the two of us to have a really nice dinner the following week. So I do my best to really make up for it. So why doesn’t she get to enjoy her day you ask? The reason is a choice to be in ministry. I recognize that any talent I have as a photographer has been given to me by God. I am blessed by the business He sends my way; therefore, I make a decision to say “yes” each year when our church asks me to photograph all the mothers and their families on Mother’s Day weekend. I’ve been offering my services to our church for many years now.  It is my way of giving back what little I can when God has blessed me so abundantly.

Many people don’t feel that they have something to offer back to anyone in a community service sort of way. Yet each one of us has talents and gifts to be used. For the mechanic, he can offer car care to the single mom, for the hairdresser, free haircuts, and the stay-at-home mom, she can offer to babysit another mom’s children for a trip to the grocery store.  It really is the simple things. So I look forward to seeing all the smiling faces this Sunday; however, it will probably be the moms who will smile the brightest over the pride she has for her family.

I’m grateful that I’ve found a way to serve my church body. I’m grateful for an understanding wife and mother of my children who sees the value in serving. I pray that my children are learning by example the lesson of giving back. To each and every mother, I pray you have a blessed and wonderful Mother’s Day.

The day has arrived! Monica was a spectacular bride. Her wedding gown perfectly silhouetted her figure. The crystals on her gown sparkled almost as much as her eyes did. It’s no wonder that her groom, Nico, was emotional when he saw his bride for the first time.  Nico was fairly stellar himself dressed all in white for their ceremony in front of the koi pond. Nico and Monica exchanged vows they had written for each other in their private ceremony.

Following the wedding, we took advantage of the overcast day and of all the beauty of the island. Without guests to see to, we had all the time we wanted to get some truly amazing images. I was honored when Nico asked me to join them for dinner at the Beach House Restaurant. As if the breath taking view wasn’t enough, the dinner was amazing, especially the seared ahi.

When you are on California time, it makes it easy to wake up early to experience the sunrise. The weather didn’t exactly present ideal conditions, but I still was pleased with a shot I managed to get. Maybe more importantly was the lesson I learned: standing very near the ocean + a breeze + sea spray = a cloudy view through the camera lens!

When I returned to the condo from my morning on the beach, Monica had graciously made breakfast for both Nico and I. Monica, thanks so much, it was fabulous! In the evening, after an afternoon of sight seeing, we embarked on a sunset cruise along the Napoli Coast. The weather hadn’t really changed since the morning, but at the close of our bumpy ride I succeeded in getting a sunset image of the happy couple.

My destination wedding with Nico and Monica to Kauai began with our meeting one another at the airport. Our five hour flight to Honolulu gave us plenty of time to really get to know one another, this isn’t a privilege I typically receive. The three of us had lunch before catching our flight to the island of Kauai where we would be staying for the next few days. We stayed at a fabulous resort, The Point at Poipu (http://www.diamondresorts.com/The-Point-at-Poipu-Photo-Gallery). The resort greeted us in traditional Hawaiian style by presenting us with a lei.  The condo we stayed in had a stunning ocean view. Once we settled in, it was off to check out the photography opportunities that the grounds offered for their big day!