They say a picture is worth a thousand words and when it comes to Jan Johnson’s photography, her photos speak for themselves. A Bellevue resident since 2018, Johnson left traditional corporate life to pursue her passion of photography.
As a multi-faceted photographer with experience shooting family portraits, live events, sports, real estate, and more, Johnson has found that her heart lies in specializing in pet photography, especially dogs.
Through her business, Jan Marie Photography, she has photographed a plethora of animals from cats to horses and everything in between; however, over the years, Johnson has found a deep connection in capturing man’s best friend. Whether it’s a new puppy or a senior dog that’s grown with a family, she loves creating a visual keepsake of dogs at all stages. She does this with the client in mind, striving to bring their dream portraits to life.
“Each session is a personalized experience tailored to your unique vision,” Johnson says. “I believe in capturing the essence of every subject, whether it's a family, or a beloved pet, individually or as one big happy family.”
Johnson enjoys photographing dogs of all ages and falls in love with every canine subject, but she finds that she especially has a heart for capturing portraits of older dogs in their final years; providing owners with a keepsake that they can hold dear after they’ve passed. She shares the story of one particular dog whose owner asked for Johnson to move the photoshoot up earlier because their dog was in ill health.
“If I waited and found out he wasn't there, it would have crushed me because I get so attached,” she says. When looking back at previous photo shoots she adds, “If you ask me the owners’ names, I might know a couple. But I can tell you every one of those dogs’ names.”
Not only is Johnson unique in specializing in canine portraits, the production of her photos also sets her apart from the norm. Rather than providing digital photos to her clients, her images are printed on high quality canvas, allowing the images to be displayed in clients’ homes and offices in the best form.
After the images have been captured and edited, Johnson takes the time to sit down with clients to review them, showing mockups of what they’ll look like printed on various sized canvases to give them an idea of how they’ll fit into different types of rooms. Whether clients want one large canvas to serve as the focal point of the room or a series of artfully arranged smaller portraits, these high-quality canvases allow them to showcase their canine pals in any setting. Whether it’s an exciting jumping shot of a furry friend playing fetch or a series of photos of their wagging tail or a closeup sticking out their tongue, Johnson showcases the personality of every dog she meets.
If you’re looking for a special gift for the pet lover in your life or if you want to display your own pup at any stage to preserve memories for years to come, a pet portrait is the perfect way to freeze a moment in time.
“If you ask me the owners’ names, I might know a couple. But I can tell you every one of those dogs’ names.”