Meet Annalisa Johnson | Photographer & Cinematographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Annalisa Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Annalisa, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
Generally speaking throughout my life I had to make a some very hard and life altering decisions, but then again who hasn’t?

The one most difficult decision I had to make in my entire life was to leave behind what was the comfort of a steady paycheck, insurance benefits, a full retirement, a very sought after career, and a team of amazing people, to fully pursue the vision I had for my business venture.

This decision was hard on many levels.
Well, for starter, it is very scary to go into something new and uncertain, for no matter how much you plan, and how much you strategize all the possible outcomes and your calculate risk, it is still a risk.

Another factor I had to recognize as a block as I navigated through the swirl of emotions, was the constant voice of my family not believing that any form of art can be a viable option to form a successful business.

I have always believed that we must regularly work through a bit of discomfort, and we must constantly challenge ourselves! You see the “comfort zone” is a dangerous place, it can become paralyzing if you stop there for too long.

One of my mantras is “be uncomfortable to be comfortable”, and it is exactly that, you sometimes have to make decisions that go against the grain, decision that will make you second guess and doubt yourself, decision that might even drive people away from you because they don’t understand.

In the end everyone will have their own ideals and opinions, on what you should and should not do, but, you must remember that they are not the ones living your life for you.

For me personally working through moments like these has had a huge impact on my personal growth, knowledge and confidence. You gain clarity and stop sweating the small stuff!

I no longer ponder on the “what ifs”, but rather take action and see where it leads.
Is it easy? Absolutely not! is it worth it? Yes, 100% yes, and I would do it all over again.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been a freelance photographer and videographer for many years in the fashion, branding and lifestyle realm. I grew up in Italy and France and I was largely influenced by la Dolce Vita, the French Riviera, and a clean elegant nostalgic vibe. Some have defined my work as relaxed-glam with a hint of melancholia. I enjoy the in between moments and not overly produced images. I love shooting film and digital and I often incorporate the two into my work.

I recently took the leap and created AJ | Creative Agency, where we work with with brands, individuals and businesses that have a strong and unique vision by crafting visually engaging still and motion images that tell compelling stories.

At AJ | Creative Agency we treat each project as unique and we work directly with you, your brand and your vision, to bring your campaign, look book, promo reel, lifestyle images and many other creative projects to life from planning to execution.

We work with small and large teams alike.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Amalfi Cucina Italiana… is like going to Italy for the evening! I also think a must visit is Parlor Donuts in Oceanside, followed by a walk on the pier!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shoutout those who have always been kind, supportive, straight forward, and selfless: OL’TJP Films by Tyler Johnson @oltjp he is an amazing human being, and insanely talented, and super humble.
Carla Carlos @Siemprestylish who helped me with many creative visions always bringing her A game, no matter what!
Lauren Nieves @Laurennieves_ for always showing up with a smile and positivity. She is also an insanely talented photographer!

Website: https://www.annalisaj.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annaalisaj

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/annaalisaj

Image Credits
Image 1: @Beast_dony (Gadner Destine) and @maeflwur (Kanna Mae) Image 2: Remy Image 3: @dillonlevy (Dillon Levy) & @Beast_dony (Gadner Destine) Image 4: @gradkins_ (Grace Adkins) Image 5: @brynne0329 (Emily) Image 6: @iamalyssalight (Alyssa) Image 7 & 8: @brynne0329 (Emily)