Meet Mary Johnson | Creative Octopus

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

Hi Mary, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
Oh, gosh, the one that automatically comes to mind is “SYST.” Stay you, stay true.

It’s actually very important to me, and I get asked a lot about it, since its on my license plate. Random people tend to stop me and ask, “Hey, what’s SYST?” and they always smile when I reply.

Staying “you,” and true to yourself is something a lot of individuals forget about. So, I make it a mission to keep myself in check. I want to be genuinely myself all the time. I find that it’s a lot of work, but it brings a lot of joy. Because, if you feel any small bit of comfortability within yourself, you can be a comfort and light to others when they need it. No facade. No charade. Just be who you are. The right people will accept you, too. That sense of quality over quantity, really matters.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I get so excited for a session with someone. Especially, pinup or boudoir related shoots, because there is just something about being able to make someone feel so gorgeous. They can see themselves, in a light they’ve never seen before. That’s the one thing that makes me proud of my work. I was recently told, that something special I am able to bring to the table, is the fact that I’ve been in front of the camera before, as a pinup. I know what poses and angles can work, and can demonstrate or describe to someone that has never modeled a day in their life. Even to the most seasoned pinups, I can complement their modeling skills, bring it up to the next level by communicating with them, make slight adjustments to capture them in the most flattering way possible, as is a job I take seriously! We want you to glow, honey.

Also, I just enjoy being nice. Here comes that genuine, “me” that I was speaking about earlier, and staying true. I want to be myself, and it’s great because, sharing the love and passion I have for this art medium, and being able to hype someone up during their session (or ordinary life, for that matter) is just one of the purest joys I can behold. It makes me happy, and I love seeing how happy it can make others, especially those who are feeling shy at first during the session. At the end, there is this sense of confidence I really love to see in my clients.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
HAHA! That’s a fun one, because all my closest people enjoy some good eats. We are adventurous foodies. Honestly, there’s one dear friend in particular; we always talk about going on a cruise, when we are having a rough day, and it helps us feel better. I’ve never eaten so much, and theres some world class cuisine on those cruise liners too. It’s a nice and wholesome trip, with entertainment, activities, and you can go somewhere really cool too.

Other than that, I really need to mention that I love going to music festivals with my special person. It’s a safe space. A place of solace. An escape, to live in a little dream–but its our reality! We’ve met so many cool, kind, beautiful people at these events, too. AND THERE IS ALWAYS GOOD FOOD!!! Nearby, or at the event itself.

And for anyone who’s reading this, if you see me there, come and give me a hug!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My circle may be little compared to most, but, there’s so much love in it. I feel so blessed and grateful for my special person, my family, and my dearest friends. These wonderful human beings are the most supportive in all my endeavors, regardless of the magnitude. The encouragement is beyond words, and as a creative person (I know any artist would agree) your people really do make you continue doing what you enjoy. Especially in my case, I have a lot of hobbies, but, their support for my photography work makes my heart so warm. They make me want to continue capturing people and moments, and making them see the beauty that I see in them.

I really need to thank my wonderful couple, from this past October, for having me shoot their super intimate wedding. I had been on a longer than expected hiatus away from my camera. But, they contacted me (out of the blue, it seemed) liked my work, and had been looking for a photographer that would cater to their needs, seeing as they needed someone soon and could work within their allowed budget.

That was my very first wedding, and it was just glorious. I had such an amazing time. Thankfully, my special person came along to the rescue and was my assistant/second shooter for the day. I could not have done it without him, either.

After the wedding, more eyes began looking at my work and it’s just crazy what shooting a wedding means! I’ve been able to have more lovely humans to photograph, since then. Portraits, pinup, and boudoir mostly, but gosh its a lot of fun! I hope to shoot a wedding every now and then too.

Website: www.lvmfotografik.com

Instagram: @lvmfotografik