Meet Dave Johnson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dave Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dave, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I found my purpose through curiosity, loss, and rediscovery.
From a very young age, I was drawn to science and engineering. As a little boy, I once destroyed a bike tyre just to understand what air was — something my mum wasn’t too pleased about, but I had to know. That curiosity stayed with me throughout my life.

I worked my way up to becoming a manager, a role I genuinely enjoyed, and I was happy in my work and in my life with my wife and our two children. When my wife passed away, everything changed suddenly. I struggled deeply, as the life I knew no longer felt the same.

During that difficult time, my son suggested I pick up a new hobby and encouraged me to try photography. I was also hoping to meet new people and ease the loneliness I was feeling. That suggestion became a turning point. Through photography, I found not only a creative outlet but also connection, purpose, and a new way to see the world. That was the beginning of my photography journey.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’ve been practicing photography for approximately twelve years, and throughout that time it has been a journey of constant learning and enjoyment. For a long time, I never viewed photography as something I would pursue professionally — it began purely as a hobby and a creative outlet. What mattered most to me was the process of learning, experimenting, and telling stories through images.

As my work evolved, I was fortunate to see my photographs published in magazines around the world. That recognition encouraged me to challenge myself further, so I began entering photography competitions as a way to grow and test my abilities. One of the most meaningful moments in my journey was having one of my images exhibited in London through the Society of Photographers. Seeing my work displayed publicly — and receiving a rosette — was incredibly rewarding and reaffirmed my belief in my creative voice.

I have also become an Associate Member of the Society of International Fashion and Glamour Photographers (SIFGP), which was a significant milestone for me. Achieving this required meeting high professional standards, and I’m proud of the dedication and growth it represents.

What excites me most about photography is its ability to connect people, emotions, and stories in a single moment. My focus now is to continue developing my craft, pushing my creative boundaries, and sharing my work with wider audiences. My goal is to carry on this incredible journey and see more of my images exhibited in London and beyond.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the three most impactful skills in my journey have been composition, lighting, and editing.

Composition is the foundation of a strong image. Learning how to frame a subject and guide the viewer’s eye can completely change how a photograph feels. My advice is to study images you admire and practice as much as possible, experimenting with different angles and perspectives.

Lighting is equally important. Understanding how light shapes mood, texture, and depth has been essential to my growth. I encourage photographers to observe light carefully, try different conditions, and not be afraid to experiment.

Editing is where an image is refined and brought together. It’s not about overdoing it, but about enhancing the photograph while staying true to your vision. Take time to learn your tools and develop a consistent, thoughtful approach.

Most importantly, enjoy the journey. Have fun while shooting, don’t get nervous, and focus on your own progress. Compare yourself only to where you were yesterday, not to others — growth comes from patience and persistence.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

The people who have been most helpful in my journey are the models I’ve worked with. Listening to models is incredibly important, as many of them have a great deal of experience. Professional models do this every day, full time, and they understand posing, movement, expression, and how a camera sees them. Their advice has helped me overcome challenges and improve my work significantly.

Some of the models I’ve worked with are also photographers themselves, which has been especially valuable. Sharing ideas and learning from their perspective has helped me grow both technically and creatively.

Through photography, I’ve also made many meaningful friendships. That sense of collaboration, trust, and mutual learning has been a big part of my development and continues to inspire me.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Tia Marie Model, Everay

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