We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Johan Paul a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Johan , 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 the connections I have made with the communities that I have been in for the past years. I was an athlete in my past years until I had to have surgery on my knee to get my ACL repaired which then led to another surgery on my meniscus which ultimately ended my high school athletic career. I realized that I wouldn’t be able to get back into sports by participating in running and relays but I found a path to be able to participate in the sports. I was able to help record special moments in sports such as football, basketball, and lacrosse during my senior year when I was part of the school yearbook. It launched my professional career and connected me with many individuals around the state. I now work with OSU Mansfield as one of their marketing ambassadors of their marketing team. I found purpose through the stories I tell behind the lens, because of the special moments that are created with the art.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
The most exciting and special thing about being a photographer in my opinion is meeting professional photographers and being able to create connections with individuals on teams that are outside of Avon. I have been to Avon, Avon Lake, Westlake, and other places. I have seen a lot of success with the capabilities of being able to connect with individuals in Mansfield as well as at my University. My mission lines with the communities of athletes and other communities, being able to serve the community and create memories that can be preserved forever. I look into being able to showcase a series of other sports, nature, and street photography. It has been a great journey through how I can create a series of collections and connect with young athletes, students, and many other individuals.
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?
Starting this brand was hard at the start, but started getting more and more easier along with the new people that have come along. The qualities that I strive for every day have been developed from the time I was in a yearbook class to now as a professional photographer inside and outside the university. The qualities that make this journey to me worth it would be courage, being bold, and being able to create. I have found a lot of things can cloud the mind of a person to send them into many doubts, and it can be hard on some days. I have found myself in some of those situations where I have been questioning the fact whether it was worth being a photographer but kept going with it because I loved every second of being with the people and kids at the sports events. If I were to talk to the people who are starting, I would tell them that you make yourself who you want to be, and don’t let other people put you down because of the brilliant idea you have. The first step to starting is always the hardest, because of the time I started in high school compared to where I am now with my brand.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
There have been many individuals who have helped me to get to where I needed to be successful. One of them would be my high school yearbook teacher who helped me develop the skills to be able to produce pictures with the teams of Avon as a student. They have helped me with my professionalism and being able to develop people skills through my senior year of high school. I have also had help from many individuals at the higher education level with OSU got to meet our communications during the day of Convocation and a few years later became a part of the marketing team. I have gained a lot of great experiences met a lot of professionals through the years and done a lot since then. I would say high school was the biggest step that started with overcoming challenges through my photography journey. The people at my university have helped me out along the way through my professional journey and being able to produce content for their social media having experiences I can share with the world.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shining_photography_23?igsh=eXAzbGwxcDlveDBh
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johan-paul-830264243?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
