Did you mean to read about me on PURPOSE?
I like you already. Hi, I’m Lexi Rae Johnson.
Quick basic facts:
I love nature, good conversation, outer space, traveling, and love.
My main goal as a photographer is to show the beauty in every moment. I’m talking the authentic moments, the awkward moments, and everything in between.
I’ll be honest, I’ve never truly had a good memory, and a car crash I got into a few years ago only worsened my recollection. All throughout my life, I’ve loved photographing random things during my day, just to be able to look back at physical memories. Coming from this, I believe full-heartedly that photographs catch much more than just a still image. It’s a moment in time, a bundle of emotions, a story that you can see visually.
There is no definition of beauty, but when you can see someone’s spirit coming through, something unexplainable, that’s beautiful to me.
Liv Tyler
Now that we got the formal introductions out of the way, it’s time to move on to bestie status.
I’m the second oldest child in a 9-kid lineup, standing at an astounding 5’1. I like to believe this gives me a unique outlook on life. Whether you want to interpret that as “oh man, she probably can withstand a lot of chaos and most likely loves kids”, or “oh man, how is she able to get multiple angles when she doesn’t even reach my shoulders” is completely up to you.
Some of my hobbies include dancing (I am in NO WAY a self-claimed good dancer, it’s just something that brings me lots of joy!), writing, jewelry making, and baking/cooking. There’s nothing like listening to good music on a beautiful morning, cooking breakfast, and dancing in the kitchen.
I’m all for long road trips, stargazing, and thrifting. I’m a HUGE anime fan (if we’re talking Hunter X Hunter, Sailor Moon, Made in Abyss, Spy x Family, or the Promised Neverland I’m listening…).
Studio Ghibli and Indie video games are also a big part of what my personality is based on. Undertale, Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, Untitled Goose Game, you name it. I alsoooo just might crush you in a game of Mario Kart 8.
You’ll want a photographer that matches your vision. Thinking this is the vibe? Mayyyybeeee it’s time we get in contact!
Lexi, that’s cool and all, but why photography? And why did you pour out every little aspect of yourself here…?
Ahhh, the age ol’ question. It asks itself daily, with every photography session, with every client, every moment that passes by… “why?”
I believe we’re all on this Earth for a reason. I believe there is beauty in uniqueness, and I think, as cheesy as it may sound, the “no judgment, all love” sort of deal really does make a difference to people. All we want to do is love and be loved. We want someone who will listen to us, care for us, show us compassion, and guide us. We want to be heard, we want to feel important, and we want to matter…I know I do, don’t you?
The reason I do this is simple: love.
If that’s the answer you were expecting, I congratulate you sincerely. All I’ve written about prior is true and is something I really do believe in. What better way to spread that love than making your moments, your love, your beauty, your “right here, right now” something you can look back on and relive over and over?
I love people, I love getting to know people, I love noticing the little things in people, I love the simple charm in one’s insecurity, I love that moment when even a subtle hint of confidence hits and you’re working all your angles, I love when people talk for hours about that new thing they’re obsessed with, I love that happy smile people get when eating good food, or when they get to do something THEY love. Being a part of things like that reminds me over and over, my “why”.
If that’s any extension of you, the conjoined excitement and passion for such a thing unite us as humans, I’m joyous to get to know you in that way as well, and I low-key feel like we’re best buddies already!
If you’re thinking “bro, why didn’t you just give a straight-up answer? This isn’t philosophical or anything.” Then that’s totally chill, I’ll only cry about it later…
Jokes, jokes. I like to think what really sums up all this “why” stuff is 1 John 4:19. “Love” also being shown as serving people through photography ;).
“We love because He first loved us.”
1 John 4:19
Feeling that connection? Thinking how sick it’d be to work together? Let’s think next step.
Wanna know how I got started as a photographer?
My Photography Journey as a youngster to now!
I started dabbling in photography when I got my 1st Canon camera back in 2018. Learning how to use it was my downfall. No matter how many online classes I took, tips & tricks articles I read, YouTube videos I watched, or books I’d skim, nothing clicked. After endless days of frustration and practice, I decided to bring my camera everywhere I went. If I was going to hang out with friends, bam. Photoshoot. Running errands? Mess around with camera settings while I wait in the car.
This made a huge difference for me; I finally started to understand how to work my camera.
I remember sitting in my parent’s 15-passenger van, changing my ISO, shutter speed, and aperture until I could take a photo of my hand and it did not turn out completely black. This changed everything. I started re-reading articles, and rewatching YouTube videos, and it finally made sense. I learned the exposure triangle, I learned the rule of thirds, and my photography life was changing. Some buddies and I began doing regular photoshoots with one another, and I finally started building a small portfolio. I did my first wedding in 2020 (a cute lil quarantine wedding) for some friends in my Church. This kickstarted my whole growth and I, at last, had a foundation to build on!
I began attending a college in the Adirondacks, upstate New York.
During my 1st year, I applied to be on the photography team but didn’t end up getting the position. That didn’t stop me from doing lil shoots around the campus! The beautiful mountains and vast scenery were an inspiration, and the only motivation I needed. For my 2nd year, I applied for student leader roles in a couple of different areas and ended up having a scheduled interview for photography. I ended up switching the interview to the videography department, and got the position! That year, I got to expand my experience with the camera, filming interviews, tutorial videos, recaps, highlight reels, etc. I had the opportunity to film a wedding during my school year and really got to learn just how much I love being able to serve people in this way.
I graduated in August of 2022 and started taking my love for the camera to an “official business” level.
Having both experiences in photography and videography has changed my perspective on shooting and producing artwork. I love both, dearly, but as for now, videography is only something I dabble in, focusing on strengthening my photography content and portfolio. Although, I would LOVE to introduce official video work in the future!