Johanna J.

Campania

  • Age 42
  • Languages English, français, Italiano
Book Services

About Me

Expat Nationality

American

Expat for

10 years

I lived in Italy for

10 years

Are you looking for one on one photography training or a custom mentorship during your visit to Italy? Perfect your photographic eye, learn new skills, finally master "f" stops vs. shutter speeds vs ASA settings at your own speed.  Visit  drool worthy locations to practice your photography skills in travel, food or portrait photography and create portfolio-worthy images. Half and full day training on Canon digital, Fuji medium format digital and Contax 645 medium format film cameras available or bring your own. We can also go over post-processing skills. If you dream it, we will make it happen.

When friends/family visit I like to

I like to first start with a boat trip along the Amalfi Coast to explore all the tiny towns and private swimming spots where we stop for lunch and explore. I highly recommend visiting Procida for a colorful off the beaten track experience. While everyone visits Ravello/Amalfi/Positano, I bring them wine tasting to my friends' wineries in nearby Tramonti and Furore and spend time hiking the hidden trails, discovering waterfalls, heirloom fruit trees and following the footsteps of medieval monks, crusaders and bandits. It's not uncommon to discover pheasants, foxes, bright green lizards, goats, sheep, and songbirds. Finally I love to create a picnic with the best local wines, cheeses gifted by local farmers, chestnut honey and lots of laughter and stories.

What best describes you?

Friends would describe me as fun, eclectic and curious. I'm best known for having unique perspectives and unusual knowledge of local legends, locations and niche information about Amalfi Coast grape varietals, local lore, Italian Jewish history, food history and WWII local history. I dig deep. I'm a certified Italian wine sommelier and an expert photographer/event planner who loves sharing my photography knowledge to others and planning unforgettable experiences.

Favorite music/movies

I love silence and listening to nature over music per se. I turn up the volume for Bowie, Empire of the Sun, 80's, synth and dance music. Anything with harp will stop me in my tracks.  For movies, I love dramas and art films with unpredictable endings but I'm not ashamed to admit I love Licorice Pizza, Valley Girl, Fast Times at Ridgemount High or anything that revolves around Italy and Los Angeles.

In my free time I like

I love to travel to tiny dots on a map and explore lesser-known cities and stories. I document them with my camera. I enjoy meeting winemakers and promoting local artisans. Whenever possible I try to cook and use local Italian ingredients to re-create international flavors that I miss from my multi-ethnic hometown Los Angeles. 

General about

My inspiration in life is planning and photographing Italian Destination Weddings, Elopements and Italy Photoshoots!  If you have ever thought about a photoshoot anywhere in Italy while you are visiting, be it for a wedding, engagement session, surprise wedding proposal, romantic picnic, anniversary, branding or social media shoot or just for some fun, I'm your go to photographer.  I can help you plan all the details such as a symbolic or legal wedding ceremony or intimate elopement on a mountaintop or luxury yacht - from location selection, logistics, flowers, music, catering and legal documents (where necessary). Just send me an inquiry, even last minute, and let's make it happen.
I'm also a widely published travel and food photographer and I regularly travel to Lake Como, Venice, Tuscany, Puglia and Rome.  Do you need branding or product photography?  Need to plan a lookbook or marketing campaign and need a local who speaks English and Italian?  I'm here for you.
Let's connect and create your own Italian story.  A presto.

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