Joanna Monroe
Joanna’s a photographer getting after her dreams from Phoenix, AZ.
With a faith-inspired passion for documenting life, Joanna creates meaningful images that capture the experience of the moment. Whether it's weddings, newborn photos, seniors, or family portraits, she has an opportunity to photograph life’s landmark moments in a unique and memorable way.
Joanna doesn’t just create ideas - She actualizes them. Her optimistic demeanor, loving heart, and gentle spirit helps every client experience the love of Jesus in the midst of their big moment.
What dream are you currently turning into reality?
Dreaming has looked different for me lately. Dreaming with Jesus looks like leaving room for Him to move, to sculpt my craft, and to inspire my vision for my business. My dream is growing everyday. What started as a pursuit of a career in marketing has shifted to marketing my own photography business and exploring which avenue I want to take with it.
Whether it’s families, branding, or wedding photography, I am doing it all right now. Starting a business is not always smooth, but being surrounded by talented family and friends keeps me inspired everyday to continue to chase my dream and let the Lord pave the path for my business.
When did you first realize you discovered your dream?
I was 7 years old when my grandpa, who was a documentary style photographer, sat me down for hours and showed me all his photo albums. I remember thinking at that moment, “This is going to mean a lot to me one day.” He inspired me with the way that he documented life so authentically.
Over the last 6 years, life has been hard. Yet, that’s where I've experienced the most life. In the midst of grief and heartache, I've found the most joy and inspiration. My heart for capturing life’s moments has been motivated by a value and understanding of how precious this life is and how every moment is a gift from God.
How does your faith go hand in hand with pursuing your dream?
Colossians 3 speaks of working as unto the Lord and not to man. Often I find myself struggling to understand how to do this in the creative realm. However, EVERYTHING we do is through His strength, and for His glory. That’s it. I am simply a vessel for him to reach people and He has given me photography as a means for me to do that. This perspective changed how I operate my business. I hope that when someone books a session with me that they encounter His peace and joy through me.
What’s one or two practical steps you take to keep moving forward?
I always allow room to keep the creative spark and stay grounded. Talking to other creatives has helped me stay grounded when I feel lost. Setting goals, finding ways to stay inspired, and resting has helped me stay inspired. I believe that if you set your mind to it, you will achieve it. It doesn’t always mean you succeed, and actually you will often fail, but it means you learn. You try, you learn, you adjust, and you grow.
What encouragement would you share with someone who’s going after their dream?
Don’t give up when it gets hard, because that's often when the Lord grows you the most. Writing down ways that I find rest and circling back to those things when I experience burnout has been so helpful to my personal creativity and inspiration. Meet people in the creative world. Send a DM, follow facebook groups and find community. It’s so important to creative growth and makes life a lot more fun.