ABOUT US:
DAN + JODI
Jodi and I met in the summer of 1979 (we were about 8 years old) at a Christian Camp called Camp Ao-Wa-Kiya. Neither of us actually remember meeting then, but we both have camp awards that prove we were there together.
After High School we ended up at College together and I roomed with Jodi's fiance...yes...her fiance. After a while things didn't work out for them. Because of our long-term friendship Jodi and I spent a lot of time together just having fun in the safety of our friendship.
I figured if we were ever going to meet anyone else and get married we'd better date others, so we talked it over and decided just to date each other. The rest is history. We were married in 1995...best friends....and now have 4 kiddos that we call our "tribe".
Dan does pretty much everything for BLS. Photographer, Videography, Photobooth, Office manager, creative director, Trash emptier, any everything else.
Jodi is a wedding photography specialist and she shoots along with Dan. Jodi is bubbly and outgoing and absolutely loves to be with people. She watches all the details and is every bride's best friend on their wedding day. I call her the "bridal room ninja", but don't tell her that. :)
Dan and Jodi have a very vivid and colorful style. Some call it a modern style with deep colors and interesting angles. They have an even mix of traditional and photojournalistic style.
We call ourselves The Johnson Tribe
Dan, Jodi, Hayden, Ethan, Trey, Ellery
OUR STUDIO
WHY THE NAME CHANGE?
It is a fair question. It is true that we built our business around photography, so at the time, our studio names "Dan Johnson Photography" and "Modern Photographics" accurately described what we did. However, as we have added services like video, photobooths, and consulting, our studio names no longer accurately described what we provided. In addition, since 2013 we have been advertising under 2 studio names in 2 separate towns, which was not cost-effective. It became clear to us that it was time for a new name that would more broadly convey what we do and also a name that we could market more efficiently. "Blue Lake" is a place that inspires our creativity. It is a place that circles around family and friends. It is a place where we make memories and where we try to treasure every moment. These are the same goals we have in business. Welcome to the new "Blue Lake Studios". Find more about our story below.
DAn Johnson Photography & Modern photographics are now "blue lake studios"! here's our story....
MORE ABOUT OUR STORY...WHEN DID OUR PHOTOGRAPHY JOURNEY BEGIN?
I'm pretty sure my love of photography began in high school. I always carried an incredibly cheap point and shoot camera at my side everywhere I went. I took it on roller coasters, to summer camp, football fields during marching band performances, and especially those carnival rides that spin you around until the floor drops out and you are just sorta stuck to the wall.
During college in 1991 I connected with my high school Youth Pastor and learned the art of taking wedding photographs, developing them after the ceremony in a portable dark room, and then showing them at the reception. It was always a huge hit. I had a great time with Pastor Bill, and learned a lot about photography. Most importantly, I learned how photographs effect people. The images we caught would generate laughter and tears, giggles, and even sometimes screams. It was awesome! At that time we called the business "Pictures and Videos, LLC".
In 2004 Jodi and I decided to change the name to Dan Johnson Photography. This began our formal journey into portrait and wedding photography. We created a small studio in the basement of our home and away we went.
Today we have a much larger....much cooler studio in Grand Rapids and a home office that enables us to process images with the best technology, and capture incredible moments in life. Families, kids, babies, seniors, weddings, and corporate imaging. We absolutely love where we are and what we do.
We believe that the best photography captures real life and, for the most part, is not posed. We like to get spontaneous expression of real joy. We have found that family jokes, tickling feet, and being personally joyful and relaxed help make this happen.
We believe in taking different, unique, fun, cool, stunning, and modest images. If you want pictures in your bathing suit. or are an underwear model...well....we can refer you to other good photographers.
We believe that God created everything and that there is inherent beauty in everything and everyone. We think beautiful images capture the beauty of God's creation. This is our goal; to freeze moments in life and creation that others can enjoy and show off.
God has been continually good to us. We cannot deny it.
So life is about stories. We love watching our own story and we love being part of other people's stories. Better yet, we try to capture these stories through images. It has become clear to us that life changes every moment and pictures are a way for us to freeze a moment forever. This is our favorite thing to do. Families, kids, weddings, seniors, whatever. You live it, we capture it.
Life goes by quickly. Photography is our medium to freeze moments in life that can be treasured for life. We would be honored if we could be part of your story and we would be honored if you would be part of ours. Share life!
Dan & Jodi