more about the story tellers

abøut us

• • • • •

I am so glad you are here!!! I am so proud of the team that makes up Joanna Young Photography. A huge part of having a successful crew is having people that are talented and trusted, and I couldn't be more fortunate in my people. These team members are the quintessential combination professionalism, talent, and fun! Having a crew that works together and has experience together is so important if you are looking for wedding day photography.

As the lead photographer, I am with my clients for all portrait sessions, and am the lead photographer for all weddings.  Along the entire process (whether portrait or wedding), I will be the one to answer your questions and offer suggestions. I am here for you. I love creating memories love and making peoples' dreams a reality. 



IntRo:Joanna

Lead Photographer

Click Here to REad the Top 5 reasons Joanna Rocks for wedding day photography

THe Team 

Rob has been part of my team since the get go! Being married probably is a big part of that. In truth, I don't know how I could possibly operate day-to-day without this guy. He is the calm in the everyday operations of the business. 

Rob acts as second photographer and assistant, and instinctively knows when and where I need him. He has an amazingly artistic eye, and captures some seriously outstanding shots every time he shoots. I am always very excited to go through the files at the end on a wedding to see what he has captured. 

In his free time, Rob enjoys running, watching football (Syracuse University, go Orange!!!), working with our horses, napping with the dogs, and watching Ancient Aliens and X-Files (the truth is out there!) I frequently drag him on crazy vacations, and he has the patience to hold my equipment and assist me even when we are in another country.  We have been married for almost 10 years, and every year has been such an amazing adventure!


Meet ROB

 Photographer

THe Team 

Emma has been with the team for two years. She has been a local Syracuse gal her whole life. Emma graduated from Westhill High School where she first began studying photography. Emma attended Roberts Wesleyan College where she studied History, Biology, and Chemistry. Upon completing her bachelors, Emma continued her education at Syracuse University, graduating with a Masters of Art in Museum Studies. Outside of shooting with Joanna, Emma currently works at the SU Art Galleries as their digital archivist where she takes photographs of the collection.

Emma's passions includes dogs (well, really, any animal; their all so cute!), and of course, photography. She has been know to be found on the golf greens, and she is always up to starting a great new book (feel free to forward her any recommended titles.)

What Joanna has to say about Emma: "Emma is one of the most likable people on the planet. She is always smiling, and genuinely and infectiously happy. She is a Labrador Retriever in a people body. Seriously.... she is a ball of fun from start to finish. She has unlimited patience and a natural instinct to be exactly in the best place at the best time to capture a moment."


Meet Emma

 Photographer/Assistant

THe Team 

Check out Emma's Photos

Okay, I know. It may be a bit weird to include dogs as part of one's team. But the truth is they are with me for at least 50% of my work time if, possibly, not more. So much of the daily operations include computer and editing time and online work, and Sami and Cooper are amazing company and keep me entertained. 
Cooper (Labrador Retriever/Catahoula Leopard Dog) joined our family 3 years ago as a rescue from Louisiana. We have adopted several dogs through Labs 4 Rescue, and he is the latest to join the team. Cooper is the kind of dog that you can tell is laughing and having a good time no matter what he is doing. He enjoys playing with his soccer ball, going for runs at the park, sleeping in, apples, and cuddling.
Sami (Samantha) is a Cane Corso Mastiff that we got from Moravia, New York 2 years ago. Her gorgeous color is called grey fomantino, and she has the most kind and loving personality you can possibly imagine. She loves to get belly rubs, chew on her mammoth bones, sleep on my feet, and eat Cooper's dinner ) when he doesn't finish it. 
All said, when galleries are delivered on time and emails are responded to in a timely manner, Cooper and Sami are part of the team keeping me company and on-task.


Copper and SAM

 Companions. Droolers, napping buddies

THe Team 

Check out images of "THE KIDS"

Top 5 reasons 

For choosing Joanna for your wedding Day!!!

 I LOVE THE UNEXPECTED AND TO HAVE A GOOD TIME

1

Your wedding day should be all about being happy, having fun, and making some of the best memories of your life. I love to capture all of those moments. Weddings pictures should tell the whole story of your day. So many of the special moments are spontaneous. It's these moments that I love so much!

I know it's such a wonderful feeling for my clients when their open their wedding galleries and they get to re-live all of the unexpected moments. These are very often the most popular images with guests. You know the ones: Grandma doing the "Macarana", Aunt Sarah going all out to get that coveted bouquet during the toss, the moment when the adorable flower girl helps the toddler ring bearer find his way down the aisle.... so many great memories! It's one of the many reasons that photographing weddings is so fun.

I'M ALL ABOUT THE DETAILS

2

<<slide>>

The charm on the bouquet; the "I Do" on the bottom of the shoes; the amazing centerpieces at the reception; the bride and groom gifts; the elaborate cake; the boutonniere. So much has gone into planning your wedding day and making it YOURS. I am always amazed at the unique details that are at every wedding that I shoot. Those details are so important to you, and I make every effort to make sure that they are captured in your images to enjoy. I enjoy finding unique ways to shoot these details to make them "pop".

I always make sure to budget in time pre-wedding and during the festivities to capture all of these special tokens of your day.

I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK

3

<<slide>>

3

Photography? Well, it's all about the lighting. Any photographer can make perfect light look, well, perfect! However, what about those times when there isn't that amazing diffused sunlight or you're at an indoor venue? A wedding photographer should always feel comfortable being a "natural light" photographer as well as an artist that creates their own light when none is available. However, not all photographers have the second tool in their box of skills.
I love creating unique lighting in dark situations. I have the equipment and the experience to make sure every moment is amazingly captured. With creative lighting, ordinary images can be made extraordinary! This lighting is not the red-eyed nightmare that normal flashes create. My lighting creates amazingly lit images that will insure that you have stunning pictures.

I WILL MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE
AND (HOPEFULLY) LAUGH

4

<<slide>>

<<slide>>

When capturing your couple's pictures, I direct you into interacting with each other for more natural posing and expressions. Natural posing is so much more..... natural! (I know, I'm being redundant here). For so many years, all of the pictures were face forward and say "Cheese!" Yikes! I think we can all agree that we're happy that this has evolved.

That's not to say that some family portraits won't be posed a bit more traditionally ('cause, you know, some relatives want those to frame), but I want to make sure that I create a relaxed atmosphere, more natural relaxed poses, and work with my couples and wedding parties to create some magical, not cookie cutter, images!

MY SUPER HERO POWER IS INVISIBILITY

5

We've all seen it. The wedding photographer takes over very moment and doesn't give the couple any breathing room to enjoy their day.
Boy, I am so the opposite of "that person". I am always being told that I blend into the events that I shoot. That is such a huge compliment, and quite frankly, considering I come armed with flashed and other not-so-subtle gear, it's amazing my clients feel that way.
I will never drag you away every 20 minutes so that I can get yet another posed shot of you. I want you to enjoy your day, which means that we will work together before the wedding day and create a timeline that allows us to get both some amazing posed pictures, as well as ones that will make you say "When did she take that shot?". 

Cupcake ipsum dolor sit amet gummies donut. Fruitcake cheesecake brownie oat cake sweet roll chocolate bar gingerbread cake. Gummies biscuit marzipan marshmallow chocolate macaroon.

Sweet tootsie roll candy canes candy canes sugar plum. Brownie fruitcake dragée cake croissant tiramisu. Tiramisu chocolate bar cookie. Cake topping cookie topping.

Marzipan biscuit wafer tart chocolate bar toffee brownie chocolate bar. Danish marshmallow jelly beans pastry macaroon.

meet Joanna

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."    - Thomas Jefferson

Cupcake ipsum dolor sit amet gummies donut. Fruitcake cheesecake brownie oat cake sweet roll chocolate bar gingerbread cake. Gummies biscuit marzipan marshmallow chocolate macaroon.

Sweet tootsie roll candy canes candy canes sugar plum. Brownie fruitcake dragée cake croissant tiramisu. Tiramisu chocolate bar cookie. Cake topping cookie topping.

Marzipan biscuit wafer tart chocolate bar toffee brownie chocolate bar. Danish marshmallow jelly beans pastry macaroon.

meet Emma

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."    - Thomas Jefferson