ABOUT

JOHANNAH HETHERINGTON

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I became a photographer 28 years ago, inspired by Dorothea Lange's powerful images of human truth-telling. Photography opened a new path for me—not just as an art form but as a way to explore human relationships, personalities, and family systems. It was deeply personal. Having experienced childhood trauma, I sought to understand how people bond and relate, and I longed to create visual proof for my youngest clients that they were seen, valued, and cherished, something I had craved myself.

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As I grew into womanhood, photography became more than a profession—it was a path to emotional clarity and human connection. Today, my work is driven by an enormous love for people and an endless curiosity about who they are and who they can become. My understanding of the human experience—its joys, aches, and complexities—has deepened with time, allowing me to approach every session with more empathy, insight, and heart than ever before.

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​Specializing in soulful portraits, relatable headshots, authentic student portraiture, journey documentation, intimacy photography, and everything else in between (besides weddings), I capture the authentic essence of life’s moments. I especially love working with people who don't believe they are "photogenic." You are, trust me. I am a dually certified trained coach, and I work with reluctant clients on mindset prior to the photo session so that the experience of being documented helps shift the sense of self to one that is more objective, self-compassionate, and fearless. 

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Each photo session is a sacred privilege. I approach it with a sense of relationship, mutual vulnerability, trust, and intuition. My mission is simple yet profound: to help you see and feel the beauty of your own soul.

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Image by my mentor and friend, Nan Phelps, taken in Berkeley in 2022 

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