Derek Johnson

Derek Johnson was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1972. He got his start shooting for the automotive industry while completing his BA at the College of Creative Studies. After graduation he quickly moved to New York City to pursue fashion photography. While in New York he assisted some of the world's greatest photographers, including Irving Penn, William Wegman, and Robert Frank. Derek currently resides on the west coast and focuses on still-life photography and various personal projects. Derek likes to make people happy. He does this by using pictures to tell stories, by creating images that make people smile. Laugh. Believe. His images, at once eclectic and poignant, inspire people to tune in to their own adventure. When the viewer responds to the subject, a connection is made. This connection, this moment of "Ah!", is the reason Derek Johnson takes pictures. Derek has created work for individual clients, top advertising agencies, and editorial publications including Nordstrom, The Wall Street Journal, Lord and Taylor, Macy's, Bed Bath and Beyond, KitchenEtc, American Baby, Bust Magazine, Harley Davidson, Y&M Magazine, ABC TV, Disney, HBO, National Geographic, The History Channel, NHK Japan, Red Bull, and others. He has also worked on many television commercials and feature films.