“I’m really into motherhood sessions right now; nakedness, real, raw and beautiful. I am naked all the time, my art reflects who I am.” Joanna Crichton is a deeply talented artist. Her medium is photography. She finds it therapeutic to put this beauty out into the world. Others find it therapeutic to view her photos.
Joanna got pregnant easily with her son Freddie while she was working as an elementary school teacher. The job was fulfilling and challenging. Days were long and hard as she was a supply teacher for seven years. Sometimes she would connect with the children during year long placements but other times she found herself thinking “do I want to do this?” Her mother was a teacher so when it came time to decide the direction of her career, teaching was her comfort zone and a natural choice.
Often when we get to the stage of choosing what to take in school, which industry to get involved in or which job to take we move into our comfort and that can mean following our parents’ footsteps or influence. This age and these decisions can be a struggle as we feel this decision sets the tone for life and we need all the answers right now! This story as many of the other stories I will share are to help you understand that we can always change the direction of our path. It often takes experience and reflection to figure out our next move. Isn’t it more exciting to think that we may do many different things in our life and that we get to write our own story? Joanna is doing just that.
Photography was always a passion, but she never thought it would be her career. She heard about a government course that supports people staring their own business and it peaked her interest. “I’m not leaving my kids unless its for something I love doing, time is short.” So, she took the course and for awhile balanced teaching and photography. Soon, it all became too much. Her partner Harry was emotionally and financially supportive of Joanna stepping away from teaching and pursuing her passion.
Joanna is an intense person and if she was going to do this, she needed to dive in. Her advice for those embarking on a new business or skill…find a mentor, attend workshops, seek out people you are inspired by. Joanna bonded at a workshop with another photographer who is now a friend. They feed off each other and support one another’s’ work. They shoot photos of each others’ families, giving full reign to exercise their imaginations. If you visit her website joannacrichtonphotography.com you will understand why photography is her calling. Her photos evoke deep feelings; they are sensual, romantic and sometimes stunningly dark.
The darkness came from her own life. As an only child herself she always wanted to give her son Freddie a sibling. Conceiving second time around was not smooth sailing. But, not having a second child wasn’t an option. Nothing was working and after numerous tests with no clear answer the pressure mounted. She carried a sadness through her daily life but pushed on and used this darkness to create photos that speak to so many people. Even when they don’t know the pain she was working through.
Finally, after a very intense time; Harry and Joanna tried IVF. The first round brought a beautiful creature named Lucy into their lives. Life for their family would never be the same. Before they got to meet their little Lucy Joanna had to endure a very difficult pregnancy and birth. Both her children were born by c-section and with Lucy she experienced heart failure and had to receive blood transfusions. Creating and bringing life into this world can be alarmingly hard on our mental and physical health. Joanna made it out of the darkness with her daughter Lucy by her side.
Adjusting to days as a family of four has been beautifully chaotic for Joanna and her clan. She goes with the ebb and flow of life and there is no set nap schedule. This works for her family but makes it interesting to find moments to work on her photography business; whether it is editing her creations or developing her online presence, it often must be snuck into her day. This may mean posting on Instagram in the Costco parking lot while Lucy naps in the car or finding moments once Freddie is at school. Joanna hopes people reach out to her to capture photos of their lives because they see her work and are open to being vulnerable. She asks her clients to be real and if they are nervous to say so and together, they can move forward, creating something genuine. Trust and vulnerability are the foundation of her work and I think we can all use more of this in our lives.
Joanna explained; “At every moment someone wants something from me”. I’m sure many women relate to this feeling. She is working to create boundaries for herself and protect her family time while continuing this journey with her photography. By sharing insights from her experiences my hope is you will feel empowered to think about what passions you have that could be pursued as a career. I would also challenge you to use whatever obstacles life throws at you to create something beautiful.
Talking to you lifts my soul Joanna. What an impossible balance we strive for as mothers; trying to retain our individuality while giving ourselves to our children and our careers. Thank you for sharing your art and a piece of your life with us and teaching us to pursue our passions.
Story written by Jenn DiRaddo Jefferson of Career Pump
Stay tuned for our next Career Pump interview with a Canadian woman raising her daughter and living her truth in Scotland.
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Follow Joanna on Instagram @joannacrichtonphotography or visit her website at joannacrichtonphotography.com
Photo Credit @scarletoneill
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