Blue Lake Studios, formerly Dan Johnson Photography

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