Welcome to Clare JoAnna Photography
Welcome! I’m so excited to begin this blog and embark on this journey with you!
First, let me tell you a little bit about myself.
Self Portrait of Clare 2020
Hi, I’m Clare!
I'm a photographer and I specialize in commercial product photography, still life, & stop motions. I’m also a creator, stylist, entrepreneur, rock climber, writer, yogi, plant lover, cat owner, and a cocktail enthusiast. I grew up in a small town called Hollidaysburg in central Pennsylvania, but for the past several years I’ve been calling sunny Long Beach, California my home. My mother is a graphic designer; therefore, art has always played a major role in my life. Since I was little, I always loved drawing, painting, and sculpting anything I could get my hands on.
Me & my old co-workers
I studied and earned my Bachelor's degree in Archaeology and Spanish/Hispanic Cultures. After graduation, I worked as an archaeologist in cultural resource management for nearly a year. I really wanted to make it work, but unfortunately I wasn’t happy in the career I had chosen. Even though I loved the science and the opportunity to work outdoors, I was getting shocked by electric fences and chased by herds of cows. (Cows are cool until they try to eat your pants.)
I decided to switch gears and have an adventure, so I packed up my car and drove west to Long Beach, CA. Living in such a vibrant and unique city like Long Beach stirred the lost creative inside of me. Before I knew it, I was making the decision to establish my own photography & creative business.
Rock climbing at Palm Springs Tramway. Hueco Shuffle.
Some Fun Facts:
Favorite Places to Climb: Bishop, Palm Springs Tramway, Joshua Tree, & Red Rock Canyon
Favorite Places to Hike:Idyllwild & Yosemite in California + Trough Creek State Park, Canoe Creek State Park, & Alan Seeger Natural Area in Pennsylvania
I lived in Mexico twice and I speak Spanish.
My favorite colors to work with are blues, greens, and yellows.
I'm an alumni of Juniata College.
I've been gluten free since 2014.
I'm addicted to sparkling water, specifically Topo Chico.
My cat, Bon Bon, was named after an experience I had feeding elephants at a sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Bon Bon was the phrase we used to let the elephants know it was time to eat.
Why Photography?
Photography has always been a part of my life, but it took some time for me to decide to pursue it as a career.
Before I started my business, I worked a lot of jobs.
From archaeology to bartending to REI, each one has taught me something valuable and helped me to evolve as an entrepreneur and creative. Through my work, I’ve been able to gain insight and first hand experience as to what it takes to run and successfully market a business.
One day when I was working as a bartender, I was approached by a local business to see if I was interested in creating some photos for their social media. I began styling and photographing their cocktails and foods and coincidentally fell in love with the whole process. Suddenly, I was hooked. I was finally able to creatively challenge myself again, and this time I was getting paid for it. After creating more and more images for that business, I realized that I could be helping other businesses with my skills too. After some intense thinking, I decided to take a risk and jump into the freelancing realm by starting my own business.
I love being able to help others with my photography and creative services. I believe I can truly help businesses to thrive by photographing the right images to complement and showcase their product, service, and brand as a whole.
In addition to helping others achieve their goals, I enjoy my job because I love playing with different textures, mediums, colors, and lights. I love the process of figuring out how to animate a product and make it defy gravity or come to life. Each business and product/ service is unique, which always keeps me on my toes.
What's This Blog All About?
Great Question!
I want to generate conversation about topics like photography, freelancing, entrepreneurship, creativity, books, self care, and everything else I’m inspired to share.
I hope you’ll find something here to be helpful, no matter who you are or what job you have. If you have any recommendations about topics you’d like me to write about, please feel free to share!
