We have long-admired Joanna's photography and her ability to capture the cultural essence of each new destination she travels.
Here we have a chat with the Californian native about what inspires her, where she loves to travel and what's in her carry on every time she flies. Joanna wears the Essential Sliding Halter and Essential High-Waisted Bottom throughout.
What is your occupation/ what do you do? I guess I am what people call a freelance Content Creator, generally speaking. I get hired by companies for various roles ranging from photography, to editorial writing and copywriting, to social media management, and other digital content marketing positions.
Where are you from? I am originally from Sonoma, California, which is about an hour north of San Francisco. I moved to LA when I graduated college and, with the exception of a year and half living in NYC, have been living that sunny Southern California life since.
What is your favourite thing about your work? I love bringing big ideas and concepts to life. It is important for me to try to make my work different from those around me. I try to speak to the unique and authentic things in life, be clever with my words, capture those fleeting, candid, in-between moments on film, or somehow otherwise evoke a feeling through my photography or writing.
Where do you find inspiration for your work? Mostly nature. I spend a huge amount of time outdoors. My mind is less distracted when I am outside so I have some brain space to be creative. Nature's colors, shapes, and sounds are like nothing else in this world and it inspires me to be authentic and to think freely.
What country/ city are you in right now? I am at home, in South Pasadena California, sitting at my tiny vintage desk that desperately needs to be replaced. Our pup, Ruby, (a wild child Aussie cattle dog) is napping down at my feet.
What do you always pack in your carry-on when you travel? Headphones, a book (which usually and unfortunately loses out to Candy Crush - please don't judge!), my phone of course, a film camera, dowloaded podcasts and Spotify mixes, snacks like plantain chips or trail mix, a huge water, chapstick and moisturizer.
Where is your favourite place to travel and why? I love going anywhere when I can jump in the car with my husband and pup, and leave LA for the weekend. We are lucky living here because we have the mountains, ocean, desert, lakes and hot springs just a few hours away. But internationally, I love St. Lucia and Bali. And Thailand! These places are not just aesthetically gorgeous, but the culture and traditions in these countries are wildly inspiring. Oh, and I loved Morocco too! Chefchaouen, or the Blue City, was surreal. Man, talk about a dream city. All of the walls are painted different shades of blue. It was beautiful.
What are your favourite things to do in Belize? Our time was spent on a small island off of Dangriga, so we did a ton of swimming, paddle boarding, and snorkeling. My highlight of the trip, however, was catching bonefish and barracuda. We headed out around 6:30am after a somewhat crazy night (there was an open bar), and I immediately got sick so I had to hang tight for awhile. But once I started feeling better, I got lucky and caught 3 bonefish and 1 barracuda. Our fishing guide, Marlin, nicknamed me the Nauseas Viper.
2018 is already almost over – what has been your highlight from the year to date? I got to marry my dream man this September. All of our friends came out to Maine, on the east coast, and spent the week together before we got hitched. It was incredible. We were essentially on vacation with our best friends for a week and we ended it with a killer party.
What are your goals for 2019? Pay off our wedding. But for real, though. My goal for next year is to work hard and to work smart. I have some cool personal projects that I want to put into the works. And travel, always travel. I want to take a few weeks to road trip around the southwest, like Arizona, Utah and New Mexico before heading up to the northwest, like Oregon and Washington.
What do you love most about She Made Me? There are so many things to love! I love the attention to detail in each design, the craftsmanship, and the quality of each piece. I also adore the storytelling in SMM's marketing. In addition, I feel very confident and cool in She Made Me. As I get older, I'm finding it harder to find brands that make me feel like myself, not my age. SMM captures the youthfulness, confidence, and easy-going attitude I feel.
What are the three things you’re most grateful for today? I am thankful everyday for a roof over my head, food to eat, and a bed to sleep in. Living in LA, I am reminded daily that so many have so little. I always feel blessed, lucky, and very humbled. The three specific things today would be my health; that I have an able body and mind. Second would be for the love in my life. My partner is a huge support, inspiration, and light in my life. Lastly, I am grateful for my work opportunities. I've been unemployed or have had long dry spells from work and it is not a fun place to be. It can really do harm to one's perception of themselves. Honestly, I could go on and on about what I am grateful for. Life's ups and downs have taught me to not take anything for granted, and to always, always be thankful for what you have.
