Check Out Joanna Kulesza’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanna Kulesza

Hi Joanna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was an art kid my entire life and became photo-obsessed when I was introduced to film photography and the darkroom in high school. I continued my photo education at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where I focused on large-format film photography and documentary-style storytelling.

After graduating, I responded to a Craigslist post for a part-time assistant position with a documentary photographer and filmmaker in Austin, TX. I moved there to assist on a project about Mississippi’s last abortion clinic, which was my foot in the door into the industry post-college. There were several years of searching and wandering afterward, but I eventually found my footing in assignment work. Attending the NY Times Portfolio Review and the Eddie Adams Workshop were really instrumental in that journey.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t describe it as smooth 🙂 but probably how it was meant to be. After college and my initial part-time job, I was working full-time in the service industry to support myself while trying to create artwork and take on any small photo gigs on the side. I really struggled with finding a sense of security and purpose. Many of my email reach outs and job applications went unanswered, leaving me feeling pretty lost at times. It was also difficult not to compare myself to the successes of my peers, and I often felt somewhat isolated. Fortunately, I’ve since built a stronger sense of community. Having access to peers and mentors to problem-solve and decompress in real time has made a significant difference in an otherwise tough industry. I’m still learning!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in editorial and documentary-style photography, working with various publications, non-profits, and businesses. I often say that my roots in large-format film photography inform a lot of the assignment work I do now. I rarely cover breaking news and even when I do, I feel drawn to more quiet, sidelined moments. I feel I do my best work in the long-form documentary space, which lets me blend my love for creative portraiture and intentional, narrative images. I’ve also expanded into wedding photography! And have loved bringing a similar approach to that work.

I’m particularly proud of my recent assignments on social issues that I’m passionate about, especially around abortion access. Using my photography to advocate for causes I believe in is incredibly fulfilling. Last year, I also had the opportunity to photograph a young mother dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis which was quite an emotional experience. While it’s difficult to take pride in something rooted in such profound pain, sharing these stories raises awareness and connects people to these challenging realities. I believe bringing a human element to difficult topics through visuals helps bridge gaps and foster understanding.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I transitioned from being a pretty open and free-spirited kid to to a more inward and emotional (angsty?) teenager. High school was mentally challenging for me, and despite having friends, I often felt lonely and out of place. A knee injury during that time significantly impacted my social life, which had been centered around athletics. As a result, I spent a lot of time cooped up in my bedroom.

Art became a super important outlet for me during that period. I took rolls upon rolls of black and white film photos during my neighborhood walks. I’d ask my brother to model in fur coats from the high school theatre department and made moody film photos in the foggy cornfield down the street from our house. I poured over National Geographic magazines, dreaming of becoming an international photojournalist, inspired by the photographers featured in them. I also became obsessed with renaissance style oil paintings and drawings after one of my photos won a local prize, earning me a scholarship to a painting academy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joannakulesza.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/joanna_kulesza
• Other: https://www.jokweddings.com

Image Credits
Diana Ascarrunz (for my bio image)