I am so very excited to share these images and this story. Emerson is one of the coolest kids I’ve had the pleasure of hanging with and the story and path that led me here is right on par. It’s actually one of the main reasons you are seeing any of this in the first place.
Emerson’s dad, Brian Johnson, founder of PhilosophersNotes, En*Theos, and other awesome businesses, had a hugely positive influence on my life. I spent the good part of the early 2000’s soaking up knowledge and exploring purpose & meaning in life. This search led me to Brian who was just launching PhilosophersNotes. He was condensing all the greatest nuggets of wisdom from all the most inspiring and empowering books ever written, and putting together all the highlights in quick 20 minute MP3’s and PDF’s. It was all the most important stuff that wasn’t covered in school, and I loved the idea. It’s funny because I actually had thought and spoken with friends about this very concept in the past…compiling a huge resource of all the best information to motivate, inspire, and provide people with invaluable tools and direction. Once I came across Brian I thought, “well he’s got this covered already,” and I jumped on as a social media volunteer for the launch of the business to helped spread the good word to my friends here in Minnesota.
During this time of pouring into optimal living, I challenged myself to a 100 day program where I would only eat the best food, embark on a consistent workout routine, and listen to one PhilosophersNote every day, for 100 days. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I spent those 100 days living optimally and thinking clear and often about my purpose, and following my heart in life. I explored the question of “what would you want do in life anyways, even if you didn’t get paid for it? You couldn’t pay me to stop playing with photography, so the idea of following that passion full force, circled around & around in my head and heart. By the end of those 100 days I had officially launched my photography business and taken the plunge into the unknown. I had no idea what I was doing besides the fact that I absolutely loved photography and knew I had an unbreakable desire to improve, learn, grow and make people happy. With this passion & dedication I was fully confident I could make it work, however scary it was at first. People around you think you are nuts when you truly go for your dreams but I had to just ignore those peoples opinions and keep focused on what I knew I needed to do.
Fast forward four short years later and I am the proud owner of a thriving, fun, and fulfilling business, A Frame Forward Photography, and I get to do what I love every day for work.
Back to Emerson: I was making a trip out to CA to shoot the Nicholas David show at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles and I thought I’d reach out and share this story with Brian and personally thank him for being a huge inspiration in my life. Brian and his family live up in Ojai, a beautiful town about an hour and a half outside of L.A. I had the honor of meeting Brian and his family, and had an absolute blast hanging out and shooting with little Emerson. It’s really neat to be able to gift them these images of Emerson that they can now cherish forever. Kids grow up way too fast, that is for sure.
I highly recommend you checking out these PhilosophersNotes yourself. Life is crazy busy I know, but in short chunks of time you can fill your head with the goodness you really need to be filling it with, and watch your life transform. Sounds kinda out there to some people, but it’s the absolute truth. Try it, I dare you.
Life is however you choose it to be.
Choose wisely.
