Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Joanna DeGeneres of North Hollywood

Joanna DeGeneres shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Joanna, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
A few years ago, I discovered pottery. I have found working on a pottery wheel and ceramics really give me that creative space where I am alone and it feels almost like a meditation. I didn’t know how much I needed something like that until I found it. I can sit at the pottery wheel and start something and before I know it 2 hours have passed. There are a couple stores, one in Santa Ynez and one in Santa Barbara carrying my pottery which is so validating.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
After graduating with my MFA from the University of Washington’s PATP (Professional Actor Training Program) in 2002, I moved to LA . I thought I would be on a sitcom or on TV but it was right after 9/11 and a really tricky time when the industry was changing a lot. I pursued acting for a few years while working in a restaurant and then in a casting office until I picked up a camera as a favor to my boyfriend (now husband). I had a lightbulb moment and taking headshots was a fluke thing that lit a fire under me and took off. I quit all the other things I was doing and in about 2007 I just focused on photography. I have worked out of many spaces and I have had my current studio in North Hollywood for about 11 years. I primarily shoot headshots and portraits but I have photographed homes, products and pets. My background as an artist, actor and working in casting help me work with actors and do what I do every day. I love meeting actors where they are and helping them literally see themselves in the best light. I love aspiring actors, working actors and anyone who has an open heart and playful and creative spirit. Actors who come with a playful and open energy are the most fun for me to shoot.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was a really creative kid. I grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland and my memories are a lot of imaginative days painting rocks in the garden, playing “witches” (or whatever games we could create) with my neighbors. Learning and reciting poetry, putting on shows for parents (I put them through a lot awful of lip-sync concerts in our attic). Roller skating and making perfume with rose petals. I was really fortunate to grow up in a play environment with lots of encouragement and magic and imagination. I used the woods and garden around our house as my playground and I enjoyed being in the spotlight.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Fairly recently heard the term “imposter syndrome” for the first time. I think I always felt like I was just making things up as I went along and didn’t truly deserve to achieve what I was achieving. I realized that everyone is in the same boat. It’s that feeling that your parents know everything when you are a kid and then you grow up and realize they were just making it up as they went along. I still struggle with that when things are not working perfectly.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
1. I played Anne Frank at University and she wrote that “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” I have always held on to that belief. I am a really optimistic person and I stay hopeful. I try to always treat people the way I want to be treated and own up to my mistakes and then not beat myself up too much when I make them.
2. I find every face is beautiful when they are in front of my camera.
3. No matter how much money you have or how fortunate you are, you cannot buy more time. Time (and our health) puts us all on an even playing field. I think it’s valuable to think of investing money on the things that save time and keep us healthy.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop worrying about things that I can’t control.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joannadegeneres.com/portfolio/
• Instagram: joannadegeneres
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joanna.degeneres
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/joanna-degeneres-photography-north-hollywood

Image Credits
Photo of Joanna taken by Ericka Kreutz