Joann Renee

My name is Joann. Or Jo. Or Mama. Or The Wizard of Boz. Or JoBoz. Or Mommy Afternoon. Or Babe. Or Hey You. Perspective matters.

I am a natural light photographer. I started taking photos for people in 2000 and happily photograph many types of sessions and events. I have photographed newborns, children, families, seniors, headshots, couples, weddings and event photography for universities and small businesses. I love meeting new people and feel honored when I am invited to help document any of life’s unique moments. For more information, click on “Photography” in my menu above.

I am a poet. I think I have always been writing, but in 2004 I really started to develop my writing. I took a near decade long break from poetry when I got married and started having children. In 2017, the week my last child turned one, I wrote a poem. I sent that to a friend and fellow poet. From that point on we have sent each other a poem (or sometimes more) per week via email. We are The Poetry Starship. I now have over a dozen poems published and a book of poetry (with photography!) coming out June 2020. To find out where to read some of my poetry, click on “Poetry” in my menu above. I am excited to say that I have served as one of the poetry editors for the Spring 2020 VoiceCatcher issue and starting as poetry editor for Untold Volumes at Christian Feminism Today beginning June 2020.

I am many things. (As are we all.) I grew up in Roseburg, OR. After which I went to George Fox University and got my Choose Your Own Adventure B.A. (aka Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Theatre, Music and Writing/Literature) in 2005. In 2010 I moved to Vancouver, WA and got my Master of Arts in Teaching through George Fox University. I married that summer and began teaching high school theater at Tumwater High School (near Olympia, WA). I imagine someday I will return to the wonderful world of theatre and dream of that reunion often. In 2012, we had our first child and moved Berkeley, CA where my spouse began his doctoral program. Our second child was born in 2014 and in 2015 we moved to Camas, WA, where we currently reside. In 2016 our last child was born. I enjoy rainy days filled with coffee, books, handholding, moody music and sci-fi shows.