Aloha, friend!

Thank you so much again for being here. I feel so grateful to be one of the photographers you are considering for your family, couples, or elopement portraits. 

First, I’d like to clear up any confusion there might be about the website name change (February 2025) and Haleakalā Creative. If you have  not  been here before, my husband, Dallas, and I were serving families and couples on Oahu as a husband and wife team, through the business name Haleakalā Creative starting in 2021. Our little business grew and by the end of 2024, we had added our online and pop-up shop “Made in the Sunshine” and Dallas’ aerial prints to our business. So by this point we had 3 small businesses under 2 names. As a small business owner, sometimes you just start creating and the business names/ technicalities are forgotten because you are so inspired and are in a flow. In the realm of portrait photography, although Dallas helped a lot, portrait photography was my baby and ultimate dream.  I was the one who answered most of the emails, did almost 100% of the photo editing, and was at every session photographing and offering all the posing assistance.  My mission has always been to empower others in viewing themselves in the best way possible and capturing precious moments. So, we decided to make some branding adjustments and split up some of the responsibilities. That is how we got to Megan Johnson Photography. Dallas’ aerial photography is now under the Dallas Johnson Photography brand, and we are doing the local pop-ups and online shop “Made in the Sunshine” together. While we have divvied things up a bit, we like to think of all 3 of these as branches of our first business baby in Hawaii, Haleakalā Creative.

Now that that’s covered, here’s a bit about me…

I am Megan! I am a dog-mom, disc-golf wife, 3rd-grade teacher, sun-chaser, and lover of all things ocean. If I am not taking photos at sunset, I am in the ocean diving for shells, coloring in my Coco Wyo coloring book and listening to Emily D Baker on Youtube, prepping for a pop-up market, or spending time with my boys. I was born and raised in Virginia. I moved to Virginia Beach for college where I met Dallas and fell in love with him and photography. I’ve always loved taking photos, even as a kid. I can remember getting Fuji Film disposable cameras from CVS like it was yesterday. Then, my pink point and shoot for Christmas  in 2000 something. Next, my phone and a fancier point and shoot. Right  before  I left for college, I was gifted a crop-sensor DSLR and that is really when I learned. My close friend and  I would get up  each  day, get dressed in a cute fit, and take photos of each other for our instagram. (I really wanted to be an influencer then lol).  I had taken so many photos by this point…So many memories…and it hit me. I really like taking photos of other people more than I like posting me. From then on, my camera came with me wherever I went. It came to every one of my little brother’s hockey tournaments, to family functions, on vacations, and to school events. I asked friends and family if I could take their photos and invested my savings into photography education. When I met Dallas my sophomore year of college, it was a match made in heaven. Not only was he the sweetest guy I had ever met, but he also loved photography. Like I said…Match. Made. In. Heaven. I learned so much from him and eventually got a full frame camera. Not long after, we built a business together in Virginia, got married, worked normal Monday-Friday jobs, and photographed families, weddings, and couples at golden-hour. 

Fast forward 2 years, I was teaching 4th grade, Dallas was working at a local college, we were spending sunsets capturing memories, and we got the opportunity to move to Hawaii. I had grown up traveling to Oahu because of some family connections. It was what my WHOLE family looked forward to every year- Easter in Waikiki. It was magical and I loved it then. I still love this island now, but for so many new reasons. We officially moved to Waianae in 2020 (I know crazy) and settled in. At this time, I was burnt out from being a teacher and small business owner. I could not even think about owning another business. From the pandemic to a huge move… I was really struggling. I lost my creative light, like many people did during this time.

By 2021, Dallas was yearning to be creative and get back into our business flow. He was kind of dragging me at this point lol. Mentally, I did not think I could handle all of the responsibility again. I was tired. We started shooting some though and things quickly shifted. It was like the light in me came back. There is something about getting to witness and experience one of the best parts of the human experience…relationship. The snuggles from a mom, the forehead kisses from a husband, the sandy toes of a little one- it all just reminds me of the goodness in this world. It brightens my mood- it pumps me up- it gives me purpose. So, I was back. I was ready and I am so glad I took the leap. 

Now in 2025, after years of 7+ years of doing photography, building a new business in Hawaii, and some branding adjustments, I am feeling more inspired than ever to use my skills as an artist and teacher to empower others and capture a small part of their human experience. I truly believe that everyone deserves to have professional photos they feel good in to look back on, to hang on their walls, and to relive. Your memories are important, and while fleeting, are able to be preserved. As an artist, I bring vision, lighting and color expertise, composition, posing guidance, and passion. As a teacher, I bring enthusiasm, energy, flexibility, experience with kids of varying backgrounds, and the ability to ebb, flow, and support with chaos.  As a person, I bring  a tremendous love for people,  relationships, connection, and celebrating others. I am amazed by life and truly humbled to have the opportunity to meet and interact with so many incredible souls along the way.

All of this to say…Photography brought my creative light back. For that, I am immensely grateful and would be truly honored to capture your cherished memories in golden light. If you align with natural-light, stress-free, photography that evokes emotion, let’s chat. I would LOVE to connect with you.

All of my aloha,

Megan