Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Johansen
Hi Emily, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The name Demon originated from the nickname my collegiate softball team gave me when I was playing, and it was the first thing that came to mind when thinking about developing a brand around my style and what I’m drawn to. So, from there, I established Demon Threads as soon as I graduated from Portland State University in June of this year.
While I was in school, I tried to maintain the creative part of myself as much as possible, I would bring a small digital camera for our travel series, and loved the behind-the-scenes moments that people don’t usually see with collegiate athletics. Having gotten a chance to combine both of those into life as an entrepreneur here was really the motivating factor behind creating a reselling business while working as a photographer as well.
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?
Not at all. Fortunately, I’ve had really good mentors along the way, people willing to help me in difficult situations,
With both Demon Threads and photography, it’s a fine line between having faith in yourself to figure it out and knowing when to ask for help from someone with more experience. There’s a kind of vulnerability in entrepreneurship that forces authenticity and perseverance on you whether you’re prepared for it or not.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My main practice is photography as a creative, and it’s something I’ve always been passionate about, having a full grasp of an energy in a room and honing in on something specific in that room that is worth capturing and highlighting is something I’ve always found special.
Over the last 9 years or so, I’ve made an effort to at least try out as many different areas of photography as I could, including portraits, sports, product photography, and long exposure compositions. Being from Portland, the music industry isn’t as prominent as Nashville, and I’ve gotten a lot more experience in concert photography and am really pushing to step into that field and establish myself with a few different artists.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the genuine reactions I see from people when I’ve captured their energy in a way they like. Scrolling through photos with someone and seeing them get more and more excited with every one is the most rewarding moment in the process for me.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
My best teacher has always been experience and immersion. It’s difficult for me to really sit down and read books or listen to podcasts, but having conversations with people experienced in the industry I’m working in has opened so many new doors for me. You never know who will be the next customer or client. Keeping an open mind has been important in discovering that process for me.
Pricing:
- curated shopping experience: $100 and up
- shoot: $250 and up
Contact Info:
- Website: https://depop.com/demonthreads
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.johansen?igsh=djM4aGI0cjd6Z2o3&utm_source=qr
