BOSTON PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER

Legacy portraits and heirloom images for those who value depth, not trends.

This Isn't About Me, It's About You!

You're not just one thing. You're the person who commands a room and the one who questions everything quietly. You're confident and uncertain, strong and tender, serious and ridiculous — sometimes all in the same breath.

Most photos only capture one version of you. Usually the version you think you're supposed to be.

What if we captured all of you instead?

You know that feeling when someone really sees you? Not just how you look, but who you actually are beneath all the roles you play? That's what happens in my South End studio.

Maybe you're tired of photos that feel like performance. Maybe you've been hiding behind the same safe expression for years. Maybe you look at pictures of yourself and think "that's not really me" — because it isn't.

In my studio in the SoWa district, we're going to slow down and let your different selves show up. The you that lights up when you talk about something you love. The you that goes quiet when you're thinking deeply. The you that your closest friends see when you think no one's watching.

You deserve to see yourself fully. Not just the polished version or the role you play, but the whole beautiful, complicated person you actually are. The one with layers and contradictions and depths that most people never get to photograph.

This is how I've been working for 11 years here in Boston — paying attention to all the versions of you that exist in a single session. Because you're not a brand or a headshot or a single moment. You're human. And humans are endlessly interesting.

Because in this story, you’re the hero.

Our Love to Admire

alicia-legacy-portrait-craig-william-johnston-studio.jpg
A man with glasses and a beard sitting on a matthew's apple box, wearing a pink button-up shirt and beige pants, against a green background.
Close-up of a man with glasses, styled with a colorful jacket, looking to the side with soft lighting.
Black and white portrait of a young man with short hair, wearing a suit jacket and a collared shirt, looking confidently at the camera.
Portrait of a man with dark hair and facial hair, wearing a black shirt, posing against a dark background, with his chin resting on his hand and looking at the camera.
Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a black blouse and a necklace with a heart pendant.
An older man with long gray hair and a slight beard holding a brown felt fedora hat against his shoulder and smiling gently.
A woman with black, shoulder-length hair wearing a blue, sparkly dress and a necklace, sitting against a dark background.
portrait-carlos-dengler-boston.jpg
Black and white portrait of an elderly woman with short hair, wrapped in a textured, dark scarf, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression.
Close-up black and white portrait of a woman with intense gaze, hand resting on her forehead, wearing a knit sweater.
A woman with wavy dark hair and light skin, looking thoughtfully to the side, wearing a dark coat and scarf, in a dimly lit setting.
Black and white close-up portrait of a young woman with short hair, gazing thoughtfully downward with a hand resting on her neck.
Close-up black-and-white portrait of a serious-looking Black man with a shaved head, wearing a leather jacket and a bandana around his neck.
Portrait of an elderly woman with gray hair, wearing glasses and a black shirt, sitting with her arms crossed on a table against a dark background.
A man wearing a gray hat, a blue t-shirt with a mountain graphic and the words 'Mile High,' and jeans, sitting on a wooden stool against a brown backdrop.
A portrait of a woman with curly black hair, wearing a black off-shoulder top, gazing directly at the camera against a dark, muted background.
A person with tattoos, a black hat, and dark makeup leaning on a large, vintage armchair, looking at the camera. Seated in the chair is a man with long blond hair, holding a goat's head with large curved horns, wearing a decorative headpiece.
A shirtless young man with short hair and a beard sitting on a paint-splattered stool against a dark gray background, wearing black ripped jeans.
A bearded man with long hair, wearing a dark shirt, stands with arms crossed in a workshop or studio setting.
Black and white portrait of an elderly woman with long hair, wearing a dark suit and white shirt, sitting on a chair with her legs apart. She holds her hands together in front of her lap, with an intense expression on her face. The background is plai
Black and white portrait of a young woman with short curly hair, looking at the camera with her head resting on her hand, wearing a blazer.
A young man with styled black hair wearing a grey suit jacket and a watch, sitting at a reflective black table, looking down with his arms crossed and one hand touching his shoulder.
A topless woman with dark skin and short hair, sitting against a textured, dark gray wall, wearing oversized denim jacket and shorts.
An elderly man with long gray hair wearing a colorful jester hat, a red coat with gold accents, and sitting with hands clasped, looking at the camera against a dark background.
A man wearing a colorful patterned blazer with intricate designs, a black shirt, and a bright blue tie, sitting against a plain background.
Black and white portrait of a young woman with wavy hair, sitting against a dark background, wearing a tank top and a plaid shirt, with a serious expression.
A man with a beige fedora hat, wearing a dark coat, resting his head on his hand and looking downward, against a plain dark background.
An elderly man with long gray hair holding a brown hat on his shoulder, smiling softly, against a dark background.
Black and white portrait of a man with glasses, a beard, and curly hair, wearing a light-colored button-up shirt and jeans, sitting with his arms crossed and casual expression.

Testimonials

Black and white editorial portrait of Carlos Dangler, former interpole bassist, photographed in his New York City apartmentawesome,.
Legacy portrait of local Boston musician Rick berlin holding his hat

"Craig takes such profoundly human and intimate photos, He has a real intuition for this medium, it's actually kind of startling." - Founding member of the band Interpol - Carlos Dengler

Much of a successful photoshoot is what sort of ‘bedside manner’ the photographer has. Invasive? Easy? Gear prepared? As an especially gifted Portrait Photographer, Craig William Johnston is terrific on everything that counts. I consider him Rembrandt with a Camera. His work speaks for itself. With countless subjects he continually achieves superb results. Much of this has as much to do with his skill behind the lens as it does with the relaxed atmosphere he provides in the studio. I can’t recommend Craig highly enough. - Musician Rick Berlin

Legacy portrait of cici photographed at Craig, William Johnston studio in Boston, wearing a teal dress against a painterly aqua-marine backdrop

You want an amazing portrait? Craig William Johnston Studio is the place to go. I had my portrait taken by him and it came out beautifully. He inspired me to always shine. Craig is very understanding and patient. If you are looking for an experience that delivers, This is the place to go. I will definitely be returning. -Cici

Black and white branding portrait of a businesswoman seated in a tailored suit, Photographer, Craig, William Johnston studio with a textured painterly backdrop

My session with Craig was enlightening. He made me feel comfortable and he is very personable also has a sense of humor which is always a plus. He showed me some of the portraits he had taken. Remarkable! He is a master of his profession. His style is unique and captures the beauty with in. His eye sees your soul through his lenses. Making my experience both intimate and captivating. My photos are breathtaking. Thank you Craig. - Patricia R.

Here’s what to expect

BEFORE THE SHOOT

Before booking a portrait photoshoot I always do a phone consultation to learn more about you, what kind of photos you might be wanting, and to discuss other aspects like wardrobe and cost.

I will guide you in what outfits to bring and hair and makeup.

Hair and makeup are always available but not required, at an additional cost.

THE DAY OF YOUR SHOOT

On the day of the shoot, you’ll arrive with your selected clothes and we’ll take a moment just to gett to know each other a little more. We’ll hang up the clothes on a rack and take a look through them.

The shoot itself lasts about 2 hours.

DURING THE SHOOT

During the shoot, it will be more relaxed than any other photoshoot experience you might have had. I want to capture you so I do everything I can to make sure you feel safe and able to be yourself. I will guide you through the entire process, there’s nothing you have to “do” except trust me.

I guarantee we will get stunning images that you will love.

AFTER THE SHOOT

After the shoot, we will schedule a photo ordering appointment that will take place a couple of days later over a Zoom session. During these 2 days, I will hand-pick the absolute best images from your shoot and you’ll have the opportunity to view the beautiful selection of images and decide which ones you would like to purchase.

Once you’ve made your decision, I will then retouch your purchased images (and have them printed if you ordered prints) and have them ready for you within 2 weeks