We're two artists who happen to be crazy about animals and strongly support their right to be treated with empathy and respect. Heavenly Creatures Photography was created from this shared belief, and also the desire to contribute to a more humane society for all beings, especially the undesirable, the helpless, and the abused. Through the eye of the camera, the innate nobility and true beauty of these gentle souls is revealed. It's the inter-species collaboration combined with our unique interpretation of the representation of animals in historical photography that defines the final image.
Karin Johansson grew up in Sweden, where she lived with her family in a quaint farmhouse surrounded by a forest full of woodland creatures, kind of like in a fable. Sometimes she ditched school to ride her horse. Because you can do that in Sweden.
She attended Gothenburg University where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in photography. Karin was also involved in feminist causes as well as a founding member of the all-girl band Lost & Lonely.
After attending both a study-abroad program at Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara and the masters program at Cal Arts, Karin fell madly in love with California and never left. Besides freelancing gigs, she’s exhibited internationally, worked with the L.A. Times on lifestyle and restaurant features, taken a left turn into wedding photography, and shot all the photos for Cleaning: People Talk About Housework, a book and film collaboration. She’s also done work for L.A.’s “Taking the Reins,” a program designed to give expression to inner city girls through a cool combination of photography and horseback riding.
Karin now lives in L.A. with an interesting assortment of rescue dogs and cats, a large collection of vintage paint-by-numbers art, and a very understanding husband named John. She’s currently a teacher and Instructional Lab Tech in the legendary photo department at Moorpark College.
She attended Gothenburg University where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in photography. Karin was also involved in feminist causes as well as a founding member of the all-girl band Lost & Lonely.
After attending both a study-abroad program at Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara and the masters program at Cal Arts, Karin fell madly in love with California and never left. Besides freelancing gigs, she’s exhibited internationally, worked with the L.A. Times on lifestyle and restaurant features, taken a left turn into wedding photography, and shot all the photos for Cleaning: People Talk About Housework, a book and film collaboration. She’s also done work for L.A.’s “Taking the Reins,” a program designed to give expression to inner city girls through a cool combination of photography and horseback riding.
Karin now lives in L.A. with an interesting assortment of rescue dogs and cats, a large collection of vintage paint-by-numbers art, and a very understanding husband named John. She’s currently a teacher and Instructional Lab Tech in the legendary photo department at Moorpark College.
Leslie Robertson, born and raised in So Cal, spent her formative years in a sleepy little town in the middle of nowhere land, a magical place where people said gosh darn a lot and wearing shoes was strictly optional.
When she wasn’t daydreaming about busting out of there, Leslie spent her free time wrangling her family’s perpetual menagerie of animals, writing Mrs. David Cassidy in her Pee Chee folder, and running wild through the local orange orchards. Then she picked up an SLR camera in high school and never looked at the world quite the same way again.
Leslie completed the photography program at Moorpark College along with a photo internship at the Exotic
Animal Training and Management program, with a focus on fine art portraiture using a combination of antique cameras and classic techniques. In 2016, she was awarded the school’s John Gray Photography Department Scholarship, the second thing she’s ever won in her life.
Presently living in Ventura County with her two rescue dogs and a random tortoise that used to live in some rich dude’s fire pit, Leslie’s now working as a have-camera-will-travel freelance photographer. Additionally, she volunteers at several animal rescues which requires the rare ability to put a top hat on a pitbull, focus a camera, and avoid sitting in dog pee, sometimes successfully.
When she wasn’t daydreaming about busting out of there, Leslie spent her free time wrangling her family’s perpetual menagerie of animals, writing Mrs. David Cassidy in her Pee Chee folder, and running wild through the local orange orchards. Then she picked up an SLR camera in high school and never looked at the world quite the same way again.
Leslie completed the photography program at Moorpark College along with a photo internship at the Exotic
Animal Training and Management program, with a focus on fine art portraiture using a combination of antique cameras and classic techniques. In 2016, she was awarded the school’s John Gray Photography Department Scholarship, the second thing she’s ever won in her life.
Presently living in Ventura County with her two rescue dogs and a random tortoise that used to live in some rich dude’s fire pit, Leslie’s now working as a have-camera-will-travel freelance photographer. Additionally, she volunteers at several animal rescues which requires the rare ability to put a top hat on a pitbull, focus a camera, and avoid sitting in dog pee, sometimes successfully.