ABOUT PAT JOHNSON
Pat arrived in San Francisco in 1972 and quickly established himself as a premiere music, sports and fashion photographer. Shooting concerts, studio portraits, record labels and fashion layouts. He worked with every known Bay Area rock band and professional sports team and shot all the greats as they came through town.
Growing up in Rust Belt Cleveland, Oh. has given Pat an edge to his work that gives it a unique style of its own. Pat’ s passion for photography is evidenced by his wide array images and style. The subjects all feel the passion and his sense of humor, helping him to win over the toughest of characters. “you have to be kind of crazy to be in this business. Every day, every shoot, every situation is different, with a different set of challenges. You have to work to be creative.”
His award winning work has been on innumerable magazine covers. His images have graced such publications as Rolling Stone, Time magazine, Vogue, the San Francisco Chronicle, the New York Times and People magazine along with editorial pieces, advertising and fashion layouts and over 300 LP and CD covers. Pat has received the Lifetime Achievement award from the prestigious Los Angeles Music Awards and the San Francisco Bay Area Music Awards (Bammies). The city of San Francisco’s mayor London Breed presented Pat with a Certificate of Honor for his many years of Bay Area photography. His gallery shows have gotten rave reviews. His work is currently housed in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
“San Francisco has had more than its share of great Rock photographers…Jim Marshall…Herb Greene…Annie Liebowitz…also on the list is Pat Johnson.
—Ben Fong-Torres.
Former senior Editor, Rolling Stone Magazine
“One of the Bay Area’s most respected and accomplished photographers.”
— Paul Liberatore
Music columnist, Marin Independent Journal
“Pat Johnson is one of our best Photographers. He truly has an international reputation which makes him very sought after in the fashion industry. “
— Salvador A. Marquez Jr.
President of City Model Mgmt
” It was February 1st 1974. Journey’s second show ever, at the Great American Music Hall. We gave him a photo pass and it might have been his first. Pat came to my office a few days later with a large print of his shot of Neal Schon. A photo that launched a career. A great career. Herin is proof.” .
— Herbie Hebert– Manager of Journey, Steve Miller and Mr Big
I’ve known Pat since the 70’s. He is the go to guy for me when I need THE picture taken. I can say his pictures hang on the walls of many musicians, managers and publicists in addition to being on their album covers and reproduced millions of times, a true testimate. And the guy is nimble and likeable not traits normally found in a lot of shooters.
— Michael Coats | Coats Public Relations
“Years from now, when anthropologists wonder about who we Americans were as a culture, they will thank their lucky stars Pat Johnson was on the scene tirelessly capturing so much of it with his laser-like eye and unerring lens.”
