Daily Inspiration: Meet Jonathan Harrison Simons

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Harrison Simons.

Hi Jonathan Harrison, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been obsessed with creative narration, whether through music, stories, or visual work. Before I was a photographer, I was a musician. Naturally, my early work lived in the music world. I photographed almost exclusively live shows and created promo images for my own projects and for other artists in Savannah and Statesboro.
A student of the Northern Renaissance, I emulated the attention to detail and the symbolism buried within the paintings of Bosch and Jan van Eyck. I wanted my images to have the same qualities: a string of smaller stories and lore woven into a broader narrative. The better I became at photography, the more I was able to manipulate the medium, and my style gradually became more surreal.
As accessibility to photography, the growth of social media, and the rise of AI have changed the creative landscape, my focus has shifted. I no longer make epic surreal works, but instead create simpler stories rooted in reality and in universal themes.
After college, I worked many odd jobs, some creative, some not so creative. My wife, Rachel, and I got married and moved to Atlanta. After a short and desperate stint in sales during the COVID era, I took a job working for Picture Perfect in Roswell. There, I began training under David and Denise Huntley, who had owned the studio for 33 years. When they retired, my wife and I bought the studio. We’ve just completed our first year in business.
Rachel makes beautiful handmade clothing, and we are currently in the process of opening a store for her dresses within our studio called ” Rachel’s Little Shop.”

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My dad always told me, “Do whatever you want, but be the best at it.” I don’t know if he remembers saying that, but it stuck with me through the highs and lows of my creative life. I have always trusted my heart more than my mind. I have always done what I have felt called to do, despite logic, and that is to tell stories that document the human experience in a unique and exciting way.
As a photographer and musician, most of my work life has been unpredictable, financially and logistically. This untraditional lifestyle leads to a lot of unknowns, and the uncertainties can be terrifying. I have learned firsthand that if you follow your purpose, God will always provide. In my career, I have sacrificed a lot of securities, but that has only strengthened my faith and made me better at my calling.
The struggle is a part of the process, the learning that shapes your identity. I am grateful for the struggle and am glad it happened, but like school, I would never want to go back and do it again.
To all of those going through the struggle of figuring out the unknowns, my advice would be this: never stop creating, never stop building, even if you don’t know what you’re doing or where you’re going. If you are focused and dedicated, a lot of times you won’t even realize you’re struggling until you look back. If you give 100 percent of yourself to your cause and to others, you will never be sad, and your cup will always be full.
The payout for the struggle is always worth it.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Picture Perfect is a full-service photography studio that specializes in portraits. We have almost 2,000 square feet of studio space, two camera rooms, proofing stations, hundreds of backgrounds, and outdoor shooting locations just steps outside of the studio. Most of our clients are schools and local businesses.

What sets us apart from other studios is that we make each session personal and that we are patient. We understand the importance and sentimental value of what we create. There is nothing we can’t do. We are also a family business, and we do this because we love it. I am very grateful for our families, who are always helping us and making all of this possible.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
As a child, I was always a good student and was addicted to learning, not just in school, but in life. I wanted to have a voice and to be seen as an adult. I could tell you every baseball stat, every member of every band, and every quote from every movie. I just wanted to be a part of the conversation, a part of the world.
My dad always had the best taste (and still does) and I guess I just wanted to be like him. I wanted to have good taste. I wanted to play guitar and be funny. The truth is, I’ve never really grown up. I still read the same books and watch the same movies, but now I am living out my aspirations. I have the best wife I could imagine, I published a successful novel (Savannah Blue), recorded five studio albums (most recently Return to Avalon), and we own a photography studio. I am living my 12-year-old dream and I am grateful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pictureperfectatl.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/picture_perfect_atlanta_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569910300874
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/78oCTysuU48CdjbNwYQmij?si=6n3j16PDS_6QRXjaeyXNWA

Image Credits
I own all the rights to the images. The one of the ribbon cutting ceromy in the front of our building was taken by Roswell Inc. but we have the rights.