Testimonials

At JFranklin Photography, the most critical element in our photographic endeavors begins and ends with the client’s overall experience. From the moment conversations begins, where unique visual requirements are conveyed, or concepts, themes and ideas are shared for business or personal projects, our primary objective is to make sure our clients are involved with bringing their visions to fruition. Below are testimonials that reflect the “value” we place on making sure our clients are fully satisfied. - John

Trena - 2020, ‘21, ‘22

Ellie - 2021, ‘22

Lorena - 2023

Chelsi - 2023

Javon - 2020, ‘21, ‘22

Whitney - 2022, 23

Allyson - ‘23

Allyson - ‘23

Allyson - ‘23

Allyson - ‘23

Allyson - ‘23

Johnathan - 23

Johnathan - 23

Johnathan - 23

Johnathan - 23

Jiffy Jahvasha - ‘23

Madina - 2021, ‘22

“In 2020, I had plans to re-establish my modeling portfolio and I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. John Franklin.  Our first meeting was at a local restaurant where we had lunch and discussed our backgrounds and goals with respect to developing our portfolios, and to ultimately get published. John provided me a copy of a mood board to give me an idea of clothing and the vibe he wanted to accomplish for the shoot.  When the shoot date finally arrived, John was very patient in providing direction, giving feedback, and allowing me to be creative with movement, all of which led to a fantastic first shoot experience. 

         John is “always” prepared!  He’s very professional and willing to listen to other creatives on his team to allow them to express their creativity through their unique crafts.  I’ve never been more pleased with the outcome from our shoots.  The pictures he delivered were nothing short of stunning and for sure, the best I have in my portfolio...and I say that with full confidence!  Also, we were able to achieve our ultimate goal….to get published, not just once, but three times, something I thought would never happen, but when you work with someone like John, who has the drive, ambition and determination to achieve goals, you can expect to achieve outcomes like this.  I highly recommend models to reach out to John, as he is always willing to work with new ambitious talent.  He and his wife are wonderful people and they always made me feel like family.  I will never forget John saying, “Modeling is work, so expect to put in the effort if you want something out of it.”  When it comes to adding more pictures to my portfolio, I take advantage of every opportunity to work with John.” - Trena

“I have had the pleasure of working with John on four different occasions and during shoots, I had nothing but wonderful experiences and have always been pleased with the pictures he delivered.  When he contacted me on Model Mayhem, his outreach was very professional, and it became clear he was serious about his craft and wanted to work with someone who was just as serious as he was.  He didn’t just deliver great pictures to complement my portfolio, he delivered stuff that made me say “WOW”!  John’s approach included phone conversations and virtual sessions well before the shoot date to discuss every detail outlined in mood boards that were well thought out.  I have never had an experience working with a photographer who was so organized and focused on accomplishing his shoot objectives. 

During our first phone conversation, he insisted I bring someone with me so I would feel at ease....and have someone who could assist me when changing outfits.  And oh my, his wonderful wife is SO NICE!  She helped with everything, from styling the clothes to making sure everyone had plenty of refreshments.  We bonded immediately and we’re good friends to this day. Again, for any aspiring model who wants to improve their portfolio and to get published, John should be at the top of their list regarding photographers to work with.  I have no reservation in recommending him for photo shoots.” - Madina

“I love working with John!  He’s a true professional from start to finish.  He sent very illustrative mood boards prior to the shoot so there was no question about what he wanted to accomplish.  We worked together to come up with wardrobe selections that looked brilliant in the final images.  His creativity with lighting was impressive, and he’s a lot of fun to work with during shoots. We always had good vibes and from my perspective, this is what a model is looking for. 

         My shoots with John have been great Give-n-Take experiences, especially for collaborative efforts.  He always had ideas and suggestions, but was open to suggestions from me, letting me model flow with the music which made our shoots a lot of fun. He has a fantastic studio setup with a great spot to spread out wardrobe choices and take breaks between looks.  John promptly sent final images for my selection for my portfolio, which aligned just as he’d outlined in the the mood board Terms and Conditions based on a collaborative agreement.  I love our final images...magazine worthy for sure, and I would gladly work with John again in the future and recommend him to other models.” - Ellie

“John is diligent and a dedicated photographer.  When I worked with him, he was methodical, and detail-oriented from all aspects of the shoot.  Starting from the shoot concept, which was briefed days in advance, to having snacks available during the shoot, I was more than pleased with the session I had with him.  Working with his wife was a pleasure and the help she provided during outfit changes was much appreciated.  I was very happy with the pictures John delivered, they were remarkable and were delivered on time just as he promised.  Overall, John is a reliable and very skilled photographer, and certainly a pleasure to work with.  I recommend him for anyone wanting to work with a real pro.” - Lorena

"It was a delight to work with John. A consummate professional, he took the time to meet before-hand to answer any questions and set the vision of the shoot. On the day of, he had everything prepared and ready to go which allowed our time together to go off without a hitch. His passion for his art is “SO” evident, and he strives for excellence in everything he does. Conversation was light and easy, and I appreciated his clear vision for what he wanted while still allowing me the freedom and creative license as a model within the shoot. Looking forward to the next one!" - Chelsi

"“I met John through a mutual friend/model who had worked with him on prior shoots.  From the moment I decided to work with him, I became impressed with his level of detail.  In his outreach email, he provided a mood board that was none like I’d ever seen.  The board was rich with detailed illustrations for inspiration regarding makeup and hair styles he wanted to show.  Immediately, I knew I had to be on my “A-game” because it was apparent a lot of thought had gone into producing the board.

         John’s demeanor was very professional.  Upon the day of the shoot, it was very clear what he wanted to accomplish.  He and his assistant (his wife) sat with me and the model prior to the shoot to explain how the shoot was to progress, using the mood board as his roadmap.  During the shoot, he insisted I stand close-by to observe hair and makeup and not to hesitate if corrections were required.

         Unfortunately, in this business, there are times when photographers don’t deliver, leaving other creatives empty handed with no content for their portfolios.  Not with John!  He delivered astounding pictures on time and on schedule.  They all were perfectly exposed and professionally retouched, but not at the level where the retouching was obvious.  I’m proud to have John’s work in my Book.  Never did I dream of seeing my stuff displayed on covers and in magazines, but John made it happen.

         I would highly recommend any creative, be they models, hair, makeup, and even clothing stylists to work with John.  If they’re serious about taking their work to the next level, this is definitely a photographer you should try to work with.  One unique thing about John, he pushes everyone on the team to bring out their best work while having fun on set.  I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.”   - Javon

  “John is in a class of his own!”  He is highly organized, professional, and innovative.  His creative prowess is second to none regarding location, wardrobe suggestions and his conceptual vision which took an ordinary shoot and made it extraordinary.  The entire experience from concept through fruition was one of the most seamless of my career.  I have worked with many photographers and John’s laid-back demeanor coupled with his encouragement to have an open, collaborative dialogue made a huge difference in the outcome of the photos.  His eagerness to meet both via Zoom and in-person to discuss what we were both hoping to achieve from the project, get to know one another better in front of the camera first and ensure the mood board he created was something that resonated with BOTH of us and not simply his vision, was by far a game changer and something I have yet to experience with any photographer in the DMV.  John does not just deliver unbelievable photos; he delivers a world-class client experience.  His commitment to excellence, patience and friendly demeanor made the shoot fun and never once felt like work. - Whitney

  “I loved working with John, the atmosphere was very comfortable and this made me comfortable given it was our first time working together. The coaching he provided, that I so willingly followed, made the experience collaborative and I love that in a photographer! I also had the pleasure of working with Ms. Andrea Young, the Stylist that John words with and the creativity flowed so naturally……almost like we’d worked together for years. Thank you John for bringing me in on the amazing project. I love the final images. Hopefully more efforts to work together lies in our future.”  - Allyson

“I have to admit, I’ve never liked having my picture taken and have never thought I was particularly photogenic.  However, working with John was easily the best experience I ever had. His demeanor and personality immediately put me at ease.  While I came to the set somewhat nervous, this was quickly dissipated. The studio setting is one of comfort; there is music playing and that just adds to the relaxing and welcoming experience.  Talk about being prepared, wait until you see one of his mood boards; he undoubtedly knows exactly what he’s wanting to accomplish and has a unique ability to direct you so you can’t help but deliver.   Although he has a plan of attack, he is flexible enough to work with you and use what you bring to the set so that the experience is not only well orchestrated, but also fresh and organic which instills confidence and makes you comfortable.  Given that he’s so prepared, it leads to a level of efficiency I’ve never seen in any operation. Bottom line, there is no wasting of time!  When the shoot was completed, I was amazed at the results.   He actually made me rethink whether I’m photogenic!  It was a pleasure to work with Mr. Franklin and I am confident that what I experienced was not the exception, but the norm.”

- Johnathan

“Hmm, where do I start? Let's just jump right into it. John and I connected via Instagram and he presented an opportunity to work together. From the initial point of contact I was hesitant because there are so many people who want to collaborate these days and my policy is to thoroughly vet everyone before entertaining the idea. John was extremely professional and it didn’t surprise when he proved to be fully vested in accomplishing his photographic vision. There were many things that convinced me John was serious about his craft, but the one that convinced me the most was his ability to convey his vision in a well thought out mood board, which was very thorough; highlighting locations, poses in an overarching itinerary that detailed how the shoot was to unfold; a key to ensure a smooth and timely shoot process. To put me further at ease, John recommended I bring a friend for support, someone to help with wardrobe and to keep and eye on posing. I brought my friend Barbara along who was phenomenal. Needless to say, she and John worked like hand-in-glove. When I say we had fun, it ended up being a beautiful experience where I made a connection with another professional who more than delivered on expectations! When the shoot was over and final edited images were shared, I was blown away, even more so when John informed me that the images would be published in a magazine! When I received the magazine in the mail I opened it and there I was on the front and back covers!! It brought an overwhelming feeling of joy to my heart! I am beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside John….a truly amazing individual and professional!” -Jiffy