FREDERICK VAN JOHNSON

Frederick Van Johnson is a dynamic and accomplished creative and marketing professional with a rich background in photography, digital media, and business. He began his career as a Combat Photojournalist in the United States Air Force, where he served two tours and received the prestigious commendation medal for his exemplary photography work in the field. After his honorable discharge, Frederick attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, studying Business and Visual Communication.

In 2010, Frederick founded the This Week in Photo (TWiP) podcast, serving as host and editor-in-chief. Under his leadership, TWiP became a leading source of information and inspiration for photographers worldwide. In 2022, he sold TWiP to SmugMug and joined the company as a Senior Manager for Content and New Media, while continuing as editor-in-chief for TWiP.

Throughout his career, Frederick has worked for industry giants like Yahoo! Inc., where he spearheaded the company's initial foray into mobile content delivery, Apple, where he worked as a Senior Product Manager on the Digital Imaging teams for iPhoto, iDVD, and Aperture, and Adobe, where he served as a Senior Marketing Manager for Lightroom and Photoshop.

Frederick is also a seasoned speaker, regularly appearing at conferences such as InfoComm, NAB, WPPI, and PhotoPlus Expo, and leading panels at numerous virtual events and webinars. He has provided strategic and marketing advice to several photography startups in Silicon Valley.

One of Frederick's most notable achievements was his tenure as Chairman of the Board at Brooks Institute, where his leadership was instrumental in the institute's success before its closure.

In addition to his extensive professional experience, Frederick speaks on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on creative professionals, adding a contemporary and forward-thinking perspective to his engagements.

Frederick resides in Northern California with his life partner, and best friend Nichole. He is also a devoted father of four; including his eldest son Cameron, daughter Alexis, son Eric, and daughter Cameron. He’s also a grandparent to four brilliant grandchildren.

As a visionary and leader in the photography industry, his passion for capturing life's most beautiful moments continues to inspire photographers worldwide.