"You know when you’ve seen a great photograph, something destined to become an icon, and you think, 'I wish I’d taken that.' That’s what it's like to work with Joni Kabana.
Joni can tease the personality out of an oyster. She can light the hell out of the dullest gray box and make you want to drive it home.
She can shoot a plain, white blanket and make you want to curl up in the photo. And she can make you see things in people that make you want to spend the afternoon with them.
I’ve worked with some of the great advertising photographers in my career. And I have to say, Joni Kabana is right up there in their company. Not only that, but she’s just a nut to shoot with."
Jeff Berry - SVP Creative Director, Euro RSCG
"Many, many thanks for your generous response to my request for help yesterday. I hope you know that it is a measure of my knowledge of your commitment to Mercy Corps that emboldened my call as soon as Cassandra came to us for assistance. We use the other photographs on a regular basis, both as permanent decoration but also, more recently, we hung your new images in the reception area for the visit by the North Korea delegation this week. Thanks for being such a good friend to Mercy Corps. "
Phil Ottum - Mercy Corps Photography Specialist
"As an executive at the Regence Group, responsible for all marketing communications, it is critical that I engage creative staff that will deliver high quality, innovative work, on time and within budget. Joni Kabana is such an individual. Joni has a highly creative eye and a unique vision that ensures delivery of “one of a kind” imagery that is distinguishable and memorable. She has the ability to expand upon ideas and is effective in brainstorming photographic solutions. She brings excellent coordination expertise and has superior interpersonal skills that allow her to work with all levels in the company. She is cost efficient with expenses. Clients will not get cookie cutter images or styles. She has represented Regence in a highly positive way within the community. I highly recommend Joni as a photographer for any project or subject. Her versatility, ranging from executive portraits to product and journalistic images, positions her as a creative resource that any organization would value."
Mary Anne Harmer - Director Marketing Communications, The Regence Group
"We have seen some of the images on the Private Wealth website and they are fantastic - easily the best shots of our CEO/President I have ever seen. By the way, your show was amazing. Congratulations."
Jacob Boston - Communications Director, M Financial Group
"Joni's respect for the subject being photographed was an inspiration to all of us. She helped the other travelers learn how to fully use their equipment and we never had to worry about her judgement or ability to navigate difficult circumstances. I would not hesitate to engage Joni for any photographic assignment. She is skilled, kind, resilient, indefatigable and sturdy. And a lot of fun to travel with."
Jean Hart - Director, Mercy Corps Phoenix Fund
"I wanted to take a minute to thank you for your time yesterday! We all had a great time. It was unbelievable to have pictures waiting for us when we arrived home. Riley was so excited she didn't want to go to sleep! Thank you again for everything. It is so good to see Riley smile again after the past year and a half! Riley had just come from the doctors office, where we talked about her next surgery, but she was still so excited to have just been photographed!"
Lara - mother of child involved with Children's Cancer Association
"Joni brings a creative perspective to the subject at hand. Her images portray beauty and posh not to mention her personal style that completes the package. Joni takes ideas and direction with ease and has become a pleasure to work with. She is terribly efficient and deadline oriented. I wouldn’t hesitate to hire Joni again."
Jodie Battaglia - Art Director of Charter Financial Publishing Network
"Joni Kabana's photography has brought a strong visual element to our communication material that didn't exist previously. Our goal was to create a new and distinctive visual aesthetic for the organization. Joni helped us define that new look and carry it throughout the organization, from our Web site, to print material, to advertising...even our new office space. We are better positioned to execute our mission with our identify more clearly defined."
Wade Fickler - Director of Policy and Communications, Children's Institute
"Thank you for coming into our classroom and sharing your book with us. My favorite part was when you told us about their houses and how big they were and how many people lived in one."
Blake B. - 4th grader
"The kids and I had a good time yesterday which could be witnessed by their abundant energy and their eagerness to get involved. The photos are great, and I’m anxious to see the rest. Thank you for making time for our family and other cancer families. These outings become adventures for our family – something to plan, to anticipate, a time to forget about what we have endured or celebrate how far we’ve come. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
Louise - mother of child involved with Children's Cancer Association
"Thank you again joni for a lovely shoot yesterday. We are so happy with how everything came out."
Katie Sawicki - Portland Urban League
"It was wonderful to meet Joni and see those pictures of the Mercy Corps trip. The portraits at the end were fabulous. Joni did a great job of presenting. It was very – how shall I say it – uplifting and made one feel like one should get up and do something."
Anu Khaira - Executive Director, TiE Oregon (Global Network of Entrepreneurs)
"Thank you for being so flexible and so ready to jump in and work with us on this project! It was a big relief for me to have such quick and clear communications with you, even while you were out of the country! Thank you sincerely."
Paige Mead - Asst. to the President, Burkhart Dental Supply
"Thank you so much for your presentation last night! It was great. One of the parts that really rang true with me was your point about embracing people's incredible strengths in finding solutions. It's something we should strive for in each of our projects, but sometimes don't emphasize enough. "
Aaron Poresky, President, Engineers Without Borders, Portland
"Joni Kabana was the still photographer on set for my film “Umbrella” and she did a stellar job, taking one gorgeous photo after the next. She was professional & a delight to have around. On top of that, the stills that she took have created quite a buzz about the project so I will definitely call on her again for future projects. I can recommend her highly."
Cat Tyc, filmmaker
"As for the exhibit on the 15th floor, it continues to draw interest and very strong positive response. I enjoy taking guests on a quick tour and talking about the project--and Joni. People are uniformly impressed by the philosophy behind it and the execution of it."
Mark Ganz - President & Ceo, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield
"I took your travel workshop a couple of months ago, and wanted to thank you. In fact, I have taken your example to heart. As they say about teaching: it is better to light the torch, than to fill the bucket. So you did that."
Scott Goodnight - photographer
"I have had the pleasure of working with Joni Kabana since the spring of 2006. I have found Joni to be expressive, articulate and extremely dependable. The feedback from the families that have been photographed by Joni is powerful. They say that she is observant, gentle, imaginative and sincere. Beyond her interpersonal skills, Joni’s business and operational skills are superior. Joni has balanced giving families the space they need while being persistent enough to make sure families don’t miss out on this opportunity. Joni is efficient and effective in her communication with CCA. Her creative photos continue to take my breath away."
Stephanie Matson - Director, Pediatric Chemo Pal™ Program Children's Cancer Association
"She never ceases to amaze me by her passion and commitment to help the most needy with her art. If I were not overly committed to my responsibilities for the Center, I'd offer my humble services to help her in her efforts."
Larry Padgett - Executive Director , The Center for Fine Art Photography
"Working with Joni was a real pleasure. Watching her work with the subjects was great. She was able to make everyone feel at ease right away and capture the shots I was looking for. I look forward to working with her again!"
Steve Ferrero - Sr. Graphic Designer, Standard Insurance Company
"I don’t think I ever let you know what a wonderful job you did for the kids at Raleigh Park. They absolutely loved you. Thank you so much for taking your valuable time to tell such a wonderful and important story."
Doug Johanson - Owner Vista Capital Partners
"Joni's author visit was amazing. Her presentation and slides truly gave our students a window into a world quite different from their own. And yet, they left the visit with a renewed understanding of how we are all the same.
Joni is a versatile presenter who effortlessly modified her program to capture the imaginations of our various age groups. Her ability to address the students' questions with honesty and humor speaks to the same sensitivity evident in her exquisite photographs. What a privilege for our students and our faculty!"
Melissa Frecht-Harris - teacher, Montclair Elementary - Author Visit February 2008
"Wow, I am still crying after reading this heart-felt sharing of your experiences in The Oregonian article. The images from your exhibit are burned in my mind. The colors so vibrant and expressions so authentic and pure. So many lessons for us all... so well-written and documented. "
Renee Field - international model
"The presentation she gave was superb. Students were glued to her and her website. She is a natural teacher. "
Dana Spielmann - photography instructor, Mount Hood Community College
"Andrew and I met her on the rooftop of Venice Suites in March....she took a lovely photo of us from the back, overlooking the balcony. It is a treasure. I've just spent some time on her website and am in awe of her artistry, talent and the way she sees the world. The energy of her subjects is palpable and I am moved to tears by many of them. I am honored that she saw something on the roof and that she has given us a precious momento of that glorious time in Venice."
Patricia Schneider - Brain Actuated Technologies
"Thanks so much for the class today, it was just fabulous. I really enjoyed everything about it and think my photos will benefit tremendously as a result. Amazing what an impact an afternoon can have! How lucky I was that Christopher saw your book at the conference and brought us together!"
Robin Malinosky-Rummell, Ph.D. - Author of BYOC: SOUTH AMERICA!, Rumsky Travelworks
"I just wanted to thank you for a great workshop on Sunday. I enjoyed it immensely. You have a wonderful teaching style that was engaging and lacked ego, unlike many "artists" I've taken workshops from. I will keep my eye out for any opportunity to take another workshop from you."
Chris Crumal - Spirit Image Photography
"That first image is worth it ALL! Even I want to work with me! Thanks for making me look so fabulous, and for sending samples to satisfy my quick fix curiosity. Wow. I'm so excited! Now I'm going to want to do fancy brochures or something. Heck, a billboard!"
Suzanne Bigelow - yoga instructor
"Wow, wow, wow! I just saw the photos and I am wonderfied!!! You are so good! I can see those kids communicating with the other kid behind the camera. And that kid behind the camera is also a really good photographer! You are making my job so easy--and so hard! I told Wade I would pick 20 to choose from for the website and I ended up with 50. And I'm "not so pretty sure" that I've picked the best because they are all the best!"
Liz Kingslien - Lizart Digital Design
"I think last week’s shoot was a success from all perspectives. I’m so happy to have access to your talent."
Wade Fickler - Director of Communications, The Children's Institute
"The photos you took of us are just beautiful. I love how you’ve captured the closeness, warmth and love between all of us and between Molly and Jimmy. And the ones of the kids jumping are so much fun! Thank you for doing such an incredible job capturing who we are."
Margo M. Fowkes - President, OnTarget Consulting, Inc.
"I'd always hated having my picture taken. But I thought the website advertising my massage business really should have pictures: people want to be able to see who's going to be touching them. So I bit the bullet and started looking through websites of Portland photographers. When I came to Joni Kabana's I knew I'd found what I was looking for: someone who really sees people. Joni's photographs of different people looked genuinely different. As I looked through the photos I found myself actually wanting to have my picture taken, something I've never wanted before. Not because I thought she'd make me look good. Because I thought she'd make me look like me. She's a complete professional. She took the time to understand exactly what I wanted the pictures for and what I wanted them to convey, and never lost sight of that. The photo shoot was efficient but relaxed. (And someone who can make me relax in front of a camera can make anyone relax in front of a camera.) When she got the photos to me the next day I was delighted. They were exactly what I wanted. And for the first time in my life I had a set of photos of myself that I recognized. That really was me, in the pictures."
Dale Favier - LMT
"I just want to send a HUGE Thank You to Angie and her Troop for planning such a Wonderful Thinking Day! The guest speaker Joni Kabana was wonderful! She was very informative, spoke well to the children, and shared a lot of great information."
Tracy Buckley, Girl Scout Leader
"Thank you so much for taking my senior pictures, they are EXACTLY what I was looking for. None of that "glow"."
Addy Neal - professional model