JA Photography

05/26/2026

There comes a time in everyone's life when you take your old and well worn tools and pass them on to younger and more energetic hands. So goes it for me.
This year the process started to hand the reigns over to Joe and Donna Steffek. Donna, who worked with me for almost 10 years and her husband, Joe are two of the most capable people I can imagine to take the reins and build this company for the upcoming years.
I am excited for them and hope,you are all too.

I know how difficult it is to find a photographer for your school who does a job as well and successfully as I have always done of you, from 1983 to today. Recently I was training with Joe at one of the first schools I contracted with, in 1983, Greenhouse Montessori in Visalia, CA. Still contracted with today.
Please reach out to Donna and Joe today and schedule your Fall session now. The calendar will fill quickly.

So....moving on...
After years of photographing 10's of 1000's of children in multiple school environments it s time to dispose of the untold numbers of images I have left.
From now until the end of Summer 2026 all images from the past years are available as a digital download at one third the normal cost, or $25.00

If you would like to "OWN" copies of your child's portraits taken as far back as 2010, now is the time.

At the end of this summer, August 31, 2026 all the images in the archive will be FOREVER deleted. Forever.

If you would like to browse your child's school portraits, please email us: japhotoguy@gmail for instructions to access the imagery. Yes, they are all still under password protection.

Thank you,

John Alden, Photographer Emeritus

Click here to access School Archives. https://tinyurl.com/4e2xm7zx

11/29/2025

Artist doing Art -
Art Hop December is Dec 4 and we are displaying the art of our teachers and staff from Fresno Music Academy & Arts.
There will be live music from several artists, vendors with amazing creations for sale and there will be some tasty goodies.
From 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
1298 N. Wishon inside Fresno Music Academy & Arts

09/17/2024

Today is my granddaughter's 15th birthday (she's the tall one, & the other is her sister, Sawyer). It's cliche to say, "where did the time go?" But, you gotta ask. Bailey you are an amazing human being, smart as a whip and so loving and caring. Have an incredible birthday and year. Papa John loves you❤

09/15/2024

If a nation has a right
To keep out aliens,
Tell us how many people constitute a nation…
And
What becomes of the
Rights of the excluded?
Franklin Booth (1874 – 1948)

05/26/2024

I read the AARP magazine, every month.
The articles are telling, and i do learn a lot. I reccomend it.
I attend classes of Silver Sneakers class 3-4 days a week. I wouldn't miss it.
I draw daily.
I paint
I play music
I garden.
I hang with friends.
It might seem simple but within that simplicity is happiness.
Today is my birthday. 052555
I asked My wife, Debi, this morning; "did you ever think you'd be sleeping with a 69 year old man?"

Time moves on.
Things change.
I'm so happy to be here.
Honestly I'm glad im not dead,
I came close to that a few years ago.
Not fun.
I'm looking forward to it all.
Thank you all for your new year/birthday wishes. I have ideas.
Hope to see you in this new year.

04/02/2024

Art shop this Thursday, come on by.
5:00 PM-8:00

03/31/2024

Ok… I can’t let the month of March end without mentioning an event that happened earlier this month that makes me smile broadly, and nod in full agreement, with Councilwoman and City Council President, Annalisa Perea who selected my amazing life partner, my wife Debi, as the Fresno City District One, Woman of the Year for 2024.
Debi, humbled by such an honor, stood with 7 other women of the year selected by their respective council members and the Mayor as their choice for Woman of the Year.
Since I’ve known Debi she has dedicated herself to her family, her music, an award winning business, Fresno Music Academy and arts, her work with Hinds Hospice, several years now as a member and board member with the Cultural Arts Rotary club of Fresno, graduate of the 37th class of Fresno Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Fresno cohort, ten years of delivering Fresno’s only Rock n’ Roll, Hearts on Fire, and now Peace Rocks Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to “People Engaged in Arts, Culture and Education”.
I don’t know many others that have a drive like hers, a drive that, that in some way or another, promotes peace and love to those hearts she can touch, directly or indirectly.
I am extremely proud of this beautiful woman and I know she’s not done.
She has more in mind.
I feel privileged to be with her and alongside her. Together we travel through life and work to unravel the mysteries, surmount the complexities and take joy while on this journey.
Congratulations, Deb. ❤️

03/02/2024

I’m very excited to be a part of two gallery shows this month.
The first is the annual Scarab Creative Arts Gallery juried show. There will be 35 artists represented and the show will hang through March 2024. The galley is on the North east corner of Divisadero and Broadway. It will have an Art Hop (March 7) showing starting at 5:00 PM.
Also, I will be displaying at the newly relocated, Doris Gallery. We have moved the space to 814 Olive ave. You can’t miss it, it is directly across the street from the historic, Tower Theater. There will 4 other artists, besides myself represented at the Doris Gallery. Art hop reception will start at 5:00 PM. I hope you can make both openings.

02/14/2024

This past Saturday, I again hit the streets of the Tower District to photograph some excitement from the Mardis Gras parade. As usual, it was fun -cold- but fun.

From the sublime to the bizzare, Fresno Tower District's Mardis Gras.

10/11/2023

Hi, it's been awhile but here I am, resurfacing. I haven't exactly been invisible but I haven't been very visible either.
These days I read, I paint, I sketch, I study and I find myself reemerging.
Ive been a photographer since the early 1970's, made a career of it and find myself today still creating imagery. Paint and photography have a family relationship and the cousins are mostly firsts.
My vision as a photographer is sharpening...
Im excited to start looking though the lens with composition, value and communicate what I see. I do the same with painting.
Going forward I'll post my personal accomplishments here.
This first is of tomatoes grown in my garden just outside the window.
I hope you enjoy.
you can follow me on Instagram: