Joanna + Tammy

We are Joanna Shaw and Tammy Akre - the owners and creatives behind Pulse Photography & Design. We first met as graphic designers at the same company where a large portion of our work included product photography. Over lunch one day, we were discussing how much MORE fun it would be to photograph people - and with that thought, Pulse Photography & Design was born over Chinese take-out! We still love to design, but enjoy the amazing people and stories photography allows us to encounter.

Since that lunch where we daydreamed about creating our own business nearly 11 years have flown by! We’ve added tons of new gear, experience and skill. Each year has been sweeter than the last. We are based in the Chicagoland area, but we love to travel and are always up to visit somewhere new!