Artist Statement

“With the right light and sensitive timing, a photograph can convey so much more that words every could,” she said. “It can move us to action, move us to tears, inspire us, and preserve our memories.”

Artist Bio

Rosanne Olson is a photographer, artist, and educator. She received a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Minot State University and a master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon. During her 40-year career Olson has worked in multiple genres of photography—newspaper, magazine editorial, advertising, and fine art. As an educator, she has taught lighting and portraiture for more than 30 years at organizations such as Photographic Center Northwest in Seattle, Santa Fe Workshops, colleges, high schools and conferences. Her commercial clients have included New York City Ballet, Seattle Symphony, and the Seattle Opera.

In Rosanne Olson’s view of things, all art is about connection--either with oneself or with others.

From childhood (in Minot, ND) and on, Olson has lived a life immersed in creativity. She carried around a drawing pad and pencils as a child. Entered contests with her paintings and creations, studied art and art history in college. She also discovered that there is art in cooking, in music, in poetry, in living. 

Olson first discovered photography as art at the age of 23. Ever since that moment she has been in love with creating beautiful images. She says, “With the right light and sensitive timing, a photograph can convey so much more than words ever could. It can move us to action, move us to tears, inspire us, and preserve our memories.”

She began her career as a photojournalist at The Register-Guard in Eugene, Oregon. When she and her husband moved to Seattle in 1986, she started Rosanne Olson Photography. Over the past 35 years she has collaborated with designers and art directors around the country, photographing for advertising campaigns such as the New York City Ballet, Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony, and Children's Hospital. Currently Olson is focused on my true loves: fine art and portraiture.

She is the author of three books, including This is Who I Am—our beauty in all shapes and sizes (a book about women and body image) which was featured on Good Morning America. She has also written two instructional books (Amherst Media) for the courses she teaches: ABCs of Beautiful Light and The Art of the Portrait. Her most recent artistic project is not about images in the traditional sense but about songs she has written. Olson is also poet and songwriter. She released an album in 2018 and is currently at work on a second one.

Olson’s images have garnered numerous awards and have been featured in Communication Arts, Photo District News, More Magazine, View Camera Magazine and more. Her work was recently featured in Graphis issue 362, an international magazine of the arts. Her fine art photography is represented by the Robin Rice Gallery in New York City and Iris Gallery in Boston.