From a farm to a photo site: How goats led to photo backdrops

OLMSTED FALLS — They call themselves The Overnight Farmer because that's how it happened — overnight. But how did a guy from North Ridgeville and a girl from Cleveland end up with not only a menagerie of farm animals, but also a popular side business as an outdoor holiday photo hot spot? Well, that just kind of happened too, according to owners Bridget and Joe Johnson. The couple did what most couples do — they got married, bought a house in a development and had kids. However, they soon realized, it wasn't for them. "We wanted space and more land … and privacy," Bridget Johnson said with a laugh. "Of course, we don't really have privacy now." It's not the seven goats, six sheep, 46 chickens, three turkeys, miniature horse or miniature donkey that are crowding things up. That would be the droves of families — typically 70 per day — that travel to the farm for elaborate outdoor backdrops for their photos. The Johnsons bought their home on 1.5 acres about 5½ years ago and spent the first year or so fixing it up. Then, came the animals — goats. "We both love animals," Bridget Johnson said. "With the goats, I didn't wait. I kinda don't ask permission. When Joe came home from work, there were goats in the dog area. I told him he needed to build a barn before winter." A scientist at Rhenium Alloy in North Ridgeville, Joe Johnson got to work. "Building the barn was the hardest part," he said. "My aunt lives across the street and two houses down and she was getting rid of a barn, so I deconstructed it and rebuilt it here. There was a time crunch, which made it more stressful, but we already had the goats." Just like that, they became "YouTube farmers," according to Bridget Johnson. Everything she has learned has been from doing research online and asking questions of the vets at Wellington Veterinary Clinic, which cares for the animals. Cleaning stalls, feedings every morning, locking up each night, Joe Johnson does it and enjoys it. "This is really the life," the 1997 Elyria Catholic graduate said. "It's a different way of life. And it's such a good way." A few months after the first animals arrived, during the early days of the pandemic, Bridget Johnson set up a couple of photo sets and invited family and friends to come take pictures. They enjoyed it so much, she thought she would offer it to the public to see if anyone was interested. They were. "It just grew bigger and bigger," she said. They have offered Easter backdrops, summer sessions, fall scenes — including a "Stranger Things" theme — and holiday sets worthy of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Oftentimes, as soon as one photo season ends, the next one begins. Fall photos wrapped up Oct. 30 and holiday photos began Nov. 5, which doesn't leave a lot of time for anything else. The Johnsons try to keep a happy home/work balance by offering photo sessions on Saturdays and Sundays only. This month, sessions are available through Dec. 17. Families reserve a time slot for $10 online, arrive at the farm at the allotted time, and pay a $30 photo fee. Bridget, 39, or Joe Johnson, 43, are always around to help out with photos, making sure that all family members are in the photos. Guests can stay as long as they like and take as many photos as they want. Bridget Johnson already is toying with the idea of a Valentine's Day pop up or maybe a back-to-school weekend, while simultaneously thinking about next year's holiday sets. "I asked for a log cabin this year and didn't get it," she said. "I'll have it next year." Luckily, Joe Johnson loves everything about the farm and the photo business and he's happy to build it. "I always like tinkering," he said. "I have a hard time sitting still. She definitely likes me tinkering. When I see the backyard and look out into the pasture, I know I put every post in, or I look at the barn or the gazebo, I know I built it." The best part about the farm is the people, Bridget Johnson said. "Everyone has been wonderful," she said. "I love seeing maternity shoots turn into baby photos the next year. It's just awesome. We've met so many people. It feels more like a community now." Contact Christina Jolliffe at ctnews@chroniclet.com.