About Me

For Those Who Still Look Up and Wonder

I’m Ellie Williams-Johnson, the eyes behind Dead Star Photography. I’ve always been drawn to moments that make you pause — the kind that quietly ask why we’re here, where we belong, and how something so vast can feel so personal.

The name Deads Sar Photography comes from that wonder: the knowledge that we’re all made of stardust — the same elements as stars — and that the light we see in the night sky began its journey long before it reached us.
Photography is like that too: a way of preserving fleeting moments, capturing light that has already passed — because it mattered.

To me, that’s what gives both photography and life their meaning. Our moments don’t last forever — but they can still be sacred.

The Story Behind the Lens

My love for photography began with my Aunt Becky, whose art taught me the power of truly seeing.
Years later, my husband surprised me with my first camera — a quiet, life-changing moment that set everything in motion.
Since then, I’ve spent years learning, growing, and developing my own way of capturing light, emotion, and connection through the lens.

What I Photograph

📍 Based in Cookeville, TN, I shoot a mix of:

  • Live music photography for local musicians performing in bars, venues, and small events

  • Landscape and wildlife photography from Middle Tennessee and my travels

  • Architectural and still life scenes that carry atmosphere and depth

Whether it’s a quiet mountain road, a storm breaking over the coast, or the raw energy of a bar show — my goal is always the same:
To create images that remind us how small, connected, and extraordinary this experience really is.

Dead Star Photography is for:

  • Artists and musicians who want their passion visually honored

  • Collectors who feel drawn to natural beauty, solitude, and wonder

  • Anyone who’s ever looked up and thought: “I want to remember this.”