Who’s behind the camera? Here’s a little bit about us, because if we’re spending your wedding day with you and your favourite people, we’d better make sure the vibes are right!
We’re J&J, Janina and Jawad. Happily married, but not to each other! We met when we both photographed a huge, hectic wedding many years ago and have been great friends ever since. We work together as Reportage Studios.
Let’s start with Janina
I was brought up in a house full of creativity and surrounded by paintings, music, filmmakers and producers. I got my first camera at the age of 12, and now I’m a grown-up (only in age, I’m still a big kid at heart) photography is my art form, and weddings are where I capture the magic as it happens!
Why I do this
You can read more about my ‘why’ in my blog post The power of photographs – how one wedding changed my perspective forever – it’s a bit of an emotional one!
In summary, capturing and preserving memories is something I feel really passionate about, especially when it comes to having precious photos of family, friends, and loved ones who are no longer with us. Being able to look at a photo and be transported back to happy times, feel the emotions, and remember spending time with the people who mean the most – to me, that’s priceless.
What I love
My family and friends (Wife and mum to two amazing kids)
Animals (My dream home would be filled with pets – dogs, horses, chickens and rescue donkeys!)
The outdoors (I’m happiest in muddy wellies)
Music (Everything from Nirvana, The Beatles and ACDC (thanks to my awesome Dad) to Kings of Leon, Rita Ora, and even some country legends.
Aviation (When I was a little girl, I was always playing with airplanes and my dad helped me build models – I’ve taken this up a level now and I’m training for my pilot’s licence!)
Food
Good Book
Pizza
Travel
Sour sweets (the kind that turn your brain inside out!)
Pizza
Cheese
Did I mention pizza?
Cheese?
Ok, so I love cheese, and I love pizza – but my documentary style of wedding photography is a strictly cheese-free zone! The best photos are of people being themselves, relaxing, and forgetting about the camera. I capture authentic emotions and fun moments as they happen, without ordering people to pose or smile. You do you!
There is nothing better to photograph than people being themselves, living their best life, enjoying their day, and celebrating without a care in the world. Parties, drinks, dance moves, hugs, tears, and cheeky little grins – That’s the real stuff I look for.
We’re all a little bit weird, right?
Normal is boring! Everyone should feel free to let their weirdness shine through. I love seeing people be the truest versions of themselves, living authentically, embracing everything that makes them who they are.
Some of what makes me, me – I’m a morning person (disgusting, I know), there’s nothing better than a good cup of coffee and a walk by the seaside in the morning. I speak Italian, Polish, and English (sometimes all at the same time by accident… I call it Pinglish!).
I don’t like chocolate, but I love sour sweets, tequila or a really good ‘old-fashioned’. I get inspired by film photography, so even when I am not working, I still have a camera in my hand! I also have a naughty little sausage dog called Rizzo – you might see or hear her on our video calls. She likes to remind people she’s there and is the star of the show!
Memories and adventures
Spending time with my family, travelling, and meeting new people – that’s when I am happiest. I meet so many people through wedding photography, both at weddings and friends in the industry. I’ve even tackled my fear of public speaking and given some talks at conferences, and led workshops. Holding a microphone and standing in front of 200 photographers – I won’t lie, scared the shit out of me! But the scary bits were worth it for the parties afterwards!
We are team so meet Jawad
On your wedding day we work 99% times as duo so you’ll meet the other half of the team, Jawad! We met when we both photographed a huge, hectic wedding many years ago and have been great friends ever since. Jawad is also a proud parent and lives with his family not too far away from me. He’s a huge Formula One fan, loves DIY, and if we’re talking snacks, he can never resist doughnuts, sweets, and chocolate!
We work well as a team, especially when travelling to weddings. Jawad is the driver, and Janina is the patient passenger and DJ for the car disco (Poor Jawad!) The party animal of the team is 100% Janina – Jawad is the quiet, cool, sensible one (well…most of the time!).
Despite being really quite tall, Jawad manages to disappear into a crowd and capture things people didn’t even realise were happening. People are ALWAYS asking us how long we’ve known our couples, as we tend to blend in with their friends and family so fast!
You have heard our story, now tell us yours?
You have heard our story, now tell us yours?
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