The Power of Photographs: How One Wedding Changed My Perspective Forever

The Power of Photographs: How One Wedding Changed My Perspective Forever

A heartfelt story of love, loss, and why I capture emotional wedding photography with honesty, soul, and a deep respect for your most meaningful moments.

We share a lot about the weddings we photograph as Reportage Studios; we talk about the venues we work at, the places we visit, and the stories of the awesome weddings we capture each year…But why do we do it? 

Today Janina is sharing why she’s so passionate about capturing emotional wedding photography that tells a story, and how in 2025 this became more important than ever.

A shared dream – Janina’s story

I think it’s important to have dreams in life. Little dreams, big dreams, whatever inspires you and keeps you looking to the future and excited for what comes next. For me, there was an important dream I shared with my big brother. We dreamed that one day we would work at a wedding together, he would bring music to the party as a talented DJ and I would capture photographs of the fun, laughter, and emotion of the day. 

He always encouraged me in my dreams, and he put out a message on Instagram to share this dream with the world – a wonderful couple responded, Ewa and Jurek wanted us to join them on their wedding day in Gdansk, Poland. They could see our passion, authenticity, and love for what we both do, and they wanted us to be part of their story. It was really happening!

Sadly, life doesn’t always give you the time you think you’ll have. In March 2025 my brother passed away very suddenly, he was gone before we could make our dream a reality. As anyone who has lost a loved one knows, the pain is unbearable, and there are still times when the world feels like a very dark place without him. 

Ewa and Jurek are such genuine caring humans, and they put zero pressure on me to photograph their wedding, they said they would love for me to be there, but that it was my decision to make. I knew in my heart that this wedding was something I needed to do, for myself and in honour of my brother. 

Wedding in Gdansk, Poland – A place full of childhood memories

As I gathered my kit and packed my bags to leave for Poland, I had no idea how important this trip would turn out to be. It confirmed my reason for doing what I do, and made me realise more than ever before that people and memories are the most important part of every wedding I capture. 

As a documentary wedding photographer, I’ve always valued real moments over posed portraits, and this wedding was going to show me why.

Getting on that plane was tough, my brother wouldn’t be there to meet me, a place where we grew up together and have so many happy memories. I arrived in Gdansk on Wednesday, and the wedding was happening on Saturday, so I gave myself some time to revisit some of those memories, to feel close to my brother, and soak up the atmosphere of the place. Tasting the ice cream that we enjoyed together as kids transported me back in time, and I felt like he was right there with me.

Reportage wedding photography gives me a unique opportunity to freeze moments in time, capture emotion, and create something that will allow people to relive a moment in time and see the faces of their loved ones enjoying those moments with them. The photographs I have of my brother at my own wedding are so precious to me, and being able to create that for other people is something I feel hugely grateful to be doing. 

The power of photography – why these moments mean everything

Ewa and Jurek are absolutely my kind of people, they saw the connection between me and my brother and wanted to make our dream come true. They share the same values, that experiences and memories matter, and that living authentically in the moment is more important than posing or perfection. These kind, beautiful humans were celebrating their story with their loved ones, and welcomed me (and all my emotions too) as part of the family, trusting me to capture what was most important to them.

They’d spent the day before decorating their wedding venue, Restauracja Nad Potokeim, with handmade decorations. Seeing everyone working together to get the venue ready, and then relaxing with drinks afterwards just shows how much love and support surrounds Ewa and Jurek. 

I joined Ewa and her daughter Nadziejka (her name translates to ‘hope’) for dinner, we chatted about plans and just connected as humans. Ewa was very clear that she trusted me completely, she knew I would capture their wedding as I always do, as if they were my own family. 

From getting ready together at the salon and then at home, to Nadziejka singing as Ewa walked down the aisle, their little boy Tadziu giving them the rings, and Jurek’s Dad honouring the family tradition and writing a poem for his brother to read them on their wedding day – the whole day was a huge bubble of family love.  I am so lucky and grateful for this amazing job i get to do.

Polish hospitality and thoughtful touches

Polish hospitality is genuinely out of this world! I was encouraged to eat while my food was still hot, and every mouthful was delicious! They made sure guests had plenty of Polish vodka, as well as a cute prosecco van providing bubbles throughout the evening. They’d thought of everything and poured so much love into it – I had a few tears as I noticed my name card at the table had my name, as well as a little moustache pin badge to remember my brother, who’s DJ name was DJ Z Wasem… or DJ Moustache.

The evening was full of fun and everyone partied on until it was time for the venue to close. They left with buckets of ice and plastic cups and headed to the beach to welcome the morning. Being with them all on the beach as the sun came up, with the sand beneath their feet and all of their favourite people – that’s what authentic wedding photography all about. I think it’s the longest I’ve ever stayed at a wedding, and when I finally headed to bed at 6am I knew I’d experienced something really special.

Emotional wedding photography – This is my “Why” 

As I look back on the photographs from that weekend, I know exactly why I do this as a job. The long days in the heat, the travelling, the nights spent at my computer editing… it’s all worth it to capture those memories and preserve them forever. 

I do this with my whole heart, with every bone in my body knowing how important those photos will be – not just immediately after the wedding but for years and decades to come.

Losing my brother could have derailed me, it could have been a reason to withdraw from the happy family events and the celebrations – but it has only given me more passion for what I do, for capturing the precious moments people spend with their loved ones. I always want to photograph things authentically, honestly, and in a way that reflects what it felt like to be there with those people on that day.

A wedding isn’t about perfection, it’s not about the place settings, the invites, or the coordinated outfits. Those things are all part of the day and where it took place, but the real, unscripted moments with family and friends are why I’m there. I’ll be quietly photographing moments you might miss, interactions, smiles, tears – those are the photos you’ll keep looking at long after the cake is eaten and the flowers fade. 

Capturing the unrepeatable and precious is my purpose. 

Print your photos – a visual legacy

Something I’m passionate about is the value of printing your photos and having something physical to hold in your hands, to pass around the table and share with your family. Having that physical connection to moments in the past is priceless – I love seeing my children turning the pages of an album, asking who people are, and feeling like they are part of events they were too young to remember or that happened before they were born. 

Photographs can’t bring back the people we have lost, but they let us see and feel their presence and transport us back to moments with them. I know, because I have those photos too – and they’ve never been more important to me.

For couples who value real, unscripted emotions – to treasure forever

Capturing award-winning wedding photography has taken me to many unique places, meeting people from all over the world and telling their stories. I’ve realised now that I tend to work with couples who have the same values and are looking for authenticity. So, please do get in touch if this sounds like you.

I care so deeply about the stories I am trusted to tell, I’m not in it for fame or fortune, for me it’s all about the people. We’ll rebel against the posed and deliberate with beautiful, emotional images of real humans who want to celebrate being themselves, being together, and being in love. 

That’s me, that’s my ‘why’

Thank you to Ewa and Jurek for trusting me, and for sharing their beautifully relaxed, real, and emotional day with me. It has reignited my love for what I do, and shown my exactly why I’m so passionate about wedding photography.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years, especially when times have been tough. Thank you to every couple I have worked with, for being yourselves and sharing your days with me – it has been SO much fun. I’m excited for all the people I am yet to meet, and all the families I will be welcomed into.

Most of all, thank you to my brother for continuing to provide me with inspiration and strengthening my connection with what I do – you are still changing my life and you’ll be with me always.