Nelly Ajvasi : What was the reason you decided to work together?
J&I Photography : Joanna and I met when our daughters were 2 years old in a playgroup and got chatting. it soon became clear that we both had a passion for photography. There was never any time to really develop this interest until our children got older. We were invited to take photos at a wedding for a friend and after that we felt that this is what we would love to do more of! We found that we both have different styles and approaches to photography, Joanna has an amazing eye for capturing details and composition, I am the bossy one, good to get people together and pose in a way that we want to get the best shots. We are really good friends, respect each other and work well together. We have complete trust in each other and really enjoy what we are doing.
Nelly Ajvasi : Which projects have you already made together?
J&I Photography : We have done a few weddings both of couple known to us and strangers. We have done portrait sessions, commercial photos for products and clothes. We are about to photograph a newborn baby for the first time this weekend, which we like to add to our repetoar, and we are really looking forward to it. We also collaborate with other photographers, models and MUA’s and set up photos session which we us to learn about lights, different settings, different ideas various technics we can’t try out on paid jobs. It’s a great way to get to know models and to find a bunch of people you like to work with We all share our ideas and teach each other. These projects are really fun and rewarding.
Nelly Ajvasi : What would you see as an advantage from the other?
J&I Photography: For me Joanna is my rock. I know her photos are brilliant and she moves around seeing details I might miss. She is always calm, patient, smiling and just looking at her calms me down if I am felling rushed. We are very different and for that reason I feel we complement each other so well. She loves full figure shots with lush background and I am more of a portrait photographer – between us, we tend to produce a vast variety of photos for our customers.
Nelly Ajvasi : How do you create a relaxed atmosphere while photographing?
J&I Photography : My best way is to start taking lots of pics saying that I am just checking the light so no need to pose or do anything, this get the subjects used to the clicking noise of the camera. Then general chatting, directing and lots of praise and smiles puts everyone at ease. To keep on talking to the models/couples is a great way to make everyone relax, I can’t resist to crack a few jokes….but I always do that anyway, so it’s not something I put on. Joanna is quieter but has a calm face on an angel and people feel relaxed just seeing her!
Nelly Ajvasi : What are your plans as a team for the future?
J&I Photography: Our plans is to expand our wedding photography. This is our first love. We would also like to get into commercial photography more, working with models and designers. You can find J&I Photography here : http://www.jiphotographyforalluk.com
