Life’s milestones were meant to be captured. We don’t truly appreciate photography until time has passed, and these photos become treasures.
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Hi, my name is Jason, but most people just call me Jay.
I’ve dabbled in numerous professional industries throughout my life that have shaped my work ethic and understanding of what it means to own your craft, but I’ve always found myself coming back to my love of photography. There’s just something that will never be able to replace the artistry, the relationships built, and the sacred value of being able to give clients heirlooms to look back on and relive them with the same emotion as the day it happened. Which is why I dedicate my full time and attention to this career.
I have accumulated 20 years of experience in Wedding, Engagement, Maternity, Automotive, Boudoir, Lifestyle, and Fashion photography, I’ve learned so much about the technical fundamentals of my gear, to learning how to manipulate light, to handling stressful moments with a calm and clear mindset, to finding my own personal editing style. Each process is always evolving, and I’m always looking for new ways to perfect my craft.
Every photographer has their own unique style, and I would consider mine to be more of a cinematic documentary aesthetic. I look to capture emotional moments in conjunction with composing with the right lighting to tell your story in a way that feels raw and intentional. I stay up to date with trends, but keep my style intact - as ultimately, trends come and go.
While I’m based in the heart of Southern California - Los Angeles, my work takes me from the coastal light of Orange County and San Diego to the rustic vineyards of Temecula and across the Inland Empire. I absolutely love experiencing new venues and scenic environments!
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What 20 years being a professional photographer has taught me:
Coming prepared: Technology can’t always be 100% trusted. Which is why I incorporate a dual redundancy workflow. I always bring a secondary camera body, I shoot on dual memory cards with backups ready, and I’m always ready for the worst-case scenario. I even dual archive images when I get back to the office! The events I capture will never be able to be re-captured, and I don’t take that lightly.
Being the calm: Events, especially weddings, can often times be stressful for my clients. Having experienced over 100+ weddings and a multitude of potential problems; I have learned how to adapt quickly, or just be the calm that my clients’ need. For most of my clients, this is their first wedding, so it’s a lot easier for me to guide them through their challenges. The last thing I want is for my clients to be stressed or anxious, so I do what I can to bring those levels down. Whether that means helping my clients plan their timeline, keep the day progressing smoothly, or assisting the elderly around the venue - I will always do what I can to find a resolution!
Familiarity with different cultures: I have captured many different cultural ceremonies in the past. From multi-day Hindu weddings, to Muslim, East Asian, and Christian/Catholic/Jewish ceremonies - I’ve experienced them all! I attribute my understanding of each culture’s traditions from working at one of the most well known wedding studios in Socal for over 7 years. So, although I don’t have many of these cultural references in my portfolio, I do know where to be when the pivotal moments are about to happen! And I love learning about the significance of every culture that I get to photograph.