ABOUT ME
My interest in photography started long before it became a career.
I remember experimenting with my parent’s disposable film camera, which they'd let me use at family events or when we travelled. I remember how awesome it was taking photos, to dropping off your films to get printed then wait to see how your photos turned out. Then the Game Boy Camera came out, which had me more hooked.
I loved the idea of seeing the world through a lens.
My first job was at Kodak Pictures, where I learned the foundations of film photography and watched the industry shift into early digital. Graphic design and Photoshop became my own obsession around the same time. I'd spend hours repairing photographs people brought in, prints with tears through them, scratches, colour that had faded decades ago and sometimes adding someone into a family photo who hadn't been able to be there.
My first DSLR came soon after. A second-hand Nikon I bought “which took me ages to save for”, Photography grew from a passion into a career that has now spanned more than 15+ years.
Over the years I've worked across photography, videography, graphic design, branding and creative direction, with my work spanning fashion, editorial, campaigns, product, e-commerce and portraiture. I've also had the opportunity to work on projects connected with global fashion brands including Off-White, Givenchy, Balenciaga, Amiri and Palm Angels, among others.
Photography has also taken me beyond the camera itself. I've built and operated my own creative businesses, giving me a hands-on understanding of the creative process from the ground up - from concept, branding and design through to production, e-commerce and the final visual.
My connection with maternity photography came from a much more personal place.
When my wife and I were expecting our first child, I photographed her pregnancy and the journey into becoming parents. What started as simply wanting to document such an important chapter in our lives became something I genuinely connected with.
Being there through the process — capturing the anticipation of meeting our baby, the small moments along the way, and eventually photographing those first moments with our daughter, showed me how powerful photography can be when an image represents something much bigger than just a photograph.
Today I bring all of those experiences together through photography and creative direction. Whether I'm creating a campaign for a brand, an editorial story, product imagery or something deeply personal, my approach remains the same: plan it properly, direct it throughout, and make images that still look like the person or brand they belong to.
JONATHAN "JONNY" PATERNO
Photographer & Creative Director
