Elevated wedding photography for modern romantics.
Zara Staples and Jared Tinetti are emerging as two of the most exciting voices in contemporary wedding imagery. Known for their emotive, colour-rich storytelling and their effortless blend of analogue and digital formats, they bring a cinematic sensitivity to every celebration they document. Having been featured in Together Journal multiple times in print and across the web, their work continues to resonate with couples drawn to their distinctive perspective. Originally from small towns in Aotearoa, they now split their time between New Zealand and the Northern Hemisphere, travelling worldwide. With a shared love of film, music and honest connection, Zara and Jared are redefining modern wedding photography and filmmaking.
Pictured above is photographer Zara Staples and her partner Jared Tinetti
Harriet + Chloe dancing by Jared Tinetti
Dining table from day to night by Jared Tinetti
Your work has a distinctive emotional pull, combining documentary authenticity with a touch of editorial refinement. How would you describe the creative signature that defines your photography and films today?
My creative signature sits at the intersection of honesty and intention. I’m drawn to the real, unposed moments that show who people truly are, but I also love refining those moments with a subtle editorial sensibility, through composition and light. So the final images feel both authentic and elevated.
Whether I’m photographing or Jared is filming, our focus is on emotional truth. We want people to feel the lived experience all over again. That means embracing imperfections, leaning into atmosphere, and shaping a visual narrative that feels visceral, intimate, and timeless.
Today, our style is defined by documentary storytelling with a cinematic edge, and raw connection guided by quiet, intentional artistry.
Guest emotion pots card by Jaren Tinetti
You both began taking photos young, shaped by very different early influences. How do your individual backgrounds influence the way you see and capture a wedding day now?
Jared grew up in Katikati, and I’m from Gisborne originally. We both grew up spending a lot of time with our grandparents, which is why we think we are so similar.
My grandparents were and still are my biggest teachers. I would split my time on my Gran & Poppas’ farm and with my Nana, helping her in her garden and baking treats.
My Poppa would often point out names of grasses or birds and trees, which taught me from early on to observe and be aware of some seemingly everyday things that others may pass by without a second thought. This has translated into the way I capture any moment in time. Photographing people and special memories really is all about mastering the art of observation.
Jared also grew up with a lot of nature around him, on a lifestyle block. We both started photographing our friends in our early days; it kept things fun and low-pressure. I think this also helps with directing our couples, because we had to direct our friends who weren’t professional models, who knew exactly what to do and when. As things have progressed, we are able to bring all of these skills we learnt early on and bring them with us on a wedding day. With all this past experience, it really helps us to be a calming presence throughout the ever-changing emotions and fast-paced moments of a celebration.
You shoot across 35mm, 120 medium format, Super 8, 16mm and digital. What draws you to working in both analogue and digital, and how do you decide which medium best tells a couple’s story?
Although I work across both analogue and digital formats, film is where so much of my passion lies. Shooting on 35mm, 120, and with Jared on Super 8, or 16mm brings a sense of magic and intention that feels deeply connected to why I create in the first place. Film slows everything down, it asks me to be present, to trust my instincts, and to honour the moment rather than chase perfection. There’s a sincerity and nostalgia in analogue that I find impossible to replicate with digital.
Digital still plays an important role, it gives us the flexibility to move quickly, respond to energy, and document the day with clarity and depth. But film is the heartbeat. It adds texture, warmth, and emotional weight that shapes how I see and feel a story.
When deciding which medium to use, we are guided by the couple and the atmosphere of their day. Some stories feel inherently poetic or timeless, and film becomes the natural choice. Others call for a blend, where digital supports the pace and spontaneity, while with the combination use of film, it brings out the soul and softness of the day.
Each medium has its own language, but film is often the one that speaks the loudest to us. Our aim is always to choose the format, or combination, that will hold their story with the deepest honesty and feeling.
You have been featured in Together Journal many times in print and online. In your eyes, what sets your approach apart, and what do you hope couples feel when they look back at the work you created for them?
Being featured in Together Journal has always felt meaningful because they were such an early source of inspiration for me. In those early years, TJ helped keep me inspired by showing what was possible in the wedding space by celebrating work that felt honest, artful, yet still human.
What sets my approach apart is a commitment to presence. I’m not just documenting a wedding; I’m tuning into the energy, the relationships, and the quiet in-between moments that often say more than the big ones. I guide when needed, but I mostly observe, letting things unfold naturally so the images feel lived-in rather than staged. There’s an editorial sensibility in how I frame and compose, but the heartbeat is always documentary and emotional.
When couples look back at their photos and films, I want them to simply feel that moment.
I hope they see not just how everything looked, but how it felt: the anticipation, the softness, the wild joy, the calm, the intimacy. My goal is for the work to become a kind of time capsule and something that grows more meaningful with each year that passes.
Your influences span weddings, live music, film and editorial work. What inspires you creatively, and how do you continue to evolve your visual language?
Being creative is a part of who we are, we honestly know no different. The way we see the world has been a perspective we have had as long as we can remember. And with time this evolves as we get older, have new experiences and go through different life stages. The key way we evolved from our early photography days was by dipping our toes in every avenue, this is the best way to find which subject you feel most passionate about photographing or creatively documenting. Oftentimes it’s not what you’d expect it to be. When I (Zara) began, I didn’t start out by saying I want to be a wedding photographer I just knew I enjoyed photography and ran with it, I said yes to a lot, learnt by doing and that introduced me to people along the way that eventually led me to giving weddings a go by second shooting. As for Jared, touring for live music, which is a fast-paced environment, and also enjoying street photography has interestingly been a great segway into capturing weddings and has brought a unique perspective in his style and approach.
In short, give everything a go, you never know what perspective it will give your style when you end up finding your passion subject.
Guest Dancing post card by Jared Tinetti
Choosing a photographer or filmmaker can feel daunting for couples. What advice would you give to those wanting imagery that feels authentic, atmospheric and true to who they are?
The most authentic, atmospheric work comes from trust and freedom, letting go of trying to perform or replicate someone else’s wedding. When you choose someone whose approach aligns with your values and you allow them the space to observe rather than orchestrate, the imagery naturally becomes truer to who you are.
You could begin by writing down some of your own wedding day values and what is most important to you specifically. So when you are looking at portfolios, you’ll have those values instinctively in your mind, you will feel drawn to those portfolios that show these important moments.
Think about how these images or films make you feel. If they can make you feel something from a day you didn’t experience, imagine how you’d feel getting those images for your own day.
It’s also important to choose someone whose presence feels right. Your photographer or filmmaker will be close to you during intimate, meaningful moments, so feeling at ease with them is essential. A conversation can tell you a lot: do they listen, ask thoughtful questions, and show genuine curiosity about who you are
Keep track of the artists you feel drawn to most, write them down, make a list and once you’re ready to make contact, tell them who you are, what you value for your day and what is most important to you, because this also helps the artist know if you are a good match.
I would strongly recommend having a video call or if you can, have a meeting in person before you book anyone in. And ask questions, for example:
– How do you typically work on a wedding day, observing, directing, or a mix of both?
– How do you approach moments that are emotional or intimate?
– What moments do you tend to prioritise that couples might not think to ask for?
Not all photographers have a fly on the wall, blend in like a guest approach like we do so it’s important to ask how they do approach capturing moments.
You capture weddings as a team, translating a shared vision through both photo and film. How does working together shape your process on set and the way you build a narrative?
Jared and I always say we feel like we are the same person, but in different bodies, every day we will have a ‘I was just about to ask that or I was just thinking the same thing’ moment so having this existing in sync connection has translated really well as we have transitioned to working together on weddings.
It did take some practice to get the flow on a wedding day, but since we already had experience working together, such as when I helped Jared shoot live music shows, where we planned together as a team. We were able to take this planning and apply to wedding days, to ensure we can tell a cohesive story with a shared vision.
Natlaie and Kevind dancing by Jared Tinetti
The film and photography world is shifting quickly. What changes are you observing in the industry right now, and what do you predict for the future?
I feel the biggest shift is in videography, where couples are wanting less of a big production video, and more of a stripped back authentic approach that feels light hearted and fun, capturing the feeling and vibe of the day along with those in between moments that you may miss yourself.
After so many celebrations and locations, is there a wedding or experience that has stayed with you, something that reminds you why you do this work?
Those days where we are reminded of why we do this, are those where we have full trust and creative freedom, along with time to tap into the environment and those creative energies. We have been so lucky to work with so many great people who have given us that space. I have an emotional attachment to every day I’m able to capture so it is hard to single out one day when they’re all so unique and special in their own ways.
For more information, visit zarastaples.com and @zarastaplesweddings, plus jaredtinettiphoto.com + @jaredtinetti.films
Explore Zara Staples on the Together Journal Online Directory.
Zara Staples Photography
