A love for film and real connection.
From an unexpected high school photography class to documenting love together, this creative duo brings a thoughtful blend of documentary storytelling, editorial sensibility and a love for film to every wedding. We chat about creative chemistry, vintage Hollywood inspiration and capturing the moments that make each love story uniquely its own.
You met in photography class as high school sweethearts. What was it about photography that first drew you both in?
Funny enough, neither of us actually chose photography! We both ended up in the class by chance. It was a traditional 35mm film class, where we learned to develop film and print our own photographs in the darkroom. For me, photography came naturally, and I genuinely loved it. We also had an incredible teacher who encouraged our creativity and made a lasting impression on both of us. Looking back, I think that experience is a big part of why Julio encouraged me to start my photography business years later. It’s funny how one unexpected class ended up shaping so much of our lives!
You’ve gone from photographing alongside each other to building a life around documenting love. What has working together taught you about seeing a story from two perspectives?
You’d think after being together since high school, we’d know everything about each other, but somehow every wedding still surprises us! I’m definitely more detail-oriented, while Julio tends to be more spontaneous. We don’t always see things the same way creatively, and I think that’s what makes working together so special. Every wedding brings new ideas and challenges, and we constantly find ourselves inspired by something the other person saw or created. It’s taught us that having different perspectives isn’t about choosing one over the other, but finding ways to bring them together to create something neither of us would’ve thought of alone.
You say that who your couples are, both together and individually, shapes the way you photograph them. What’s something about a couple that can completely change the way you approach their wedding?
I think it’s the way their personalities complement each other. It’s so interesting how one person might be more reserved while the other is playful and outgoing, and somehow they bring out completely different sides of each other. We love observing those dynamics and finding creative ways to translate them into photos and films. We don’t want every couple to look or feel the same in our work. Ideally, someone should be able to look at one of our photographs and get a sense of who those two people are, even if they’ve never met them.
Your work can move between documentary and editorial. What makes a wedding feel like it calls for a little more direction, and when is it better to simply get out of the way?
I think that decision starts long before the wedding day! We spend a lot of time getting to know our couples, whether that’s grabbing lunch, sharing inspiration, or simply learning what makes them feel comfortable and confident. If a bride loves editorial photography, we’ll intentionally make time for that and collaborate on ideas beforehand. But knowing when to step aside is just as important. There are moments, like private vows, where I wouldn’t interrupt for anything, even if the lighting or composition isn’t perfect. Ultimately, it’s about understanding what matters most to each couple and knowing when our direction adds something and when their experience matters more than the photographs and videos.
You have a deep curiosity for film and Super 8. What is it about the feeling of those formats that digital photography can’t quite replicate?
What I love most about film is the beauty of its imperfections. With digital, we can take hundreds of photos until we get the perfect one. Film forces you to slow down, be intentional, and trust yourself. You can’t immediately check your work or keep trying until everything is perfect. And honestly, it just looks so freaking good! The grain, the colors, the texture, I love all of it. What’s funny is how simple these formats actually are. We’ve become so used to overcomplicating photography, but film reminds you that sometimes the best thing you can do is stop overthinking and just create.
If you could bring one vintage visual reference into every wedding you photograph, what would it be?
I’d probably say Hollywood portraits from the 1950s. I’m fascinated by how people were posed back then. The smallest adjustments to someone’s posture, the placement of their hands, or even the direction of their gaze could completely change a photograph. I think we’ve become so focused on making everything look natural that sometimes we forget how beautiful intentional posing can be. I’d love to bring more of that into wedding photography.
You photograph weddings close to home and wherever they take you. What does arriving somewhere completely new unlock creatively for you?
We genuinely think we create some of our best work in places we’ve never been before! We have friends who love returning to familiar locations because they know exactly how to work with them, but we’re the complete opposite. A new location feels like a blank canvas. It’s an opportunity to discover new light, textures, colors, and architecture without any preconceived ideas of what we should create. The adventure is part of the inspiration, too. Exploring new cultures and unfamiliar surroundings makes us notice things we might otherwise overlook simply because we’re so used to seeing them. By the time the wedding begins, we’re already feeling inspired by everything around us!
A slightly offbeat one: if a couple handed you the creative brief for their wedding and said, “Make it feel like us, but surprise us,” where would you start?
First, we’d look at their personalities, their wedding design, and everything we’ve learned about them. We’d put together a mood board inspired by things beyond weddings, like fashion editorials, films, architecture, or even travel photography, and see what resonates with them. From there, we’d start thinking about how to use their surroundings in unexpected ways. We love pushing past the idea that wedding portraits have to be so prim and proper. If that means climbing something, jumping on a bed in a wedding gown, or trying a completely unconventional angle, we’re all for it! The goal is to surprise them with something creative that still feels completely like them.
You want your images to instantly transport people back to their wedding day. What do you hope they remember from your photographs that they might otherwise have forgotten?
Their loved ones, without a doubt. We think it’s easy to remember your beautiful portraits, but it’s the way your parents looked at you, how your friends hugged you, and the things people said that can slowly fade with time. Your guests play such an important role in your wedding, and we want you to remember how much love surrounded you that day. But more than anything, we want our couples to remember their why. Why they chose each other, why they decided to build a life together, and why saying yes was the easiest decision they ever made. After all, this is the beginning of their own little family.
Looking ahead, what kinds of stories, moments or imagery are you most excited to capture more of?
We’re so excited for what’s ahead! Photography-wise, we’re looking forward to more fashion-forward weddings and seeing how different destinations inspire our couples creatively. We also want to experiment more with light, whether that’s harsh shadows, direct sunlight, or embracing darker environments instead of always reaching for a flash. Sometimes the feeling of a scene is more important than seeing every detail. With video, we’re excited to create more films that feel like watching an old home movie, where you’re not just seeing what happened, but experiencing the day again through a different perspective.
We’re so excited for what’s ahead! We can’t wait to see more fashion-forward weddings, especially how our brides and grooms get creative with what they wear and how they bring their personalities into every part of the celebration. We’re also really excited to see couples rethink the guest experience, from intimate gatherings to unexpected ways of bringing everyone together. Creatively, we want to keep experimenting with light, whether that’s harsh shadows, direct sun, or embracing darker scenes for the atmosphere they create. And with video, we want to make more films that feel like home movies, where watching them brings you right back to how the day actually felt.
Explore more of Jeilys Santander Photo & Film
Website: jeisantander.com and Instagram:@jeilyssantanderphoto
Jeilys Santander Photo & Film
