I’ve always been a hopeless romantic.
From Disney Princess films to being shattered by (500) Days of Summer and La La Land, I grew up believing in happily ever after, in having a love so strong you can feel it in your bones, so deep your chest hurts just thinking about it. A love so intertwined you’ll be torn in half if you ever lose them, but it will all have been worth it.
Of course, this is real life; love isn’t always as passionate as a raging fire. (I know, I’m also married.) But something that movies have taught me is that life can be romanticised. Just because your life is “normal” doesn’t mean it can’t be portrayed like a movie.
I’m on a mission to romanticise your life, and show you how beautiful it already is.
The love you have between you and your partner, the friendships you cherish, the family you treasure, the big day you’re all celebrating together (or by yourselves, whichever you prefer) — I promise you, all of this is already movie-worthy.
Behind the Lens: My Cinematic Photography Approach
What “cinematic” means to me
With movie-quality equipment becoming more accessible to the public, it’s become easier to be inspired by our favourite films and translate it into our own photos and videos. It also means, however, that the word “cinematic” is now thrown around a lot online, so it’s great to clarify what it means to me and what you can expect:
giving you space to be in the moment
being one with our environment - when you have New Zealand’s stunning landscapes in your backyard, you just can’t help it
letting scenes and your emotions unfold organically
shooting based on the natural flow of a story: with a beginning, middle, and end (in exercise terms: warmup, workout, and cool down)
chasing feelings over perfection, movement and connection over traditional poses
composition inspired by movie stills, and guided by natural light
warm, nostalgic colour reminiscent of film photography
Storytelling for your wedding day
Your wedding day is already a beautiful story in itself, and despite having been to many weddings including my own, I don’t treat it as a checklist, but rather as something that unfolds naturally. Rather than directing every scene, I spend most of the day observing, anticipating, and giving moments the space to happen.
That means there is no pressure to pose or perform, but simply to be present, to feel everything fully, to enjoy the presence of your gorgeous new spouse and your loved ones.
I also think about your gallery viewing experience, how one image leads to the next. I make sure that when you go through your photos, you can relive your day as a full, cohesive narrative, not just nice photos in isolation.
“Jille was so patient and super bubbly. An amazing person to work with, especially when we were a bit nervous at the start. She helped us out of our shell and just to simply be ourselves.”
Why Reina Jille?
I go by Jille (pronounced “Jill”), but Reina Jille is my two first names — a common occurrence where I’m from. I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines, and in 2015, I moved with my family to Auckland, New Zealand, where I am now currently based. It is here I truly fell in love with photography, beginning with the great outdoors, and now the beauty in people’s stories.
With cinematic photography in particular, it all started with a trip to South Korea in 2018. Feeling inspired by the K-drama atmosphere and vibe, my best friend Nica and I documented our travels in a cinematic way. Back then it was a bit unorthodox to have such crafted travel photos, but we were obsessed, and we knew there was something special in them. This was the real start of my business, and I didn’t know it at the time.
When I’m not shooting and editing, you’ll find me curled up with a book (anyone on Fable?), out on a hike, or a recent new interest — reformer pilates.
Most importantly, I am a Christian, and my faith plays a huge role in my work. I am constantly in awe of the beauty God has made in nature and people’s lives, and the privilege I have to witness these through my lens — so I take the utmost care in documenting and preserving your memories.
