Jana&Eli

Jana

Contreras

Contreras

       Eight years ago we got married and if I am being completely honest, we did not love being engaged. It was stressful, and there were so many unknowns about how we should even go about planning our wedding day. Going through all of this shaped us into who we are today as a photographer/videographer team. Our goal is to always take one thing off your plate, dream up ideas for your elopement based off what you love and create a day that is filled with things you love to do. 

       We document elopements and small weddings as they unfold. We love to take a step back in each part of your wedding day to document it as you experience it.  Whether it is just you two eloping or your family & friends are there too, we are there to help you feel completely comfortable and find time to enjoy your wedding day. We also love helping plan unique wedding experiences with our couples for their wedding weekend. This can be anything from kayaking down Big River Beach in Mendocino to hiking in Joshua Tree to surfing in the Pacific Ocean. We love filming/photographing another day as well as the wedding day itself to see all parts of your story with each other and tell it intentionally. 

Little about Jana: 

      I am Jana Contreras, a 31 year old with an old soul. I am located in Sonoma County, California but love travel all over to document stories. I am married to my other half, Eli Contreras. Eli is one crazy talented musician, a self taught cook and now on my team as our videographer. We have a beautiful baby boy named James Wilder. He is now 3.5 years old and we are more in love than ever! He keeps me on my toes literally and tries to copy me every time I laugh. Pretty sure this toddler stage is never going to be boring. 

     
I am passionate about local organic good food like the nectary's funky monkey smoothie and Sol Food (the Puerto Rican restaurant based out of San Rafael & Petaluma). I am also in love with the Hu's kitchen vegan chocolate line and growing my own organic garden. In my free time you can find me at home trying to make a healthier version of a vegan/gluten free cookie that I can justify for breakfast. 

I love to explore different national parks and go on hikes each week as a family. My heart is to serve our community and to love on others fully like Jesus has called on my heart to do. My favorite place in the world to serve is locally and South Africa. We have a heart to support non profits helping kids and families in impoverished villages as well as refugees all over the world. 

       I got started in photography 10 years ago when my grandpa gave me his film camera. I often took long drives and stopped off to take photos of animals and nature.Now that my grandparents have just passed I am reminded just how precious photos really are. My childhood photos and the candid moments of the past are what inspire me in my current phase of life. 

           In 2014 I was diagnosed with a heart disorder that caused me to step away from my job as a teacher at the time. After getting management treatment in 2014, I was ready to seek after what was next. I prayed and sought after what to do next and felt it on my heart to start a photography business. I went from shooting photos on film in nature, to shooting photos of kids as a teacher, to leveling up and going for my dream in 2015. That dream turned into traveling to different states and counties and shooting almost 100 weddings and over 650 photoshoots in the last 8 years. I am beyond grateful to know not only do what I love, but do it with my husband by my side as my videographer now. 

    

Little bit about Eli:

      I am Eli Contreras. I am the other half of the Contreras team. I have always been a big supporter of my wife's amazing work so coming on her team was an easy yes for me. Over the past couple years I have loved traveling to Mexico, Mt. Rainer, Tennessee, Joshua Tree and more shooting weddings by her side. We cannot wait for more 2023 weddings!

       I am a musician who has been writing songs and been a part of a couple different bands for the past 15 years. I picked up videography in those early band years. Anyone who has started a project on your own knows in those early days, you do just about everything and anything. Video was another creative outlet that I could express myself with and over time it turned into my career. I love creating wedding films with intention after getting to know each couple and storyboarding their story. Jana and I work seamlessly together to make sure each couple's photos and films are in sync in the story that they tell. The way we work together and come up with a storyboard is our secret sauce. 

           I am passionate about really good pizza and tacos. I tend to rate food when we go out to eat and love watching food shows that show the technique of cooking and not just the recipes itself. Not many people know that I am introverted. My dream day consists of relaxing at our house with my family and ordering out food from Sol Food. I am a guy who enjoys the simple days the most. On a more serious note, I am also passionate about serving our local community, giving back and supporting local businesses that do the same. 



    Check out the badges to see where my work has been featured!