Meet Janice Hiromi Reinold of Pasadena

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janice Hiromi Reinold.

Hi Janice Hiromi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been photographing people my entire life. My father is a photographer and he taught me a lot about posing and composition when I was little. Growing up, I loved using my film camera to capture candid moments of my family and friends. I still remember the excitement of picking up my developed photos from the store and holding my work in my hands. I bought my first Canon SLR camera in 2010 and began capturing candid moments of my friends. Early on, I realized that I loved photographing candids more than posed images. There’s something so beautiful about capturing someone in their natural state, that genuine expression became the foundation of my style.

What began as a passion soon turned into a lifestyle. Friends started asking me to photograph their milestones and celebrations, and in 2012, my photography business was born. I’ve since had the privilege of photographing countless engagements and weddings that have taken me to many corners of the world.

After my son was born in 2018, I transitioned into newborn and family photography, where I found a new layer of meaning in my work. Today, I focus on photographing families, newborns, and events. I truly love ‘growing’ with my clients, and capturing their life milestones over the years. It brings such joy and authenticity to everything I create.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly, I’ve never let photography become a source of stress. It has always been an outlet of joy and creativity for me, something that feels more like an escape than work. Of course, there have been a few bumps along the way, like travel delays or weather-related challenges that were out of my control and required rescheduling sessions. But overall, I feel incredibly fortunate that my love for photography and my business have grown smoothly and steadily over the years.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I call myself a “people photographer,” specializing in capturing genuine personalities through family, newborn, and event photography. Originally German-Japanese, I was raised in Japan and throughout Europe before settling in Los Angeles in 2007. My multicultural upbringing taught me to connect easily with people from many backgrounds, a quality that helps me create authentic and meaningful images.

My approach to photography is natural, relaxed, and full of life. Whether I’m photographing a family, a newborn, or a milestone event, I focus on capturing moments as they unfold rather than staging or posing them. I like to think of myself as a “fly on the wall,” quietly observing and documenting authentic interactions. These authentic moments are what make life so beautiful.

What truly sets me apart is how comfortable my clients feel with me. Many, if not most of my clients, start out camera shy, but I guide them through every step of the session. I give clear posing direction and verbally walk them through what to do — where to place their hands, how to position their feet, where to look, and how to smile. By the end of the session, my clients often tell me how much fun they had and how surprised they were by how natural the experience felt. Some of my female clients have even shared that they felt like models in front of my camera, and that, to me, is the best compliment I could receive.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Photography is an investment in your future. As time goes on, photographs preserve the precious moments of your life, allowing you to look back and remember the love, joy, and connections that shaped your story. They are tangible memories you can share with your children and grandchildren, showing them your family, your life milestones, and the moments that made you who you are. They capture the faces of loved ones who are no longer with us, keeping their spirit alive in our hearts. In a world where everything changes so quickly, photographs are a way to hold time in your hands, a beautiful legacy of the life you’ve lived and the love you’ve shared.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chasinghiromi.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasinghiromi/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chasing-hiromi-photography-pasadena

Image Credits
Janice Reinold @ ChasingHiromi Photography