JRo Photo Blog

Hi, I’m Joanne, also known as JRo!

I began my photography career working in a black & white darkroom, developing film and hand printing photographs. In 1996, after spending four years inhaling chemicals (and learning a lot about printing and photography), I moved to New Mexico and started working as a photojournalist for a newspaper. From there I went on to shoot for papers in Maryland and Virginia, photographing everything from U.S. presidents to high school football games.

It was while I was working as a photojournalist that I started shooting weddings, and then eventually portraits of kids and families. Even though I have left the world of newspapers, my style is still influenced by photojournalism. My photos are candid, natural and relaxed. My aim is to capture the real spirit of you and your family and to have my pictures tell the story of your wedding day.

My images have been shown at the Ellipse Arts Center in Arlington, VA and the Touchstone Gallery in Washington, DC. My work has also been featured on the Smithsonian Magazine web site, the Savvy Photographer blog and the Moment Junkie blog. I am a member of the Wedding Photojournalist Association.

I live in Northern Virginia with my husband, my sons Max and Oliver, and our cats, Lenny & Squiggy.