Behind The Lens - Jako Tomlinson

I was born and raised in Swellendam, where I am currently based/currently reside.

My passion for photography started around 2006 when I took a normal point-and-shoot Kodak digital camera with 3MP, (that was a lot back then) and took some pictures of people, flowers, etc. I downloaded the pictures and realised how great they looked, thereafter, I borrowed my mom's new 8MP Olympus DSLR that helped a lot with learning how to capture that finer detail and on how a camera actually works. I went to Stellenbosch to study Music, Photography & Marketing Management. Today, I can say I use all three but that's a story for later.

During my time studying photography I got the opportunity to second shoot for Susan Smit, thrown into the deep end, I had to go and take pictures of the groom getting ready.

Thinking 'okay, I can do this'. Working under pressure showed me that I can get very creative.

In 2009 I started to advertise myself professionally. Don't worry I won't show up with my old 3MP camera, I already had the latest camera gear by then.

In 2012 I started to work under the name Langeberg Weddings.

After a while I grew fond of wedding videos, started with a normal cassette camera and went forward from there.

It's easy to shoot a video from a tripod but, I love going without one, that gives me the opportunity to shoot from different angles like a Cinematographer "Movie Look".

I still use a mono or tripod during the ceremony.

It's difficult to tell you what kind of style my photos are, It's more a 'what you see is what you get'.

Back to my Music, Photography and Marketing Management. Currently I'm a Music teacher at a primary school teaching Piano, Guitar, Recorder and Singing lessons, I'm also a Church Organist. 

If you would ask me what I like shooting, I'll definitely say Weddings because at each wedding I get to meet new people, see new places, travel, experience new traditions, and improve on what I do with every passing experience. Although I live in Swellendam, most of my wedding work is around 200km away.

If you have any questions regarding me or my work, please contact me.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.