About Venya Manzyuk – Orange County Wedding and Family Photographer Based in Irvine
ABOUT
Photography isn’t just what I do—it’s how I connect. There’s something powerful about being able to pause a moment, but what really drew me in was the emotion inside each one.
The expressions, the energy, the way people come alive when they’re truly seen—that’s what grabbed me.
I’ve always had a way of drawing that out, even in the most camera-shy people. It feels less like a skill and more like something I was meant to do.
Over time, this work has become how I make sense of the world. My own 48 years of life shape the way I photograph yours. The people I’ve met, the stories I’ve been trusted with—they’ve given me a perspective I couldn’t have learned any other way.
That kind of understanding isn’t taught. It’s earned. And it’s at the heart of how I show up as an artist and a storyteller.
My work is shaped by both passion and perspective. I’ve learned to adapt—to light, to energy, to whatever the moment calls for—without losing the honesty in what I capture. That’s what drives me: making images that feel real, not staged. My style blends classic composition with a sense of quiet refinement.
It’s emotional, but never overdone.
Timeless, but personal.
I pay attention to both the big moments and the quiet in-betweens.
I see myself less as a director and more as a guide—someone who gently leads, then steps back to let the story unfold.
And every time someone invites me into that space, I’m grateful.
Beauty, design, and color have always been at the center of how I see the world.
But the heart of who I am lives in the relationships around me. My wife Megan, our four incredible kids, and the circle of friends we do life with—this is my anchor.
Whether we’re piling into the car for a road trip, hiking a trail, or just making pancakes on a Saturday morning, it’s those shared moments that keep me grounded and inspired. If my work feels personal, it’s because it is. Everything I create is shaped by the life I live—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Stick around if you want to see more of it.