Jan Hanus aka “Papparazzi” is an award-winning and internationally published photographer and art director with over 30 years of experience in digital and classical photography, filming, as well as desktop publishing and printing technologies. Clients praise his exceptional knowledge and skills, from idea generation through rollout, and his calm demeanor under deadline pressures. Jan is considered an expert in advanced Photoshop techniques, including manipulation, retouching, and montages.
Born in communist Czechoslovakia into a family of photographers, Jan showed talent and interest in drawing and painting from a young age. He studied printing and design at the Printing and Publishing Training Center in Prague, where he was one of the first students to utilize new computer-based printing technology. After completing his studies and a year of obligatory military service, Jan worked as a graphic designer for several advertising agencies, a travel agency, and a telecommunications company, and as a photographer for a top Czech advertising firm.
In 2000, Jan started H Design International, Ltd. with his father, Jan Hanus Sr., working on all stages of design, photo, and print work. After relocating to Washington, DC in 2008, Jan joined Graphite Creative (Hoon Designs) as a senior graphic designer and photographer. He is currently an art director at District Photo Inc., a global leader in digital imaging fulfillment services.
Jan lives in Reston, Virginia, with his wife Alison and their three children: Annabelle, Imogen, and Oliver. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, taking photos and videos, and fly-fishing.
What some of my clients say:
"My experience with Jan was excellent; very professional and very 'exacting' in terms of wanting the shot to be 'as requested'. He is meticulous with the finishing of the photos, and wants customer satisfaction. He delivers an exceptional work product and is very easy to work with; I would recommend him highly."
—William E. Kaye
“Jan is one of the best photographers I have worked with. He is very customer oriented working with one’s needs for portrait view and environment. He scouted out the perfect setting for my Christmas photos near King Street in Alexandria. The photo shoot was quick and on point. Jan’s photo processing is outstanding. He takes the time to review every detail of the photo and make it outstanding. He captured my personality and spirit. Any photographer can take a picture but processing and capture reaches an entirely different level. I highly recommend Jan and will use him for future events.”
—Melanie Koontz
“Jan is an artist! The camera is his palette. His care in his interactions is equally balanced with his creative photography. He is gifted at finding and capturing those unique endearing moments that are forever engrained within life ceremonies and celebrations. You would never know that there was a construction crew behind us at the Supreme Court! Our smiles portrayed our joys that were so skillfully grasped. Thank you Jan for the wonderful work you do!”
—Susan F. Carson
"My husband and I had the amazing fortune of working with Jan Hanus for our engagement and wedding photos. To say he is an artist would be an understatement. Jan was absolutely amazing, by far more hard working and dedicated than I could have imagined. What I treasure about the experience working with Jan is that he not only captured the emotion of our marriage beautifully, but he enriched the experience by being such an important part of it. He was a joy - constantly smiling, actively engaged in the festivities and capturing the small details that so much work had put been dedicated to. The photos themselves are something I will forever treasure. His creative eye brought out our love and the fun of our relationship in our engagement photos. For our wedding rehearsal, he brought our families’ interactions to life, capturing smiles, and the type of hugs family members exchange after years apart during a special occasion. As for the wedding day itself, I cannot rain enough praise on how perfectly he captured that day, the happiest day of my life. Jan captured a priceless image of my mother and I holding hands at the hair salon, the immense care my mother took buttoning up my wedding gown, my sheer elation throughout the preparations, my husband’s face when he saw me start to walk down the aisle, my mother watching as we said our vows, and a thousand other moments that only someone truly in love with their art could bring to life in a picture. There were so many wonderful things about our wedding, and Jan Hanus Photography is unquestionably among the best!"
—Anne Marie C.
"Wow! Any time I see a caption that a photo is by Jan Hanus, I know that when I look at the attached picture, I am in for a treat. Invariably I see love, joy, happiness, poignancy, beauty: sheer emotion captured on film. Love!"
—Amy Freeman