About Zuzanna
The Artist behind the lens.
“Life is beautiful in all its versatility and being present in the moment is the key to seeing it.” - Z.M.
Hello there!
I’m Zuza.
As a documentary family photographer my mission is to tell a visual story as unique as your family. The story of your life that reflects your current reality with all the joys, messes, tender moments and most importantly with the love you have for each other.
The older I get, I realize more and more how crucial it is to take meaningful photographs that capture a sliver of the life that we experience now. Kids grow up fast, loved ones pass away and all we are left with are our memories. And if we’re lucky, with photographs.
I specialize in photographing families during important moments of their lives like baptisms, birthdays, reunions etc. but my biggest passion is documenting the real “ordinary” family lives. Unposed, unpredictable, honest, beautifully messy, magical.
The beginning of the story
Since I can remember I’ve always had passion for photography. I remember as a child sitting and looking through my family photographs and being in awe of them. It was back in the 80s and most of the photos were black and white then.
Till this day my dad documents our family lives through photos and writing in the family chronicle. I believe he got this drive from his mom, who used to organize and label the pictures in her albums. I can honestly say that my passion for documenting life runs in my family.
The story continues
After my first daughter was born it became even more important to me to photograph the milestones and my everyday life as I began the journey of motherhood. I wanted to preserve the memories for myself, for future her and also I wanted to share all the joys and challenges with my family back in Poland.
After a short while I decided to spread the love of documenting lives to others, on a bigger scale. I upgraded my camera and the new chapter in my life began.
I have three kids now and I am as passionate about capturing in photos the magic called life as ever.
Fun facts about me
When I’m not photographing I tend to my spirituality. As a certified Reiki Master, I always expand my knowledge of energy healing and workings of the subconscious mind.
I’m a lemon water fanatic! I drink it cold, warm and hot. I love it! I quit coffee years ago and I’m never going back. On special occasions I like to indulge in a piece of brownie and a huge cup of grapefruit tea (with lemon of course).
I grew up in Poland and my husband was born in Mexico, so we have a hodgepodge of languages at our house. We speak English, Polish and Spanish and sometimes all at once. “Polspanglish” anyone?
I love to travel. Road trip across US? Yes please! I drove with my husband and 3 kids from Chicago to California just to pick up a dog. We are that crazy.
I have two rules that I try to live by: “Keep it simple” and “Less is more”.
Awards and Publications
2023 cover of the Naturally McHenry Insider Guide
Several of my photos were published in Polish-American newspapers like "Express" and "Dziennik Zwiazkowy" as I had been documenting performances of Polish Theater "Scena Polonia" since October 2016, for about 3 years.
I was featured as Photographer of The Month at Backdrop Express, October 2015
I hope you’ll invite me into your life to tell with images your family’s unique story and to create photographs that you’ll cherish forever.
FAQ
( Click on a + sign to expand the questions. )
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With over 15 years of experience in documenting lives of families and taking children’s portraits around the world, my approach to photography is casual, fun and artistic. My portraits showcase personality and emotions. No matter what kind of session I do, I always strive to create photos that are genuine, meaningful and timeless.
I am very passionate about telling the story of you, your family and the life that you have right now.
As your photographer, I will provide you with a gallery of images that can be displayed in your home as wall art or archived in a custom photo book. These photographs will show not only the cute and the funny but also the serious and (sometimes) the beautifully messy, real you. They will be an investment in your family history for you and for the future generations to one day look back on. -
I am an on-location photographer. Depending on the type of session you book with me, we’ll meet either at your home, an outdoor location or in a place that is meaningful to you. In the case of a coverage of a family event, we’ll meet at the venue.
Newborn sessions are held at the place of birth (Fresh 48) or at your home. -
A typical outdoor family session lasts about 1 hour.
In-home newborn sessions are about 2 hours.
Documentary sessions can last from 2-3 hours to even a full 12 hour day.
Please read Session Info tab for more details on a specific type of session. -
It is a beautiful and meaningful way of preserving your memories for you and future generations. It is capturing your real life moments in an honest way with the artistic flare. To read more about documentary sessions click HERE.
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The most important thing to remember is that you should feel comfortable and beautiful in the clothes that you choose. Don’t be afraid to show off your personality. However, I recommend to avoid large logos and neon colors. Please read the blog post HERE for ideas on what to wear.
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For pregnancy photos, you want to make sure you're taking the pictures at the best time for your pregnancy. That time typically is between 30-36 weeks. You should also book your session sooner than later because there is a smaller window of time for rescheduling if there is a need to do so.
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“Fresh 48” sessions happen within 48 hours from the birth.
I like to do in-home newborn sessions within the first 2 weeks of life, however because of my documentary approach to photography I have some flexibility in scheduling.
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I currently do not have a studio but I do offer limited studio style Fine Art Portraits of children and pets.
I have a portable backdrop that I bring with me to your home or to a chosen location. Easy peasy. -
My regular family sessions, documentary sessions and event covarages are all-inclusive. You will receive a full gallery of high resolution images that tell your story.
The images will be delivered via direct download, so you can archive them. I do however recommend to print your photos through me, to make sure that the colors are exactly what you see on the screen and that the quality of the prints is superb and will stand the test of time.
You will have the option to order your prints through your private online gallery.
I also recommend in investing in a photo book. I can design it for you. Let me know if this is something you’d be interested in. -
I typically book 1 to 12 months in advance for a family or event coverage session.
If you are interested in the newborn portraits, please inquire while you are pregnant. Already delivered? No problem. I try to leave a few openings in my schedule for last minute newborn sessions. -
The sessions start at $300. Please go to the Session Info tab for detailed session pricing.
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I am so glad you asked! Just click on the button and fill out the form. So easy.
KIND WORDS
I just love receiving notes and messages of your appreciation. This is why I do what I do. Well, not really. I do it because I love it, but it makes it that much sweeter.
Rocio, Chicago, il
Just wanted to thank you for your amazing work!!! I am glad my brother referred me to you when I had my first daughter. I love your work and look forward to working with you with my second daughter! I would and I have recommended you for your talent! I look forward to continuing to work with you as my daughters continue to grow!
Shana, Chicago, iL
I can’t say enough great things about Zuzapix! She brought out the very best in my son for his holiday pics. She is warm, professional, reasonably priced and takes great pics. She has a way with kids. I couldn’t ask for more! The pics are fab! She also has exceptional follow up! I highly recommend her and will use her again.
Marta, Chicago, IL
Zuzanna has been such a wonderful photographer to work with. She truly has a vision and she is extremely easy to work with. My son felt comfortable during a photo shoot. Thank you!
Bertha, Des Plaines, IL
We are very happy with our photographs! We couldn’t have had a better experience. We highly recommend Zuzanna and we’ll definitely be booking a photo session again with her in the future.
Kate, Indian Prairie, IL
Zuzanna has been taking pictures of my kids for about 12 years now. She has great connections with the little ones and also knows how to approach older kids. She can keep them focused and entertained at the same time, which is great because I can't even do that sometimes. She came to my house on many occasions to capture those precious moments when kids do not pose and have smiles ready for the camera. Those pictures are one of my favorite ones because they capture our everyday lives. She always catches those great faces and you can feel the joy and love on the pictures when you look at them. I would definitely recommend her as her pictures are one of the kind.