Daily Inspiration: Meet Zuzanna Gerulewicz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zuzanna Gerulewicz.

Hi Zuzanna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My love story with wedding photography started with an opportunity. I had a chance to assist and use my camera on a beach wedding in San Diego a couple of years back and naturally, driven by curiosity to taste something new, I jumped straight into it with excitement. I was straight out of college with a fresh photography degree in my hands so I was very eager to put myself to a test, photograph anything I could and find my way in the “big adult world”. I’ve always been a portrait photographer in my core with an inclination to fashion and lifestyle photography, so this experience was an overwhelming one! I’ve discovered that there’s something out there for me that brings all of the above areas of photography (and more!) into one. It was a thrilling revelation.

From that moment, I tried assisting and second shooting for a couple of photographers in CA and NY area to gain experience and build my portfolio. I loved it from the start.

Photographing weddings came so effortlessly, and I don’t mean it wasn’t hard at times (physically and creatively) – it was just something in which I found myself and it’s something I really enjoy doing to this day forward.

I love photographing people. I love documenting their precious, once in a lifetime moments and be able to give them their beautiful memories back in a time-safe capsule that are wedding photos. This service comes with a heavy responsibility, and I know how hard it is to trust someone new, to put such an important day of your life into the hands of a stranger, so whenever I book a new client, I feel extremely grateful and proud that there was something I did right to deserve this trust. It’s an indescribable feeling and I can’t express how honored I am every time I get to photograph my client’s wedding.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh, no road in art, business and life is ever smooth, haha. And if it is, it means you’re not growing. There are million of obstacles and challenges you get to face along the way, and harsh disclaimer here – it will never really end. But there’s a beauty in it. You experiment, you make mistakes, you learn, you succeed, you expand your skill set and broaden your horizons. It feels like a constant lesson with every shoot, there’s always something new to learn with each wedding or portrait session. Whether it is about the process itself, photography or… you.

Personally, my worst enemy was and still is – social media. It’s something I struggle with the most, to be active, to be consistent with posts and fully engaging with the online community. Call me old-fashioned, but spending time on my phone is just not something I enjoy doing, I much more prefer tête‧à‧tête interactions. I resisted having Instagram account for a long time at the beginning, but eventually, I knew I have to have it.

I’m trying to become friends with it now and I treat it as a second portfolio. On top of that, I really do want people to have an alternative way to reach me, to view my work or ask questions. And it’s a place where I’ll try to share more current moments from my shoots and behind the scenes videos – it’s a work in progress, haha.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My brand Soul and Veil Photography focuses on wedding photography coverage with an editorial approach. I proudly serve clients on weddings of all shapes, sizes and types. From a low key elopements someplace wild, through intimate to large weddings. Every wedding brings a variety of emotions, every wedding has its own style, every couple makes the day so special. And I love to be able to witness and photograph each one of them.

I would describe my style as elegant, tasteful and timeless. Composition and lighting are aspects I pay a lot of attention to. My photos are edited in a true to color way, bringing out the essence of the moment. I strive to document life events in a raw way, just as they were and how they felt.

Whether you dream of getting married on the beach, in a desert or a luxury French chateau, my goal is to make this an unforgettable and comfortable experience. It’s my task to direct you without directing, to photograph your day without being seen too much, to make you feel at ease and give you wedding photos you will cherish for years to come. The way you look, the way your entire wedding looks like is important. But I’m all about how you and all of it FEELS. Your experience is my priority, aside from delivering great photos of course.

Apart from being based in LA, I’ve recently become also based in France, which is very exciting news as both CA and Europe have so many stunning locations for weddings and related shoots. Knowing American culture and being European, I hope to work with US clients across the globe and help making their wedding photography experience abroad smooth and joyful.

How do you think about happiness?
Easy – your happiness. Happy clients, happy me. But it’s a little more than that.

As I mentioned in a previous question, your experience is insanely important to me. I want to know that you’re not only amazed by your photos but also felt fabulous throughout the process. Nothing makes me more pleased and feeling fulfilled than hearing or reading your reviews. It means the world to me knowing that you’re in love with your wedding photos and I made you feel at ease.

In my personal life, traveling to new destinations is something I really enjoy doing and a dinner with candles and a glass of wine is my recipe for a perfect evening.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.soulandveil.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulandveil/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulandveil

Image Credits
Soul and Veil Photography