We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zuzu Valla. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zuzu below.

Zuzu , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

From the very beginning of my career, I was always thinking of the essence of my photography and my purpose in life. Frequently, I found myself battling of sadness, haunted by questions like, ‘What am I trying to express? Why am I doing this? What’s the significance of capturing beautiful images?’ I yearned to delve deeper.

Then, as fate would have it, during my search for a model for an editorial project, I reached out to Zebedee agency by mistake, with my specific requirements. To my surprise, they presented a selection of models, all of whom had disabilities. It was love at first sight!

I immediately planned the editorial, which we eventually shot for Vogue Portugal, and in that moment, I realized I had discovered my true purpose on this planet—to be an advocate for disabled models!

Zuzu , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a self-taught photographer from Slovakia currently living and working in the UK.
I define my own recognisable signature style, exploring multiple layers of distinctive human beauty, focusing mainly on fashion, portraiture and commercial photography. I likes to push the boundaries of the industry and magazines in terms of beauty standards, often working with models with disabilities.

I was brought up in a traditional Slovak family growing up in the last years of strong communism regime and social transformation of Slovakia (formerly Czechoslovakia).
My father was a multiple boxing champion of Czechoslovakia while my mother was a housewife raising three children in a small town.

I started my interest in photography almost by accident in my late 20s. After being disappointed by using a mobile phone camera, I reached for her first DSLR camera and has never looked back.

My work has been exhibited in Paris, London, Hungary, Iran, Spain and Slovakia.

Clients: British Vogue, Vogue Portugal, Vogue Italia, Photo Vogue, Art + Commerce, Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, L’Officiel Baltic, L’Officiel China, L’Officiel Scandinavia, Darkus Magazine, Schon!, Vanity Teen, Hunger, The Vanilla Issiu, Pap Magazine, Sticks and Stones, The Wall Group, Anon, Giorgio Armani, Gaia Wise, Bora Aksu, Girli, UOMA Beauty

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My aspiration is that one day, I can flip through a magazine and see models of all kinds without the need to point out their physical attributes such as being plus-size, people of colour, or disabled. In this ideal world, beauty will be appreciated everywhere, and there won’t be rigid standards that confine people’s perceptions. Instead, diversity will be celebrated as the norm, and everyone will be seen as inherently beautiful.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most fulfilling aspect of my work is when a project is not only recognized but also has a profound impact on people’s perspectives, altering their view of the world. Witnessing the model’s happiness and the realization of her dreams is an incredibly beautiful experience, one that brings me immense joy and satisfaction.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zuzuvalla.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zuzu.valla/
• Facebook: Zuzu Valla
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zuzu-valla