BEHIND THE LENS

The Story Behind the Lens

I’m Ivana, a photographer, storyteller, and observer of the moments that often go unseen.

 

Based in Orlando, Florida, I create newborn, maternity, family, and wedding photography experiences rooted in care, connection, and the belief that the most meaningful chapters of life deserve to be preserved with intention.

A MORE PERSONAL KIND OF PORTRAITURE

Photography has always been part of how I remember life.

Long before I called myself a photographer, I was drawn to the way images could hold a feeling, the in-between moments, the quiet gestures, the little details that often become the ones we miss the most.

Over time, photography became more than a passion. It became the way I connect, the way I tell stories, and the way I honor what matters most.

Today, I photograph newborns, mothers, families, couples, weddings, and meaningful events with a heart-led intention and a deep respect for your story.

This is more than what I do.

It is how I see.

Newborn Professional Photographer Winter Garden Florida

A Life Shaped by Story

Every part of my story has shaped the way I photograph yours.

Ivana-Zabala-Traveling-Venezuela

PHOTOGRAPHY

The thread that ties memory to meaning.

Photography has been with me through many seasons of life, as a way of remembering, feeling, observing, and preserving what time changes so quickly. It is the thread that keeps memory close.

Newborn Professional Photographer Winter Park Florida. Portrait by Amina Donskaya

FAMILY

My first understanding of legacy.

I grew up surrounded by family photographs, stories, emotion, and the kind of love that teaches you why memories matter. Photography has always helped me feel close to what I cannot always hold near.

Ivana Zabala New York

MOVEMENT

The places that shaped my heart.

Moving through different countries, homes, and beginnings has taught me to notice belonging, nostalgia, change, and the quiet beauty of creating roots again. It shaped the tenderness I bring to every story.

Ivana Zabala Museo de la Moneda Santiago de Chile

ART

The language I return to.

I am endlessly inspired by light, color, texture, nature, and the quiet beauty hidden in ordinary moments. My work is refined, but never detached, artistic, emotional, deeply human, and alive.

Ivana Zabala Photography Weddings Central Florida

CONNECTION

People are at the heart of every photograph I take.

Whether I am photographing a newborn, a mother before birth, a family in Central Florida, or a wedding filled with meaning, I am always looking for the love already present.

The Way I Work

Calm. Intentional. Personal.

Every portrait experience is created with care, direction, and emotional sensitivity, so you can feel guided without feeling posed, prepared without feeling overwhelmed, and seen without needing to perform.

Ivana Zabala Photography Orlando Florida Visual Identity

ARTFUL

I compose with intention and an artist’s eye, seeking beauty in honesty, light, color, movement, and emotion. Your portraits are created to feel refined, meaningful, and true to your family.

INTENTIONAL

Every session is guided with care and purpose. Before your session, we talk through your vision, location, wardrobe, colors, and the kind of images you hope to preserve, so the experience feels calm from the very beginning.

PERSONAL

Your story matters to me. I take time to understand your family, your season of life, and the feeling you want your photographs to hold, because the most meaningful portraits are never one-size-fits-all.

Recognized globally.
Trusted deeply.

My newborn and children’s portraiture has been recognized by 35AWARDS, including honors among the Top 10 newborn photographers worldwide, the Top 50 photographers in the United States, and the Top 200 child portrait photographers worldwide.

As a newborn safety certified photographer, I approach every session with patience, care, and deep respect for your baby’s comfort, rhythm, and wellbeing.

35AWARDS RECOGNITION

Internationally recognized newborn and children’s portraiture created with artistry, emotion, and intention.

TOP NEWBORN & CHILD PORTRAIT HONORS

Honored among the Top 10 newborn photographers worldwide, Top 50 photographers in the United States, and Top 200 child portrait photographers worldwide.

NEWBORN SAFETY CERTIFIED

Trained in newborn safety, with every baby-led session guided by patience, softness, and care.

Beyond The Work

Every part of my story has shaped the way I photograph yours.

Ivana Zabala Photography Dogs. Portrait by Amina Donskaya

MY DOGS

My dogs remind me of patience, softness, presence, and the kind of quiet affection I try to bring into every experience.

Ivana Zabala Photography, Nature Portrait of the Sea at Los Molles, Chile

NATURE

Nature helps me slow down and remember that beauty often lives in rhythm, detail, quietness, and the seasons we almost miss.

Ivana Zabala Photography, City Portrait of New York at Sunset Autumn Night

COLOR

I believe color can hold emotion, personality, memory, and the feeling of a season in a way words sometimes cannot.

Ivana Zabala Photography, Macro Portrait of a Flower in Topotepuy Gardens at Caracas, Venezuela

WONDER

Slow moments help me see what is easy to miss, the light, the gesture, the softness before everything changes again.

Ivana Zabala Photography, Family Portrait of her family at Laguna Verde in Chile

TRAVEL

Moving through different places has expanded my heart and refined how I see light, culture, nostalgia, belonging, and home.

Ivana Zabala Photography, Nature Portrait of fishers at the beach in Venezuela

NOTICING

Poetry lives in ordinary life, a passing glance, leaves moving with the breeze, sunlight turning something simple into sacred.

If my way of seeing feels like the way you want to remember, I’d love to hear your story.

Whether you are expecting a baby, celebrating your family, planning a wedding, or preserving a meaningful chapter of life, I would be honored to create something personal, artful, and deeply felt for you.

Ivana Zabala Photography. Portrait by Amina Donskaya