An Inspired Chat with Lisa Zunzanyika of Acworth

We recently had the chance to connect with Lisa Zunzanyika and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I can sum up my joy in one word…Kirby.

Kirby is my 7-month-old furry ball of sunshine and infinite energy, otherwise known as a Yorkie.
I’ve never had a puppy, so we are learning and growing together.

I marvel at his growing curiosity about everything, and I’m enjoying watching him experience the world. Feeling the wind for the first time stopped him in his puppy tracks.

It’s official, I’m in puppy love!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Lisa M. Zunzanyika, a brand photographer, website designer, and artist. As a self-described “right brain creative with left brained tendencies” and a Gemini, I enjoy supporting my clients with a myriad of their needs from ideation, cheerleading, and coaching, to vision fruition. The best part is witnessing their confidence blossom and unfurl as we work together making their concepts and dreams come true.

I retired from the Air Force, where I served 22 years as a Combat Photojournalist. I have a B.S. in Photojournalism from Syracuse University and an M.S. in Information Design and Communication from Southern Polytechnic State University. So…further evidence of my bilateral thinking.

Like many, the Pandemic brought about an unexpected pivot. I became an artist.

After decades of creating for others, lockdown granted me the time and space to create solely for my enjoyment and artistic expression. My living room became the spawning pool for new photographic imagery that was experimental, joyful, and even a little quirky.

That much-needed reprieve from client projects expanded my ability to support them more empathetically as I experienced and worked through the process of birthing an ethereal flicker of a thought into a fully realized work of art. I’ve since begun a line of note cards featuring my photographic art.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
Watching my grandmother get up at 5 am to go to work hours before her workday started became the blueprint for my work ethic. She worked hard for 3 decades, putting her children through college, helping raise her grandchildren, and proving herself to be a highly respected and valued school employee and team member.

When I was little, I would go to work with her, and it was there that I was exposed to the inner workings of a school. I even got to help by making copies on the ditto machine and spending a little time working the switchboard. There, I saw teachers were real people and that every position, from principal to custodian, played a vital role in each student’s success.

But what impacted me most was the way she interacted with everyone. She treated everyone with respect and made them feel special and seen.

I try to walk in her footsteps as she is the voice in my head.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
In 2022, I invested in myself and my business by participating in an 11-month photography mastermind with Tomayia Colvin. I learned so much, and it lit my soul on fire. I was excited to apply all this new knowledge and business practices to take my client’s businesses to the next level.

I broke my foot just before the program ended. It was a bad break that required me to be in a boot, non-weight bearing, and get around on a scooter for a couple of months. I was bummed as I was just starting to book new clients. I told them I would be back on my feet and would resume my business operations soon.

However, shortly after I’d been cleared by podiatry and after I called my new clients back, I broke a toe on that same foot while setting up for a headshot session. So, I had six more weeks of recovery. To make matters worse, I began experiencing debilitating back spasms. It had been so long since I created an image or designed a website, but I reminded myself that this, too, shall pass.

And it did.

Then I broke another toe on the same foot.

I felt my spirit break when I heard my bone break. I had officially entered meltdown and shut-down mode. But I couldn’t even cry. I could no longer pick my spirits up, and I began to be paranoid about moving for fear of breaking another bone.

Cumulatively speaking, between the three broken bones and the horrendous back spasms, I spent almost a year in recovery. I hadn’t been in the photo studio, much less left my home. Clients stopped calling me, and I fell out of touch with colleagues.

I had all but given up hope when a couple of friends asked for my input on their projects…and just like that, the creative flame in me was reignited.

And just like that, I’m back!

That spark allowed me to pivot and utilize the website design and marketing portion of my master’s degree. So, I left the studio of which I was a member, and my photography shifted from primarily portraiture to branding and marketing in support of the websites and collateral I design for my clients.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Community is a cultural value that I revere and protect at all costs. It is the reason for my existence, identity, and self-value. I am proud of myself and the many communities to which I belong.

As I see it, the mission of the community is to remind me who I am when I lose sight of my purpose. It is a mirror of my greatness when I feel doubt. Community is my north star whenever I feel lost. It grounds me in a world that feels as if it’s spinning out of control. And at its best, community is the connective tissue that keeps me whole.

I AM because they are, and we grow stronger, tighter, and bigger through every connection.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I have transitioned and become one with the stars, I hope that people will laugh and smile when thinking of me.

It is my desire that they speak about my goofy sense of humor, love of knowledge, my floor-clearing dancing back in the day, my kindness, and my earnest intention towards self-improvement.

Perhaps they will share stories of times when something I did or said helped, made a difference, and maybe even made life a little better.

Undoubtedly, someone will talk about my ability to apply quotes from “The Color Purple” to any situation. And in a group gathering, they will laugh about how I knew…and sang (badly) so many songs of different genres.

When they think of me, I want them to remember the times I said, “I got you,” and showed up for them.

I hope that it will never be forgotten that I was the first Black female combat photojournalist in Air Force history.

And most importantly, it is my wish that they will speak of and feel the infinite love I have for them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.simplyzeeimagery.com
• Instagram: @simplyzeeimagery.com

Image Credits
Photos by and website by Simply Zee Imagery