ABOUT

Hey there, it’s me, Your Girl Z. Allow me to introduce myself.

I’m Emily, your new fav Brooklyn-based love story photographer. I'm originally from Northern California, but consider myself a New Yorker after having lived in the city for over 10 years. 

I’ve been obsessed with photography since the day I first held our family’s 90s-era Olympus film camera. And I've been a people person my entire life. I hold a degree in Hospitality Management because well, making people's dreams come true is my ultimate goal.

Combine those two passions and you get a photographer who can make anyone feel comfortable in front of the camera, and capture their unique beauty.

When I’m not doing photography (or buying more film cameras), I’m exploring: NYC, the mountains, or the beach. Or doing archery. Or playing guitar (sometimes ukulele). Or latin dancing. Or watering my 30 plants. You get the picture- I am deeply curious and love doing new things.



Emily Zerella

- Winter, I am a California girl after all
- Heavy metal music, down for anything else 
- Horror movies
- Trending restaurants & bars- overpriced and overcrowded
- Stationary bikes, but I'll do real cycling all day!

hard pass

- Long walks (yes, really)
- Dancing, dancing, dancing. Always dancing.
- New Girl
- Scratchy old jazz records on Sunday mornings
- Watching the sky- clouds, stars, sunsets, all of it

hell yes

In Pursuit of Beauty
I look for beauty in everything. In the way the light comes through the trees and the smiles on people's faces.
 I experience so much joy because I derive it from even the smallest moments in life. Maybe it means I’m easily impressed. That’s okay. I’d prefer to find beauty at every turn than to dismiss everyday miracles because they aren’t epic enough. Life is beautiful in the details. 
I bring this mentality into every photo session- anything can be beautiful and special, even if it feels normal or mundane. Sometimes the most beautiful parts of life are the everyday ones. 

My Philosophy