Hi there!
I AM MONIKA COLICHIO,
Your Jacksonville Family, Maternity & Newborn Photographer
I grew up in a small town in Poland and childhood taught me to pay close attention to simple joys, like strawberries in the garden, fresh crepes for dinner, and flowers blooming outside my window.
A Polish-born, Jacksonville-rooted photographer, a wife, a mama to two spirited kids (one I lovingly call Cayenne Pepper), and a woman who still marvels at how God can turn even the hardest seasons into something breathtaking.
That early ache for something tender and lasting is probably why I photograph the way I do now.
I came to Florida at 23 and built a life here by the ocean. My days are filled with devotion & prayer, sandy toes, homemade dinners with my family, and the small moments I cherish all the more because I know how quickly life turns.
Behind The Scenes Video
I believe every photograph holds a prayer.
A small plea to freeze something fleeting.
So you’ll always have it to hold, long after the moments change.
Photography found me
Through Motherhood
I am a mom of two wonderful kids, full of energy and sweet/spicy personalities! My boy will be forever a momma’s boy to me, and my daughter will always stay our cayenne pepper. No, there is no dull moment in our household! If there is any free time you can either find me eating (oh my goodness I love eating!), snacking on chocolate and fruit, enjoying a wonderful pot of tea, or traveling when possible.
I was raised in Europe, and even though my family is so far, they mean everything to us! God gave me two hands that cannot stay still and a creative personality that never rests (inherited from my handy dad). I’ve been stuffing my kids’ diaper bag with a camera for a long time.
Then I started to photograph not only children, but also maternity, newborn (which I love so much!), and families in North East Florida.
Documenting your life, your soul, your precious ones, big or small, is what I love the most. I see emotions, raw details and simple beauty through my lens, and with the help of natural light, I want to capture them for you.
I picked up a camera to capture the sacred, exhausting, wondrous swirl of having babies, and somewhere between midnight feedings and tiny hands wrapped around my finger, I realized I was called to help other families see their own ordinary, extraordinary days with new eyes.
I am here to capture the fleeting moments of parenthood, wherever you are right now.
Your slightly nervous laughter, the way your child clings to you, your husband’s protective glance, wind tangling your hair, baby curls you never want them to lose, toothless smiles…eyes closing with relief. I want you to look at these images years from now and feel that familiar squeeze in your chest. That deep remembering: “This is us. This is our life. Wasn’t it beautiful?”
If that sounds like what your heart is longing for, I’d be so honored to tell your story.
LIFE THROUGH MY LENS
Life is full of beautiful moments. I promise I will not let them pass through your fingers.
Fun Facts
All My Favorite Things
Because life isn’t just about the deep moments, it’s also about the small delights that make you grin.
Coffee & Tea Lover
I start most mornings with devotional reading and a cup of tea or cappuccino (preferably in a mug that’s pretty to look at and nice to hold).
It’s The Little Things For Me
I can’t resist wildflowers, European bakeries, or farmers markets: give me fresh bread, soft cheese, and good views, and I’m perfectly happy.
My Heart Yearns for Travel
I dream of wandering cobblestone streets in tiny European villages, sharing dinner with locals who laugh loud and love bigger and inhaling views of mountains and fields.
Brunch Time
Middle of the day time to spoil with a little bite and delicious tea or coffee?? Yes!
Fresh Fruit!
Give me the sweetest strawberries, blueberries like the ones I picked up in the forest as child and watermelon bursting with juice
Farmers Markets
I am so used to getting my groceries from outdoors stands when I was growing up, so if I have a opportunity to visit Jax farmers markets or take a roadtrip anywhere else and visit them there, I am the happiest girl in the world.
Wild Flowers
Bouquet of wild flowers and love letter, field of flowers on the side of the road moving lightly with a wind and glorious sweet fragrance from flowers growing under my windows at my childhood home
Cooking
My love language is food. I want to feed those I care about and enjoy evry little bite with them. Mixing flavours is my thing!
Loved Ones
Not only family, not only my children, not just tied to us by the blood. Whoever God put on our path to cherish this time together and grow through the years to come.
Holidays
Spending quality time with my loved ones, sometimes hosting or just bringing few or more dishes to enjoy together… and always open space at the table for whoever needs company.
My Photography Style
Honest. Emotive. Raw.
I believe the most meaningful images aren’t created by stiff poses or perfect hair, they’re born in small, fleeting moments you might have missed if you weren’t paying attention. A tender glance. Fingers tangled together. Wind sweeping hair across your face. The way your child leans into you for comfort, or bursts into laughter with sandy feet and wild joy.
I guide you just enough so you feel comfortable and never awkward, but then I step back and let life unfold. I watch closely, wait for genuine connection, and photograph the truth of who you are together.
My style is shaped by my own story, by a childhood that taught me to treasure simple joys, by motherhood that taught me how quickly each season passes, and by faith that reminds me life is both fragile and profoundly beautiful.
What is the process?
It’s simple, heartfelt, and always centered on trust.
I know booking a photography session can feel like a lot. What to wear, how the kids will behave, if you’ll feel awkward in front of the camera. I promise that I’ve been there myself (makeup smudged, running late, bribing my own kids with treats).
That’s why I’ve shaped my process to ease your worries and make room for genuine connection.
Before your session
We’ll start with a warm conversation, either over the phone or by email. I’ll ask about your family, what stage of life you’re in, what makes your children light up. I might ask you things like what you’re afraid will pass too quickly or what you hope never fades because these are the tender threads I’ll look for when we’re together.
I’ll help you with styling too, offering gentle guidance so you feel beautifully coordinated without losing your natural style.
During your session
We’ll meet somewhere lovely, a quiet stretch of beach, a field kissed by evening sun, or even the cozy corners of your home. I’ll give you prompts to help you settle in, but mostly I’ll invite you to just be together. Laugh, snuggle, wander, comfort your little ones when they need it. I’ll be there watching closely, ready to capture the moments that matter most.
I never rush you. The best images often come after the first few careful smiles fade and your true selves begin to shine through.
After your session
I’ll carefully hand-edit your images, highlighting all those tiny, meaningful details like the way light wrapped around you, your child’s shy grin, the secret glance you shared with your partner.
Then I’ll deliver a gallery full of photographs that feel like living memories, ready to be printed, framed, and treasured for years to come.
Ready to
CONNECT?
Before I’m your photographer, I’m a human too, carrying my own tender stories, longings, and lessons.
I’ve learned that everyone you meet has a quiet ache they’re holding, a hope they’re nurturing, or a memory that still stirs tears. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to photographing connections the way I am.
Beneath it all, I’m someone who’s still learning to let go of shame, to see scars (the ones on my skin and in my heart) as stories instead of flaws. I crave honesty more than perfection, and I promise to hold your family’s story with that same tender care.
So if you’re looking for someone who sees beyond posed smiles, someone who will notice the small, beautiful truths of who you are right now, I’d love to connect.