A World of Color and Joy: Inside the Imaginative Lens of Suzanne Ranzijn

Suzanne Ranzijn
www.suzanneranzijn.com
@suzanneranzijnphotography

My name is Suzanne Ranzijn – discover my world of color and joy!

When I received my first camera from my grandfather at the age of 12, an adventure began that would color my life. What started as capturing happy moments grew into a passion where the word happy remained central.

My photos reflect who I am: playful, cheerful, and always searching for a smile. I’m someone who loves to laugh 24/7, and I’m eager to share that energy with everyone around me.

One of my biggest sources of inspiration? Toys! The bright and joyful colors take me back to a carefree time, a world where fun takes center stage. I bring that playful atmosphere to life in my work. With bold colors, clean lines, and unexpected details, I want to surprise you as the viewer and spark your imagination.

The human figures in my photos often remain anonymous, giving you the freedom to create and feel your own story.

Your work is full of bold colors and playful energy. How did your love for joyful photography first begin?

For me, joyful photography is a reflection of who I am. I’m someone who’s always trying to make others smile, both in everyday life and through my work. Everyone experiences hard moments now and then, and I try to focus on the bright side of things.

If I can pass on some of that energy and lightness through my photos, then I feel I’ve done something meaningful. Sharing joy, even in a small way, feels important—especially in a world that can sometimes feel heavy.

Toys play a big role in your visual world. What draws you to them, and how do they help shape your artistic style?

I’ve always been fascinated by toys—not just as objects, but as little symbols of happiness. When you walk into a toy store, everything is designed to feel like a happy place: bright colors, fun shapes, cheerful packaging. Nothing is dull or heavy. It’s all made to make you smile.

Toys also connect us to childhood: a time when imagination was everything. That energy—playful, bold, and full of color—is exactly what I try to capture in my work. It’s that same sense of joy and simplicity that shapes my visual style.

You’ve described your photos as happy and surprising. What’s your process for creating that kind of atmosphere in a shoot?

Honestly, it’s hard to explain, because in my head, it feels completely natural. My brain just constantly makes connections between things that don’t really belong together… and that’s where the fun begins.

For example, I recently walked past a toy store and saw a row of pencils standing upright in the window. Instantly, I thought: “These look like birthday candles.” That idea stuck with me, and I later created a photo of a cake with a pencil in it, like it was the candle.

My mind invents its own little surprises all the time and I just try to bring them to life.

The figures in your photos are often anonymous. Why do you choose to keep them that way, and how does that affect the viewer’s experience?

I keep the people in my photos anonymous on purpose. As soon as you see someone’s eyes, your focus immediately goes there. It’s instinctive—it’s human. But I want the viewer to look at the whole image: the colors, the shapes, the concept—not just the face.

By leaving out identity, the figure becomes more universal. It’s still clearly a human body, so people recognize themselves in it, but it’s not about that person, it’s about the idea.

In a way, I’m creating fictional characters that anyone can step into. It opens the image up for interpretation and invites the viewer to become part of it.

How do you stay inspired and keep your work feeling fresh and fun?

To be honest, there are definitely moments when I feel uninspired or stuck—and I’ve learned to be okay with that. I don’t force creativity. I know it comes in waves, and it always returns when I give it space.

I try to live my life in a way that makes me happy, curious, and connected—and from that place, inspiration always finds its way back.

Sometimes it’s a sudden idea from something small I see in the street, a color combination, or just a random thought in the shower. But it only comes when I’m not chasing it too hard.