Jovanka Novakovic, Principal Photographer, Member PPA. In her 10 years as a commercial and editorial photographer, she developed her artistic, technical and people skills necessary to produce a diversified portfolio of thousands of images. Her clients include large companies like Glamour Magazine, Old Navy, Tellabs, Allianz Global Risks US, AMD, Moet & Chandon, Conoco Phillips and hundreds of local businesses, entrepreneurs, artists and individuals. Her main photographic influences are fashion heavyweights Helmut Newton, Irving Penn and Annie Liebovitz. Her work has been showcased in local, national and international newspapers, global trade and special interest magazines.

Jovanka's philosophy as a photographer is to capture the natural beauty and personality of her subjects while portraying them in an interesting and unique way. She provides a comfortable and unintimidating environment allowing everybody to relax and feel at ease in front of the camera. She takes an easygoing, laidback approach so she can get to know her subjects and their objectives for the photographs. She feels that most people are too critical of themselves and find it hard to appreciate their uniqueness in today's world of extreme makeovers and Hollywood celebrity. Making people happy and capturing their inner beauty are what she finds most rewarding about being a photographer.

Bruno Passigatti, Studio Manager & Photographer, Member PPA/NAPP. Bruno, a German speaking native of  Zurich, Switzerland, has been educated in the traditional and digital art and craft of photography from large format view cameras all the way to the science of today's digital capturing devices. He brings over 20 years of hands-on photography, advertising and publishing experience to the table and has been involved in just about every scenario and aspect of professional photography. Some of his early photographic influences were Main Ray, László Moholy-Nagy, Robert Frank and Gordon Parks. He joined Bauwerks after a decade with major American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) such as Young & Rubicam and Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB) and international news publishing companies. His editorial and stock photography has been published around the world.

Despite his big love and admiration for classic camera gear, as seen in the image, Bruno can be defined as the ultimate geek in digital photography and design. As Studio Manager, he is primarily in charge of our state-of-the-art digital workflow from digital retouching and airbrushing to the "mystical" craft of high-end digital fine art printmaking. He makes sure our clients get the newest and best technology and materials available. In his spare time he likes to take a "break" from his vocation and spends his evenings and weekends either tinkering with new photo equipment or teaching digital photography and Adobe Photoshop at several schools in Chicago. The fact that he taught himself  Aldus Photostyler, a predecessor to Photoshop, back in 1990 and bought his first digital camera in 1992, speaks volumes about his devotion. His idea of a vacation is to visit a digital imaging seminar or join a photographic workshop to quench his never ending thirst for knowledge. A true Swiss made photoholic dedicated to the art and craft of photography and ultimately our clients full satisfaction.



Makeup and hair styling services are an essential element of most people photography sessions in our studio or on-location. All of our makeup and hair stylists are full time professionals with years of experience in the photography and video markets. For the convenience of our numerous clients, we offer reasonably priced makeup and hair styling services in our studio or on-location, featuring a full service makeup table and wardrobe room. We also work with several highly specialized body painters and air brush artists for even more creative options and solutions.

Kris Laub, Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist. Kris has been with Bauwerks from the beginning and has been trained by Pivot Point International, Wella Academy, MAC Cosmetics, Aveda Styling, Color America, Hairlocs International and many more. She is an expert in working with wigs, hairpieces and hair extensions and can transform you from the ordinary to the extravagant.

Her work is featured throughout our online portfolio and numerous national and international magazines and websites.

Even though Kris's style is very fashion oriented and contemporary, she has worked with hundreds of our clients, ranging from simple corporate headshots to very elaborate glamour and beauty sessions. She is very knowledgeable regarding unique individual skin and hair types, has a very outgoing personality and gives her customers a relaxing and calming makeup and hair styling session prior and during the photo shoot.

Amy Banas, Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist. Amy is a very versatile professional and enjoys working on a wide range of projects. She has provided her services to magazines such as InStyle and Seventeen and clients ranging from L'Oreal to the Salt Creek Ballet including the Oscar nominated motion picture "Polite Coffee" since 1996. She received her education from Columbia College, Chicago, including advanced media training in photography and video makeup. Her passion is to apply the art of makeup through "the right attitude, technique and rhythm". She strongly believes that good makeup enhances a persons character and personality and enforces the objectives and concept of  a photo session without too much distraction.  Amy also specializes in face contouring for black and white fine art photography.

She works with many individual clients and companies throughout Chicagoland on a daily basis and also teaches makeup courses at local colleges such as Columbia.



Less is more! That was the basic principle of the Bauhaus School of Photography, part of the now infamous Bauhaus, a school that literally invented today's styles in modern design, architecture and photography with names such as László Moholy-Nagy (who later formed the New Chicago Bauhaus in 1937), Paul Klee,  Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and many more. Bauwerks, a name that is derived from the German words bau (to build or craft something) and werks (workshop), adheres to this now almost century old Bauhaus principle by limiting its photographic approach to the essential and most central key ingredient or message of a photography project without the use of too many distracting props, backgrounds or gizmos. Bauwerks also focuses on the continuous integration of new technology and ongoing implementation of contemporary photographic styles and trends.

We also strongly believe that everyone deserves the best photography services possible while still being affordable. Bauwerks is a member of Professional Photographers of America, an exclusive photographic trade organization that was founded over 125 years ago. By being a member, we strictly adhere to their code of photographic business ethics and professional practices.   We offer services at a large ad agency level for a fraction of the price, all in the best interest of our customers.

In order to serve our clients in the best way possible, we operate a conveniently located 2,500 sqf storefront studio and offices with a personal touch and a comfortable feeling centrally located in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. We are located 2 blocks north of the intersection of Clybourn, Fullerton and Ashland at 2475 North Clybourn Avenue. Our studio features multiple sets including countless backgrounds, props and an authentic urban setting with century old brick walls. We work with leading camera and strobe equipment, print processing materials and digital imaging software. If you have any specific questions, or just simply feel more like having a personal conversation,  give us a call at 773-529-4199, Monday-Friday from 9AM-7PM and Saturday Noon-5PM. You can also obtain more information by viewing our FAQ page or browsing our prices, packages and services section. Don't forget to sign up to our mailing list with ongoing monthly specials.