The Story of Zibi Photo & Quality Plus Photo – A Legacy of Preserving Memories

Our journey began with a passion for photography and a dedication to preserving memories. Zbigniew (Zibi) Podraza, the founder of Zibi Photo, discovered his love for photography at the age of 9 years old, when he received his first camera, a Smiena, as a First Holy Communion gift. By the time he was 14, he was already taking his first commercial photos, capturing weddings.

While still in high school in 1991, he took his passion a step further and opened his first photo lab in Mielec, Poland, balancing school and work to build his craft. In a short time, I opened two more locations, and we began operating under the Kodak Express brand, offering professional photography services and gaining an ever-growing customer base.

Mielec, the city where I started my first photo lab, is also home to an important aviation industry, as Lockheed Martin produces helicopters there, including Black Hawks. This connection to high-quality engineering and production is something I take pride in sharing with our U.S. customers.

In 2001, we brought that passion to the U.S., starting small—literally in a garage. With hard work, commitment, and a growing base of loyal customers, our small operation soon transformed into a full-fledged business. We moved into our first official location in Bridgeview, IL, and as demand grew, so did we.

In 2017, we relocated to a much larger space in Oak Lawn, where we continue to serve our customers with high-quality printing and imaging services today. Over the years, Zibi Photo has primarily served professional photographers, other photo labs, and graphic designers (B2B), offering specialized services tailored to their needs.

But our story wouldn’t be complete without Quality Plus Photo (QPP), a business with an equally rich history. Founded in 1982 by Mike Weber, QPP quickly became a trusted name in photo development and archiving, specializing in serving individual customers (B2C). Over the decades, QPP remained committed to evolving with the industry, moving seven times within a five-mile radius to accommodate newer equipment and the latest technology. Each move allowed the business to enhance its services, ensuring top-quality results for loyal customers. 

In our final move, QPP merged with Zibi Photo, bringing together the best of both retail and professional printing. This partnership strengthens our ability to serve both individual customers and photography professionals, blending expertise, experience, and a shared passion for preserving memories. 

When I arrived in the U.S., I had the privilege of working with the QPP team for a short time before launching Zibi Photo. Over the years, we remained close, sharing a passion for photography and a commitment to excellent service. 

In 2024, our paths officially merged when Zibi Photo acquired Quality Plus Photo, allowing us to expand our services to include film developing, photo restoration, and video archiving. Even more importantly, the experienced QPP team joined us, bringing their decades of knowledge and expertise. Their deep understanding of film processing and archiving is priceless, and we are proud to have them as part of the Zibi Photo family. 

With over 40 years of history and experience, Zibi Photo & Quality Plus Photo stand as a trusted name in photography. We are proud to serve our community, helping people preserve their most cherished memories for generations to come. 

 Thank you for being a part of our journey—we look forward to capturing and preserving many more memories together!