Interview Series: Svetlana Damjanac

Today we welcome Svetlana Damjanac, an amazing photographer who produces constant and high quality pictures. She has built a multi-faceted portfolio never compromising on quality. We are very happy to learn about her experience and how she became so successful. Check out her portfolio here.

Thank you very much for participating in our series of Stock Performer customer interviews!

Thank you! It’s my pleasure!

Tell us, where do you live and where are you from? Is that where you produce your photography?

I am from Russia, but I live in Belgrade, Serbia, so I do all of my photography here in Belgrade.

When did you discover your interest in photography?

I would love to say that I have always been interested in photography, or that my grandpa left me his camera, but no. It happened in 2009, when my Russian friend told me she had tried to photograph something with a Nikon D80. She shot stuff like fire, leaves, grass (that’s what most microstockers do in the beginning, right?).

She was so exited about it and told me I should try too, since I had a D90 at home (my husband’s hobby was to buy expensive cameras and never use them, and I loved small idiot-like cameras because they are compact). It was great fun finding different tutorials on how to photograph.

How did you find microstock and why did you get involved? Has it changed your life?

The same friend told me once (soon after we “discovered” photography), that she wanted to try to earn some money by selling images on the Internet. She mentioned there were many stock sites for that. I said she was silly, as nobody would ever buy pictures like that. But, as she didn’t know English well, my task was to help translate the registrations forms, exams and so on.

So I said, what the hell, I’ll try and photograph something for stock too (it was Shutterstock back then). It was November, and I did some Christmas images of decorations on white background. The photos were approved and sold for $2.16 all in one day… WOOOW!! The little red gift box was my bestseller and everybody in my family was proud of me.

Luckily I found a forum with great Serbian people shooting stock, which was inspiring and motivating. I commited myself to try and shoot better stock. I should photograph people and learn how to use studio lights. My husband was of great support and as well as my forum friends. And so I did it, actually. Now, stock is my lifestyle and I am very happy, as I enjoy what I do.

Thank you for image! What inspired you to take this picture?

I planned that photo shoot as a commercial theme and I knew it would sell. It was a great responsibility as I worked (by myself) with a group of hired models in a new studio for the first time. But that’s not why I chose that image, I chose it because of the stats.

What does this image’s revenue chart tell you?

It tells me, actually, it gives me hope that a lot of images I produce recently will start selling someday. The current situation at iStock is not motivating at all. This image was sitting quietly until it started selling nicely… was it a best match shake or something else? Go figure. So there is hope that a lot of nice, time and money consuming photos will see the light.

Did you expect such a revenue chart? Are you happy with it?

Really, I was hoping the whole photo shoot would sell nicely (thanks to Stock Performer I can see I was kind of right). It’s not my bestseller and my goal actually, is to have more and more constantly good selling images than a couple of bestsellers.

The microstock market is huge. How do you analyse the market? Is it an important part of your workflow?

I usually try to find out what are the trends. I look at what sells best in my work, I listen to requests from iStock and I experiment photographing different things to find out where there is demand. I use Stock Performer every day to track my sales in real time, and I like other features like collection performance and top sales. Especially I like to see what has sold on the Getty partner program.

Do you believe in “quantity” or “quality”? What is most important for you and why?

I believe in consistency most of all, and quality. I do what I think has a commercial value and I try to upload constantly. I diversify my portfolio by shooting different things, on location, mixed light and so on. I do lifestyle, business, beauty. Earlier, I was afraid to experiment, but now I feel confident that it’s not the technical perfection that sells an image, but it’s commerciality. I shoot what I think will sell and do it as often as I can.

What does your typical production process look like?

I have an assistant. I used to work by myself, but it’s easier to work with somebody who is here to help. She is still learning and I’m happy with her. She also does parts of the retouching. My job is the rest: planning, finding models, finding locations, buying props and clothes, setting the light and photographing, retouching (the other part, mostly beauty shots) and uploading. I also have a make-up artist (my friend). So we have a lot of fun working together.

As for organizing myself to produce, sincerely, it’s not a big problem. As I said, stock is my lifestyle now. Remaining motivated is very important! I always have ideas for photo shoots in my head, so when I feel it’s a good time, I do it. I also have a family and two kids going to school, so I have to share my attention and cannot spend 24/7 in my studio.

Would you recommend photographers to take risks and invest in employees or assistants, or outsource, to help them in their production process?

I don’t think I can advise much here. I have an assistant and it helps a lot. It’s good if you find an experienced one, so you don’t have to spend your time teaching stuff. Or at least find a person who wants to learn and is interested in photography.

You have to have a make up artist if you shoot beauty. For lifestyle, models can do their make up easily (of course under your control). I have been visiting a make up school here in Belgrade and learned a lot about the face, so it helps when I do beauty retouching. I can do some make up, but its always better let the professional do it.

I never used stylist. I know it would be easier with stylist, but I never found one. I have enough clothes in the studio, so I don’t worry if models bring something unsuitable (which mostly happens).

As for retouch, I do all of my beauty images. I do actually all images by myself even if it was previously retouched by assistant. I know I’m crazy, but it’s what I am. It’s good if you have a retouching person whose style matches yours ideally, otherwise you will lose time and nerves.

I upload all by myself using Deep Meta, which makes it easy. If you want to organize a team, be prepared to take responsibilities as they depend on you and you have to pay them.

Where do you think the stock photography business is going? How do you see the next years?

I don’t know really. I see a lot of changes recently. But I can’t predict future. As long as people have eyes, there will be demand for visual content. Will it be photos or videos (like newspapers in Harry Potter)? I like to think positive.

What is your advice to remain a successful stock photographer in upcoming years?

As there is a huge amount of great photographers and images (and the number is getting bigger), it’s important to produce photos with high commercial value, to be constant, to follow trends and most important to adjust to the changes.

Tell us, when you are not doing photography, how do you relax and enjoy your free time?

Nothing special. I spend time with my family. We go to movies, eating out or travel when kids have school vacations.

Thank you very much for your time, it was a pleasure talking to you!

Thank you very much for your time, it was a pleasure talking to you!
If you haven’t joined Stock Performer yet, join the free trial now!

You enjoyed this interview?

Then read more here: Interview Series