Fotograf Gina Stef

—Fotogenični ste?

—Yes I am, but only when i'm not posing.

—Kako ste ušli u svet fotografije?

—I wanted to do something else with my photos, to bring more joy to happy couples.

—Šta smatrate da su ključni elementi dobre fotografije?

—It has to capture the moment. When the bride cries, when the groom laughs at her or when the people at the wedding just go crazy :)

—Volite putovanja?

—Absolutely YES! We love meeting new and interesting couples and we're eager to take their photos in an unknown location. This is also a big challenge, to take improvised great photos of them in a place we've never been before.

—Šta najviše volite u vezi sa svojim zanimanjem?

—Every wedding is a challenge and we love challenges! Meeting new people and "clicking" on their wedding ideas is great!

—Šta najmanje volite u vezi sa svojim zanimanjem?

—Sometimes it's the long hours of a wedding here in Romania that get to us, but after all if the newlyweds are still having fun at 2 a.m. in the morning, we'll hop in and have fun with them!

—Kakva će biti budućnost fotografije?

—Nowadays if you don't know Photoshop you're like dead in the water. Photography won't change much, as opposed to the way we as photographers will present the final result to our clients.

—Šta je posebno kod vrste fotografije koja je vaša specijalnost?

—Before any event we always have butterflies in our stomachs and that's a good thing, because it pushes us further. We love the rush of the events and the general happiness of the people attending the wedding.

—Kako podnosite kritiku?

—We try to prevent it, usually we under-promise and over-deliver. If by any chance our clients are not fully satisfied, we communicate on what's wrong and we try to correct that.

—Da li u fotografiji postoje trendovi?

—The vintage, chabby-chic trends are on fire! And we love them, all the decors give a wedding a great feel!

—Šta treba da budu kriterijumi kada klijent bira fotografa?

—On the initial meeting, they should analyze whether they "click" with the photographer. If you're not on the same mindset, then you might as well find another one.

—Šta treba izbegavati kod snimanja?

—It all comes down to common-sense. A wedding photographer is not (or should not) seek the tabloid-like, outrageous pictures. He/she should always comply with the client's wishes and demands.

—Koje najčešće neprimetne detalje primećuje fotograf?

—It's that split-second facial expression on somebody's face, or some short event that nobody saw because they were focused on the bride and groom.

—Šta utiče na vrednost fotografije? Šta su njeni elementi?

—I think it's all about the "feel". No matter how you composed it, no matter how blurry it is.

—Za koju ličnost smatrate da bi mogla da bude simbol 21. veka?

—It's difficult to assess, since social media is huge nowadays and everybody's a celebrity.

—Koga biste želeli da fotografišete?

—We would like to shoot a tattooed open-minded rockers couple, in Moab, Utah :)

—Da li za vas u poslu postoji nešto zabranjeno?

—Yes, to never disappoint our clients!

—Sa kim biste želeli da sarađujete?

—It would be a dream to shoot with Sergey Ivanov, Sal Cincotta or Aaron Nace!

—Šta vas brine i zašto?

—I always worry that we won't be able to satisfy all our clients' needs. But so far, so good.

—Koji trenutak u vašem životu je bio najupečatljiviji?

—Traveling through the U.S. and admiring the cities, the breweries, the landscapes and all the beautiful people!

—Koji lik iz crtaća, knjige ili filma biste bili i zašto?

—When I was little I looked like Betty Boop so...

—Ko vam je životna inspiracija i zašto?

—I see inspiration all around, it's hard to pinpoint something.

—Šta za vas znači uspeh? Kako ga merite?

—I thing it's a sum of the opinions of the people who met you. If most of the opinions are great, you could consider yourself a successful person.

—Da li biste pre bili voljeni ili poštovani?

—Both, of course!

—Šta je najveća greška koju ste do sada napravili u poslu?

—I made only small mistakes :)

—Šta nosite sa sobom na putovanja i zašto?

—My husband, our cameras and leave behind everything else.

—Da li ima nešto među vašim alatkama čiju kupovinu ste zažalili? Zašto?

—Along the way there has been some trial and error, some gadgets failed and some we still have, but I guess we shouldn't have bought a Wii U console and a 2x extender.

—Kako se edukujete da biste bolje fotografisali?

—Through inspiration on the web, brainstorming with friends and talks with clients.

—Čiji rad je najviše uticao na vas kao fotografa?

—I wish Sergey Ivanov influenced me, but I couldn't rise to that level :)

—Šta biste voleli da ste znali kad ste tek postali fotograf?

—That "anything flies" if you have a story behind it.

—Šta želite da poručite svojim fotografijama?

—People are beautiful!

—Šta vas motiviše da se i dalje bavite fotografijom?

—The satisfaction of our clients and money, of course.

—Da li mislite da su vaši roditelji bili premalo ili previše strogi?

—At times I wanted them to be less of a pain, but it turns out that I turned out just fine!

—Da možete da se vratite u prošlost, šta biste uradili drugačije?

—Listen to rock music earlier, read more and move to another city sooner.

—Šta mislite o životu na drugim planetama?

—I can't wait to have an alien friend!

—Ko su vaši heroji?

—Lebowski from "The Big Lebowski" film!

—Prema kome nemate nimalo poštovanja?

—People who don't have any hobby, any taste in anything, any opinion of their own.

—Kako provodite slobodno vreme?

—I love calligraphy and everything hand made, I try to do as much as I can, apart from editing photos.

—Koji deo sebe nikada ne pokazujete javno?

—I'd have to kill you...

—Kad ste potpuno zadovoljni svojim radom?

—Never!

—Da li verujete u tradicionalne uloge muškaraca i žena?

—I'm not a feminist, but no, I do not believe in these stereotypes.

—Da li lako sklapate prijateljstva?

—I'd say that I do, but some would say that I keep to myself a lot. I only make friends with the people which inspire me and help me evolve, by having interesting argumentative conversations.

—Gde biste voleli da živite?

—San Francisco, some 50 years ago.

—Šta je najgluplja stvar u životu koju ste pristali da uradite?

—I have a problem with saying "no" to things. But I'm working on that.

—Da li postoji život posle braka?

—Of course. If you don't make a child right away. Or never.

—Imate omiljeni vic? Prepričajte nam ga.

—It's a photographers' joke, of course:
So there's a dinner party. A photographer's talking to the host. She says to him: "Mr. Photographer, I love your work! You must have a great camera!" The photographer doesn't respond. But at the dinner table, after taking a bite, the photographer says to the host: "Oh, this food is delicious! You must have a terrific oven!"

—Da li volite pse ili mačke?

—Both, but mostly cats.

—Da li postoji neko ili nešto što mrzite?

—Ignorance and arrogance together.

—Najbolja stvar u životu je:

—Combining your hobby and your job.

—Najiritantnija stvar u životu je:

—Having a job and a hobby-job :)

—Da li ima nešto u vašem okruženju što biste promenili?

—I would love it if the hobby would stay just hobby, not having to deal with contracts, invoices, bills to pay... This narrows the creativity, the whole "professional" side of photography.

—Šta biste promenili kod sebe?

—I would like to learn to say NO and not bite more than I can chew.

—Šta biste promenili u svetu?

—If only money disappeared, people will start being people again.

—Da li imate neki savet za fotografe koji tek počinju?

—Take lots of photos, then analyze them and develop your own style. And most importantly, never stop!

—Kad bi vanzemaljci došli na Zemlju i prvo sreli vas, šta biste im rekli?

—Most surely they won't understand a word, but I'll beg them to share some wisdom here on Earth!

—Kad bi vas zvali da snimite film, koji biste žanr izabrali?

—Some moody drama

—Od sutra ću da…

—some portraits, for sure!