We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maja Danica Pecanic a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Maja Danica, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

In my humble opinion, success isn’t something you achieve once and for all. Like a living organism, it requires continuous nurturing and adaptation. I believe the first step is defining what success truly means to you. When we’re young, we often envision numerous clients, constant market presence, and money. However, from my perspective, success is about balance.

The moment I realized I was genuinely smiling while working alongside my loved ones, I knew I was on the right path to my own version of success. In my view, having enough time for inspiration and personal growth—time for yourself—is what constitutes true success.

Reaching that point involves taking small steps, embracing failures, and persevering through challenges. Talent alone isn’t enough. Falling in love with what you do, surrounding yourself with the right people, and continuously working on self-improvement are essential. Success shouldn’t be just a job you do to make a living; it should be a fulfilling journey.

Maja Danica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Since I was young, I’ve been really into different kinds of visual art. Photography quickly became my favorite because of how immediate it is and its ability to capture the world around me.

About twenty years ago, I combined my love for photography and all things delicious, which led me to develop a special interest in food photography and styling. I adopted a “cook-it-yourself” approach that encourages creating thoughtful images and content for a variety of brands in the food, travel, and lifestyle scenes. Now, as a lifestyle and food photographer, I love capturing the vibe and essence of each moment, adding my personal touch and a unique style to my work.

I believe that great creativity often comes from collaboration, so I work closely with a talented team of stylists, writers, designers, ceramic artists, and producers. This teamwork helps me tell richer, more detailed stories through my images.

My work has been featured in many top regional and international food and lifestyle magazines. I’ve also written over 40 cookbooks and teamed up with various advertising agencies. My experience covers editorials, books, packaging, and ad campaigns. I also enjoy creating custom storytelling projects tailored to my clients’ needs.

I hold Honours degrees in Fine Art, which have really shaped how I see and approach composition, especially when it comes to understanding light.

I mainly work in my daylight studio in Zagreb, Croatia, where natural light makes every shot look great. The studio is fully equipped with props and a kitchen, making it perfect for food photography. But I also believe artists should keep challenging themselves and trying new things. That’s why I love traveling around the world to shoot in different places and environments — it keeps my creativity fresh and inspired.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being creative is that each day is unique and unpredictable. Unlike a traditional nine-to-five job in a consistent environment with repetitive tasks and challenges, creativity prevents you from falling into a routine. It keeps life dynamic and enriching, whether you consciously seek it or not. Ultimately, every artist desires and needs this sense of continual growth and novelty. To be fully honest, I believe that for those truly committed to their craft, there is little choice but to embrace this creative path.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

This is quite straightforward. It has always been driven by word of mouth. I genuinely believe that genuine commitment, loyalty, and consistency make the process easier. Additionally, maintaining humility with each new project is essential, as underestimating clients can create a negative impression that is felt throughout the entire room. I believe the key to expanding your client base is to treat every challenge with equal importance, regardless of its size. Every detail matters. When you do this, growth will follow naturally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.majadanica.com/
• Instagram: maja_danica