Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tatjana Gavrilovic. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Tatjana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

The biggest trend I have noticed in the past 2 years in the wedding industry has definitely been smaller intimate/ elopement style weddings. Keeping guest lists small and having a personal touch to more details, weddings have become more of an expression of the couple rather than a ‘production’. Couples who initially had planned a big, over the top wedding have ditched the idea and ran with, a smaller more intimate plan for their big day. This has allowed me to focus more on the little moments that are fast fleeting in weddings and have more time to capture their beautiful day, stress and timeline free.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always had a passion for photography since I was a little kid. Commonly being the person with a camera in hand capturing all the memories for friends and family, the more I got into my hobby film photography, I decided to educate myself on the discipline. It took me a while to realize that this passion of mine could become my career. As I became more confident in my knowledge and skill in the field, I stepped into the wedding photography industry. The first wedding I was privileged to shoot was an intimate 50 person wedding, dream clients that allowed me to experiment and grow my confidence on their special day. Since the first wedding I photographed, my business has exponentially grown and I have found wedding photography to be where I am able to express my passion and creativity in media form. Aside from wedding photography, I enjoy shooting family/ lifestyle, engagement sessions and maternity portraits.

Having a documentary style approach to my photography allows candid moments between my clients to unfold, capturing authentic moments that last a lifetime. I love to add analog film photography in my work, as it provides authentic light, colour and emotion to my digital work. What sets me apart from the many brilliant photographers in the industry is my connection to my clients. I have grown my network of clients through word of mouth primarily, allowing me to continue to grow close relationships through my work. My clients feel comfortable with me during their session and are able to trust me to problem solve any arising issues throughout their day or session. Being a photographer you always have to adjust to the moment, move with the light and read peoples body language. It has taught me so much about myself and my work.

My brand and business has been a true passion to establish. I strive to improve my skills daily and learn from my everyday interactions with people and places. Expressing my creativity in this industry has been a privilege.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Having open communication with my clients has been a key factor in my business. I always strive to accommodate any concerns or suggestions they may have to come up with solutions to any arising issues. I truly am a ‘people person’ and accepting of everyones differences because it teaches me about myself. One of the best pieces of advice I have gotten has been from my photography mentor who said ” Anyone can pick up a camera, learn its settings and take a nice photo. The key to success in the photography business is your personality and relationship to your clients.” That has always been my priority in my business as it grows. Making my clients feel comfortable and respected as people aside from any photography I could be of service to.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I take great inspiration from architecture, design and textures. Seeing beauty in ordinary daily aspects, I believe grows your artistic vision. I always keep my eyes peeled day to day drawing inspiration from human interactions, shadows of light and mundane objects. One of the many movies that I have drawn inspiration from is ‘Vicky Christina Barcelona’. It expresses raw emotions of lust, love and hate captured through vintage film styles.

I try to steer clear of comparing my work to the many other amazing photographers in the industry as it can impede my creativity and authentic vision.

Contact Info:

• Website: gaviphotography.com
• Instagram: @gavicreative