Pogosta vprašanja

  • Najraje delam, ko se družina sprosti in malo pozabi, da sem tam. Otroci so lahko taki, kakršni so — bosi, blatni, sramežljivi, jezni. Ne usmerjam jih za vsako ceno, ne prosim za nasmehe. Raje se z družino povežem skozi njihove aktivnosti in jim sledim.

    Iščem trenutke, ki bi sicer izginili — pogled med sestrama, jeza pred zajtrkom, mir po kopanju, smeh, ki je bil resnično smeh. Iz tega nastane serija fotografij, ki ni klasičen družinski portret, ampak nekaj bolj osebnega.

    Delam z družinami, ki ne iščejo klasično spoliranega videza. Namen fotografij ni prikazati idealizirano perfektnost, temveč resničnost in srčnost — namenjeno osebnim spominom. Brez mask za druge, več resničnosti zase.

  • Priporočam usklajene, nevtralne tone — bela, bež, peščena, mehki zemeljski odtenki. Naravni materiali (lan, bombaž) delujejo lepo na naravni svetlobi. Izognite se velikim napisom in zelo živim barvam. Pred snemanjem se vedno o oblačilih uskladiva.

  • Najpogosteje v naravi — parki, gozdovi, jezera, vrtovi, kmetije. Možno je tudi snemanje doma ali v interjerju, če je prostor vizualno zanimiv. Lokacijo izbereva skupaj glede na zgodbo, ki jo želite ujeti. Najpogosteje v Ljubljani in okolici, lahko pa snemava kjerkoli v Sloveniji ali tujini.

  • Da, če je prostor vizualno zanimiv — z dobro svetlobo, prostornostjo in karakterjem. Snemanje v interjerju zahteva profesionalno svetlobno opremo, zato vedno delam z asistentom. Ta dodatek je od 250 € k paketu. Tudi pri snemanjih na prostem v zahtevnih svetlobnih pogojih (proti soncu, ostre sence) asistent omogoča boljšo kontrolo svetlobe.

  • V "zlati uri" — uri pred sončnim zahodom. Svetloba je takrat mehka, topla in ne ustvari ostrih senc. V poletnih mesecih to pomeni večerne ure (med 19. in 21. uro), pozimi popoldne (med 15. in 17. uro).

  • Snemanja na prostem v primeru dežja ali zelo slabega vremena prestaviva na nov datum. Snemanja v interjerju na vreme niso vezana.

  • Glede na paket: Osnovni v 14 dneh, Razširjeni v 21 dneh, Knjiga z zgodbo v 4–6 tednih. Nekaj fotografij za "preview" lahko dobite že prej, po dogovoru.

  • Preko spletne galerije, kjer si jih lahko ogledate, prenesete v visoki ločljivosti in delite z družino. Vse v digitalni obliki (JPEG, sRGB) — primerne za tisk in objavo. Galerija ostane aktivna 6 mesecev.

  • Najlažje preko spletni pošte: maja@majaratajc.com. Po prvem pogovoru pošljem podrobno ponudbo. Termin je rezerviran ob potrditvi in plačilu predujma (50 %). Preostanek poravnate ob ali po snemanju.

  • Knjiga z zgodbo je avtorska, kar pomeni, da koncept razvijeva že pred snemanjem, ne po njem.

    Na predsnemalnem razgovoru se pogovoriva o vaši družini — kaj vas definira, kaj radi počnete skupaj, kakšne so vaše vrednote. Iz tega oblikujeva idejo za knjigo, pogosto v obliki dejavnosti ali "naloge", ki bo naravno razkrila vaš karakter.

    Primer: če družina rada ustvarja, lahko recimo skupaj narišete velik družinski portret. Fotografiram ves proces — od prve zamisli, prek razlitega kozarca z vodo, prerekanja in smeha, do trenutka, ko obstaja umetnina, ki ste jo ustvarili skupaj. Knjiga ni samo galerija lepih portretov — je dokumentacija procesa, v katerem se družinska dinamika pokaže sama.

    Po snemanju pripravim kuratorski predlog (okoli 50 fotografij). Na skupnem sestanku skupaj določiva končnih 30–40, ki gredo v knjigo.

  • Po snemanju prejmete spletno galerijo z vsemi obdelanimi fotografijami. Za knjigo pripravim kuratorski predlog — okoli 50 fotografij z razvitim narativnim zaporedjem. Na skupnem sestanku skupaj določiva končnih 30–40 fotografij, ki gredo v knjigo. Tako knjiga ohrani uredniško koherenco in hkrati odraža vaše emocionalno najmočnejše trenutke.

English

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I work best when the family relaxes and almost forgets I'm there. Children can be as they are — barefoot, muddy, shy, frustrated. I don't force direction or ask for smiles. I prefer to connect with the family through their activities and follow their lead.

    I look for moments that would otherwise disappear — a glance between sisters, frustration before breakfast, quiet after a swim, the laughter that was real laughter. What you receive is a series, not a classic family portrait — something more personal.

    I work with families who aren't looking for a polished, idealized image. These photographs are not made to show perfection, but truth and warmth — kept for personal memories. Less performance for others, more honesty for yourselves.

  • I recommend coordinated, neutral tones — white, beige, sand, soft earth shades. Natural materials (linen, cotton) work beautifully in natural light. Avoid large logos and very bright colours. We always discuss clothing together before the shoot.

  • Most often outdoors — parks, forests, lakes, gardens, farms. It's also possible to shoot at home or indoors, if the space is visually interesting. We choose the location together based on the story you want to capture. Usually in Ljubljana and the surrounding area, but I can shoot anywhere in Slovenia or abroad.

  • Yes, if the space is visually interesting — with good light, openness and character. Indoor shoots require professional lighting equipment (Profoto), so I always work with an assistant. This is an addition from €250 to the package. Even outdoor shoots in demanding light conditions (against the sun, harsh shadows) benefit from an assistant for better light control.

  • During the "golden hour" — the hour before sunset. The light is soft, warm and doesn't create harsh shadows. In summer this means evening hours (between 7pm and 9pm), in winter the afternoon (between 3pm and 5pm).

  • Outdoor shoots are rescheduled to a new date in case of rain or very poor weather. Indoor shoots are not affected by the weather.

  • According to the package: Essential within 14 days, Extended within 21 days, Story Book within 4–6 weeks. A few preview photos can be delivered earlier by arrangement.

  • Through an online gallery, where you can view all photos, download them in high resolution, and share them with family. All in digital form (JPEG, sRGB) — suitable for printing and online use. The gallery remains active for 6 months.

  • The easiest way is by email: maja@majaratajc.com. After our initial conversation I'll send a detailed offer. The date is reserved upon confirmation and a 50% deposit. The remainder is paid at or after the shoot.

  • The Story Book is an author's project, which means the concept is developed before the shoot, not after.

    In our pre-shoot conversation we talk about your family — what defines you, what you love doing together, what you value. From this we shape an idea for the book, often in the form of an activity or "task" that will naturally reveal your character.

    For example: if your family loves making art, I might suggest you draw a large family portrait together. I document the entire process — from the first idea, through a spilled glass of water, sibling disagreement and laughter, to the moment when a piece of art exists that you've made together. The book isn't just a gallery of beautiful portraits — it's documentation of a process in which the family's dynamic reveals itself.

  • After the shoot you receive an online gallery with all edited photos (80–100). For the book itself I prepare a curated proposal — around 50 photos arranged in a narrative sequence. At a joint meeting we together decide on the final 30–40 photos that go into the book.

    This way the book maintains editorial coherence while reflecting the moments most emotionally meaningful to your family.