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.

  • Barve so pomemben element fotografije. Barvasta oblačila so zato dobrodošla, je pa zelo pomembno, da se o tem dogovorimo vnaprej in jih izberemo skupaj, saj lahko napačna barva bistveno spremeni rezultat. Pogosto stranke na snemanje prinesejo več možnosti in izberemo na licu mesta. Vedno pa se izogibamo napisom in logotipom.

  • Ne štejem jih. Po snemanju naredim izbor: ven gredo zamujeni trenutki, zaprte oči in podvojeni kadri, ostane pa vse, kar je dobro. Pri vsakem paketu je zapisano okvirno število, v praksi pa jih je običajno več. Vse so barvno obdelane.

  • Ni katastrofa. Tudi trma je del osebnosti in prav od tam pogosto pridejo dobre fotografije — otrok, ki je zamišljen, jezen ali zatopljen v svoje, je resničen.

    Običajno znam zmotivirati tudi trmaste otroke, potrebujem pa za to več časa. Zato snemamo dovolj dolgo, da vsak najde svoj ritem, in zato vnaprej izbereva dejavnost, ki otroke tako ali tako veseli.

  • Najraje na krajih, ki nekaj pomenijo vam — doma, na vrtu, pri babici, v gozdu, kamor hodite, na vašem kotičku ob morju. Doma in v interjerju je odlično, če ima prostor svetlobo in karakter. Najpogosteje snemam v Ljubljani in okolici, pridem pa kamorkoli po Sloveniji. Tudi sosednje države mi niso tuje — za snemanja čez mejo se dogovorimo posebej.

  • Zjutraj ali proti večeru, ko je sonce nizko. Jutranja svetloba je mirnejša in bolj čista, večerna toplejša — obe sta lepi in izbereva glede na zgodbo. Poleti to pomeni zgodnje dopoldne ali po 19. uri, pozimi dopoldne ali med 15. in 17. uro.

    Pri snemanju doma se ravnava po tem, kdaj je svetloba najlepša v vašem prostoru. Pogosto je to jutro.

  • Če vreme ni primerno za koncept snemanja, termin brezplačno prestavimo. Moj slog je sončen — svetloba in barve so tisto, iz česar nastane slika. Sneg je odličen. Če pa zgodba zahteva dež, snemamo v dežju.

  • V 14 dneh prejmete zasebno spletno galerijo z vsemi fotografijami v polni ločljivosti (JPEG, sRGB). Od tam jih prenesete in delite s svojimi; galerija ostane odprta šest mesecev.

    V galeriji lahko naročite tudi tiske, okvirje in albume — naročilo gre neposredno v tiskarno in pride k vam domov.

  • Nikoli ne objavim brez vašega dovoljenja. Za objavo vedno vprašam — in če ne želite, da so fotografije kjerkoli javno, to preprosto poveste in tako bo. Na izbor in na delo to ne vpliva. Če se strinjate, objavim manjši izbor na Instagramu in v portfoliu, vam pa izbor pokažem vnaprej.

  • Pišite mi na maja@majaratajc.com. Najprej se pogovoriva o ideji, kraju in terminu, nato pošljem ponudbo.

    Za termine med majem in oktobrom se javite nekaj tednov vnaprej.

  • Knjiga ni galerija, ampak zgodba — izbor in zaporedje najlepših prizorov, da se pri listanju dan odvije še enkrat.

    Po snemanju pripravim kuratorski predlog z razvitim zaporedjem. Pred tiskom dobite predogled v potrditev. Knjiga je dimenzije 25×25 cm, s platneno naslovnico, 40 strani, izdelana v 8–10 tednih.

English

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I work best once the family relaxes and half forgets I'm there. Children can be exactly as they are — barefoot, muddy, shy, cross. I don't direct them at all costs and I never ask for smiles; I'd rather join in with whatever you're doing and follow.

    I look for the moments that would otherwise disappear: a glance between sisters, the anger before breakfast, the calm after a bath, laughter that was really laughter. What comes out of it is a series of photographs rather than a classic family portrait — something more personal.

    I work with families who aren't after the polished look. These photographs are not meant to show idealised perfection but what is real and warm in you — they are made for your own memories. No masks for other people; more of yourselves, for yourselves.

  • Colour is an important element of the photograph, so colourful clothes are welcome — but it matters a great deal that we agree on them beforehand and choose them together, because the wrong colour can change the result completely. Families often bring several options along and we decide on the spot. We always avoid slogans and logos.

  • I don't count them. After the shoot I make the selection: missed moments, closed eyes and duplicate frames go out, everything good stays. Each package states an approximate number, and in practice there are usually more. All of them are colour-graded.

  • It's not a disaster. Stubbornness is part of a personality too, and good photographs often come from exactly there — a child who is thoughtful, cross or lost in their own thing is a real child.

    I can usually win over stubborn children as well, but it takes more time. That's why we take enough time for everyone to find their rhythm, and why we agree in advance on an activity the children enjoy anyway.

  • Best of all in places that mean something to you — at home, in the garden, at grandmother's, in the woods you walk in, your own corner of the coast. Home and interiors are excellent if the space has light and character. I photograph mostly in and around Ljubljana, but I'll come anywhere in Slovenia. I photograph mostly in and around Ljubljana, but I'll come anywhere in Slovenia — and the neighbouring countries are no stranger to me either. For shoots across the border, we arrange it separately.

  • Morning or towards evening, when the sun is low. Morning light is calmer and cleaner, evening light warmer — both are beautiful and we choose according to the story. In summer that means early morning or after 7pm; in winter, the morning or between 3 and 5pm.

    For a shoot at home we go by when the light is best in your own rooms. Often that is the morning.

  • If the weather doesn't suit the concept of the shoot, we move the date at no cost. My work lives on sunlight — light and colour are what the picture is made of. Snow is wonderful. And if the story calls for rain, we photograph in the rain.

  • Within 14 days you receive a private online gallery with every photograph at full resolution (JPEG, sRGB). You download them from there and share them with your family; the gallery stays open for six months.

    Prints, frames and albums can be ordered in the gallery — the order goes straight to the lab and is delivered to your door.

  • Never without your permission. I always ask first — and if you'd rather nothing is public anywhere, you simply say so and that's that. It changes nothing about the selection or the work. If you agree, I publish a small selection on Instagram and in my portfolio, and I show you that selection beforehand.

  • Write to me at maja@majaratajc.com. First we talk about the idea, the place and the date, then I send an offer.

    For dates between May and October, get in touch a few weeks ahead.

  • The book isn't a gallery but a story — a selection and a sequence of the finest scenes, put together so that turning the pages plays the day again.

    After the shoot I prepare a curated proposal with a developed sequence. Before it goes to print you receive a preview to approve. The book is 25×25 cm, cloth-bound, usually at least 40 pages, made in 8–10 weeks.