Interview: Tijana Lubura, photographer

Tijana Lubura is an architect by education and an art photographer by profession. She was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 1984. She used to live in Qatar, Russia, and Montenegro before she settled in Belgrade, Serbia. She founded the photographic group “Grupa 32” (“Group 32”) in 2010 in Belgrade and organized several exhibitions of art photography under the name “Čuvari trenutaka” (“Guardians of the Moments”).

She participated in over 80 solo and group exhibitions and has over six thousand photographs in the stock agency. Tijana is preparing a solo exhibition for November 2020 and is engaged on several projects for future exhibitions. She is inspired by reflection, conceptual, and portrait photography.

She enjoys passing on and sharing experience and knowledge with beginners in photography. She is always happy to answer any questions from her social media followers.

Bringing the Beauty of the World to Light: An Interview with Photographer Tijana Lubura

You can find Tijana Lubura here:

Website: tijanalubura.weebly.com
E-mail: tijana.arh@gmail.com
Instagram: @tijanalubura
Twitter: @TijanaaPhoto
Linkedin: @TijanaLubura
Facebook: @tijanalubura.foto

Hi Tijana, how long have you been working as a photographer now?

Hi, Jernej, thanks for the interview invitation. I have been involved in photography since I was a teenager. I had my first exhibition in 2009, and I have been actively engaged in commercial photography since 2012.

What inspired you to become a photographer? What were your first steps?

At the age of 15, I earned my first 100 euros, with which I bought my first analog camera. That was twenty years ago. I took pictures of everything that surrounded me, and since then, the camera has always been with me.

That was love at first sight, or click.

Are you a professional or an amateur photographer?

For years, I have been balancing between architecture, which is my vocation, and photography, which has been my hobby. However, I made the decision that photography is going to be my only job, and I am 100% committed to it. My answer would be professional photographer.

What is your favorite subject to photograph?

For a long time, I searched for myself through different themes in photography. In the end, I realized that I was mostly inspired by street, conceptual, and portrait photography, and my favorite is reflection.

: Candle.

What kit do you shoot with?

For a very long time, I have been using Canon. Depending on the project, I use fixed and zoom lenses, along with additional equipment.

How would you define your photographic style?

I would define my photographic style as one with story and soul.

Which editing software do you usually use?

I usually use Adobe Photoshop and Snapseed for fast editing on my mobile phone.

John Wanamaker said: Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is, I do not know which half. Do you gain your clients by advertising or in another way?

The best marketing is a satisfied customer who shares the experience with their nearest and dearest. I think today’s online marketing is very important. I think the photographer is best represented by his work.

: Doha.

How does your typical working day look like? What do you do when you are not working? How many hours/days per week are you working? What do you do in your free time?

First of all, I like the field job, and second, I like the office job. Not a single day is the same at work, and I love it because of it. I adjust my work for myself and my family. I love freelance projects because I am in a position to organize my time myself. If you could ask my family how many hours I spent on photography, they would probably say 24/7. Photography is my life.

When I’m not physically involved, my thoughts are occupied by photography. I’m always searching for inspiration, new ideas, expanding knowledge—photography is like air to me. I spend my spare time with my family and friends, either in our own home or outside in nature.

What would you do differently if you would start again?

I think that any changes in the past would reflect changes in the present. I love my life a lot, and every part of it is of the same importance to me. I wouldn’t change a thing.

A professional photographer is also an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs have many things in common. They read a lot. What about you? What are your favorite books?

Education is important for everyone. I like to read spiritual literature, novels, books about photography, marketing, psychology, parenting, etc. It depends on what stage of life I am in.

These are my three favorite books:

The Proloque of Ohrid—St. Nikolai Velimirovi
The Story of Art, Ernst Gombrich
Who Moved My Cheese?—Spencer Johnson

What was the best advice you have ever received as a photographer? Do you have any advice for other photographers?

The best advice I got was that the artist is looking for his best work for the rest of his life. The advice for every colleague is to constantly work, do a lot of research, and enjoy every working process. Work has created a man, and work itself is of essence importance for the body and soul. It is of the utmost importance that a person can do what they really love to do and would do it even for free. If that work turns out to be profitable, then it is a complete success.