Yana Mostitsky
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I am a creative commercial portrait photographer, shooting environmental and studio portraiture.”
I enjoy creating artistic portraits, demonstrating my clients personality, profession, style. It starts with creative pre production: picking up location, lighting, brainstorming ideas, mood board, production book, hiring professionals like make-up artists, stylists etc. Ending up with distinguishable imagery, tailored to my customers needs. Besides that I do environmental product photography, as well as catalog studio product photography on models.
I also enjoy organizing and executing editorial style shoots with a surrealistic touch.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I started a relationship with my first DSLR camera 8 years ago, after moving to California and leaving my scientific career behind. I have started with some basic classes, a lot of self learning, shooting products for my small business of jewelry and accessories. After a while I have decided to make photography my new career and opened a small photography business Yanamy Photography in 2017. I was doing a bit of everything, while concentrating on portrait photography. Right now I am finishing my Master of Art degree in Photography at the San Francisco Academy of Art University, while shifting my focus to a creative commercial photography pathway.
How do you stand out in your field?
I have a very strong lighting technique, meticulous attention to detail, high end post production. I find inspiration in the work of known painters and classic photographers and incorporate it in my imagery. As a result I produce well executed, standing out portraits with a bit of surrealistic touch in many of them. I love working with color, however recently I’ve started enjoying monochrome portraiture too. Always looking for new techniques, shooting until I feel satisfied with the images I’ve got. Besides that I have a communicative and friendly personality, noted by my clients as easy to work with.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Right now with the shelter in place situation going on, I have started a personal project: a series of monochrome diptychs depicting people in glamorous attire as opposed to their staying at home look. My family took the first blow, however now I have a bit more of available subjects and I am looking to incorporate people of different ages and professions as my subjects in this project.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I enjoy retro photography, looking at the work of portraiture masters like Man Ray, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon. Their lighting schemes and minimalistic approach are incorporated in many of my images, as well as the project I am currently working on. A good example would be my image exhibited here:
Also I have a series of images created as a homage to known painters styles, my favorites would be Rene Magritte, Diego Rivera and Salvador Dali. I love the vibrant colors, sharpness of details and thinking out of the box. One of the homage images was showcased here.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
Besides my commercial work I really enjoy organizing editorial style fashion shoots. I am very good at networking with creative people, bringing a whole team to work on a shoot. I am also very good in organization, starting from pre production work, following with directing other team members, making sure everyone knows when and what he/she is supposed to do. One of my great skills (that I figured out during my scientific career and I can still see that I have it in my photography work) - I can find solutions and make things work during a shoot, overcoming obstacles and finding ways to get things done. On a humorous note, my motto is: It will work, even if it was not supposed to!
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Frustrating … I guess the need to balance between my professional work, finishing my degree and my family life. Also marketing: trying to follow a business plan, managing SMM, all kinds of stuff you need to execute while running a small business.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Definitely would hire an assistant, which I do many times. Someone has to help with the heavy equipment, holding the strobes, flashes, reflectors, taking care of timing during the shoot etc. Besides that I am dreaming of hiring an SMM specialist to manage all my social accounts for me. A CPA would be nice, to take care of my business accounts, taxes etc.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I would go back when I just finished my bachelors degree and tell myself to trust my own gut over anything else. Also, trust my own judgement, since all the people you work for / with are only human and can make mistakes that will impact your career. Most important one - do what you feel right for yourself, don’t look back on other people's needs / wishes.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
Right now I am finishing my commercial portraiture degree and thinking of entering the industry as a freelance photographer. I would definitely wish to speak about marketing myself the best way I can.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I am looking to work with businesses or individuals on creative productions for their marketing needs, website content, social media content, shooting products on models on location or in studio. Creative portraiture for branding and promotional needs. Besides that, I would love to have an opportunity to assist a well established photographer on a large commercial production shoots to get a hang of the industry from inside.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
Ideal client would be an open minded and creative individual, looking for top quality results, familiar with my work and looking forward to working specifically with me. My ideal job would be to shoot environmental editorial with one of my favorite clothing/shoes brands like John Fluevog. My ideal collaboration would be with a talented and edgy hairstylist and jewelry designer for a series of fine art headshots to be published in one of the top fashion magazines like Vogue.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
Every project is different, please contact me with details to receive an accurate quote.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
E-mail is the best yanamyphotography@gmail.com
My instagram direct is fine too.
Last but not least, you can text or call and leave me a message at my phone (650)-450-3933.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
I follow the light
This member profile was originally published in May 2020.