Mariana Stoyanova: Photography for me is fun, passion, and responsibility
If you're wondering if fun and passion can go hand in hand with responsibility, check out Mariana Stoyanova's photos. They will answer your question affirmatively, and on Holy Tuesday at Dynaphos, we tell you how she managed to combine them into one.
THE BEGINNING
Mariana's interest in photography dates back 13 years. Her daughter was born around that time, and she decided to combine the time spent raising her with a creative pursuit.
"My profession is a dental technician. But I had a lot of time. I wanted what I prepared in my kitchen to turn out better. So I started taking photos. My camera was a Sony; I don't even remember the exact model."
Three years passed from amateur performance to commissioned work. During this time, Mariana not only learned a lot through reading, attending workshops, and the tried-and-true "trial and error" method, but she also changed her subjects: from culinary delights to children, and then to fashion.
"My daughter was growing up, and it was fun to photograph her. Then I started photographing the models of a designer friend of mine. And that's how I set up a studio."
EQUIPMENT AND PROPS
To this day, Mariana has changed several cameras. Her first professional one was a Canon, and she has remained loyal to this brand ever since.
"My husband bought her first Canon. I've had the Canon EOS R6 Mark II for two weeks. For studio shots, I use mixed lighting – flash and continuous, depending on what I want to achieve. Outdoors, I use natural light."
NATURAL LIGHT
Mariana shares that she loves photos taken in nature. She particularly enjoys the natural scenery of the village of Draka. In a live demonstration at Dynaphos, she once shared how she even set up a table between drizzles, involving a large part of her family in the preparation for the shots.
"The rain was fine, like dew. The moment it stopped, we brought out the muffins. The light itself is diffused, misty, and the drops stand out. And the props that nature gives us – the mushrooms in the meadow, for example – create an exceptional atmosphere."
In addition to natural props, Mariana often makes her own – a clay bowl, a handmade background with different textures... She chooses the light according to the task. She also enjoys shooting before sunset, when the sun is low.
"It's all about the idea – what I want to achieve. When I'm shooting for myself, for my portfolio, I like to experiment, rearranging things on the fly. When I see that a shot is working, I then change the composition. Overall, I enjoy shooting. When I work with a client, everything is planned out beforehand. I also have a specific theme. Sometimes for 6 shots, I shoot for two days."
FOR EASTER
Easter is a time when, in addition to the spiritual message of the holiday, families gather around the table. Mariana Stoyanova has already taken several of her own shots, and we are happy that she provides them here and in the gallery for the readers of our blog.
And because social media is filled with pictures of homemade Easter eggs and dishes, here are some small tricks she shares, instead of advice, to make your shots better:
"Come up with an idea, cook a day in advance so you're not tired. Then buy or choose something you like – it can even be a napkin – and compose the shot without rushing. Don't forget to do it with love."
THE MESSAGE
And photography, as a creative profession, always has a message. For Mariana Stoyanova, it's about working exactly as this article began – with fun, passion, and... responsibility!
You can learn more about Mariana Stoyanova's work from her professional website and Facebook, and you can see what secrets of her culinary photography she revealed to the Dynaphos audience in this video on our YouTube channel.
The photos in the body of the article and in the gallery are hers and have been provided specially for the readers of the blog. The author of the header image is Sonya Lamar.
Happy Easter holidays from Dynaphos!
