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Meet Ivana Cajina of Von.co in Tampa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivana Cajina.

So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
This journey started about four years ago when I was told by an old friend of mine “Hey, you got a great eye for things, try taking photos” and ever since then, I just never stopped. For a year, I would come home after work and just head out to go shoot, I would get homework done (I was in college then) and then, I would work on my editing skills till about 3 am. It was constant.

I started to network around the community and next thing you know, I am landing crazy gigs, had my first billboard print ad and it continued…

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Oh no not at all, I struggle daily with this.
It is hard sometimes to differentiate work with personal work when it comes to photography, you want to stay true to your style but you also want to please a client.
However, it is such a beautiful thing when you can combine both, it makes all of this worth it.
Oh and freelance gigs, wow do they just come and go. You never know when your next client will be. It teaches you how to truly budget and hustle. Some months are so busy when some are sort of quiet.

So many mental obstacles just appear when you are trying to put your own work out into the world. I struggle with staying relevant, with wondering if my work is still valuable to others and brands. If I am really even doing all of this right.
With these struggles though, it has taught me to be a stronger more confident person. Although I struggle on the daily, I still wouldn’t trade this for the world.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am a photographer, I have been for four years now!
I specialize in lifestyle, product, brand photography. One of my favorite things to photograph though is landscapes.
I believe my style sets me apart from others, I not only shoot dark but I edit darker. It isn’t for everyone but it is my own take on everything. I love taking photos but I take pride in editing.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I have been so lucky with the people I have worked with but also met. I have so many people I am grateful for, people who have introduced me to others that have become very important clients. Also, the people that believe in me, I just feel like… yes, my photography speaks for itself but I am lucky to have all these people support me and my work.

Bad luck is definitely how many times I lose lens caps, memory cards, or accidentally format cards. It is something I am working on, haha!

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