How Irena from FiliPa Fotografie started her photography journey

For Irena, the German photographer behind Filipa Fotografie, photography has always been more than just a hobby. It’s been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. Back in the days of analog cameras, waiting to see how your photos turned out was always a highlight. That excitement never left her. In 2011, she bought her first DSLR, a Nikon D5000 and instantly felt something click. “It felt like a natural extension of my hand,” she says.

From that moment on, her camera followed her everywhere, on holidays, family events, and most importantly, into motherhood. Her son quickly became her favorite subject, though frustration grew when her automatic settings didn’t deliver the results she had envisioned. It wasn’t until her daughter’s first birthday that everything changed. “My lovely sister-in-law said I had a good eye and asked why I didn’t start my own business. At first, I thought it was kind of funny. But that same night, I started googling how to become a self-employed photographer.” Within six months, Irena had officially launched her business.

Finding her place in the photography industry

Surprisingly, Irena didn’t plan to specialize in newborn photography. “I thought it wasn’t for me, I had so much respect for those tiny little beings.” But over time, it became her safe place. Today, she’s known for her calm, loving approach with young families. “Every family is unique, and the fact that they trust me to capture their joy means so much to me,” she says. “These memories are a gift to the parents now, and later on, they’ll be priceless for the child as well.”

Authenticity over perfection

Irena’s visual style is natural and full of emotion. Posed shots are not her thing. She realized that especially on her own wedding day. “I didn’t want posed photos, just someone to capture our real, raw moments. And those are the only photos I ended up hanging on the wall, the posed ones never really interested me.”

That’s exactly the approach she brings to her own photography now, it’s the most important thing to her. "I’ve developed my style by learning how to guide families so they feel natural in front of the camera, maybe even forget the camera’s there entirely and just focus on how they feel in the moment," Irena explains with passion.

That desire to capture authenticity has become the heartbeat of Filipa Fotografie. “Emotion always comes before perfection,” she says. Over the years, she’s learned how to gently guide her clients to relax in front of the lens, helping them focus on how they feel, rather than how they look.

Big leaps in uncertain times for FiliPa Fotografie

Launching a photography business is not easy, and doing it during a global pandemic made the challenge even greater. But Irena, with the full support of her husband, took the leap. “I’m proud I dared to do it,” she says. What began as a part-time side project became her full-time job within just two and a half years. And in autumn 2024, another dream came true: she opened her very own studio.

Now that she’s built a successful business, Irena is often approached by aspiring photographers. Her advice is honest and practical: “Don’t compare yourself to photographers who’ve been doing it for years, they also started from scratch.” She encourages beginners to stay curious, stay consistent, and invest in time, energy, and even money. “Try things out. Find out what you’re really passionate about and what you’re good at. If you do something half-heartedly, it’s probably not the right fit," she shares.

A growing photography business built on trust

Irena’s client base grew thanks to a mix of Instagram ads and Google ads. These days, Instagram works for her even without ads. Just by regularly posting new photos, she can reach new families. And of course, word of mouth plays a big role. Happy families tell their friends and relatives about the experience, and if they like her style, they come to her too.

Streamlined, stress-free delivery with Shootstack

As her business grew, so did the need for a smoother workflow. That’s where Shootstack became essential. After a basic gallery edit, Irena uploads her photos to Shootstack and adds a watermark. Once families select their favorites, she receives a notification. The final edits follow, and high-resolution downloads are made available with a few clicks.

“Shootstack makes my life so much easier! I honestly can’t praise it enough,” she says. “Before this, I used a different method that cost me so much time and stress. I really can’t imagine working without Shootstack anymore and I mean that wholeheartedly. It's super easy to use and looks beautiful too,” she shares.

Looking ahead

With her first studio up and running, Irena’s next goal is finishing the second shooting space within the same building. But more than anything, she wants to keep doing what she loves most: “Meeting new families and capturing their little miracles.”

Her final piece of advice? “Don’t let perfection drive you. Your unique style is far more valuable than a flawless image. Photography isn’t a sprint, it’s a journey, and every session takes you one step further.”