We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yana Mostitsky a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
YANA, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Keeping Creativity Alive: Balancing Commercial Success with Artistic Growth
For a visual artist, creativity is both a passion and a profession. While securing contracts and generating income provides a sense of empowerment and stability, commissioned work often comes with creative constraints. To maintain artistic evolution and stay relevant in an ever-changing industry, I dedicate time each year to personal projects that push my boundaries.
I commit to at least two large-scale collaborations annually—immersive creative endeavors that allow me to experiment, refine my vision, and expand my artistic network. These projects are where I explore conceptual fashion and fine art, often integrating themes of social significance or crafting bold artistic statements.
Beyond personal fulfillment, these projects serve a greater purpose. They introduce fresh techniques into my portfolio, foster collaborations with other creatives, and create opportunities for visibility through photography contests and exhibitions. In an industry that demands both innovation and adaptability, these passion-driven initiatives are what keep my work dynamic, meaningful, and truly my own.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Yanamy Photography: A New Era of Full-Service Commercial & Fashion Production
2025 marks an exciting new chapter for Yanamy Photography by Yana Mostitsky, now officially launching as a high-end commercial and fashion photography production company. While we’ve been crafting and producing stunning shoots for our clients behind the scenes, the time has come to showcase our full range of creative capabilities to the world.
At Yanamy Photography, we believe in delivering a seamless, all-in-one production experience. Our expert team includes makeup artists, hair stylists, videographers, and graphic designers, ensuring every project is executed with precision and artistic vision. From concept to final image, we provide high-end retouching and compositing post-production services, transforming ideas into striking visuals that captivate and inspire.
This is more than just photography—it’s a one-stop creative powerhouse for brands, designers, and visionaries looking to elevate their commercial or fashion campaigns. The future of great photography starts here!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The Three Essential Skills for Success in Photography
In the competitive world of commercial and fashion photography, technical skills alone aren’t enough to thrive. Building a successful career requires a combination of interpersonal skills, analytical thinking, and punctuality—three key qualities that define my approach to creative production.
1. Interpersonal Relations – Photography is a team effort. From assembling a talented crew to managing and keeping everyone motivated, strong relationships ensure a seamless and enjoyable creative process. A happy, organized team always produces the best results.
2. Analytical Mindset – Crafting a unique vision goes beyond just creativity; it requires a deep understanding of techniques, lighting setups, and equipment. The ability to analyze and integrate these elements is what transforms a good shoot into an extraordinary one.
3. Punctuality – In an industry driven by tight schedules, time is everything. Whether it’s a client meeting, a production call, or the shoot itself, showing up on time (or early!) sets the tone for professionalism and trust. This single habit can take your business further than you think.
Mastering these skills has helped me build a strong foundation as a creative entrepreneur—and they’re essential for anyone looking to elevate their photography career.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Expanding the Creative Roster: A Call for Collaborators
As Yanamy Photography by Yana Mostitsky continues to grow, so does the need for a strong and diverse creative team. To elevate both commercial productions and personal projects, I am actively expanding my roster and looking for talented professionals to collaborate with.
Currently, I am seeking makeup artists and hair stylists, particularly in the East Bay SF and San Jose areas, to join my team for upcoming commercial and fashion shoots. A well-rounded beauty team is essential in bringing high-end, polished looks to life, and I’m always eager to work with professionals who share my passion for excellence.
Additionally, I am looking for wardrobe stylists who can bring fresh perspectives and a variety of styling options to my clients. Fashion is a key element in photography, and having a dynamic styling team allows for greater creative flexibility and stronger visual storytelling.
Beyond commercial work, I am also on the lookout for fashion designers to collaborate with on my upcoming personal projects. These projects are where I explore conceptual fashion and fine art photography, often making bold artistic statements or incorporating meaningful social themes. Partnering with visionary designers will help push these creative boundaries even further.
If you are a makeup artist, hair stylist, wardrobe stylist, or fashion designer and are interested in working together, I would love to connect! Let’s create something extraordinary.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yanamostitsky.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yanamyphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YanamyPhotography
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ymostizky/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yanamy-photography-pleasanton-6
Image Credits
Model/MUA/Stylist – Xinyi Zhang
Assistant – Ryan Sinatraa Qiu
MUAH Marina Shevelina
Fashion designer – ZHIRóU | ziyi yin
Stylist – Xinyi Zhang
Models:
Elizaveta Sergeeva
Georgie Mikhalevski
Assistant – Olga Denisova
Actress/Model – Irina Brodskaya @brod.irina
Designer – Yan Stepanenko @stepanenko_yanis
Stylist – Nadezhda Ganicheva @nadinestudios
Makeup Artist, Art Director – Anna Aksionova @annaaksionova
Hair Stylist – Lien DeLong @liendelongartistry
Set Assistant – Irina Semichina @yatkosem
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
