Hi,

I am Ivana and together with my husband Renato, I am the owner of the photography studio “Foto Ivica,” which I inherited from my parents.

My memories of my first steps in the world of photography go back to my childhood, when my father often used to take me with him to the studio.

Even back then, I learned many interesting things about the world of photography. Many memories remain from the days when I discovered the darkroom as I watched my father skillfully handle the films. It seemed like a game.

The process of creating a photograph on the white surface of photographic paper both surprised and fascinated me at the same time.

However, what I remember most are the moments when I, in one corner of the photo studio, would draw the brides that my parents were photographing.

It was common back then to have several couples of newlyweds in the studio on Fridays and Saturdays for photoshoots, so I had a nice collection of drawn wedding dresses.

Although I was still young, my love for photography grew gradually as I watched my parents handle the camera and enjoy working with people.

During elementary and high school, I would come to the studio to help my parents with whatever was needed.

I especially enjoyed hanging out with my father’s employees after Saturday photoshoots, gluing selected photos into the corresponding thank-you cards.

After finishing secondary school, I started working at the studio and learning the secrets of the craft.

There are no limits to creativity, the possibilities are vast and it was just a matter of getting down to work.

In 2010, I began further education and completed my master craftsman’s exam in photography. Today, my specialty is weddings, but I also equally enjoy studio photography and spending time with clients who visit the studio.

In my free time, I bake cakes, read books, listen to music, dance…

I love musicals and long walks at the end of the working day…

Renato is my husband. Like me, he fell in love with photography many years ago, became a master photographer, and joined our family business.

He loves documentary photography and enjoys creating lasting memories from various celebrations, such as school events, concerts and corporate events.

However, what brings him the greatest joy is photographing young children and weddings.

He is there whenever you need something at your wedding, whether it’s photography-related or assistance with some other detail. He’s always happy to lend a hand.

Renato is someone you can rely on, and he’ll gladly show you freshly captured images from the photoshoot on his camera.

He’s inseparable from his wide-angle lens, which is particularly valuable to him during weddings held in small churches.

A stash of batteries is part of his essential kit, so you don’t have to worry about running out of photos during the wedding.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and going out into nature with our beloved pet, Bea.

He loves sports and is actively involved in badminton.
You’ll often see him relaxing by cycling to work on his favourite bike.

The business “Foto Ivica” has been around since 1982, when it was founded by my father, Ivan Plantak, together with my mother, Đurđica. They ventured into the world of independent photography, starting their journey in this exciting branch of the arts.

I was just born and my sister had just started school, so we were the perfect candidates for posing in front of our Dad’s camera. We never minded posing; in fact, being together made us stronger, and our mischief was often captured by the camera. We both grew up in a world marked by the clicking of flashes and posing, and – we copied our dad in everything.
In the early years at Dad’s studio, weekends were filled with numerous photo sessions of newlyweds, children with cakes, or soldiers doing their military service in Varaždin. Weekdays were filled with taking identity card photos for customers.

Of course, everything was photographed on film, in black and white, with nothing visible in advance. The anticipation of the final result made the waiting part of the fun. In the 1990s, photography as a medium became increasingly popular, and small compact cameras were now available to every family. Interest in developing and producing photographs grew significantly.

The business expanded and we replaced the manual process of developing photos with machines, acquiring top-notch developers and printers from brands like Noritsu and later Konica. The black-and-white world turned colourful.

Dad employed two staff members, my sister helped in the business as well and later I joined the family enterprise.

With the arrival of the digital age, we became the first photo studio in Varaždin to introduce digital photo production. Through ongoing education in digital technology, we employed young IT specialists and graphic designers who expertly handled photo editing on computers.

Today, this small but significant business is run by me and my husband, Renato. I aim to bring our work closer to you, turning your wishes into reality, to our mutual satisfaction.

And even when I’m not photographing professionally, I often do it when I’m at home or when I travel somewhere…

Photography in my free time fills my soul with peace, sparks new insights within me, inspires ideas for starting new projects and fulfilling hidden desires…

Photography is not just about pressing a button on a camera or clicking on a phone. It’s about entering a world of colours, relationships of a smaller to a larger, a closer to a further, a light to adark…

Photography is the search of true beauty in a world full of information, seeking silence in a world of noise.

Photography is entering a new dimension that sometimes takes us away from reality only to help us portray that very same reality more clearly.

Photography is an adventure in which we constantly learn, fall, and rise again.
Photography is the hidden world of the person behind the camera, creating a beautiful work for those in front of or beside it.

For me, photography is like a glass of water—crystal clear and pure—something my hand constantly reaches for to quench my thirst.
Photography does not mean prestige. Photography is breathing, it is the chirping of birds at dawn and the gentle calm of the sunset.
It is not a conversation without order; it is the quiet whisper of lovers in solitude.

Photography… hm, photography… it is my life…