We had the good fortune of connecting with Dario Belić and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dario, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Constantly learning new skills and sharpening old ones. It helped me always be on the lookout for new ways to do things easier or even automate them. People hire you to solve their problems and if you can do it faster and more efficiently that is a big plus for you and them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started taking photos in 2003. when I got my first camera as a gift. It started as fun during walks in nature and around the city. It turned from hobby to professional in 2007. when I sold my first photos at an exhibition that I did in my highschool to the tourist board of my home town for the city calendar.

After I got deeper into photography I wanted to study it but at first I didn’t even try to get into Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb because hard drive with all my works broke down (always backup your work) but instead I applied and got accepted at Faculty of Graphic Arts in Zagreb. At the time I was studying there two years in a row I applied for the academy but didn’t get in. After a second failed attempt I dropped out of graphics and started assisting in a photography studio and working more focused on my photos for the entry exam. Finally, in my third attempt, I got accepted at Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb BA Cinematography and after that MA Photography that I finished in 2017. with the exhibition “Audience”. During all that time I worked freelance as a photographer, videographer, and designer mainly events, product photography and web design. In 2015. I started working as an art director at my current job in a digital out of home company in Croatia. I decided to make that shift because the job description was very dynamic and included all of my interests in one. From design, animation, photography, videography to technology.

One thing that I learned during all these years working is you have to be curious and always learning. Look at other people’s work and how they did it, learn new skills, explore styles and stop thinking that if something looks easy it is easy and giving up when it is not. If something looks easy that is because there is hard work and polished skill behind it so keep on doing the work and “easy” will come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Nature is a way to go. Croatia is a beautiful place full of interesting places to visit and delicious food to try. You have mountains nearby and a seaside on just one hour drive. For my tour, I would start from the capital Zagreb, with a morning coffee and walk or bicycle ride in the old town, Rokov perivoj park or Maksimir. Hike on Medvednica and launch at the top. If it is a longer stay definitely Istria or island Vis.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Definitely my parents for the support and believing in me during all these years.

Website: www.dbelic.com

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