Meet Ksenija Stosic | Photographer. Entrepreneur. Motherhood storyteller.

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

Hi Ksenija, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
For me, it started with freedom.

Not just financial freedom, but freedom of time, energy, and creative direction. I wanted to design my days intentionally. I’m a mother, and being able to structure my schedule around what truly matters to me wasn’t optional. It was essential.

But beyond that, I realized something deeper. Growth feels different when you build something that’s yours. The wins feel more meaningful. The lessons hit harder. The progress becomes personal. When you work for yourself, every skill you develop and every obstacle you overcome shapes you, not just the business, but the person you are becoming.

A big influence was my father. He ran his own business in Serbia for over 30 years. I watched the sacrifices, the risks, the failures, and the resilience. I didn’t fully understand it growing up, but once I started my own company, my respect for him deepened. I now understand what it truly takes to build something from nothing.

I also recognize that I’m operating in a completely different environment. The US market offers opportunities that simply did not exist where he built his business. I feel both grateful for that and responsible to use it well.

Immigrating to the United States, becoming a mother, and navigating seasons of instability shaped me profoundly. Starting my own business was not just a career decision. It was a decision to take ownership of my future, to stop waiting for security and start creating it.

At my core, I am wired for expansion. I love learning, refining, and evolving. Having my own business allows me to grow year after year, not only in income, but in skills, leadership, emotional intelligence, and vision.

And maybe most importantly, I am building something my daughter can witness. Not just success, but courage. Not just income, but vision. I want her to see what is possible when you choose growth over comfort.

It is not just about building a business.
It is about building the woman I am becoming in the process and the example I am setting along the way.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My work is rooted in storytelling and connection. Of course photography is about creating beautiful images, but early on I realized it’s not just about pretty pictures. It’s about serving people.

For me, the camera is simply a tool. What truly matters is the experience people have during the session and the feeling they walk away with. My goal is to create a space where families feel comfortable, present, and connected with each other. When that happens, the images become more than photographs. They become memories people will return to for years.

Much of my work centers around motherhood and family life, because those seasons pass so quickly. As a mother myself, I understand how fast children grow and how important it is to preserve those fleeting moments.

I’ve actually been drawn to photography for a long time. Even in high school, before social media existed, I carried a small point-and-shoot camera everywhere because I was fascinated by how a photograph can bring a moment back to life years later.

My professional journey began when my daughter was born. What started as a personal way to document our life slowly grew into something much bigger.

The path wasn’t always easy. Like many entrepreneurs, I had to rebuild my confidence and step far outside my comfort zone. But those challenges helped shape both my work and my perspective.

What I want people to know about my brand is that my photography comes from a very personal place. It’s about connection, presence, and creating images that become part of a family’s legacy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting for a week, I would definitely start at the St. Pete Pier. I’m there all the time rollerblading, walking, or just enjoying the view. It’s one of those places that really captures the energy of St. Petersburg.

After that we would explore some of my favorite coffee spots. I love places with personality and great atmosphere, so we would visit Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails, Coppa Coffee, Southern Grounds, and one of my newest favorites, Coffee Concrete. The plants and overall vibe there make it such a peaceful and inspiring place.

Since I love an active lifestyle, we would spend a lot of time outdoors. I’d take them to the beach to play volleyball, maybe play some pickleball, or even go kayaking. One of my favorite places for nature and long walks is Fort De Soto Park.

We would also explore the Central Arts District and visit museums like the The Dalí Museum.

Of course, we would spend time at the beach. I love many of them, but I probably visit Pass-a-Grille Beach the most. It has such a peaceful, old Florida feel and some of the most beautiful sunsets.

What I love most about Tampa Bay is the lifestyle itself: slow mornings with great coffee, active days outside, and evenings watching the sunset by the water.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
If I had to dedicate my shoutout to one person, it would be my daughter.

Becoming her mother changed the way I see responsibility, resilience, and growth. When she was very young, we faced challenges that pushed me to learn, research, and advocate for her in ways I never expected. That experience taught me patience, strength, and a level of commitment that shaped who I am today.

At the same time, going through a major life transition forced me to rebuild my confidence and rediscover my own capacity. That period pushed me far outside of my comfort zone. And in many ways, my daughter became the reason I refused to stay small. She gave me a deeper sense of purpose and the courage to keep building.

Along the way, I was also fortunate to meet strong women who were building their own businesses and sharing knowledge openly. Being around that kind of community helped me believe that I could create something meaningful too.

But at the center of it all is my daughter. She reminds me every day why I keep growing, learning, and building the life we deserve.

Website: https://www.ksenijastosic.com

Instagram: @ksenijastosicphotography

Facebook: @ksenijastosicphotography

Image Credits
Ksenija Stosic Photography