For our latest contributor interview, we sat down with Tamara Evsiukova, whose work invites us into a world where everyday moments hold unexpected beauty. Tamara shares how small details, personal rituals, and the art of imperfection shape her creative process and why the real thing still resonates.
Do you have a favorite project or image in your collection? What’s the story?
My partner and I have a tradition that started more than 10 years ago. Every time we’re in Amsterdam, we recreate the same photograph, holding the previous one in our hands. One of these many photographs is part of my collection — a recursion of Amsterdam canals.
When you’re creating visuals for Stocksy, do you approach it differently than your personal or client projects?
My collection is quite small and, to be honest, mostly made up of photographs I took for fun: during travels, shared moments, behind-the-scenes shots, and fragments of everyday life. A dog resting on my colleague’s lap as she worked on a project, a poppy I found at the top of a mountain in Montenegro, breakfasts I cooked, places I’ve seen, things that amazed me. Somehow, it works. A few years ago, there was a major campaign across London featuring an image I took while travelling — that’s the kind of magic Stocksy makes possible.
What is currently catching your eye in the Stocksy collection?
I keep coming back to Stocksy’s video gallery, there are so many candid moments captured there! They feel honest and spontaneous — I love that.
Where do you think the industry is going in terms of visuals? Are there trends you’re excited about—or tired of?
There’s a lot of buzz about artists being replaced by AI, but I believe that despite the rise of AI-generated imagery, the industry will hold on to the real thing. It’s fascinating to see what can be created with just a few prompts, yes, and there’s no doubt AI-generated content will remain part of the landscape. But alongside that, I think we’ll see growing mistrust, fatigue, and eagerness for what’s real — because what’s real resonates in a way the artificial can’t replicate.
Visual stock media has evolved a lot over the years. What do you think makes an image feel fresh and relevant now?
Well, I’d say… imperfections. But in a good way, of course. Again, it’s about being real – and not just in the subject, like photographing real people, but also in the techniques. Weird angles and compositions, artifacts, motion blur, and grain, all those things considered amateur only a few years ago are now part of the visual language. If executed well, they bring images to life and make you feel something.
What’s something outside of your medium that influences your creative approach—music, architecture, books, random things you see walking around?
It’s a bit of everything. I enjoy going to museums that exhibit different kinds of art, I love cooking, and I’m really into exploring architecture when I travel. I also find a lot of inspiration in the stories and perspectives of others. I recently read a book about newsletters by David Hieatt, co-founder of Hiut Denim Co., and it was a real spark!
What’s something you haven’t done yet but would love to try?
I’d love to spend a week completely offline — no phones, no laptops, just good company, my camera, and maybe a book. Like many people these days, I’m tethered to my devices — meetings, calls, work responsibilities. I believe that a creative mind needs some kind of pause to recharge, so it would be interesting to take a break and disconnect for a while.
If you could create anything, with no limits—budget, logistics, time—what would you make?
As a proper grown-up living in the big city, I have everything except time. If there were no limits, I’d love to create a series of short films about people, the things they create, and the meaning behind them. It’s been on my mind for a long time, and I really hope to make it happen one day.
What keeps you excited about making new work?
When it comes to food photography, it’s mostly the process — researching, generating ideas, going to the market for props, and styling. I love my food to look real, the way you’d see it on your plate, and sometimes even a bit messy. Working on these brings me great comfort, and of course, it’s exciting to see there’s a demand for images like this.
Discover more of Tamara Evsiukova's work
