Marita Wantaja, a local photographer in Battle Ground, recently created an outdoor photo studio with a backdrop for a Mother’s Day photoshoot opportunity. The success of her pop up service spurred Wantaja to plan for more events of a similar nature.
Wantaja, who is the daughter of the owner of the Trove gift shop in Battle Ground, set up the backdrop and used a couple of props, which included a kid-sized chair between the Trove and Tribe Coffee Co. on the Thursday and Friday before Mother’s Day for 10-minute photoshoots.
Wantaja used to do a lot of photos for couples and weddings, but has since become a mother herself, so she has slowed down and re-imagined the photography work she does. Her favorite subjects now include families and kids, she said.
“Families are kind of what I’m turning more toward. I did weddings for a little while, but a lot of stress and long days,” Wantaja said. “I like the style of this, how it’s so quick, but everyone still gets the pictures they want.”
The Mother’s Day-inspired photoshoots lasted 10 minutes and cost $40, with her customers receiving at least 10 edited photos that were delivered digitally. She plans to offer the same business model over the summer months at the same location between her family’s locations of Tribe Coffee Co. and the Trove in Battle Ground.
Wantaja has taken down her photography website, but hinted she might bring it back to focus on the style of photography she is currently focused on. She still has her Instagram page up, which she uses as a contact method.
Wantaja can be found on Instagram by searching @maritawan taja and updates on photoshoots located at the Trove can be found on Instagram by searching @trove.bg.
