Bogdan Dincă is a photographer and videographer with 20 years of experience, during which he documented people and organizations in Romania and abroad, from projects for mass media and NGOs to corporate and commercial campaigns. Co-founder of the Documentaria collective, he developed projects with social impact and collaborated with numerous companies on social responsibility campaigns. He has built an independent career, in which the core values ​​— respect for people, social responsibility and passion for visual stories — are found in each project.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in one sentence, so as to make those who don’t know you curious yet?

Bogdan Dincă: For 20 years I have been photographing people and their organizations, from documentary projects for local and international mass media and collaborations with NGOs, to corporate and commercial campaigns built on visual storytelling.

C&B: If we were to look at a narrative thread of your career or business, what were the key moments that defined you?

Bogdan Dincă: I started photography in 2005, in parallel with a job as an IT consultant in an American company. Traveling to India and the United States opened my interest in people’s stories and how photography can document different social realities.

In Romania, I collaborated with a press agency and, with the support of editor Mihai Vasile, I began to better understand documentary photography and visual journalism. In 2012, I founded my own company and, for a few years, focused on family photography, continuing documentary projects in parallel.

In 2016, I co-founded Documentaria, a collective of photographers dedicated to documentary photography projects. Later, I increasingly collaborated with NGOs and companies for social responsibility campaigns.

In recent years, I have also become interested in video, offering full filming and editing services. Today, my work is based on documentary projects, collaborations with NGOs, and corporate and commercial campaigns, all under a common umbrella: authentic visual storytelling.

Among the projects I have worked on in the last two years are “15 under 15”, a Teach for Romania project about school dropouts, a photography exhibition made with Salvați Copiii about the daily lives of Ukrainians in Romania, contributing to the UiPath Foundation’s annual report, documenting the stories of victims of human trafficking for the International Justice Mission, and a short video documentary on the Tichilești Juvenile Detention Center, made for Scena9.

C&B: What has been the most difficult moment in your career so far and how did you overcome it?

Bogdan Dincă: It wasn’t a specific moment, but rather the way the media market has evolved in the last 15 years for documentary photography. The disappearance of print, the democratization of photography, and the decline in budgets for field reporting have made it increasingly difficult to make a living solely from documentary photography and photojournalism.

This shift forced me to diversify my portfolio and move closer to the commercial and corporate sector. I was able to stay connected to the social issues that matter to me, collaborating with NGOs and companies on social responsibility projects and campaigns.

Looking back, it was a process of continuous adaptation, in which I learned to find a balance between documentary and commercial work, without losing the connection to what I love to do – photography and video about people and communities.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, regardless of obstacles?

Bogdan Dincă: I have always felt best in the field, with the desire to tell authentic visual stories and make visible social realities that might otherwise remain unnoticed. Photography has given me access to very different environments and communities and helped me better understand the world I live in.

At the same time, photography has given me the freedom to build my own path and the independence to choose the projects that matter to me. I try to maintain a balance between documentary work, with social impact, and commercial projects, using visual storytelling as a tool to connect people, organizations, and communities.

C&B: What did you look like at the beginning of your journey and how do you feel you have transformed so far?

Bogdan Dincă: At first I was curious and enthusiastic, discovering photography step by step and trying several directions, without a clear strategy. Over time, I learned how important ethics are in photography: to respect people’s desire to be photographed or not, to listen to their stories, and to understand that an image only captures part of a complex reality.

If at first I thought that a photograph could change things immediately, today I understand that real change happens gradually and that documentary photography is, above all, a form of understanding myself.and the world around you.

C&B: What is the most important decision you have made that has changed your trajectory?

Bogdan Dincă: The most important decision was to give up my IT career many years ago and choose photography. It was not only a change of industry, but also a transition from employee status to freelancer status. It meant the freedom to organize my own schedule and choose the projects I believe in, but also challenges: income instability, insecurity and the need to do everything related to business myself — from communication and customer relations, to strategy and sales.

This change forced me to learn quickly, diversify my services and define my professional identity. Today, freelancing for me means responsible freedom: the opportunity to work on projects that matter and to maintain control over the direction I follow.

C&B: How did you build your leadership style or the way you make decisions?

Bogdan Dincă: In photography, I have mostly worked either alone or in teams with a horizontal structure, without clear hierarchies. That is why I don’t think I can talk about leadership in the classical sense, in relation to other people. Of course, I have also coordinated more complex projects, such as a photo album, but I think that leadership, for me, is more in relation to myself.

I learned to set my goals, clarify my directions and find my own way of making decisions. At the same time, the freelance experience forced me to constantly learn, to listen, observe and find solutions adapted to each project. It was a natural process, but also one learned, step by step, from experience.

C&B: What do you think differentiates your business or your professional approach from the rest of the industry?

Bogdan Dincă: From the feedback I have received from companies and NGOs, I think the main differentiator is the way in which I authentically document reality. I approach projects through the lens of visual storytelling, trying to understand the context and the people before I pick up the camera.

My experience in documentary photography helps me capture real stories, even when I work on corporate or commercial projects. I believe that images speak about people and organizations as they are, not just how they should appear.

Another aspect is the diversity of the portfolio. I collaborate with both NGOs and mass media, as well as companies, and in recent years I have also integrated video services.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now and what moments of the day bring you the most satisfaction?

Bogdan Dincă: No two days are the same, because my work alternates between intense periods in the field and days dedicated to editing or editing images. When I am in the field, I try to understand people and the context in which they live or work, to listen to their stories.

Satisfaction comes precisely from these interactions. Being able to be present, listen and transform their stories into images that tell something further is what motivates me the most in what I do.

C&B: What values ​​or principles guide you in what you do and how do you apply them day by day?

Bogdan Dincă: The values ​​that guide me are authenticity, respect for people, passion for visual stories and social responsibility.

C&B: If you had to convey a message to people who follow your example, what would it be?

Bogdan Dincă: I think that any photographer must be prepared for a lot of work and continuous learning. The market is changing rapidly, and diversifying your portfolio and skills is essential.

I am happy and inspired to see many young people still interested in photography, especially social photography. I think it is important to look for projects that they believe in and to be curious, because this will give them the motivation to move forward, even when it is difficult.

Bogdan Dincă shows that photography and videography are not just professions, but ways to understand the world and bring meaningful stories to light.

The post 20 Years of Visual Storytelling: Bogdan Dincă’s Journey from Documentary Photography to Social Impact Projects appeared first on careers-business.com.

Vlad Bobe is passionate about stories in general, and cinema in particular. He was fortunate to turn his passion into a profession from a young age, working in the documentary and short film industry. In recent years, he has expanded his portfolio to include branding and social media content creation.

C&B: From everything you do, what motivates you the most?
Vlad Bobe: Being a visual storyteller is what motivates me the most. But realistically, I think the truth is a bit more mundane. I believe 80% is technique and discipline—especially during filming and editing—and only about 20% involves shaping the actual story. Skill is both the limit and the fuel.
I find great joy in hearing someone’s story—whether it’s about a person, product, or service—and then finding the most compelling and appropriate way to share it as a videographer and content creator.

C&B: If we were to follow the narrative arc of your career, what have been the defining moments?
Vlad Bobe: I started by filming and editing events and interviews, but the moment I remember most fondly is volunteering at a film festival. It was the first time I felt I was in the right field, surrounded by people who shared my passion. That feeling was confirmed when I got into film school.
I continued working for years as an editor, then in cinematography as a videographer or director of photography. Eventually, I directed a few personal projects—something I hope to do more of. I still wear all those hats when working on concepts with my collaborators. It would’ve been much harder to finish projects without spending time in each of those deeply connected rooms, each with its own needs and challenges.

C&B: What has been the hardest moment so far, and how did you overcome it?
Vlad Bobe: There’ve been many, but the two I’m currently facing are probably the toughest: transitioning from freelancer to building an agency, and integrating AI into our workflow.
I was skeptical about AI at first, but once I saw the organizational, research, and planning potential—alongside creative tools like video generators—I felt like a kid doing homework while playing. I can’t wait to see how we integrate this further and improve our output.
As for the agency, I was never a “salesperson,” but this new setup brings me closer to the client. Though most of our main collaborators are marketing agencies integrating our work into their strategies, we also create content directly for brands or early-stage entrepreneurs.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you?
Vlad Bobe: The dream is to keep doing what I do. I’m lucky to have found something that both challenges and helps me grow.
My ambition is to work on increasingly complex projects with international reach. It’s deeply rewarding to have your work seen by more people—that fuels the motivation to push beyond budget limitations and strive for better. Each current project is your best recommendation for the next one.

C&B: What were you like at the beginning, and how do you see yourself now?
Vlad Bobe: Shy, lost, and uncertain whether my work was good enough for any audience. But feedback is incredibly reassuring—it calms your doubts and gives you the courage to take on new challenges. That adrenaline helps you discover things within yourself you didn’t know existed.
The voice of the impostor never fully disappears, but with every project, it gets easier to manage.
And when you don’t know what each department in the production pipeline does, it’s harder to translate thoughts into images. Spending time across all those stages gave me confidence and erased many of my limitations.

C&B: If we asked your team or collaborators, what would they say about you?
Vlad Bobe: They’d probably say: “Stop obsessing over details.” And that the work we’ve done together is good enough—let’s release it and move on. Also, “Delegate more!” I still tend to do everything myself, which isn’t productive and limits the quality.

C&B: What decision changed your trajectory the most?
Vlad Bobe: Taking more creative risks and letting go of the fear around how my work will be received. When I consciously paused that kind of thinking, I felt freer creatively and more relaxed.
Overthinking makes you rigid and uncomfortable—totally counterproductive.
The second big decision was learning to properly value my services. Experience and past work build your present skillset. If I charge less, it should be because I’m investing in my growth—not because I don’t know my worth. That’s a challenge every freelancer faces.

C&B: Do you have a leadership style? Was it natural or learned?
Vlad Bobe: I think it came naturally—it’s just who I am. My approach has been transparency with my collaborators. When we brainstorm together, sharing external knowledge and ideas, the final image improves exponentially.
If you want to create something meaningful, you realize how dependent you are on others’ minds. That’s when this collaborative approach becomes the only option.
Everything serves the end product—something that will live beyond our decisions.
Being able to turn a serious, time-consuming project into something playful or team-driven is a life skill. Mistakes happen, but they get acknowledged, internalized, and corrected in the next project. That’s how value is built over time.

C&B: What makes you different? How is your work distinct from others in the industry?
Vlad Bobe: First of all, the people. The team’s structure is unique, and that shows in the outcome.
Secondly, I love sitting down with the client who needs content. I love listening to their story. It plays in my mind like a movie—who they are, why they offer that product or service, how they hope to help people, and what they envision for their customers. That’s where I find inspiration.
Often, it’s not wasted time for them either—it helps clarify or rediscover important moments and makes them more invested in the process.
We do research, provide options, but the strategy we move forward with is a joint decision. That’s crucial.
If you build something with love, you’ll lose yourself in details. It helps to have an outsider reframe your story.

C&B: What does a typical day look like now, and which moments bring the most satisfaction?
Vlad Bobe: The worst-case scenario is starting a new project with a completely blank slate. You stare into the void, which stares back and makes you feel guilty, because you’re almost certain your first ideas will be terrible.
But you persist, and gradually satisfaction builds as you find something that resonates with the project. Even if you discard it later, it helped you layer more and more until something solid takes shape.
This happens during production and editing too, but the ultimate satisfaction comes when you present the work to the world. When others build on it, see themselves in it, and make it part of their lives.

C&B: What values or principles guide your work?
Vlad Bobe: Curiosity is innate in me—I’ve built myself around it. And the pursuit of beauty, even if rarely attained, is always on the horizon.
Growth and learning are vital. I seek out things that open and feed my mind.
These principles help with adaptability—an increasingly crucial value in a world that changes so fast.
And finally—though certainly not least—a freelancer’s credibility is as strong as their reputation. Honesty with partners, collaborators, and clients is part of that and is felt from afar. It makes it easier to access good projects and maintain a solid network.

C&B: If you could send a message to people following in your footsteps, what would it be?
Vlad Bobe: I’m thinking about those just starting out, and I encourage them to copy and keep working until they find their own voice in the process. That’s what will make them stand out to clients.
And if ego gets in the way, remember—copying ends with execution, and that part belongs to you.
Another piece of advice I wish I’d received earlier is to listen to others’ opinions. We cling to ours because we know the effort behind it—but outside voices, separate perspectives, can enrich how we see and do things.
And let’s think long term. Build sustainably. Leave things at least as good as we found them—so those who come after us don’t waste time and energy fixing them.

The post Vlad Bobe – A Passion for Stories, from Documentary Film to Digital Content appeared first on careers-business.com.