December 2025. Berlin does not mess around when it comes to winter.

I recently met up with Alexandru, a motivated aspiring actor ready to take the next step in his career. The goal was to build a portfolio that stands out, and he certainly did his part. Despite the freezing temperatures earlier this month, Alex showed up prepared with a stunning, classy white outfit that popped beautifully against the winter grey.

We started shooting near ACID P-Berg. Alex was a trooper, maintaining his composure and expressions despite the biting cold. However, when the chill finally became too much to handle, we pivoted. We moved the session inside the warmth of the ACID coffee shop, which ended up adding a cozy, authentic texture to the final gallery.

Beyond the Shutter: The "Labor of Love"

When I deliver a gallery, I often get asked how the magic happens. While the shoot itself is energetic and collaborative, the real crafting of the image happens quietly, long after we’ve said goodbye.

I put a lot of love into every photo I deliver. To give you a glimpse behind the curtain, here is what the journey looks like from the camera to your inbox:

• The Culling (A Couple of Hours): We usually end a session with around 500 raw photos. I review every single one, filtering out blinks, motion blur, or distracting background elements.

• The Selection: From those 500, I narrow it down to the top 100 images, meticulously picking the absolute best expressions from each location.

• The Polish (8+ Hours): This is where the style comes alive. I spend about 10 minutes hand-processing each selected photo to ensure the color, lighting, and mood are perfect.

• The Result: For this session, I delivered 50 final images. That equals 500 minutes (over 8 hours) of pure editing time dedicated to making Alex look his best.

Client Love

Knowing that the effort translates into confidence for my clients is the best part of the job. Hearing Alex's feedback makes every minute of that editing marathon worth it:

“I had a great photoshoot with Dan. The photos turned out truly professional — we tried many different styles and formats, and he captured all of them beautifully. He is friendly, easy to work with, and very talented. I can highly recommend him to anyone looking for quality portrait photography.”

For an actor, a headshot is a calling card. It requires not just a great subject, but technical perfection. Alex brought the talent and the style; I brought the hours of careful polishing to ensure every pixel helps him land that role.

I am thrilled to share these with you, Alex. Here’s to the start of a great career! 🎉