Authored by Esy

It was 7 a.m. on a quiet morning in Berlin when I met Dan beside the Oberbaum Bridge, overlooking the East Side Gallery. While the city was only beginning to wake up, we were already discussing the plan for the photoshoot.

Before taking out his camera, Dan explained how he likes to work and what I could expect throughout the session. His calm and friendly approach immediately put me at ease. Rather than asking for rigid poses, he guided me naturally, suggesting small adjustments until each photograph looked and felt authentic.

With more than 15 years of experience as a landscape photographer, Dan has developed a keen eye for light, composition, and storytelling. Now, he is bringing that same creative vision into portrait photography, aiming to capture genuine expressions and timeless moments.

As we walked along the East Side Gallery and the riverbank, we stopped at several carefully selected locations. One of my favourite moments was capturing the iconic yellow U-Bahn train crossing the Oberbaum Bridge in the background. Dan explained that soft morning light creates the most flattering portraits, which is why we had arranged to meet so early, before he headed to work.

Over the course of just one hour, we probably took between 300 and 500 photographs. Of course, not every frame was perfect—sometimes I blinked, looked away, or struck an awkward pose—but that was all part of the creative process.

"You need to try and make a picture first. Later we will see if it is good or needs to be improved", Dan told me—for him, photography is all about continuous learning.

"What I like about photography is that with every shot you may not like, you learn from mistakes and get better every time."

Originally from Romania, Dan has called Berlin home since 2012. Outside photography, he enjoys travelling and cycling. During the week, he works full-time as an engineer while balancing family life and his growing photography business. 

His long-term goal is clear: to turn his passion into a full-time profession. 

"My vision is to transition into photography completely. I was doing it as a hobby, but now I'm ready to make a business out of it."

We finished the session beneath the bridge before sitting down for a cold coffee. Looking back, it was much more than a portrait session. It was an opportunity to experience Berlin through the eyes of a photographer and to meet someone who genuinely enjoys the craft of creating meaningful images.

I left not only with beautiful photographs, but also with lasting memories of a morning spent exploring Berlin through Dan's lens. I wish him every success as he continues pursuing his dream of becoming a full-time photographer.