By Alion Çaçi
Some people spend years planning a new life. Florentina Olareanu did it in about 25 minutes.
The Vienna-based photographer, originally from Romania, has now spent over a decade in the Austrian capital, but her move here was anything but overthought. One visit to Vienna, one look at the city glowing at night, and she decided to stay. It turned out to be the right kind of impulsive decision.
Photography entered her life early. She started taking pictures at around 12, long before she knew it would become her profession. In between, there were other possible futures: architecture, dentistry, even a brief stop at political studies. None of them stuck. Photography did. Today, Olareanu works across personal branding, portraiture and commercial photography, with a style that is polished, warm and strongly shaped by trust. For her, the best images do not come from telling people how to pose, but from spending enough time with them that they begin to relax and show who they really are.
That human approach has taken her far. A major turning point came when one of her photographs appeared on the front page of The New York Times. She now freelances for the paper, taking on assignments in Vienna while continuing to build her own business.
A Studio Built on Light and Trust
A big part of that business is Studio Glasdach, her light-filled studio in Vienna’s 21st district. She spent two years searching for the right space and refused to settle for anything gloomy. The result is a studio built around what she loves most: natural light, openness and an atmosphere where clients can actually feel comfortable.
Outside work, Olareanu is just as intense. She trains regularly, signs up for punishing obstacle races, goes on long runs and sees sport as both discipline and therapy. She is also a devoted animal person, a cat rescuer, and exactly the kind of person who will call animal protection services if she spots a fox in trouble.
She takes portraits, yes, but more importantly, she helps people see themselves differently. Catch Florentina Olareanu at The International’s April Salon, where participants will also have the chance to have their portrait taken.
