Who is Cristian Bucur, professional portrait photographer in Bonifacio Global City?
Hello, I’m Cristian, originally from Romania. My journey in Asia began several years ago when I embarked on an enriching adventure that took me to South Korea, where I resided in Seoul for five years. Following that, I spent another 3.5 years in Tokyo. Time flew by, and in 2022, it was time for me to make a new home in Metro Manila, specifically in the vibrant district of Bonifacio Global City (BGC). Accompanied by my wonderful wife, daughter, and beloved Yorkshire Terrier, I embraced this new chapter.
My passion for photography ignited during my time in Asia, and in 2016, I further honed my skills by completing the New York Institute of Photography‘s Comprehensive Course in Professional Photography. Drawing upon this knowledge, I have established myself as a dedicated full-time portrait photographer here at BGC. To me, photography is not only a technical craft but also a captivating art form.
With an unwavering commitment to excellence, I strive tirelessly to ensure both you and I are delighted with the results we achieve together. Your satisfaction is my ultimate goal.
They say, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” This describes how I feel every time I pick up my camera. Having photos to download, the process of selecting the best ones, developing the raw files…each step gives me great satisfaction. Of course, the crème de la crème is when I receive a “thank you” message from a satisfied client who’s just seen their photographs for the first time. It truly is such an immense reward.
How my journey into photography started
My love of photography dates back to a single amusing moment in Romania in 2009. My wife took what I thought was the perfect portrait of me. At least that’s what I thought. Later, I discovered a friend had inadvertently “photobombed” the picture. This led me down the path to studying and exploring Photoshop to remove him from the picture. It had the potential to be the perfect photograph, and I needed to do it justice.
From this humorous beginning, my fascination with crafting perfect photographs was born. I patiently and systematically refined my understanding of how to create and capture the meaning, impressions, and feelings I wanted to convey in my images. Grappling with the beautiful, intricate dynamics between subjects and composition, perspectives and lighting, has been a source of growth and wonder for me. I strive to have it shine through in my photographs.
A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one
As I’m fond of saying, I specialize in being not specialized. This gives me the freedom to take on new assignments and challenges I’ve never attempted before. I started out photographing anything I could. Starting with insects and landscapes, I graduated to more challenging areas, which combined with my love of people, led me to portrait photography. When people are in front of a camera, if they are shy or apprehensive, it’s difficult for them to reveal their true selves. Portrait photography, for me, is the ultimate way to be able to “know” someone, and allow their soul to shine through once those barriers come down.
Rather than shying away from projects I’ve never attempted, I embrace them. They enable me to grow as a photographer, adding new skills to my arsenal, which I bring to subsequent shoots. These varied experiences and challenges allow me to offer my clients unique ideas, techniques, and perspectives that I otherwise may not have considered.
Always learning and improving – adding studio photography and vacation photography to my skill set
Before 2020, I’d never done studio portraits. I didn’t worry about my lack of experience in this area of photography. Instead, I dove right in and started taking headshots. This experience gave me a chance to work with various light modifiers and reflective surfaces. Unlike other genres I was familiar with, studio work allowed me complete control over what happened with the light and shadows I captured. I didn’t want to stop with headshots, and being a dog owner, pet photography seemed like the next natural step. I didn’t limit myself to dogs, either. I’ve photographed a snake, a budgerigar (a small Australian parakeet), and a rabbit, and I look forward to adding to that list.
Having taken thousands of photos all over the world, I would love to take photos of you in BGC or the surrounding areas. If you also feel compelled to seek out the perfect image, be it in a family portrait, an individual portrait, a christening, or a business presentation, let’s collaborate on your dream.
Worked for:
Finnish Embassy in Seoul, published article here.
Swedish Chamber of Commerce in South Korea
Kidde Fire Systems
The Seoul Real Estate
Urban Land Korea Institute
Romanian Orthodox Church in Tokyo
Photographer in Manila 