Vanda Bienville is a French-Romanian photographer who is passionate about capturing authentic emotions through her art. With a unique style, she blends sensitivity and creativity to create images that convey deep stories. Whether she’s photographing vibrant moments on a concert stage or the subtle elegance of fashion, Vanda expertly highlights the experiences of each person in front of her camera.

We spoke with her about her upcoming exhibition, her ideal creative process, and more.

Hi, Vanda! Please let us know how and when you become interested in photography.

As a child, I was mesmerized by my grandmother’s secret room—a treasure trove of black-and-white photographs from the early 1900s, tucked away in mysterious boxes. Each image was like opening a time capsule, with my grandmother as the narrator, weaving vivid tales of love, loss, and resilience.

The faces in those photos never smiled, and honestly, that’s what made them unforgettable. Their raw emotions, laid bare in shades of gray, felt more real than anything I’d ever seen. That’s where my love for photography began—with a fascination for capturing the soul beneath the surface.

I never understood the obsession with smiling in photos. One day, at seven, I stood in front of a mirror, tears streaming down my face, and had a revelation: sorrow could be beautiful too. No one was capturing those kinds of moments—the unfiltered, messy truths—and I decided I would.

That was the start of it all. I began taking self-portraits, focusing on the emotions most people overlook—grief, longing, vulnerability. Life pulled me in many directions before I found my way back to photography, but my mission never changed. With every frame, I aim to reveal the soul and celebrate the beauty of being unapologetically human. Smiles optional.

Tell us a bit more about your upcoming exhibition.

This exhibition was a leap of faith. As both a poet and a photographer, the idea of merging these two art forms began to take shape two years ago, during an intensely emotional time in my life.

I started writing again, creating four poems that captured the stages of a love story: la rencontre, passion, love, and the inevitable breakup. Inspired, I began photographing couples embodying these phases, working across France and Romania.

But as my own love story unraveled, I lost faith in the project. Caught in the depths of grief, I thought it was over. Then, something shifted. I embraced a fifth phase: metamorphosis. From this pain, I created a new body of work, and the exhibition took form—an exploration of transformation through loss.

I called it “L’âme.”

What about the International Photo Exhibition? What made you decide to start this project?

The international exhibition grew from this seed. Inspired by artists who channel their hardest moments into art, together with Maeva (France)and Valeria (Ukraine) we launched MVII EVENTS, creating a space for collective expression. Together, we invited photographers from France, Romania, Guadeloupe, and Ukraine to join us for this first exhibition. To my surprise, the response was overwhelming. What began as a personal journey became a shared celebration of resilience and creativity.

And here’s the cherry on top: I’m thrilled to have Sandro Machado as a special guest for the exhibition. We get along very well and I’m beyond happy that he accepted my invitation. Sandro is not only an amazing artist, but he’s also an incredible human being. He’s international (shoutout to Brazil!) and we’ve already started working together. I’m grateful to collaborate with people I can truly trust, and Sandro is one of them—talented, genuine, and a total joy to work with.

Oh, and if you haven’t heard his new track DIGIDUM yet, do yourself a favor and give it a listen. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

What is your photographic belief system? What rules (or lack of them) guide your process from idea to execution?

I’m a self-taught artist in both photography and poetry; born out of a desperate need to make sense of emotions I couldn’t handle as a child. Writing was my escape hatch, my bubble of safety where I could untangle the chaos. Then came photography—my way of turning those tangled feelings into something you could actually see.

When I started, I didn’t bother with the rules (mostly because I didn’t know any). I just picked up a camera and figured it out by doing. Spoiler alert: photography is way more than just pressing a button. That lack of structure gave me the freedom to find my own style—and a lot of “oops” moments along the way.

Eventually, I signed up for classes in London and Lyon, not so much to master the craft but to shut up that nagging voice in my head saying, “Are you really an artist, though?” Turns out, imposter syndrome is harder to kill than bad lighting. For me, art has always been about breaking rules, not following them—and discovering myself in the process.

In your opinion, what makes a good photograph? How do you decide when something you create meets or exceeds your expectations?

That’s such a tricky question! Honestly, it depends on the purpose of the photograph. If it’s meant to measure something, like a scientific photo, there’s no emotion involved—it’s just data. But for me, a great artistic photograph stirs emotion in the viewer.

I’ve been told my photos can be disturbing, and I take that as a compliment. Let’s be real—it’s not easy to be truly unsettled by an image, and if mine manage to do that, it means they’re powerful. The worst reaction I could get is indifference—a photo that says nothing to the viewer is a failure.

When someone tells me they don’t like my photos, I always ask why. Nine times out of ten, it’s because the image made them feel something they didn’t want to feel—fear, grief, discomfort. And honestly? That’s exactly the point. Art should make you feel, even if it’s something you’d rather avoid.

How much preparation do you put into taking a photograph/series of photographs?

How much preparation? Well, that depends—on whether someone’s managed to hurt my feelings or not. I’m that person who turns sorrow into art. Maybe it’s a coping mechanism I picked up as a kid, my personal safety net. I don’t drink or smoke when I’m heartbroken; instead, I take those demons from my head, dress them up, and make them look presentable for the world to see in my photographs.

Sometimes, inspiration strikes at the most random moments—like while I’m doing groceries. In those cases, I’ll whip out my phone and record the image I’m about to create, mid-aisle. Other times, I hit a creative dry spell, and honestly? It sucks.
So, from a few seconds of inspiration to a few years of waiting for the right moment—yep, that’s my creative process in a nutshell! Ahaha.

There are many descriptions of the ideal state of mind for being creative. What is it like for you? What supports this ideal state of mind and what are distractions? Are there strategies to enter into this state more easily?

My ideal state of mind for creativity? Well, it’s a delightful mess of emotion, spontaneity, and just a pinch of chaos. I do my best work when I’m feeling everything—heartache, sadness, you name it. Inspiration doesn’t knock; it shows up while I’m picking out avocados or questioning my life choices in the grocery store aisle. 

Spoiler alert: it’s not about being in the “perfect” mood. Creativity comes when it comes. Last time I got super creative was during a day at the beach in Montpellier and I had a panic attack: I loved the way those photos took life. See the demons I was telling you about? I learned to tame them.

But, let’s be real—creativity is my coping mechanism. I’m not about following rules; I’m about grabbing the mess in my head and making it look like something the world might actually want to see.

Roast aside, I do believe there’s a sweet spot: I need to create when I’m happy. It’s all about finding the right balance. Creativity is everywhere, especially in our joyful moments. I think every artist should trust their own process and embrace what works for them.

What are you currently fascinated by and how is it feeding into your work?

I absolutely love working in the music industry—nothing beats the raw emotions of a concert, whether it’s the electrifying energy on stage or the crowd going wild for their favorite artist. Being a concert photographer is like capturing the heartbeat of the moment. My experimental photography feeds my soul, but let’s be real—I’m also head over heels for fashion. I had the pleasure of being part of Paris Fashion Week in 2024 (yes, that happened), and guess what? I’ll be back this year too.

As a French-Romanian, I’ve got a bit of a photographic split personality. Depending on which country I’m in, the way I take photos can feel like two completely different worlds. Two cultures, double the creativity, right?

What would you say is the hottest photography trend right now?

I could go on about AI and all the fancy tech stuff, but let’s be real—I’m all about authenticity over perfection. In a world where everything is airbrushed to oblivion, there’s a major shift happening: people want the raw, unfiltered stuff. Real emotions, real flaws, real life.

No more pretending everything’s perfect—think natural light, minimal editing, and unposed moments. Basically, people are over the “Instagram version” of reality and are craving something real. So, here’s to celebrating the messiness of life and the beauty of imperfections!

Looking to the future, what’s next for you?

I want to expand my creative horizons and continue to push boundaries. I like the art of blending photography, poetry, and raw emotion. Maybe even launching music videos is on my list soon.

I am determined to create, first for me and I’ll do it whether it will work out or not. If I can help and inspire others I’ll do it with pleasure. I’d like to see more bold and unfiltered creators.

Follow Vanda Bienville on:
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Cover photo belongs to (c) Coralie of The Valley

All other copyrights belong to Vanda Bienville

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Still can't tell exactly my origins because of my suspiciously ‘Chinese eyes’.