Meet Liliana Muntean | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Liliana Muntean and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Liliana, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Because it fulfills me. I’ve always found myself in a creative environment ever since I was a little girl. It started with drawing, painting, and photography; wasn’t until later on that my dad got me a film camera for a trip to Spain and I had found myself taking hundreds of photos, because what better way to immortalize moments, than through photos or video recordings even. That was my mom’s uncle that handed me his video camera and let me explore. I’ve held those two near and dear to my heart until 2011 when I had started to seriously pursue photography, and back then it was not just my passion, because I enjoy creating so much, but it also was my outlet because I had been going through a very difficult period in my life. After a messy divorce while starting life over again as a single mother, I had immersed myself even further into photography by joining a photography club. The club was founded by a wonderful person who took both me and my then young son under their family’s wings until we were back on our feet. I had then slowly started venturing in my own direction, in search of finding my own niche and what I truly wanted to focus more on when it came to photography. It is my creative nature that has led to meeting creative minds alike with whom I have been able to gradually bring my artistic visions to life.

My work focuses on bringing out a certain kind of beauty and story line through different creative measures. I have since been published in several photography magazines while also building a PhotoVogue portfolio. And last year I won two local Art Show Awards in the Bay Area, California, placing first in both shows. There are still great plans and visions for the future, all while working a full time job as a Project Engineer in the construction industry and being a mother to a wonderful teenage boy.

Most of the time the main focus is the people I photograph and their story. I always enjoy getting to know my subject a bit better prior to photographing, so that the photos may eventually be a reflection of both the subject as well as myself. I connect with Art, and the classic looks and feelings, as I enjoy allowing my viewers to connect in their own personal way with the photos, for their own reasons, dream their own dreams and feel their own feelings. Along the lines of that, I do enjoy helping others achieve their dreams.

No matter what I do in life, I simply cannot imagine a life without art and creation, they are so deeply rooted down inside me that no matter the path I pursue, the artistic and creative side of me will always follow and we’ll fall right down the same lines just like soulmates, no matter where life takes us, we ultimately always find each-other over and over again.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art/photography speaks about the subject and sometimes about me while others those two intertwine. It is probably my creative process and take on it that sets me apart from others, the things that inspire me and the way I portray it.

I don’t really follow any conventional rules, letting my photography be an art form without boundaries. It needs not be perfect, yet it does, in a different kind of way. It is meant to offer more, but it is somehow complex just like me, I guess. It is when I can offer the creative direction and build off of dreams and visions that I can fully immerse myself in and offer the creative direction I desire that my work truly comes to life. I have this timeless connection to art and the classics, and enjoy exploring themes that have to do with the past, the feminine, as well as the masculine, feelings, dreams and dreamy states of mind, some darker, some stronger, some softer.

It’s been through practice and dedication that I have come to where I am today. I am still continually growing, learning and bettering myself, as one should. And I shall be doing that until the end of my career. There are challenges of course and they won’t be the last ones, but every one of them is different and so I handle everything the best I can, one step at a time, sometimes there are setbacks, but when that happens I chose to rest, recharge and regroup to strategize for the next step. There will be times when you may feel like quitting, but don’t.. it’s ok to feel overworked, or overwhelmed or who knows what life throws at you.. it’s important to know when to rest and recharge and simply make a new plan of attack . Then go right back at it.. And somehow whenever that happens, it also turns out to be the moment of the climb into the next better version.. It’s like the challenges are the big tests before achieving the next level, and so it just keeps on getting better and better.
Love is a universal language and art is how we express it. I hope to be able to offer the world something they can connect to or relate to but also something they can feel inspired by, in hopes that together we can one day be a world filled with peace, love, understanding and beyond all equality for all.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My friends and I would home cook and have fun in the kitchen sharing dishes from our sides of the world. We’d then go to the old movie theater downtown Livermore, at Vine Cinema & Alehouse and watch a classic movie. On another day we’d go to The Vichy Springs for a day of recharge and relax followed by an evening of exploring in downtown Healdsburg, Ca. We’d make reservations for dinner at Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar, and then go walk to the Antiques and Collectibles store and look through the books stores. After dinner we’d go get ice-cream at Noble Folk and hang out in the park nearby, listening to live music.
On another day we’d just pick up some coffee at Rosetta Coffee, I’ll have my favore latte, a large Micha, grab some bagels from Noah’s bagels and go down Hwy 1 with a home packed picnic basket to hangout at a beach of our choosing, go collect seashells and have fun at the beach.

Another day would be a zip line adventure at Sonoma Zipline Adventures up in the redwoods.

For another day we’d have coffee and fresh croissants at Bouchon Bakery in Yountville, and hangout in the lovely downtown for a bit, then we’d head out for wine tasting at Castello Di Amorosa in Calistoga.
On another day we’d just go for a hike to Alamere falls.
Other days may be a fashion event in the city and food and drinks on the go depending on our moods.
And sometimes we’ll keep it simple and grab coffee, go to the farmers market and pick something nice to eat and take it in the park for a picnic, sit around and talk and laugh and play silly games.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to thank my family and friends for always supporting me on my journey and for being an artistic and creative inspiration throughout my life. I would also like to thank to Dan Lavi, the founder of Fremont Photography Club who made this dream possible for me down the line of this journey. I would also like to thank my son for always encouraging me and supporting my dream and for being my biggest fan and believer!

Website: lilimuntean.com

Instagram: @lilimunteanofficial

Facebook: @lilimunteanofficial

Image Credits
Models: Quania Love Jones Kaiqi Wang Alluris Tamara Lawrence Celia MUAH: Martha Haynes