About Me — Olga Mufel
Venice-based photographer capturing quiet moments and unforgettable stories
I never dreamed of being a photographer — I just kept saying yes until Venice became home.
I got into photography around 2007, during my third year at university, where I was studying to get my degree in International Economy.
I’m originally from Ukraine, born and raised in the city of Kharkiv. My father, who was always passionate about photography and captured our family story on every possible format, bought me my first camera — a Nikon D50. At the time, it was one of the first great, affordable entry-level digital cameras with full manual controls and professional-like image quality. I had a fantastic instrument in my hands — and I dove in headfirst.
Within a few months, I had tried nearly every kind of photography: landscapes, macro, portrait, nude, street photography, and even reportage. I quickly became part of a newly forming photography community made up of both amateurs and professionals. It was such a creative and inspiring space — I met amazing people who were just as passionate as I was, and made friends who are still part of my life today.
Saying Yes to Photojournalism
One of my new friend from photo community worked for a large mass media agency in my town. He saw my recent reportage and asked if I wanted to try working with them.
I didn’t even fully grasp the opportunity I was being given — I simply said yes. That decision opened doors to working with a daily newspaper and nearly every local media outlet. I had somehow landed in the right place, at the right time, and said yes.
It was an intense time, balancing university studies with a fast-paced journalistic career — but it was incredibly fun. I got to photograph artists, musicians, writers, politicians, attend concerts, and even go behind the scenes with some of my favorite bands.
In the world of daily newspapers, the deadline is always today. It wasn’t the deadlines themselves, but the constant intensity of it all — juggling university studies with the emotional demands of photojournalism — that eventually left me feeling burned out. I realized I was craving a different kind of energy — something more positive, uplifting, and emotionally fulfilling. I wanted to tell stories that celebrated love, connection, and joy.
From Burnout to Capturing Love
After about a year and a half of working as a photojournalist, I felt it was time for something new. I made a shift to family and wedding photography, simply because I felt drawn to something more tender and uplifting. I wanted to focus on love, weddings, and happy families — to tell stories filled with emotion, connection, and joy.
I became deeply passionate about weddings — not just as a photographer, but as someone who supported my clients through the entire journey. I often found myself helping couples choose venues, recommending stylists, and even going dress shopping. I wasn’t just capturing the day — I was becoming part of the experience.
I also promoted heavily to y client what became a popular format at the time: a pre-wedding love story session. It gave couples a chance to get comfortable in front of the camera, build trust with me, and create beautiful images to use for invitations, wedding slideshows, or keepsakes. That path lasted another three years.
I was lucky to ride the wave of new trends in wedding photography — until I found myself wanting something else again.
Following the Sun — And My Clients
In 2011, I stepped into what was then a very fresh trend: destination photography.
After graduating from university and ending a working relationship with my photography partner, I was completely free — and I had a huge urge to travel. Most of my early destination clients were eloping couples or honeymooners. It was a dream come true — I got to travel to places I’d never even dreamed of.
For a few magical years, I followed the sun like a migratory bird. In winter, I worked and traveled through India, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, and Cambodia. In the summers, I explored Europe : Italy, Spain, France, Greece, and more.
At the time, destination photography was still new. I didn’t plan detailed marketing campaigns or build complex strategies . I simply went where people asked to hire me. One couple would bring me to Paris, another to Santorini, and once I had a confirmed booking, I’d announce on social media that I’d be in that location. That often led to more couples reaching out, and just like that, one trip would turn into several sessions in a new destination.
It was a very organic, intuitive way of growing — led more by curiosity, timing, and trust than any long-term plan.
Finding a Home Between Two Cities
At one point, I was living between Venice and Paris — two of the most requested destinations at the time. Venice wasn’t love at first sight, but it was definitely love at second. I started spending more and more of the year in Venice, using it as my home base while still chasing warmth in winter. Each year, my love for the city grew deeper.
Eventually, I called Venice my home.
Choosing Venice — and Staying for Love
After finally deciding to stay in Italy, I enrolled in my first and only intensive Italian language course. That’s where I met the man who would later become my husband. We adopted cats together, and for the past nine years, I’ve felt more tied to Venice than I’ve ever felt to any place in my life.
Venice isn’t just where I live. It’s where I create, where I love, and where I continue to tell stories — only now, they’re stories of couples, families, and unforgettable moments frozen in time.
If you’re curious to see how my story continues through images, feel free to visit me here:
