Vlad Ionut Piriu

I am a 47 year old photographer from Bucharest, Romania, with over 18 years of experience in event photography.

My journey into concert and festival photography began with a deep passion for capturing the raw energy and emotion of live music performances. The ability to document specific moments in time, particularly the standout, split-second moments that happen at a show, became a driving force in my work

Early Influences

My initial inspiration came from friends who were already experienced in concert photography. They opened my eyes to the monumental and unique experiences that a concert photographer is privileged to witness. These early mentors showed me how concert photography goes far beyond just taking pictures – it's about capturing moments that allow people to relive the experience long after the show ends.

What truly captivated me was the challenge of trying to capture all the action happening both on stage and in the crowd, telling a story with each shot1. The thrill of photographing high-energy performances and engaging with audiences became addictive, as each event presented unique opportunities to document not just the music, but the entire atmosphere and emotion of the moment.

The progression from photographing local shows to larger festivals was natural, as each experience built upon the last. Festival photography particularly challenged me to adapt to new environments and utilize different opportunities1. The adrenaline rush of having just three songs to capture those killer shots, combined with the technical challenges of working in constantly changing lighting conditions, pushed me to develop both my technical skills and artistic vision. Through this journey, I've learned that concert photography is far more than just a hobby – it's a powerful medium for storytelling that allows me to share the magic of live music with others while creating tangible memories that both artists and fans can treasure.

2025 (Upcoming)
Major Festivals

UNTOLD X (August):Line-up TBA
Electric Castle: Justin Timberlake (headliner)

Notable Concerts to adhere to:

Borgore at NoiseBreak, Quantic Club (February 8)
Eluveitie with Infected Rain, AD Infinitum at Quantic (February 6)
Don't Let Daddy Know Festival with Steve Aoki at Laminor Arena (March 21)
Laibach - Opus Dei at Quantic (March 7)
PIAF! The Show with Nathalie Lermitte at Globus Circus (March 1)
Godsmack with P.O.D. & Drowning Pool at Laminor (March 24)
Tarja Turunen & Marko Hietala at Sala Palatului (April 1)
Die Antwoord at Arenele Romane (June 16)
Joe Satriani & Steve Vai at Arenele Romane (July 23)

2024

Major Festivals

UNTOLD Dubai Festival
UNTOLD IX: Lenny Kravitz, Sam Smith, Louis Tomlinson, Swedish House Mafia, Martin Garrix
Electric Castle: Massive Attack, Chase and Status, Khruangbin, DJ Shadow
SAGA Festival: Nicki Minaj, Rita Ora, Hardwell
Summer Well Festival
Fall in Love Festival

Notable Concerts

Thirty Seconds To Mars at Laminor Arena (October 25)
Apocalyptica plays Metallica at Sala Palatului (November 27)
Palaye Royale at Arenele Romane (November 20)
Ed Sheeran at National Arena (August 24)
Coldplay at National Arena (June 12-13)

2023

Major Festivals

UNTOLD Festival: Imagine Dragons, David Guetta, Amelie Lens, Martin Garrix
Electric Castle: Iggy Pop, Macklemore
SAGA Festival at Romaero Băneasa
Summer Well Festival: Florence + The Machine, YUNGBLUD
Fall in Love Festival


Landmark Concerts

Depeche Mode at National Arena (July 26)
Guns N' Roses at National Arena (July 16)
Deep Purple at Romexpo (July 9)
Hollywood Vampires with Johnny Depp (June 8)
Tom Jones (June 18)
Amon Amarth at Arenele Romane (July 1)
Parkway Drive at Arenele Romane (June 25)

2022

Major Festivals

UNTOLD Festival: Hardwell, J Balvin
Electric Castle
SAGA Festival at National Arena
Fall in Love Festival at Mogoșoaia

Notable Concerts

Iron Maiden at Romexpo (May)
Morcheeba at Arenele Romane (June 24)
Evanescence at Arenele Romane (June 7)
Hooverphonic at Arenele Romane (May 24)
Moonspell at Arenele Romane (May 12)
Dead Can Dance
Calvin Harris at Mamaia
Nightwish at Romexpo (August 1)

2021

Major Events

UNTOLD Festival: Over 200 artists performed
Electric Castle Special Edition
SAGA Festival
Sound of Bucharest with Armin van Buuren

2017-2018

Festivals

UNTOLD Festival (Best festival in Europe)
Electric Castle: Jessie J, Groove Armada
Summer Well: Oh Wonder, The Bloody Beetroots

Notable Concerts

Depeche Mode in Cluj-Napoca

2011

Historic Performances

Bon Jovi in Bucharest (July 10)
Shakira in Bucharest (May)
Roxette at Zone Arena
Scorpions Farewell Tour (June 9)
B'ESTFEST Festival featuring Pendulum
Ozzy Osbourne in Bucharest