Rock Monsters Romania

Sometimes your idols may not be on stage or backstage at a concert; they could be in the front row or in the photo pit. This is the case for today’s guest, Cristina Oltean, also known by many as Elegantly Tasted.

Cristina is a freelance photographer, mostly known by concert-goers. If you have ever been to an alternative rock concert or festival, you have probably seen her there. Besides the incredible job she does with a camera at concerts, she also works miracles in social media, collaborating with bands like VUNK, The Mono Jacks, byron, and many more.

Like many women in this series, Cristina was a mentee in the first edition of the Women in Music Romania mentorship program — an initiative by Carina Sava, supported by Raw Music, Watermelon Agency, and Overground Music. This program aims to empower girls and women in the music industry. This experience marked a turning point for Cristina; she soon became the official photographer of the project. In August 2022, she became the Head of Digital Content, a position she still holds today.

I met Cristina a long time ago and tried to learn a lot from her through the accounts she manages on social media and her posts. The most impressive thing about her was the fast rate of development and how she manages to do everything on time. For me personally, she has been a role model in recent years, as well as one of the women who has helped us the most to grow as a publication, as photographers, as social media figures, and, most importantly, as humans.

Between concerts, we had the opportunity to ask her some questions about her, her journey and her projects in a special interview.

What are the things people should know about you before reading this interview?

Well, I am Cristina, I’m a music photographer (concerts, bands, anything music), I do social media for some of my favourite bands and humans & I am part of the Women In Music Romania team, where I’m mainly in charge of digital, but since it’s only 6 of us, we all step up and do anything and everything that needs doing to make things happen. This is probably the most fulfilling thing I do, because I’m also a mum of two girls who seem very into music, so I’d looove it if they found a more inclusive industry if they ever decide to join. 😁

Oh, and I love reading. And it took me a minute to figure out you actually wanted me to answer these questions and not one of the artists I work with. 🤣

Which woman inspired you from the beginning? What have you learned from her as a model?

It is hard to name a woman I looked up to back then, cause from the outside looking in, I saw a few inspirational men in our industry (men who are amazing nonetheless and I learned a lot from), but i didn’t know a lot of women.

And then I joined the first edition of the Women in Music Romania mentorship program as a mentee. And the first thing I started noticing is that there are a lot of amazing women in this industry but they’re just not as visible. I remember that first group meeting with all our mentors and my fellow mentees, and literally every single one of us was surprised to be there. Our mentors were surprised they were asked to be mentors in this program. And I’m talking women like Anamaria Hâncu, Anca Lupeș or Laura Coroianu who we all know how amazing they are at what they do.

I like to think we have #HerStory to take care of this now, by bringing all these women in the spotlight.

Women tend to downplay their achievements, “we got lucky” – I’m allergic to people telling me I’m lucky for things that have nothing to do with luck, but a lot of work and decisions I made in my life.

Why have you chosen the music industry? Where does your passion come from?

Music has always been therapy for me. Live music even more so. I don’t know where the passion comes from, but there’s nothing I like more than concerts, in a personal and professional way.

The concert photography thing started because I just wanted to go to gigs. I was kind of new in town, new to photography and an introvert, so I just took my camera with me to every gig and absolutely loved it. Now I often think of it as that sweet spot where I managed to mix together my two favourite things. And I guess it’s my way of giving back at least a tiny bit of what I get from them artists through the music they write and the way they bring it out on stage in front of us.

And the social media part of things is more like content creation and it also started with concerts. 🤣 I kind of wanted every Insta feed of the bands I watched to make you feel at least a little bit (cause exactly the same it would be impossible) as their live shows do. And I get very passionate about things and people I believe in, so I had to do it. 🤣

Was there a moment when another woman warned you about the challenges you might face in the music industry because you’re a woman? What was your reaction?

Haha, I used to think we were all aware of at least some of the challenges women face in general, but the aftermath of ”Macarena” showed me how wrong I was. 🤣

I think my awareness and my pushing back against sexism started when my grandmother kept telling me I have to make my brother’s bed because I was the girl. I think I was 5 or 6. She didn’t know any better.

I don’t think the challenges we face in the music industry are all that different from what women encounter in other industries, and when I say this I’m talking about women like me, who work behind the scenes, because I think it’s different with female artists. Their journey is a whole different ball game.

Have you faced any challenges that could only happen to women in this industry? Can you give us some examples and explain how you overcame them?

Oh, my favourite is the “who looks after your kids while you’re away?”. I can’t even imagine anyone asking a male photographer the same question. 🤣

And as a story, big band, pretty important gig, foreign PR person showed up in the photo pit, introduced himself to every male photographer there, completely ignored me. The next morning I posted some photos on insta, got a message saying “I didn’t think you were this good!” to which I replied “ok?!”, cause what else can you say to that?!

Mostly, I managed to surround myself with people who get it. With people who know, or are willing to listen and educate themselves, but there’s the occasional conversation with men who are convinced they’re completely unbiased and fair, so because they don’t discriminate, obviously, sexism just doesn’t exist, yet they’ll turn around and tell you they want you on their team because you smile all the time and you’re nice to be around.

I guess having a good sense of humor is how I overcome these. And I pick my battles. 🤣

Have you ever felt pressured to present yourself in a certain way because of your gender?

Absolutely! From the little things like deciding what to wear or how to communicate with certain people, I’ve definitely felt pressured into being something or the other because of my gender. But you know, I’ve come to realise that a lot of it comes from how we were brought up, rather than direct pressure from others. These things can sneak up on you without you even realising it.

I had a real “AHA! moment” when I was watching The Handmaid’s Tale. For the longest time, whenever they talked about “The resistance,” I pictured a group of men swooping in to save the day. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be a bunch of strong women rallying together! It instantly made me stop and think on the hidden biases we all carry.

What changes would you like to see in the industry to make it more inclusive and welcoming for women?

Becoming a mentee in the first edition of the WIM mentorship program showed me first hand the strength that comes from having a community of badass women to lean on and learn from, and I am sure this support network has already made my journey through the music industry smoother than it has been for the amazing women who came before me, and I want to pay that forward.

How optimistic are you about the future of the music industry in terms of gender equality?

I’ve always been a little bit of a dreamer (some might say “just a bit?!”) but when it comes to the future of the music industry in terms of gender equality, I’m downright hopeful! It’s gonna sound very cheesy, but I believe in people and especially, I believe in the impact of what we’re doing with Women In Music Romania. Our community is growing, and it’s not just women anymore – we’re all in this together!

I’ve seen changes in myself, in how I approach challenges, in my work ethic, in my ability to speak up about issues that bother me and I’ve seen changes in the women and men I work with. Of course, it’s work in progress, but it’s happening.

“A year ago, I would have seen this woman as competition, now I can’t wait to work with her.” -> this from a former mentee, for me, it was the best sign we’re on the right path.

Can you share a memorable experience or achievement in your career that you’re particularly proud of?

I get 5-year-old-on-Christmas-morning excited everytime my favorite artists use my photos for anything.

And I celebrate that. Some might say it’s not memorable or whatever, but for me this is huge and amazing everytime. And I am grateful.

Are there any projects or collaborations you’re currently working on that you’re excited about and would like to share with our audience?

Yesss, there’s something I’m currently working on and I am very excited about and I can only tell you to save the date: 21st of May 2024.

Looking back on your career journey so far, what are some valuable lessons or insights you’ve gained that you wish you knew when you were starting out?

Not necessarily something I wish I knew when I was starting out, cause I never take things for granted or wait for them to happen, but, with all the glam around you in this industry, it’s important you know that the saying “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” is bulls**t. :)))

I don’t know anyone who works more or harder than those who love what they do.

What advice would you give to young women aspiring to pursue a career in music? But to the ones that are reading this interview?

I don’t know if I’m in a position to give advice, but there’s something Anca Lupeș says a lot and I stand by it: Never stop learning. It’s so important! And join the Women In Music Mentorship Program! 😛

Next time you see Cristina at a concert, it’s the perfect opportunity to directly tell her how cool she is! And if you need some inspiration about concert photography or social media, don’t forget to follow her on Instagram.

Stay tuned for another interview with an amazing woman tomorrow…

Text by Radu Mihai

Interview by Ionela Pleșan and Radu Mihai