Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Filip Barbalić of Slovenia, Europe

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Filip Barbalić. Check out our conversation below.

Filip, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building – something most people never really see – is the identity behind Barbalic Photo. On the outside, it’s just a name, a logo, a page… But for me, it’s everything I’ve poured into photography when no one was watching.
Behind every image, there’s a part of me learning, doubting, pushing, and then surprising myself. People see the final photo – the clean edit, the sharp moment, the emotion frozen in time – but they don’t see the quiet work that shaped it. They don’t see the nights I spent trying to figure out my photographic style, the hours spent experimenting with angles, or the moments when I questioned whether my style even mattered.
With all that being said, over the years I’ve slowly built a visual identity that feels like home to me – a way of capturing movement, intensity, and emotion that feels unmistakably mine. That’s the part I’m most proud of – not the public-facing brand, but the inner growth that made it real.
Therefore Barbalic Photo isn’t just something I show the world – it’s something I’ve built from the inside out. Every photo carries a piece of that unseen process – the discipline, the passion, the quiet determination. And even if no one ever fully sees that part, I know it’s there. That’s what makes me proud.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Filip Barbalić, and I’m the photographer behind Barbalic Photo, a brand I built from a simple passion for capturing real, unfiltered moments – especially in sports. I focus on telling stories through movement and emotion, creating images that feel alive even when they’re frozen in time.
What makes my work unique is that I’m not just documenting action – I’m trying to show the intensity behind it – the focus in the athlete’s eyes, the tension in a decisive moment and the atmosphere that surrounds it all. Over the years, I’ve developed a style that feels deeply personal, something that reflects how I see sports and the people in them.
My journey started with curiosity and a camera, and it’s grown into a brand that I’m proud to say represents dedication, creativity, and a constant desire to improve. Right now, I’m working on expanding my portfolio, taking on more international projects, and continuing to build a visual identity that feels authentic to who I am.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that really shaped how I see the world was my trip to Yucatán, Mexico – especially the time I spent in Valladolid and Playa del Carmen. Being there opened my eyes in a way I didn’t expect. You realize very quickly that we all live on the same planet, yet our realities can be completely different.
Walking through those towns, meeting people whose lives look nothing like mine, made me understand how much of what I consider “normal” is actually privilege. It hit me that the opportunities I’ve had (from education to travel to building my own creative brand) aren’t guaranteed for everyone. They’re blessings I was given from the moment I was born.
That experience taught me to never take anything for granted. To be grateful – not just in the big moments, but in the everyday things we forget to appreciate. It grounded me, reminded me of how lucky I am, and pushed me to make the most of the chances I’ve been given.
It’s a perspective I carry with me into my work and my life: stay humble, stay grateful, and understand that not everyone starts from the same place.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes – there were definitely moments when I almost gave up. Creative work can feel heavy sometimes… There were periods where I questioned whether my photography was good enough, or whether I’d ever stand out in such a competitive field. But looking back, those moments were actually the turning points. They forced me to reflect, to push harder, and to prove to myself why I started in the first place. Every doubt became fuel. Every setback made me more disciplined, more resilient, and more connected to my purpose.
I learned that growth doesn’t happen when everything is easy – it happens when you decide to keep going even when it’s tough. Those “lows” ended up becoming the foundation for the confidence I have today.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’d say the public version of me is real – but it’s not the whole picture. What people see through Barbalic Photo is genuinely me: my passion, my style, my love for capturing emotion in movement, and the way I tell stories through photos. None of that is fake or forced.
But like anyone, there’s a quieter side that doesn’t always make it online – the hours of doubt, the pressure I put on myself, the mistakes, the learning curves, and the personal growth that happens behind closed doors. The public version shows the results, the real me also carries the process.
It’s not two different people. The public version is just the part of me that’s ready to be shared. The full version includes everything that shaped me – the experiences, the struggles, and the values that guide me.
So yes, it’s real. It’s just not everything. And I think that’s okay.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes, I believe I could. Praise is nice, but it’s not what drives me. What motivates me is the feeling of putting my whole heart into something and knowing I stayed true to myself. Photography taught me that the most meaningful growth happens long before anyone notices your work.
When I was building Barbalic Photo, most of the progress happened in complete silence – late nights editing, learning from mistakes, trying new things, and developing a style that felt right to me. No one was clapping for that, and honestly, that’s what made it powerful.
I’ve learned that the work you do when nobody’s watching is what defines you. So yes, I could give my best even without praise. Because at the end of the day, I’m not doing this for applause – I’m doing it because I love creating, improving, and pushing myself. The satisfaction comes from the effort, not the attention.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.barbalicphoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbalic_photo/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/filip-barbalic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbalicPhoto/