“I knew I found myself right through the lens,” says Amina Zaher, who made a decisive career shift from business to photography years after working in the corporate world. It was clearly the right move. She was behind the lens when Vogue Man Arabia featured Rami Malek on the cover and did a series of fashion and beauty shoots defined by a sharper, more experimental edge. These include a portfolio of rising Egyptian models shot in the backdrop of The Pyramids of Giza, a shoot on the streets of Jeddah featuring Alanoud Al Turki, a profile of comedian Bassem Youssef and capturing celebrities at the Red Sea Film Festival. Elsewhere, she proudly boasts campaigns for brands like Dior, Louis Vuitton and Loro Piana.
“I quit my job, applied to the New York Film Academy’s photography course and pursued my passion,” she shares about her journey. Raised in Egypt, she moved to Dubai to pursue fashion photography, drawn by the city’s growing presence in the industry. Her path was built through persistence and a willingness to start again.
Her work remains anchored in feelings, with a desire to give space to stories that deserve to be seen. Zaher’s aesthetic is defined by a conceptual approach, often inflected with a distinctly regional sensibility. “I try to show all the emotions I’ve ever felt in my images. I like it when people tell me that my photos have emotions,” she adds.
Hyku Desesto
Photography: Lesha Lich & Styling: Mohammad Hazem Rezq