Nada Ghanem: Egyptian documentary photographer capturing everyday life, emotion, and authentic moments on the streets of Egypt

Nada Ghanem is a 27-year-old tour guide based in Alexandria, Egypt. She is deeply passionate about photography, content creation and filmmaking. Her work as a guide keeps her close to people, places and the rhythm of daily life. That same curiosity now shapes her photography and expanding creative practice.

She is currently developing several projects and launching her own venture that supports content creators and businesses with design, video editing, photography and videography. She is capable of handling these tasks independently, yet she works with a dedicated team that supports her vision.

How did you get started in photography?

When I was 19, I started taking pictures of everything around me. Of course, I deleted a lot of posts from my profile because of self-doubt and the feeling that I wasn’t good enough.

I wasn’t good at expressing my feelings, so I began capturing whatever caught my eye, hoping the images would convey what I felt and speak louder than words.

I let my imagination and my eyes run completely free. I don’t overthink before taking a shot. I simply capture what catches my eye, relying on artistic intuition. Music fuels this process. It feeds my imagination and helps me visualise the photographs I want to take.

How would you describe yourself?

I’m always curious and eager to learn. I like learning more than just the basics, especially about history, languages, psychology, and anything that helps me understand people and the world better.

I’m creative by nature. I enjoy storytelling, photography, and creating content that feels both meaningful and visually appealing. I pay attention to details while still seeing the bigger picture. Sometimes I get so obsessed with a topic that I know almost everything about it, which is stressful.

What are the main themes that inspire your photography?

History, culture, everyday life, and the emotions that exist in ordinary moments inspire me most. I love capturing places, people and details that tell a story. Light, textures and authentic moments draw my attention. The everyday lives of Egyptians remain my strongest source of inspiration.

What moment in your career are you most proud of?

Documenting everyday life in Egypt through my photography means a great deal to me. Being able to capture authentic moments and tell stories that reflect Egyptian culture and people’s daily lives feels incredibly meaningful.

What is the biggest challenge you've faced as a photographer?

There was a time in Egypt when street photography was restricted. Taking photos in certain public spaces led to questions or legal issues. That limited how freely I could capture everyday moments. The situation is much more accepted and normal now, but it was difficult at the time.

Believing in my own work has also been a challenge. Like many creatives, I’m often my own toughest critic and sometimes underestimate what I create.

What type of photography do you specialise in?

So far, I’m a documentary photographer. I specialise in film photography and focus on authentic moments of everyday life, especially street scenes, people and architecture. The emotions, stories and unique details that exist in ordinary places and moments draw me in.

My style continues to evolve. Beyond street and documentary work, I’m interested in expanding into content creation and collaborating with companies, brands and models to create more diverse visual stories.

What is your unique technical or visual approach?

My approach relies on emotional storytelling. I capture moments authentically and candidly, without affectation. I prioritise what makes a scene feel alive over a dry, picture-perfect image.

I enjoy blending a warm, classic style with a modern perspective. The goal is to create photos and videos that trigger genuine emotion and leave a lasting impression.

Which global brands, photographers, or industries do you feel your work aligns with most?

My work aligns with the humanistic documentary style of National Geographic and street photographers like Steve McCurry, where the focus rests on raw emotion, culture and the human spirit. I’m also deeply inspired by the warm lighting and evocative visual tone of cinematographers like Bradford Young.

I connect naturally with brands and companies seeking authentic, nostalgic storytelling, whether in tourism, documentary filmmaking, or commercial campaigns that embrace classic film aesthetics and heartfelt narratives.

What is one professional standard you never compromise on?

Authenticity. I never compromise on the truth and emotion of the story. I refuse to sacrifice the genuine feeling of a scene or a moment just to get a polished, artificial image. Real human connection always comes first.