Menna Hossam

Fine art and fashion photographer Menna Hossam specialises in creating enchanting images that pay tribute to her creative heroes. Counting Disney, Greek mythology and Shakespeare among her inspirations, the Canon Ambassador has built an enviable reputation for ethereal, whimsical images that could be straight out of a fairytale.

Born and raised in Egypt, Menna was enamoured with fine art from a young age. She discovered photography in 2008 while a student. "We used to visit historical places in Cairo and paint and draw for hours," she says. "I would grab my camera and take pictures of the monuments and buildings. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was enjoying it, so I started taking portraits of my friends. I was always looking for unique faces, people who had something special about them. Things evolved from there and I began developing my own style."

Menna shot the work in Alexandria and spent a month on the colour palette, which was inspired by Renaissance era paintings. "It finally came to me," she says. "The whole thing was a bit of a struggle but that's exactly why it's my favourite project. I was about to give up on it all. I was so proud of the finished result and that doesn't always happen. I feel differently about this project; it's very precious."

Entirely self-taught, Menna is working on a photobook that she hopes to publish. "I have always dreamed about creating this kind of content; it's like my own Disneyland!" she says. "I also really want to give photography workshops outside the Middle East. The idea of travelling and meeting new people and introducing my art to others excites me."

The fashion photographer has some sound advice for those wishing to follow a similar path – always have patience. "Patience is the key to everything," she says. "There were times when I was close to giving up and I'm so glad I didn't listen to the voices in my head. I kept pushing myself. Persistence and patience are everything when it comes to photography. You get out what you put in. After nine years, I've become an Ambassador for the brand I've always loved. I was patient and I didn't give up."

How would you describe your photographic style?
"My images are whimsical and fairytale-orientated. Each has a back story. I read a lot and this is a huge source of inspiration. I love Shakespeare and, this may sound a little odd, but metal music inspires me. I find the lyrics, the stories and how they describe the feelings really inspiring; the approach is different from any other genre. Sometimes I'll listen to a piece of classical music and I can imagine people dancing in a certain way, and an idea grows from there."

What's the most exciting shoot you've ever done?
"My most adventurous shoot was in a forest in Bohemian Switzerland in the northwestern Czech Republic. I watched The Chronicles of Narnia and thought the location looked amazing. I looked it up and found that it existed. I was travelling to Germany anyway, so we visited where the movie was shot at the same time. The forest was overwhelmingly beautiful, and the model was one of my friends. It was really hot, and suddenly a huge thunderstorm hit. I insisted we proceed even though it was so dark; we'd been through so much to reach the place I wasn't going to let a storm stop me! It was one of the hardest shoots I have ever done. We kept shooting until the storm had passed. It left behind an amazing ambient light which looked like a scene from a movie; one of the best natural lights I've ever seen. It was worth it and a real adventure."

What would you say are the biggest challenges with fine art photography?
"Being a fine art photographer in Egypt is really challenging because people don't understand what you're doing. People ask me, 'Do you earn money from this?' The answer is no, not at the start, because that kind of photography here is not as popular or as in demand. When you're trying to create an artistic photoshoot, it's a struggle because you spend money on sets and costumes. I don't do that anymore thankfully because people approach me now, but when I started, I spent a lot, and that's very challenging. I also have so many ideas but I can't execute them all because we have very limited resources in terms of locations here."

What's the proudest moment of your career to date?
"Becoming an Ambassador for Canon – it's been a dream forever. I wished to be one, so this is the most rewarding thing to have ever happened to me. I have other moments, but nothing can top this for me."

Menna Hossam