Egyptian Creatives Adel Essam & Henar Sherif Don’t Play by the Rules

In an age where it's increasingly tempting to drown out your inner voice and follow the herd, driven by what works best on Instagram and what will garner the most clicks and likes, Egyptian photographers and art directors Adel Essam and Henar Sherif choose to remain true to their own creative visions. 

The pair's journey began in 2014, united by a fateful collision through a creative community and an Instagram connection. What started as casual photowalks with friends, exploring Alexandria's labyrinthine streets and hidden gems with smartphones, soon blossomed into an artistic collaboration. “We discovered we could add to each other’s ideas and enhance each other's visions,” Sherif explains.

Leaving behind their previous careers, they poured their hearts into photography, establishing O Art Studio in 2015—an agency offering photography, videography, and media production services. Through O Art Studio, they have undertaken numerous high-profile projects, including Dior’s fashion show at the Great Pyramids of Giza and shoots with Egyptian celebrities such as Amir El Masry, Injy El Mokadem, Yasmin Raeis, and Loujaina Salah.

Their projects often resemble hazy dreams, dark fairytales, or maladaptive daydreams—echoing the mission of the Surrealist movement of the early 20th century. This movement, rooted in imagination, is at the heart of Sherif and Essam’s work. “Our motto is ‘everything you can imagine is real,’ as Picasso said,” Essam shares. “If you can see it in your head, then there's a way to make it happen in real life—otherwise, what's the point of showing people what they already know?”

Essam and Sherif's aim is to create an escape from reality. “Our goal is to open a portal between the subconscious and the real world.” Drawing inspiration from British fashion photographers Tim Walker and Nick Knight, and Italian photographer Paolo Roversi, they blend realism with dreamlike, ethereal elements. Their work is characterised by soft, atmospheric imagery and rich hues, painting grand scenes with sweeping landscapes, panoramic shots, and an abundant use of nature in their art direction.

"We aren’t just creating work to adhere to the Instagram algorithm construct," Sherif tells Scene Styled. While they appreciate Instagram as a powerful tool for photographers, they believe the platform has become more of a popularity contest.

A testament to this belief is their 2017 passion project, ‘The Roman Tale.’ Using simple equipment and natural light rather than elaborate production, this shoot made people take notice of their work and serves as a powerful reminder to stay true to their artistic visions.