Najat Saidi (@najatsaidi_) is a French-Moroccan artist whose creative journey is a blend of photography, storytelling, and cinematic expression. Her artistic endeavors began during her studies in the Middle East, where she first picked up a camera. Her academic background in international cooperation took her across Africa and Asia, managing environmental projects, yet her passion for photography never waned.
As she continued to refine her craft, studying screenwriting and directing at the Kourtrajmé school and 1000 Visages, Saidi eventually directed her first fiction piece in 2023. Now fully devoted to her art, she combines writing, photography, sound, and video to explore the unseen and the overlooked, telling the stories of the people she encounters, the places she visits, and the essence of our time through a deeply sensory lens.
I had the opportunity to have a chat with her about her work, our exhibition and photo nerd topics.
FFU: Thanks a lot for taking the time to chat a bit. Why photography? How did you get your start?
NS: In 2014, I went to study in the Middle East for a year. I told myself that I couldn't come back without a photo. So I bought my first camera at that time. It was in 2018 that I began to learn more about technique and to consider photography in a more serious way and not just as a vacation object.
FFU: You are one of 14 winning photographers in our exhibition Photography: the Universal Language. What made you apply?
NS: It was a person who follows me on social networks who recommended this call for exhibition to me. I was delighted to know that I would be exhibited with other women from the region! I didn't hesitate for a moment.
FFU: Tell us about your winning image.
NS: This is a photo that belongs to the series There and back? where I photographed 3 young Franco-Moroccan women, who grew up in Europe, but decided in their twenties to come and settle in Morocco. This choice made by more and more people concerns me. And I wanted to follow them in their daily lives, their lives in shared accommodation, their lives in Marrakech. Here, these are the hands of Sarah, one of the three young women, who has tattoos like many Europeans and Moroccan rings. I thought it represented bi-culturality well.
© Najat Saidi
FFU: How do you communicate via your imagery? What stories do you tell through your photography? Can you discuss the role that photography plays in storytelling, whether it's personal narratives or broader social issues?
NS: I like to photograph what you don't see at first glance, to draw attention to details, to things that are disappearing. This is often where we best understand people, their stories and therefore history with all its social issues.
FFU: How do you stay inspired and continue to evolve as a photographer? Are there any resources or practices that you find especially helpful?
NS: I am very inspired by painting and cinema, which I practice. Walking in the streets or forests also inspire me, because I think while walking and I can capture things that I don't usually see because these are moments when I really take the time to observe, to contemplate.
FFU: What equipment do you typically use, and why do you prefer it for your work?
NS: I use a Fujifilm camera when I take digital photos and I have several film cameras. My favorite is the Nikon FM2 which can really be taken anywhere without risking damage. This is my favorite device. Film requires me to think more and I think that's what I like the most, looking for the right photo.
Don't just go for one thing, but be open to everything and also to other arts.
FFU: It's so true about film, as a result it can be a sort of meditation to slow down so much. What is your favorite image you've made so far in your career and why?
NS: The photo I like the most at the moment is this portrait. During an evening in Marrakech where I was having fun with friends, I saw these flowers. I suggested that this friend stand in front and I aimed the lights to achieve this result. I really like playing with shadows and chiaroscuro and I was satisfied with the result. I like my friend's expression which gives strength to this photo.
FFU: How would you describe your photographic style or approach? Are there any particular influences that have shaped your style?
NS: I started photography while traveling in the Middle East and on the streets, I think it definitely influenced my photography. I am constantly looking for light and its traces. Expressionism, the movement of painting that I prefer, also influences me, because its objective is to create great emotional intensity, and this is what I would like my photos to create in those who see them.
FFU: No matter where you are at in your career, what advice would you give to aspiring photographers who are looking to improve their skills or break into the industry?
NS: I would say that the best way to improve your photography is to photograph. You have to practice, a lot, and try different things: portraits, landscapes, street photography...don't just go for one thing but be open to everything and also to other arts.
FFU: What projects or goals do you have on the horizon? What can we expect to see from you in the future?
NS: First of all, there is this series, this theme of the diaspora in Morocco on which I continue to work. And I specialize in portraiture, and particularly in fashion photography where I want to experiment with mixtures of mediums. This is what I will dedicate myself to over the next few months.
