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Every year on February 22, Saudi Arabia marks Founding Day, a celebration of the nation’s rich heritage, culture and the visionary leadership that shaped its destiny. This historic occasion honours the establishment of the first Saudi state in 1727 by Imam Muhammad bin Saud, setting the foundation for the modern Kingdom we know today.
The Kingdom itself has become a hub for creativity and an intrinsic part of the culture is storytelling through all different lenses – from artists to musicians, to designers, to photographers and more.
This Saudi Founding Day, photographer Tasneem Alsultan embodies just this, creating a series of evocative portraits honouring the Saudi creatives shaping the Kingdom’s modern identity, each carrying the spirit of their ancestors while forging a bold new path, all of which were shot on the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.
While, of course, Alsultan is an expert in the photography field, with the iPhone we’re all able to capture the important and memorable moments with professional-level portraits.
Ahead of Saudi Founding Day, Alsultan shared with GRAZIA some of her top tips for getting the ultimate shots. The first is portrait mode as your “best friend” for getting a “professional-looking blurred background”. That combined with natural lighting and you’re golden.
One hack for the photographer when using the Apple iPhone for photographs is utilising the live photo feature which she describes as, “Perfect for capture those genuine smiles and candid moments.”
Alsultan is also known for mixing it up when it comes to photograph angles, which adds to the storytelling feel through each image.
Below, the photographer shares some candid shots captured of the most revered creatives in the Kingdom.
Abdullah Alkhorayef – Fashion Consultant & Architect
Jumana Shaheen – Filmmaker & Artist
Ali Alattas, Filmmaker & Director
Basma Elkhereiji – Restaurateur & chef
