Waleed Shah, a chemical engineer by education, is a photographer who has worked with the finest establishments in the industry to change the societal perceptions commonly held by society. His journey has been recognized by Fujifilm Middle East and the Official Fuji-X-Photographer.
Waleed Shah’s series titled “Rock Your Ugly” strives to explore the intersection between physical and mental health through a series of thought-provoking portraits and stories. The series tries to enable individuals to embrace themselves for who they are and portray a stance against the preset and sometimes toxic standards placed on what is considered beautiful.
Having had the opportunity to work with numerous clients, Waleed Shah brings a sparkling new perspective to what he does and produces as a photographer. After the COVID pandemic, he pioneered a project, titled Mowjood, to share the stories of freelancers and entrepreneurs who braved the global economic downturn during the pandemic. He currently hosts online workshops to help budding photographers navigate the world of photography and all the challenges of making it a profession.
The magazine’s NFTs are a highlight of his recent work. These NFTs are distinct from the usual magazine covers that we are used to seeing of glamorous individuals. Waleed Shah talks about the time he spends getting to know the people he shoots and incorporating their personalities into his work. That is exactly what his NFTs are: a canvas that speaks more about the individual on the cover and sends a message that would otherwise be buried in numerous pages of advertisements.
For him, it has been these human connections and work with real people and telling their stories that helped him share his story in a TED Talk, titled “Toxic Beauty Standards.”