Spotlight: Amely Metwally
September 22nd, 2023
Amely Metwally is a photographer with a mission - just starting out in her career she is leveraging her style and heritage to forge her own path in fashion photography. As part of our Spotlight series, in which we find emerging photographers with exciting new points of view, here we ask Amely five questions to understand the process and inspiration behind her practice:
1) How would you introduce your work to someone who hasn’t seen it before?
Colourful - Feminine - Artistic - Powerful.
2) You are a fashion and portrait photographer, how do you build your images? Do you have artists you look to for inspiration?
I have several photographers I look up to: Kristian Schuller, Yu Tsai, Ben Fourmi, Amina Zaher, Bonnie Hansen, Andreas Ortner, Bassam Allam, Tal Abudi, Desiree Mattsson… just to mention a few. But there are so many good - also unknown ones - out there.
Of course, I also like to try out new things that I’ve seen done by other creatives and let myself be inspired, but in the end, I just do my own thing. Lately, I am in love with wide-angle photography. I love being creative with my perspective and the posing of my models.
How do I plan and build up my photographs? I just listen to my gut feeling and do it.
3) You mention you are half German and half Egyptian in your bio, how does your cultural heritage influence your work?
Exactly! I truly love this mixture, and I think I was always able to pick the best parts of both cultures for my personality and for my life.
For example, I don’t feel the need to attract attention with nudity in my images - as in the Arabian world, nudity is not common, even if it might be in European art.
I’d love to explore it more too. If I had the chance, I would use more dresses with an oriental touch, and also would mostly shoot (editorials) in oriental locations, such as in deserts and all kinds of old Arabic villages, and oases… as well as using a lot of golden and big accessories. Unfortunately, I haven’t had that many opportunities yet.
4) There is a sense of empowerment for your subjects in your imagery, how do you feel you represent female power in your visual style?
I represent female power in the way I present my bright and strong colors, the angles and perspectives I use, the strong posing and facial expressions of my models, as well as powerful and feminine clothing. It creates a whole package, you can't help but admire the women in my pictures. A woman presents pure beauty and aesthetics - undisputed.
5) What’s next for you?
In the next few months, I want to make more contacts in the fashion industry and work with more fashion designers and professional models. For example, I’ve seen a great location in Italy, just in an Instagram story of someone I follow. Instantly I knew I wanted to shoot an Editorial there.
Realistically, this will probably take a while, since at the moment I do all of my creative projects in my free time, as I also work full-time as a branch manager in a photography store (Ringfoto Focal, Aschaffenburg). I owe a lot to them there and would like to thank Pablo and the seniors again.
My biggest wish is to see my work in big fashion magazines, like Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar. As well as shooting famous people such as Leni Klum or Kamala Harris. Even if it sounds a little arrogant (which I completely hate) I am sure I am going to reach my goals one day. Because I have the hunger!
Images courtesy of Amely Metwally, Solstice Magazine and/or Gmaro Magazine
About Amely Metwally
Born in 1999 in Germany (23 years old) and raised in a small village.
Since childhood, she has studied martial arts (Karate) and is a passionate horse rider.
2016 - 2019 She undertook an apprenticeship as a photo media specialist.
She is currently a Portrait & Fashion photographer, whilst also working at Ringfoto Focal.