Nahj Ep#3: How Photography Became Misha Saied’s Way of Life
In Episode 3 of Nahj, photographer Misha Saied shares how first clients, Saudi Arabia’s creative boom, and key partnerships turned his passion into a lasting brand.
On this episode of Nahj (نَهْج), Ameer Albahouth sits down with Misha Saied, a Palestinian-Russian photographer and creative entrepreneur whose journey spans Damascus, Jeddah, Istanbul, and now Riyadh.
It’s a story of starting with nothing more than a phone camera, turning chance moments into career-defining opportunities, and building a creative path grounded in authenticity, not trends.
From his first unpaid shoots to founding his own company (Kraken Production Studio), Misha’s story is a reminder that sometimes the most powerful brands are built slowly, frame by frame.
6 Takeaways from Misha Saied’s Creative Journey
1. Passion That Found Him, Not the Other Way Around
Misha didn’t enter the creative world through a big break. A phone lens, his savings for a first camera, and one random interview became the seeds of a lifelong pursuit.
2. Turning Small Projects into Big Leaps
Even the simplest shoots became stepping stones. Misha shares how he treated every job as an opportunity to move closer to the next big one.
3. Balancing Study and Real-World Work
While studying in Istanbul, he made the most of every lecture, so he could dedicate all his remaining time outside the university to working on real client projects.
4. Building in Saudi Arabia’s Changing Creative Scene
Returning to witness Saudi’s first official entertainment festivals and global concerts gave Misha a new clarity about his role in the market.
5. Knowing When to Partner Up
After years of doing everything himself, he realized avoiding burnout sometimes means sharing the load with people who complement, not copy, your skills.
6. Every Closed Door Is Redirection
His advice to those feeling stuck: closed doors aren’t endings, they’re cues to look for the ones you’ve been overlooking.
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