Safia Shakarchi — صافية

‘Tending The Family Tree’ — excited to share new work for @toast in Tunisia with @worldofkaia 🍃 Back in November, I had the total joy of joining @sarahbre__ for the first few days of the olive harvest in Mahdia. She and her lovely father Chafik welcomed me into their home with the familiar, unmistakable kindness of Arab hospitality — the kind where family feels more like a verb. In returning to her family’s centennial olive trees, what started out as Sarah’s individual pursuit for meaning led her to something far greater — to her ancestors, to her community and to the land. “It’s about telling the stories that get lost, the culture that gets erased,” she says of her goal with KAÏA. Tunisia is one of the world’s largest producers of olive oil and is often completely erased from the supply chain. Sarah is one of a number of women committed to changing the narrative, and making deep structural change. “I feel we have a responsibility in service of our country and community, the place we come from and our land.”  I loved working on this, and had the pleasure of writing the piece as well as photographing it. A lot of love to @georgiagmurray for trusting me and to Sarah and Chafik for letting me tell their beautiful story. Read the full piece in TOAST magazine, link in my stories. Photography & words - @dearsafia Handprints - @darkroom8.printing Retouch - @oihanemolinero Film dev — @rapideye.darkroom

Golden hour through the city palace in Jaipur last September on 120mm.

Had the dream job of spending a few days shooting @terrestrehotel for @grupohabita under the Oaxacan sun in Mexico last year. An eco design gem by @kalach_tax where light and shadow dance on and through every surface. This was one of those jobs that really filled me up. The sunlight just hits different over there. 🤎

Postcards from what I think is probably the most special place in the world. One that part of me doesn’t want to tell anyone about. Last year brought more travel than I ever could’ve imagined and for that I am so grateful. This big little trip through South America may have been the highlight. Estancia Cerro Guido, Chilean Patagonia. January 2025. Shot on 120mm and hand printed. 🤎

New work for @realisationpar , and one of a few very lovely projects to end the year 🤎 Beautiful interiors by @sophiebakerdesign at their new Motcomb Street residency. Big thanks to Elke and the team, and to @rachelmengman for the assist. It’s been a mad last few months — finally coming up for air and a good dose of mince pies. Happy holidays everyone! X

I’ve spent much of the last three years shooting for @twofieldszakros thanks to Will @wprolph , who I’m lucky to say has become a very dear friend. In November, I finally made it to Greece to shoot the olive harvest. It was a highlight of my year. That weekend gave my work new meaning and added a new level to the respect I already had for them. Will runs Two Fields with his brother Harry, who fell in love with Eleni whilst in Crete 13 years ago and subsequently never left. Eleni’s father Jiannis taught Will and Harry all they know about farming. He shared his knowledge and love of the land before he sadly passed a few years ago. I don’t know if I’ve admired a small business as much as I do Two Fields. They’re fighting to build an alternative to the conventional farming system that is depleting our soils. In their own fields and the community collective they’ve built in Zakros, they focus on consolidating regenerative practices, helping local farmers convert to organic and securing their livelihoods — and they do it with what I feel is one of the most important qualities in life and work: integrity. Farming, and farming olive oil, is bloody hard. I saw it first hand during harvest and I get it now. It’s long days, it’s graft and it’s running a business around the unpredictability of the climate. For Will & Harry it’s also convincing farmers and customers that something desperately needs to change (they supply some of the UK’s best restaurants who support their mission eg @manteca_london @spring_ldn @toklas_london ).  Olive oil is a staple in your diet, but have you ever really thought about where yours comes from? How farmers treat their land today and for future generations? How companies or distributors pay and value (if at all) those farmers? Or if nothing else, what you’re feeding your body? This is what food, and really my job, mean to me. Sure, it makes for pretty pictures and I love taking them, but it’s the stories and the people that matter.  Two Fields olive oil speaks for itself. It’s some of the best I’ve tasted and after being in Crete it tastes even better. Big love to Will and Harry, to Eleni, and to farmers Kostas, Ted and Christina too. 🤎🍃

Give me glimmers of sunlight any day of the week. New work for @restaries shooting the beautiful new Gate House last month. Few things better than sunshine pouring in through the windows and a team of power women doing wonderful things. Big thanks as always @gem_boner . Photography — @dearsafia Interior design — @designandthat

Corners of Casa Barragán on film — a playground of light and colour! Third time in Mexico City and finally made it over for an afternoon @casaluisbarragan . Slowly working my way through three months worth of images from our travels. A pretty nice way to re-live a pretty magical few months. 🤎

Celeste and Emma on a warm, golden light kind of day at the end of August, making reformer look easy breezy. For @fold_reformer — Photography @dearsafia Models @celeste.zollino @emmajanepick Motion @sharp.films Photo assist @raefinnphoto Retouch @davidpolalski

Good light and a light breeze @riadberberemarrakech earlier this year. It’s not really the obviously beautiful things that I love most about Marrakech, although of course those count. It’s the familiarity of the Moroccan way of being, the feeling when I tell someone that I’m Iraqi and it’s received with love not ambivalence, the fact that having a conversation in two wildly (!!) different Arabic dialects, mine partly broken, still somehow forges more connection and understanding than defaulting to the comfort of English ever could. My fourth time in the city and it’s one of the few places I’m not sure I’ve ever been sad to leave because I always feel I’ll be back again soon. 🤎

From a warm summer’s day back in July shooting the beautiful Cider Store at Paradise Farm in Suffolk, which got its debut in the Sunday Times Style this weekend. Big love and congrats to @gem_boner on launching The Restaries and to @designandthat for the most ridiculous interiors. Major girl power. If you’re looking for a beautiful place to stay in Suffolk, this is the one. Full feature in @theststyle @sundaytimes with words by @scarlettroserussell .

Twenty four hours at @_numeroventi_ in Florence last summer. Part of a week long trip driving around Tuscany that I still think about more often than I probably should. A very beautiful part of the world, and a very beautiful marble fireplace. #35mm