Today we’d like to introduce you to Jinane Ennasri.
Hi Jinane, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Taza, Morocco in 1996. My parents moved to New York in 1999.
I grew up in Jersey City, attended middle school and high school there.
For university, I attended Pace University in Lower Manhattan, studied Finance with a minor in Economics.
At the age of 17 (during high school), I discovered and fell in love with photography. I was totally obsessed with photographing my family members and nature (trees, lakes, sunsets, etc.)
Once college came around, I had no clue what I wanted to study but signed up for the business school just to be safe. By junior year I started working at a law firm, billing and accounting department. Meanwhile, my love for photography grew bigger each day.
In 2016, I booked my first solo trip to Dubai where I spent three weeks photographing everything I laid eyes on. I came back with a full memory card and the desire to make photography my full-time thing. At first, it was difficult and had no idea where or how to start but first thing I did was create a website where I shared all my travel photography. Then as the years progressed, I added more information such as a bibliography, print shop, photo book section and so on. I wanted to established myself outside of Instagram so people can take me seriously and it worked.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I’d say the creativity came naturally but keeping up and owning the latest gear was the frustrating part. I worked part-time and it took me a while to buy my first camera in 2016.
It ended up being a canon 5d mark ii from the senior video editor at the New York Times. He was selling it on craigslist and I was the first to inquire about it.
That lasted me until 2022 where I finally upgraded my digital gear but during those years, my love for analog grew bigger. I received a Hasselblad 500cm from a friend a couple of years prior which became my go to work camera.
I’d like to say that film photography allowed me to become a better photographer throughout the years. It taught me to be instinctive and patient.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a photographer that documents the beauty of portraiture and travels all around the world.
I take a photo-journalistic approach when capturing my subjects, finding candid moments both large and small. I am currently freelancing for magazines, clients and offer an array of fine prints and frames all while welcoming new projects.
I am best known for two photographs, a Moroccan & Algerian jersey hanging to dry in my grandmother’s roof in Taza, Morocco and also the two young boys diving into the Mediterranean sea in Al Hoceima, Morocco.
I’m proud of making my country the forefront of my work. I’m proud of being recognized for that. And I think what sets me apart from others is I really believe in elevating the beauty of everyday life because it too is extremely extraordinary.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I see myself working alongside the greatest. I want to shoot high-end campaigns. I’d like to have a solo exhibition in Paris, Tangier and Abu Dhabi. I want to photograph a president or king and have that photo be the photo that they are remembered by. I would love to move back to Morocco and make it where I’m based, this is just to name a few.
Pricing:
- “Live From Morocco” $75
- Prints from $200
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@jinaneennasri.com
- Website: https://jinaneennasri.com
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeEHanoXheO8p5xTLBgBITA
Image Credits:
Jinane Ennasri
