Discover The Powerful Meaning Behind Adelaide Khaled’s Photography
At Them Frames, we write a lot about the relationship between photography and mental health. That’s because we believe photography is a great tool for managing life. We especially enjoy showcasing work from photographers who use the medium to cover mental health, which is why we chose to speak with Adelaide Khaled.
Khaled is a Portugal-based photographer who experiments with many styles. However, she’s crafting out a strong photographic identity, especially when it comes to self exploration and understanding the human mind.
In this interview, we dive into three of Khaled’s mini series, all of which are interconnected. She also shares her own personal journey with managing her mental health, as well as why photography is such an important part of her life.
Meet Adelaide Khaled
Khaled has a background in design, videography and photography. Her strong eye for detail reflects in all of her art works and it’s clear all the mediums influence each other. Khaled likes to create with both film photography and digital and you can find her work in the likes of Vogue, Gabri and several other photography magazines and digital platforms.
Them Frames: Hello Adelaide! What inspires you to pick up a camera and create?
Adelaide Khaled: Hello! When I was little, I remember feeling anxious to receive the developed photos and loving to see the final result. I think that’s what inspires me to take photos today. Picking up a camera and seeing something that fascinates me through my eyes and capturing it "forever."
Them Frames: A lot of your photographs have a dark and moody vibe. What is it about your personality that likes that type of look?
Adelaide Khaled: I believe my preference for a darker and more moody style in my photographs has a lot to do with the emotions I want to convey. Since I work with emotions, it's important that people feel that vibe in my photos, even if it evokes different feelings for different people. What matters is that it makes you feel something. Yes, in the end, I think this dark and moody vibe also aligns with the themes I often portray.
Them Frames: Talk to us about I haven’t felt in a really long time. What inspired this mini series?
I haven’t felt in a really long time.
Adelaide Khaled: The message behind these photos is about when we feel down, and sometimes we feel like we need to breathe but can't. It gives us the sensation of being underwater, lacking air in our lungs, and needing to breathe. This mini-series is about that. About not feeling something for a while and how inner peace is important.
Them Frames: Behind the scenes you and I spoke about the relationship between photography and mental health. If it’s okay, can you talk about your mental health and how photography helps you navigate its complexities?
Finding Myself.
Adelaide Khaled: Of course! I have a diagnosis of Borderline, and because of that, I experience a lot of mood swings and anxiety.
Photography helps me manage my emotions and how I feel them. I don’t always talk explicitly about my mental health during the sessions I do, but when I look at them after some time, I always notice that, in fact, I am expressing how I feel.
In the end, it’s almost therapeutic for me. I reflect in the photos what I’m feeling at the moment, whether it’s sadness, happiness, anxiety, and so on.
Them Frames: Let’s look at Finding Myself…what’s going on in this mini series?
Finding Myself.
Adelaide Khaled: This mini-series is about when we’re growing up and still don’t know ourselves. We want to start setting boundaries in our lives, but we don’t fully know our personality yet, you know?
And sometimes, we can feel a bit lost and directionless. I think we all go through this phase—figuring out who we are, who we want to be, what our passions are, and what we want to do. All of that can be overwhelming when we’re younger, and we don’t always deal with it in the healthiest way. I captured this because I was feeling that way at the time, and I think it still makes a lot of sense today.
Them Frames: I really like Moon Velvet - what is your relationship like with the moon and what role does it play in this mini series?
Moon Velvet
Adelaide Khaled: I’m one of those people who is obsessed with the moon. Whenever I have the chance to see the moon, no matter where I am, I have to take a photo!
The moon has meaning for me because of its mystique, its phases (which relate to how I feel as well), and the influence it has on nature. In this mini-series, it reflects exactly that—one of the phases of the moon compared to our state of mind that day.
Them Frames: If you could choose a song or album to be the soundtrack to the three series, which would it be and why?
Adelaide Khaled: The song that I think captures all three projects is: Fhin - Feel Your Face.
Them Frames: Finally, please finish this sentence. I need photography in my life because…
Adelaide Khaled: it's a part of me. It's like it's a part of my body, part of my breathing. If I don't take photos, I feel empty. Photography helps me manage my emotions and organize my thoughts and that's very important to me.
You can enjoy more work by Adelaide Khaled by visiting her Instagram, Facebook and Behance pages.
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