Samir Hussein is a multi award-winning Royal and Entertainment photographer. represented by Getty images, he spends much of his time as an official photographer capturing the British Royal Family. Samir also documents the world’s biggest entertainment events, artistes and celebrities. His image of Harry and Meghan walking through the rain in 2020 went viral and has been described as one of the most iconic royal photos ever taken.
Words: Tina Edward Gunawardhana
Why do you love to travel?
I love the way it expands your perspective and makes you realise the endless possibilities we have. Learning about different cultures and experiencing new things, such as food and a way of life. The buzz of arriving in an exciting destination and getting away from your day-to-day life is second to none. It’s such an adventure.
Travelling the world as a royal photographer, in which country have you taken the best photos?
I would probably have to say India. Such colour, life and energy at every corner. I photographed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge travelling to India and Bhutan in 2016 and it was an unforgettable trip for photos.
Any travel nightmares you can share?
I’ve had many long, arduous journeys involving being stranded, but a recent nightmare was on a flight in Pakistan which the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were also on. It was only supposed to be a 20 minute flight from Lahore to Islamabad, but we hit an electrical storm and were in the air for an hour and a half with the worst turbulence I had ever witnessed. Seasoned flyers looked terrified as we were tossed around. In the end we had to land back in Lahore. It was a very scary experience.
How do you balance work and leisure when you travel abroad on assignments?
When I’m away for work, the nature of my job means I’m usually working flat out so I have little time for leisure. So in that respect I have little choice and work must come first. I do take any small opportunities I have once the work is done to make the most of my downtime and I appreciate those quiet times a lot. This means that when I go on holiday outside of work I like to relax and take in the culture and the country I’m visiting.
View more of Samir’s award winning work on Instagram @samhussein1
