Some people see the world differently. Kristina Makeeva happens to show it that way too. Known for her dreamy, surreal photography, she turns landscapes into something soft and cinematic. There’s an ease to her work, but also depth. Emotion. A sense that time is standing still for just a moment.

Originally from Russia and now based in London, Kristina has built a career capturing beauty in all corners of the world. But when her travels brought her to Saudi Arabia, something shifted. From the mirrored walls of Maraya to the open silence of AlUla’s desert nights, she found a rhythm she hadn’t felt in a while. Something quiet, yet moving. Something that stayed.

Kristina spoke about how she started, what drew her to Saudi Arabia, and the moments that stood out long after the camera stopped clicking.

Here’s what she shared.

1. You describe yourself as a modern-day magician, turning the ordinary into something otherworldly. When did you first realize that photography was your way of seeing and sharing ‘magic’? 

I realized it when I was 16. At that time, I lived in an ugly suburb of Moscow, which really tormented me. I wanted to see beauty every day, and I began to create my own world with the help of photography.

2. Your journey involves photography, travel, and storytelling. What started it all? Was there a moment or place that set your creative path in motion?

I guess there is no clear beginning to the path of photography. There was no moment when I woke up and realized that photography was my creative path. It was a way for a child to escape from an unpleasant reality in which she did not want to live—a way to create her own world. Then the world began to show that it was much more beautiful than I could have imagined, photographed, and created in a graphics editor.

3. What brought you to Saudi Arabia for the first time? Was it curiosity, an invitation, or a moment of spontaneous wanderlust that pulls people all over the world to the Kingdom?

I came to Saudi Arabia for the first time in 2022 by invitation. It was a wonderful trip among multinational guys, full of magic and delicious food. We visited AlUla for the first time, flew in hot air balloons. It amazed us, especially the mirrored Maraya. Every building, every rock delighted us!

4. Saudi Arabia has a way of surprising people. What were your very first impressions, and was there a moment that completely shifted the way you saw the country?

I would not say that I had any prejudices associated with Saudi Arabia. Moreover, my friends had been to AlUla since 2019, and I knew roughly what to expect. But still, it is much more beautiful and photogenic than I thought. I really liked that the country is alcohol-free. Although many tourists complain about this, for me, it is more of a plus than a minus. I really like that Saudi Arabia supports art and contemporary installers, architects, and artists, so new art objects appear in the desert all the time, chosen with great taste. When I arrived in AlUla, there was no such thing as my eyes suffering—everything was done perfectly.

5. You have captured Saudi Arabia through a truly dreamlike lens, from ancient rock formations to sweeping desert skies. Which place felt the most surreal to photograph?

Of course, the mirrored building of the Maraya concert hall. We made a special golden cape for it, which later appeared in my most famous photo of this place.

6. Was there a particular moment, maybe in the golden light of AlUla or during a quiet morning in the desert, that completely took your breath away?

On my last visit, I saw a comet at a nighttime stargazing event. This event is one of the most magical in AlUla—you lie under the Milky Way on soft sofas, look at the stars, they tell you about them, and drink tea. And then you have dinner.

7. You travel the world, but every country has its own visual rhythm. How would you describe Saudi Arabia’s aesthetic? What stood out most to you behind the camera?

For me, it’s the desert orange, mirrored gold, and silver. I basically matched all the outfits for the models to this style.

8. There’s a softness in your work, even in vast, wild places. Did Saudi Arabia challenge your usual style or inspire something new creatively?

I am interested in everything, and I rethink each place, pass it through myself. I wouldn’t say it was anything radically new in my work, but it definitely inspired me after a difficult period of stagnation in my creativity.

9. You must meet so many people on your travels. Was there someone in Saudi Arabia like a guide, a stranger, or a new friend who left a lasting impression on you?

Of course. We became very close friends with Laura (@blueabaya) from AlUla. In general, all the people who are somehow connected with Saudi Arabian tourism have become good acquaintances for me.

10. Culture is felt in the small things. Was there a detail, a scent, a sound, or a ritual that quietly wove itself into your memory of the Kingdom?

It’s always dates. I remember that when we lived a long time ago in Moscow, the ambassador of Saudi Arabia lived in our house. We became friends with him from the very moment we moved into this house. And he always treated us to dates in their various forms. And then I came to Saudi Arabia, much later, and…what delicious date desserts there! For me, Saudi Arabia will always taste like dates.

11. A lot of your photos feel like moments suspended in time. When you were shooting in Saudi Arabia, was there one image you instantly knew would become a favourite?

Yes, of course. It was the photo of the woman in the golden cloak near Maraya.

12. With over a million followers, your work inspires people all over the world. How do you stay grounded in the joy of creating, especially in such visually overwhelming places?

I guess I just can’t help but take pictures of everything that amazes me. It overwhelms me—and I definitely need to splash out my emotions and share with my followers!

13. You’re an engineer, a cat lover, and a storyteller. Do these parts of your life ever sneak into the way you shoot or edit your photos?

The engineer is my husband. He used to build spaceships. Kotleta is my cat—the biggest inspiration in my life. Of course, they both help and influence my work. Timon helps organize everything and carries equipment. The cat endlessly tolerates us both and strikes us with his beauty every day.

14. For those dreaming of visiting Saudi Arabia with a camera in hand, what advice would you give them both as a traveler and as a visual storyteller?

As a traveler, I would definitely recommend visiting AlUla, going to a restaurant in Maraya, staying at my favorite hotel Habitas, and seeing all the desert and old city sights that you will have access to. I especially recommend the night star event.

And as a photographer, I would advise coming at dawn to shoot the mirrored building, and at sunset—the desert.

15. If you had to describe your Saudi journey in one photo, which image would you choose, and what story would you want it to tell?

It would tell a story about how the golden sand of the desert, symbolizing time and history, connects with modernity.

What Lingers in the Light

Some places don’t just stay in memory. They settle into your senses. The desert wind, the silence of the stars, the curve of a mirrored building catching the sun just right. That’s the kind of imprint Saudi Arabia left on Kristina Makeeva.

Through her lens, the Kingdom becomes both story and dream. You see it in the softness of her frames. The awe. The quiet. The way beauty is captured not by force but by reverence.

And maybe that’s the truest way to tell a story—with presence. With stillness. With light.