Meeting world-renowned photographers, art curators, and gallerists is one of the key highlights of attending the ongoing Xposure International Photography Festival 2026 at Aljada, Sharjah. The festival has been providing amateur photographers, as well as rising stars in the profession, with ample opportunities to hone their craft and learn the nuances of photography.

Xposure 2026 has introduced focus groups and portfolio reviews to offer emerging and advanced photographers the opportunity to engage closely with internationally renowned photographers hosted by the festival. The focus groups are 40-minute roundtable discussions that create an interactive space for students of photography to engage directly with leading photographers and filmmakers. Topics cover various aspects of photography, including creative processes, industry trends, ethics, storytelling techniques, post-production, and personal career journeys. In each session, mentors encourage open debate using slides, images, or film, while attendees share their perspectives and experiences.

One such session was Shoayb Khattab’s “People in the Frame: Bringing Architecture to Life”, where the photographer — who has an exhibition at Xposure 2026 titled “Sacred Geometry” — discussed with a group of students the impact of including, or excluding, the human element in architectural photography. While some participants, such as Architect Mariam Shakir, spoke about capturing images that enhance a building’s scale and grandeur, others attending the discussion came from different professional backgrounds and pursue photography as a hobby. Viren Bhatia, a finance professional, said he was actively seeking to improve his skills by attending workshops and focus groups at Xposure, admitting that he tends to be conservative and does not usually photograph people.

Portfolio Reviews as a Stepping Stone

Saeed Rezvanian, a fine art photographer from Iran whose untitled photomontage depicting a girl and a dead horse in a derelict room won a prize at Xposure in the Photomanipulation and AI category, attended a portfolio review session with art curator and consultant Anke Degenhard. He shared that his ultimate ambition is to secure a solo exhibition in Europe.

Degenhard, for her part, explained that her extensive experience in the industry enables her to provide practical guidance to photographers seeking to develop their careers and artistic direction. She noted that she has more than 30 years of experience and has conducted around 3,000 portfolio reviews.

The widespread use of mobile phones, she added, has led to a significant increase in photographers worldwide, making mentorship and constructive feedback more important than ever. She highlighted the value of helping photographers identify their niche and refine how they present their work. It is a guidance she continues to offer through her participation at Xposure.

The 10th edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival, held under the theme “A Decade of Visual Storytelling”, runs from 29 January to 4 February 2026 at Aljada, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.