Hashem El Madani's photographic work is tied to the city of Saida in South Lebanon where he has worked for over 50 years. Motivated by the wish to expand his business to the maximum, Madani set out to become the collector of portraits of all of Saida's families – he claims that he has photographed 90% of the population of the city. His unique archive reflects the very fabric of an Arab town that has experienced major political and societal shifts. Hashem El Madani set up his first studio in his parents’ living room in 1948. In 1953, as his business grew, he moved to a modern space on the first floor of the prestigious Shehrazade building, which he still uses today. The first publication of his work concentrates on the idea of the studio, exploring how Madani’s exemplary practice in studio photography is both descriptive and inscriptive of social identities. Madani’s studio created a site where individuals could act out identities using the conventions of portrait photography, with the poses inspired by the desires of the sitters. These photographs reflect not only how people look, but also how they desire to be seen.