Sara Cuevas Gallardo

“Photography is a small voice, at best, but sometimes one photograph, or a group of them, can lure our sense of awareness.”
— W. Eugene Smith

I’ve always been driven by the power of stories to spark connection, empathy, and change. My career has taken me across six countries, where I’ve explored the intersection of media, advocacy, and social impact. I currently live in Mogadishu, Somalia, where I serve as the Head of Communications for the United Nations World Food Programme, leading efforts to amplify voices from the frontlines of food insecurity and resilience.

My lens—both figurative and literal—is shaped by my lived experience. A severe case of myopia and astigmatism means I see the world through fragmented perspectives. Faces blur into abstraction, distances dissolve, and reality becomes impressionistic. This way of seeing informs my work, a constant search to focus on what lies beyond the surface.

Photography is at the heart of my storytelling. From capturing raw, unscripted moments on the streets, to documenting the strength of activists and communities, my work is deeply rooted in spontaneity, empathy, and humanity. I approach documentary photography with care, always striving to create trust, minimize power imbalances, and explore participatory methods that respect the dignity and agency of those I photograph.

Beyond photography, I am a comms geek and multimedia storyteller. I write, produce, script, film, and design narratives that aim to inspire action and drive social change. And I’ve dedicated my career to advancing social impact through government policy, grassroots organizing, and international development.

I hold a double Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Political Science from Mercer University, where I studied on an international scholarship, and a Master of Arts in Media Practice for Development and Social Change from the University of Sussex, fully funded by the UK FCDO’s Chevening Scholarship.

Through my photography, I aim to document humanity in its most honest and raw forms. Through my communications work, I strive to enable strategic outcomes.

I believe that storytelling—whether in words, images, or multimedia—has the power to make new things familiar and familiar things new.