The Possible Dream - by Akila Berjaoui (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Building on the sensual style of her previous book, The Last Days of Summer, this evocative collection of sunlit portraits celebrates the freedom and sensuality of life by the sea.

In her latest volume, renowned photographer Akila Berjaoui turns her lens toward the timeless allure of the Mediterranean--its radiant light, sparkling coastlines, and bodies in harmony with their surroundings. Shot on film and rendered in warm, grainy tones, the book follows Berjaoui's signature analog style, blending documentary immediacy with a painterly sense of composition.
Photographed across iconic beach destinations--this visually rich series highlights the elemental connection between water, skin, and light. Her mostly female subjects exude quiet confidence and ease, their beauty revealed through gesture, shadow, and atmosphere.
Berjaoui draws from the spirit of vintage beach culture while offering a perspective that feels instinctive and wholly her own -- rooted in sensuality, nostalgia, and a reverence for the environment. These images will resonate with admirers of film-based imagery, retro travel style, and contemplative portraiture, as well as those drawn to themes of feminine presence and body positivity. Full-bleed compositions, sun-washed tones, and unhurried pacing give the book a dreamy, tactile presence--an object meant to be savored slowly and revisited often.

About the Author

AKILA BERJAOUI was born Tweed Heads, a town in Northern NSW, Australia. She spent her childhood in Beirut and her summer holidays in Northern NSW, where she developed her affinity for the beach. She is currently based in Paris, France, and shoots for several prestigious fashion magazines. Her first book, The Last Days of Summer, was published by Prestel in 2017.