The Proust Questionnaire with Photographer Sara Guerrero

The Proust Questionnaire

22 Jan

Written By Anna Harding

In this edition of our Proust Questionnaire, we spend time with photographer Sara Guerrero, whose work is rooted in sensitivity, empathy, and a deep reverence for the natural world. Based between the sea and the gentel rhythms of daily life, Sara’s practice moves fluidly between documentary, travel, and wildlife photography, guided by curiosity and care.

Originally a parlour game popularised by Marcel Proust, the questionnaire was conceived as a way of revealing one’s inner landscape - beliefs, values, quiet truths. In Sara’s responses, we find a thoughtful meditation on balance, gentleness, family, and the small rituals that shape wellbeing. Her answers have the same attentiveness that characterises her imagery: observant, sincere, and grounded in what truly matters.

We invite you to meet Sara not just through her work, but through the inner world that informs it.

Our series is based on The Proust Questionnaire. It was originally a parlor game popularised by Marcel Proust, the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions it revealed ones true nature. Please find our edited version below.

What is your current state of mind?

I often find myself trying to balance rest, social and family life, and work. This year, though, I feel genuinely happy — I think I’ve finally found a healthy rhythm, allowing myself to honour my own pace.
How do you switch off?

A hot bath lit only by candles and a few drops of essential oil. A walk by the sea, a good sleep.
What is the trait you most admire in others?

Kindness, with a genuine and thoughtful way of being.
Which living person do you most admire?

My older sister, for her courage, her work ethic, and the way she tirelessly pursues her dreams. My parents, for their kindness and the way they dedicate themselves to others. If I had to choose a public figure, I’d say Greta Thunberg, for her commitment to humanitarian and climate causes.
What is your greatest extravagance?

Eating out — I love food, but I’m not such a fan of cooking. I do feel a bit guilty going out often, though luckily Barcelona has many vegan restaurants, and my partner also loves dining out.
What is the first thing that you do when you wake in the morning?

I don’t have a fixed routine. On the days I work or rest at home, I wake up, cuddle my cat, and prepare a good breakfast to enjoy in the sun on the terrace. I love slow mornings.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

I think everything is positive in the right measure. If I had to name one, perhaps being instantly extroverted — I don’t think it’s that important. Getting to know people, and letting yourself be known, takes time.
Do you have any daily rituals?

Not strictly daily, but I love the feeling of a long bath, lighting candles, bringing flowers into the house. Creating a sense of order and good energy before starting the day.
What do you most like about your appearance?

My eyes and my freckles. My eyes reflect the kindness of my mother, and my freckles carry the playful, youthful spirit of my father.
What does wellbeing mean to you?

Feeling mentally and physically at ease, and understanding that it’s a continuous learning process. Life brings many things each day, but what truly matters is how we react and how we learn to navigate them. Wellbeing is, in many ways, how we meet our circumstances.

What is the quality you most like in a person?

Transparency.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“It’s okay.”
What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My pets, my parents, and my sisters. I feel very lucky to have the family I do — and, of course, my partner and my friends.
When and where are you happiest?

When I’m traveling and discovering new places — camping, by the sea, or hiking in the mountains, surrounded by nature and wildlife.
Which talent would you most like to have?

I’ve always dreamed of having a musical gift — I would love to play the harp or sing.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I wish I had more discipline in the mornings — to wake up earlier or be more active — but I’ve learned to embrace it as part of me.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?

This year I finally created a solo photo exhibition that I’m really proud of — something I had dreamed of for years. It includes a small photobook, and it makes me so happy to see people appreciating my work directly. I love that something made with such care is shared and valued in spaces and brands I love, like Terranova bookstore and Hereu.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

A whale. I would love to live in the ocean. I admire their majesty, their communication, and the way they balance solitude with the bonds of their pods.
Where would you most like to live?

I love where I live now, close to Barcelona — just a couple of minutes from the beach, with the chance to watch the sunrise and enjoy long summer days. After living in Melbourne for a while, sometimes I really miss Australia — its closeness to nature and easygoing lifestyle truly resonated with me. In the future, I imagine myself living a bit farther from the city, still close to the sea or the mountains.
What is your most treasured possession?

Probably the objects I’ve collected throughout my travels: ceramics, books, paintings, clothes… and also my cameras.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

The animal industry as a whole — meat, fish, dairy… I think we’ve advanced so much in many areas, yet I can’t understand the existence of factory farming and the immense suffering caused just for a few minutes of pleasure on a plate.
What is your favourite occupation?

Documentary, travel, and wildlife photography. If I had to choose another path, I’d be a biologist.
What is your most marked characteristic?

Sensitivity and empathy.
What do you most value in your friends?

Sincerity, support, respecting boundaries, and the capacity for self-reflection.
Who are your favourite writers?

I read sporadically, and it’s something I’d like to improve. I’ve been recommended Rebecca Solnit’s A Field Guide to Getting Lost. I also really love photobooks and artist books — recently I’ve been reading Ana Mendieta: In Search of the Origin, and for my birthday I was gifted the second volume of Hilma af Klint, one of my favourite artists.
Who is your hero of fiction?

It might sound a little nerdy, but I’ve always admired Lisa Simpson. She shaped my childhood in many ways — she was one of my first feminist, ecological, and animal-rights references. I became vegetarian at seven, inspired by her.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Jane Goodall, for her lifelong dedication to understanding and protecting animals and the natural world.
Who are your heroes in real life?

I’d mention again Jane Goodall, Greta Thunberg, David Attenborough, Wangari Maathai, Mandela, Gandhi… anyone who has devoted their life to improving the health of our planet and society.
What are your favourite names?

I really love the name “Ona,” which means wave in Catalan, my first language.
What brings pleasure to your day?

Small things that make me feel grounded and present — the kinds of things that can go unnoticed, like grabbing a chai at my favourite café, a yoga class, a quiet day alone at home, a walk with my grandmother, or a chat with friends.
Do you have any products or objects that you can’t live without?

I love chocolate — it would be hard to live without it.
And my cameras.
Where is your favourite place to wake up in the world?

When I’m traveling, anywhere new, surrounded by nature. Or simply at home, alongside my partner and my pets.
What is your favourite motto?

“Not everything is as important as it seems.” I think sometimes we get lost in the problems of everyday life and forget what truly matters - being healthy and alive. I try to follow this practice myself, and I believe learning to put things in perspective is a good exercise.

Follow Sara Guerrero on Instagram

Anna Harding

The Proust Questionnaire with Photographer Sara Guerrero

We invite you to meet Sara not just through her work, but through the inner world that informs it.

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