When and why did you first start your image database in Dubai?
After moving to Dubai in 2004, I found creative directors and marketing managers lacked the resources for local stock images and photographers. So, market-wise there was a niche for arabianEye to be born. Also, having worked as a photographer, I wanted to show another side to the Middle East, inject humour and realism to the region’s visuals, and to go beyond the clichés of the region. My mission was to give this region a contemporary visual voice.
As well providing production services, you also source images through an image library. Which area is more financially rewarding?
Both areas of the company complement and bounce off each other financially. When a photographer shoots an editorial assignment, the images will go into the image library that are resold and distributed globally. Likewise, the production team and photographers shoot images for the image library that are then distributed internationally.
Throughout your years in business, what changes have you witnessed in terms of the type of images clients are looking for?
Our clients are varied and based all over the world and it follows that their image requests are very different. For international editorial, there has not been any huge shift: they generally look for interesting images which define a country or topic. How those topics evolve depends on what is happening in the region. For local images, we have seen a shift in style. Clients now have a large choice of Arabian images and are looking for more than the status quo. Clients now have a large choice of Arabian images and look for more creative and interesting visuals.
What typical challenges do you face in the production of arabianEye shoots?
The challenge when shooting for the stock image library is having authentic-looking models that portray a given nationality as Emirati women, for cultural reasons, cannot appear in images. arabianEye has set up a forum “arabianEye talks…”, to discuss the issues at hand in Arabian visual representation in commercial media. The regional climate also makes shooting images outside challenging for five months of the year.
Can you briefly run through what you offer through your production services?
We take care of all production aspects from briefing to finalised product and provide a database of locations and stylists as well as photographers for successful and cost-effective shots.
Given the current global volatility, have you faced financial constraints from your clients in terms of the production value of your shoots?
Clients are more price-conscious but still want fresh material for their marketing collaterals. Whilst we have greater financial constraints than previously, we will never take on a job if the budget restricts the quality of the final output.
Are there any plans for expansion of the services you provide? If so when and what and why?
arabianEye is constantly evolving with new images uploaded daily; and on the production side, we are very active in adding extra stylists, locations and photographers. We have imminent plans to add extra value to our existing brand such as a full visual content provider that includes a video library covering Middle Eastern topics.
How do you see yourself in the Middle Eastern photography market? What future contributions do you hope to provide?
arabianEye helps show the positive face of the Middle East to a global audience. We are actively involved producing visuals as well as setting up cultural discussions about how we can visually represent this region, and any issues involved in doing so.
In what specific ways are you extending your brand in order to capitalise in the current New Media craze?
The industry worldwide is in constant technological advancement. Photography has evolved from being a film medium to now being almost exclusively digital. Now in turn, many of us are heading towards moving images as well as stills, to be able to cater to new mediums and the path ahead.