Seeing Things Photography & Video

What Seeing Things Photography & Video does

Seeing Things Photography & Video is a Dubai-based creative production agency and studio operating from a 2,000 sq/ft fully-equipped facility at Alserkal Avenue, the city's primary creative district. Founded in 2015 by photographer Mohamed Somji, the company employs approximately 12 people and operates as a collective of specialized photographers, filmmakers, producers, and creative directors serving brands, cultural institutions, government entities, and advertising agencies across the MENA region. Its service portfolio spans commercial photography (architecture, fashion, food, art documentation, products, events, portraits, e-commerce, lifestyle, corporate), film and video production (documentaries, commercial films, campaigns, stopmotions, cinemagraphs), 3D Spaces Documentation using the Matterport platform, and supporting creative services including creative direction, graphic design, content creation, food styling, and 3D mapping.

The business model is project-based professional services revenue, with quote-based engagements tailored to scope. No public pricing is available, and there are no disclosed funding rounds, investors, or acquisitions. The go-to-market is primarily sales-led and event-driven: long-term relationships and a portfolio of high-prestige work generate referrals, while active presence at major regional cultural events (Art Basel Qatar, Venice Biennale, Dubai Design Week) reinforces positioning with cultural institutions. The customer base is anchored by long-tenured institutional engagements, including an ongoing blanket purchase agreement with Louvre Abu Dhabi since 2018, 10+ years of continuous coverage for the National Pavilion UAE at the Venice Biennale, and recurring work for the Abu Dhabi Global Media Office, Salama bint Hamdan Foundation, and the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020. Commercial clients include Nespresso MENA, Farfetch, Rolls Royce, Valentino, Vogue Arabia, Four Seasons, and Dubai Design District.

Underlying technology is light and centered on professional production hardware and a single third-party platform, Matterport, which is used to generate 3D digital replicas of exhibitions, galleries, and cultural facilities for clients including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Sharjah Art Foundation, Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, Ishara Art Foundation, and National Pavilion UAE. The company does not develop proprietary software, has no API or app, and shows no AI/ML capabilities. The competitive position rests on talent specialization, location within Dubai's creative ecosystem, the founder's parallel role as Director of Gulf Photo Plus, and a decade of institutional trust with art and cultural clients.

Name

Seeing Things Photography & Video

Legal name

Seeing Things Photography & Video

Website

https://seeingthings.ae

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dubai-based creative production studio and collective of approximately 12 photographers, filmmakers, and producers delivering commercial photography, film, and 3D space documentation for cultural institutions, government entities, and luxury brands across the MENA region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Photography & Film Production Services

NAICS

Commercial Photography (541922), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAFAAAF

Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio)

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Full-Service Advertising Agencies

SECONDARYBPAFAIAJ

Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams)

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Content Marketing & Production (Copy, Video, Design)

Keywords

• Commercial photography services
• Film video production
• Art documentation services
• Creative production agency
• 3D space scanning

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Photography Services: Commercial photography including architecture, fashion, products, food, events, portraits, art documentation, and lifestyle. Both still photography and video coverage for diverse client needs.
2. Film & Video Production: Documentary filmmaking, commercial films, campaign videos, event coverage, stop motion, and cinemagraphs. Includes creative direction, production management, and post-production.
3. Creative Direction & Design: Creative direction, graphic design, content creation, set design, prop production, food styling, and 3D mapping services. Full-service from ideation to execution.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Seeing Things Studio is a Dubai-based creative production agency and photography collective offering commercial photography (architecture, art documentation, fashion, food, events, portraits, products, lifestyle, corporate, e-commerce), film and video production (documentaries, campaigns, fashion/lifestyle, food/restaurant, stop motions, cinemagraphs), 3D space documentation via the Matterport platform, and full-service production management from ideation to execution. The studio operates from a 2,000 sq/ft fully-equipped in-house facility in Alserkal Avenue serving brands, cultural institutions, government clients, and agencies across MENA and select international events.

Product overview

Seeing Things Studio is a Dubai-based creative studio and production agency offering a portfolio of interconnected services centered on visual storytelling. Its core offerings are Photography (spanning architecture, events, art documentation, fashion, still life, portraits, e-commerce, lifestyle, food, and corporate) and Film & Video Production (documentaries, commercials, fashion/lifestyle films, campaigns, food content, stopmotions, and cinemagraphs). These core services are complemented by 3D Spaces Documentation using the Matterport platform, Creative Direction, Graphic Design, Content Creation, and 3D Mapping. The studio provides a complete package from ideation to execution, with a 2000 sq/ft fully-equipped in-house studio located in Alserkal Avenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Photography Services Professional photography services covering architecture, art documentation, events, fashion, still life/products, portraits, e-commerce, lifestyle, food, and corporate categories, delivered as both candid documentary-style storytelling and polished commercial campaigns for brands, galleries, and cultural initiatives.
• Film & Video Production Film production creating emotive documentaries, commercial films, fashion and lifestyle videos, art and culture pieces, campaigns, food and restaurant content, events coverage, stop motions, and cinemagraphs for brands and cultural clients.
• 3D Spaces Documentation Service using the Matterport platform to capture exhibitions, interiors, galleries, facilities, and outdoor spaces as accurate 3D digital replicas, enabling immersive virtual viewing and documentation for museums, galleries, and cultural institutions.
• Production Services End-to-end production management of commercial shoots and editorial projects, covering creative direction, set design, prop production, food styling, shoot coordination, and delivery from ideation to execution for brands and cultural clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ongoing BPA with Louvre Abu Dhabi since 2018 demonstrating long-term client trust
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Foundation collaboration for UAE Pavilion at Doha Horticultural Expo presenting 'Nurturing Legacy'. Six-month event documenting UAE's agricultural legacy and innovation vision.
• Tellart and KossmanndejongcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Exhibition designers for UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020. Seeing Things was commissioned by UAE Pavilion at Expo to produce images for Generations and The Dreamers Lab series. Collaborative relationship on prestigious national exhibition project.
• ALT AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Agency partner for ADGMO Find Wonder campaign. Collaboration with ALT and production company TwoFour54 resulted in successful stock library creation and ongoing working relationships.
• TwoFour54coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Production company partner for ADGMO Find Wonder campaign. Collaboration appreciated for expertise, flexibility, and efficiency in shoot scheduling resulting in cost savings.
• National Pavilion UAEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for over 10 years covering Venice Biennale events, exhibitions, openings, performances, and curator portraits. Images used for website, social media, press, and advertising.
• Gulf Photo PlusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMohamed Somji is Director of Gulf Photo Plus, creating indirect connection and shared ecosystem in Dubai's photography community.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• The Mill: Global creative production and post-production studio serving advertising, film, and brand content. Comparable as a broader, larger-scale incumbent in commercial video production and visual content services.
• Leo Burnett MENA: Global advertising agency with significant Middle East presence, providing integrated creative and content production services. Comparable as a broader incumbent competing for the same brand campaign budgets.
• FP7 McCann MENA: Regional advertising agency network in MENA, part of McCann Worldgroup, offering full-service creative and content production. A broader incumbent peer for enterprise marketing budgets.
• Ogilvy MENA: Global advertising network with deep MENA footprint, offering full-service creative production including photography, film, and content at scale. Competes with Seeing Things for enterprise brand budgets but operates as a much larger agency holding structure.

Direct peers

• KASRAVI: Dubai-based creative production studio offering photography, film, and design services to brands. Directly comparable in operating model, geography, and service portfolio to Seeing Things.
• The Lighthouse: Dubai-based creative production and design studio serving brands with photography, video, and content services. Directly overlaps with Seeing Things in client base (luxury and corporate) and B2B project-based delivery model.
• Mbrella Films: UAE-based film and content production company delivering commercial films, branded content, and event coverage. Closely comparable to Seeing Things' film/video production services for enterprise and government clients.
• BKP Media: Dubai-based creative production agency covering photography, video, and brand content for regional clients. Comparable in service breadth and MENA enterprise/government client base.
• Visual Solutions: UAE-based photography and video production studio serving commercial and corporate clients. Comparable in service mix (commercial photography, video, event coverage) and target market to Seeing Things.
• Lightfarm Studios: Dubai-based creative production house offering commercial photography, film, CGI, and post-production for regional brands. Comparable to Seeing Things in serving enterprise and luxury clients in the UAE with project-based visual content services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/we-are-seeing-things

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seeing Things Photography & Video