Memories PhotographyNaeema Saleh, W.O Omar Mohamed Al Sayari / founder

Funded 2008 / Staff 8 USP Very accessible and flexible in terms of working times.

@memoriesforoccasions

Professional photographer services available for portraits, family pictures, weddings and much more.

Ras Al Khaimah +971 50 57 000 27

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A SHARP FOCUS

Naeema Saleh, W.O Omar Mohamed Al Sayari, is the dynamic personality leading the ever-evolving start-up Memories Photography. In an exclusive chat, we discuss her journey.

QUESTIONS

Naeema Saleh is a talented photographer, who loves to invest in memories. She spent a lot of time documenting special moments of her friends and family. Eventually, she started getting offers for filming

concerts and events, and that’s when she decided to start a full-time business in the field. Moreover, she knew that there weren’t many reliable, affordable and creative photography agencies in the market. Using

this to her advantage, she set-up Memories Photography. Today, bookings are pouring in and her team is evolving. Here, she talks to us about life as a business owner…

What was the initial investment for your business? How did your partnership with Khalifa Fund help you grow your business?Q1

Initially, I did not have enough amount of money to start my business. Khalifa Fund supported me by providing

the required equipment and covering the costs. The value of my initial investment was AED 260,000. My partnership

with Khalifa Fund helped me a lot; they gave me much-needed moral support.

What were some of the major challenges you faced during your journey?Q2

One of the biggest obstacles I faced was the marketing process, which is a critical aspect of the business. Without

a proper strategy in place, it is tough to acquire new customers and raise awareness about your service. Finding the right

talent was another challenge, but I overcame that by offering the necessary training to my employees.

How do you stand out in a competitive market?

How has your business growth been? What are some key highlights of your journey?

Q3

Q4

I stand out by providing quality services – on time and at any

time. We respect the customer’s privacy since we are dealing with

personal photos and videos, which is another major differentiator.

The growth of my business is reflected in the size of my team; I started with two and now we are five. Our revenues are also going up. We were honoured to

work with government agencies such as Emirates Heritage Club, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, where we

participated in Al Qudra Festival in the city of Boudeib. In fact, we received an award for our participation!

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How is technology reshaping your business?

What plans do you have for the growth of your business?

Q5

Q6

Technology has big impact on our business, especially in terms of marketing through social media and the company’s website. These platforms give us the chance to interact with

customers. Also, the kind of equipment we use requires an update or replacement every few months. We can’t be using obsolete technology and always have

to be ahead of the curve. For instance, people are using drone cameras now for photography and we had to adopt it as well.

We want to upgrade our systems to enable more online requests – we want to be able to take bookings online. We are also looking at developing an application that lets our customers access their files

digitally, giving them added convenience.I would like to expand my business into other GCC countries within the five-year timeline. I have no plans to expand further into the UAE,

I am looking for places and markets where there is a greater demand. We also want to participate in more government-led events.

What advice would you like to give to aspiring entrepreneurs in the region?Q7

Challenge the difficulties, maintain continuity and focus

on your work to reach success. Don’t hesitate to reach out

to experts for help, whenever necessary.