Hey {{ first_name }},
Happy September! ✨
This time of year always feels like a fresh start to me… I don’t know about you but after summer, I come back with a notebook full of ideas (I write absolutely everything down!) things I want to try, new plans I want to make happen… and September feels like the month to start putting some of them into action.
So, it feels like the perfect month to bring us together again. :)
I’d love to get to know each and every woman who becomes part of this community; to learn about what you’re working on, where you’re at with it & what you’d love more of from The Creative Arc, so as the community grows I’ll continue to keep our gatherings intimate - allowing everyone to get to know each other more.
On that note, our next breakfast will be on :
Thursday 24th September, 9-11am at The Lolo House.🤍 Your seat includes breakfast, coffee & a morning around the table with us… :)
If you’d like to join us, you can save your place using the link below… ↓
✨Save your seat✨
I’ve had so many lovely messages from women keen to join us in-person, so in the coming weeks I’ll be creating a WhatsApp group for The Creative Arc, where I’ll share what’s coming up; from breakfasts & co-working days to beach walks & the occasional creative experience. I know these groups can become overwhelming at times😅, so I’ll keep this one simple & use it to mainly share upcoming plans.
The newsletter and Instagram will continue to be where I share our conversations with the women who inspire us, new ideas, local recommendations and more from within the community.
Thank you again for being part of this. Now let’s get in to this months letter…
With love,
🤍 Inspired by Her : Maisie Eden
I first met Maisie a few years ago through a photographers’ group here in Dubai (shout out to the Photo Gals!📸) back when the majority of both of our work was in family photography. Somewhere along the way, we went from fellow photographers to friends & she’s now become someone I have so much admiration for - both creatively and in business.
I actually have a lot to thank Maisie for when it comes to my own photography business. She was the person who called me out for trying to manage pretty much my entire client journey over WhatsApp😅 & showed me just how much difference having proper systems and a strong client experience could make. There have been so many conversations and bits of advice shared between us & she’s always been so generous with what she knows.
And then, of course, there’s her photography… Maisie describes her work as “soulful family stories for the joyfully chaotic”, which sums it up perfectly. Her photographs are full of movement and warmth; children running wild, little hands reaching for their parents, laughter, cuddles & all of those fleeting in-between moments that might otherwise be forgotten.
Honestly, you could lose a good hour scrolling through her work - I have!
I wanted to ask Maisie about the chapter she’s in now; what she’s building & who she hopes to help…
What are you building and why now?
Right now I’m working on both my family photography business and a new project called Her Lens. Her Lens is specifically for education in art, confidence and growth, aimed at family photographers in the region. I launched Her Lens in November 2025, which felt like the right time for me to expand into the education space. It was something I had been talking about and romanticising for so long, and with nothing else like it for female photographers in the Middle East, I finally took the leap.
Image : francescalouise.me for Her Lens
Who do you most want to help?
Her Lens is geared towards helping female family photographers in the Middle East. I am lucky enough to be apart of some incredible likeminded communities back in the UK and I know firsthand how much value there is in creating a community of women, within your field, who all want to grow and encourage one another.
There is always so much more to learn, more ways to be inspired, endless ways to create and by harnessing that together, we can all rise and work side by side as a community of creatives.
What belief gets you through tough days?
I have always tried to lean into the belief that tough seasons really are just that, seasons. They pass, time heals, the light changes and eventually you come out the other side, somewhat transformed. Certain life experiences such as heartbreak, grief, overwhelm, and more recently, becoming a Mother, have all really made me double down on this.
There’s a line in Jane Eyre that’s one of my absolute favourites “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me”. Her fierce determination, free will - it really speaks to me. I try to remind myself that I am not fixed to difficult circumstances. I can change direction. Begin again. This year has been particularly tough and has forced me to pivot my ideas for the future of Her Lens. But that doesn’t mean it’s the end, I turn the page and continue.
Image : Maisie & her son, Heath, captured by Nina Goks Family Photography
You can view Maisie’s work & follow her on instagram here @maisieedenphotography
☕ Working lunch:
We went to Somewhere on Al Wasl Road for lunch recently and fell in-love with the place.
The interiors here are SO cool. It’s one of those spaces where there’s something interesting everywhere you look; the whole concept is inspired by travel and discovering somewhere new, which you really feel in all the details.
The food is Middle Eastern with a bit of a twist; familiar flavours and dishes done in a much more playful way.
I probably wouldn’t recommend it as somewhere to go set yourself up with a laptop for the day, but for a working lunch with someone - definitely! We went for food, stayed chatting, opened the laptops and ended up getting some work done too.
✨Getting Creative with :
A compact camera…📸
This summer I bought the Canon G7X in the hope of spending less time on my phone… it’s been so enjoyable taking photos & not immediately getting distracted by messages, instagram or anything else that comes with picking up your phone…😅
It’s also feels completely different to when I’m working… no big kit, no planning, no pressure to create anything in particular. Just a little camera in my bag, capturing things as I go…
I’ve linked mine, along with a couple of similar options below, if you fancy a little throw-in-your-bag camera. ↓
Some holiday photos from Portugal, straight off the Canon G7X.
This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for years & when I picked it up recently I hadn’t even realised it was written by Grace Beverley… I now follow her on Instagram and listen to her podcast, so it was interesting to read something she wrote in 2021.
It’s mostly about productivity, working smarter & finding a better balance between working hard & actually switching off - something that always interests me! I enjoyed it, but if you follow Grace, some of it will feel familiar… if you’re looking for a little more structure in your working day, then it’s worth a read.