Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Seema Rose. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Seema, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’ve become known for my creative retreats for photographers, but not many know of how they came to be or why the project holds a coveted place in my heart.

When I began photography, I wasn’t in the best headspace. I had lost my job, to which I had dedicated 20 years of my career, and felt aimless and unsure of what to do with myself. I always knew I had a creative side to myself, but never nurtured it because of the monotonous and rather soulless corporate role I played for so long. Picking up the camera felt like a fresh start for me – a rebirth. As with any new hobby, there were challenges at this time too, both mental and technical. That’s when I was exposed to the wonder that is this community of photographers. When I needed advice or support, my comments and DMs were flooded with kind-hearted individuals who wanted nothing but the best for me and my growth as a creator. This, combined with a couple of photography courses, gave me the technical competency and emotional confidence to keep going. To this day, it is something I am infinitely grateful for.

With each day, I felt more gratitude. When I was finally in a stable place, I noticed others who were in the same position I was not too long ago. This field brings a plethora of challenges. Whether it be financial, creative, or personal, everyone is going through something. I had gotten to a position where I had a platform and a voice, and with this, I decided that I wanted to give back. I wanted to help others the way my photographer friends helped me when I was in a conflicted mindset. This is when another fellow creative and I established the idea of a creative retreat. The retreat intended to be a space for creative minds to unwind and reset, allowing their spirit to rejuvenate and return to the scene with enthusiasm and positivity. It is with honor that I can say that this is exactly what the retreat managed to accomplish. There was an overwhelming response from the attendees, all of whom managed to make the retreat memorable in their own ways. Not only did the retreat rekindle a love for photography, it allowed everyone to share and open up in a place without judgement or discrimination, but with empathy and understanding. To be heard and cared for by others in the industry is an immensely gratifying sensation, and is important to our livelihood.

Three retreats down, and many more to go in the future, this project has given me the opportunity to pay homage to the community that has given me so much in the past. I have the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people and learning from their perspectives and outlooks, and it is my utmost joy to cater this environment for others. My creative retreats mean everything to me, and I can’t wait to see where they take me next.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Seema Rose. Originally from Mumbai, India, I have made Dubai my home for the last 25 years. I am a food & lifestyle photographer & retreat host. I have always been creatively inclined and had a very fulfilling career in Advertising & Marketing until Covid hit. I lost my job during the pandemic, and that was one of the most unsettling phases of my life. I had to battle self-doubt, low self-esteem and lack of purpose. “What now? What’s my next step toward a meaningful life?”
I navigated the discomfort of seeking clarity and realized that I need to get closer to my creative side. Following my instincts, I found solace in baking, food photography and a supportive community of creatives. I started capturing visual stories of love, life and food, and rediscovered my creative spark. I slowly honed my techniques, taking up food photography professionally. I also enjoy lifestyle and travel photography. I’m honored to say that my photography has won me 2nd and 3rd place in the prestigious Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024 (regional Gulf category). It took some time for my true purpose to become clear to me. I knew I love baking & cooking, and food photography was a passion. What I also love is connecting with people, specifically with my tribe of photographers, at a personal level. Combining all of these passions, I found my true calling in hosting immersive retreats for photographers. These retreats offer creative souls a space to relax, rejuvenate and cultivate meaningful friendships, countering the overly competitive industry culture. Thus far, I’ve hosted three creative retreats, two with my friend Alessandra in Florence and, and my most recent solo retreat in Cotswolds, England. These retreats typically involve a small group of us photographers coming together in a stunning destination, where I organize a boutique accommodation, a private chef for a bespoke culinary experience and tailored activities and sightseeing. I invite an industry respected photographer to give us a casual talk related to creative mindset. Besides these amazing activities, we have heart to heart conversations about our trials and triumphs, share loud laughter and some quiet tears. It has been one of the most soul satisfying experiences to be a host of my retreats. I believe my goals as a creative on this platform ties into my goal with these retreats and with photography at large, and that is to contribute positively to the loving community I find myself in. The people I am surrounded by constantly inspire me, and I am a firm believer that this solace can be found by appreciating the little things and the human side to everyone. That’s why, in my photos and in my retreats, I try to capture moments and foster memories. Going forward, all I wish to do is keep that genuine spirit of mine to create freely, all while I try to support those who’ve supported me and spread the message of giving back. My next retreat is in Spring 2025 and I am super excited about it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

With the success of my first two creative retreats with my dear friend and fellow creator Alessandra, I was ecstatic and eager to plan the next. The last retreat left me feeling inspired, and the ideas simply kept flowing. I couldn’t wait – I kept thinking, “Where next? How many days? Who will come?” But, planning such an event requires a great deal of dedication, both mentally and with your time. When I decided I wanted to host a retreat on my own, the excitement started to look a bit more like panic.

There was so much to consider to arrange the retreat, with much research to do, many people to contact, and then some. I had a clock on me too, as I had a lot to get done with not much time. There were numerous times in the process where I seriously doubted I would be able to pull things off, wondering if I should postpone or cancel. But I knew indefinitely that this was something I wanted to do. I knew I had to push through.

I had faith in the idea and I wanted to be sure it came to life. I think the key message I’d like others to take away here is just that: to have faith in your vision. There are many times in one’s career when we feel that we don’t have enough, or that our goal is bigger than what we are capable of. But, with the support of a few of my friends, I managed to host my first solo retreat in Cotswolds, England and I feel so blessed to say that it was one of my most memorable experiences ever. And, after finally seeing that initial idea materialize in this manner, I feel even more eager to continue and plan the next. Watch this space!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

During the pandemic, I came home one day from work in tears. I lost my job that I had given my all to for 20 consecutive years. Even though I knew I was good at what I did, I battled with an internal struggle of not knowing how to appreciate my own work. Despite working day and night and overthinking seemingly every detail, I would never feel like it was enough to my superiors, though I know in my heart that the work was of a high quality. To be disrespected in the corporate space so much so that I was so flagrantly let go is a painful sting to an already trying time. But that was only the beginning – then came the worry of where to go next.

For a rather long period of time after, I felt directionless. It is one of the most draining emotions: to feel as though you don’t know where to go or what to do. I was grateful to have the love and support of my family and friends, but I was lacking the confidence in myself that should’ve come from within. It was difficult to appreciate myself after essentially being told that I wasn’t good enough at what I did. It was like I hit a wall and I hadn’t a clue for who I was without my work, or what I would even do going forward.

I always loved to cook, bake and entertain. With the new spare time on my hands, I would cook special meals for my family and friends and take photos of it with my phone without thinking too much of it. One day, some of my children’s friends told me about Instagram and, on a whim, I started to post these photos. That was the game changer for me. I stumbled upon this incredibly talented and welcoming community of photographers on the platform and fell in love. I suddenly wasn’t worrying about appeasing a superior or meeting a set deadline, I was nurturing the side of me that wanted to create and be free in my work. I found a joy that was previously lost to me, and I decided that this passion of mine was something I wanted to keep moving forward with. I learnt more each day – the lens to use, how to work with lighting, how to style and set up a shot – but most importantly, I learnt how to keep that creative spark alive. The next chapter was of course hosting retreats – an idea that started very small and is now literally my biggest passion! Against the odds and set-backs, I rediscovered who I was, and I’m thrilled to keep growing and being surprised by what’s to come. There were so many who helped me along the way and I will always be indebted to them. The food photographer community is the most welcoming, encouraging and supportive, and that is what has given me the goal to nurture community over competition, always.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.seemarosephotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seemarosephotography