Ziga Mihelcic
A European eye, at home in the Dubai light
Ziga married one of our own — Amelia, a model booker at Wilhelmina Dubai, and the office's resident singer. We saw that spark every time he came by, long before either of them said a word about it. She now teaches at Samadhi Wellness, and we couldn't be happier for them both.
Ziga is a Slovenian photographer based in Dubai. His background is in fashion, but in recent years he's developed a deep passion for capturing interiors and travel — drawn to the constant variety, each project offering a new story, space, and atmosphere to explore through the lens.
His love for photography began in the early 2000s, when his dad bought him his first digital camera — a moment that sparked a lifelong fascination with image-making. After finishing high school in 2007, he studied at Arthouse College of Visual Arts in Ljubljana, graduating in 2011, and has been working as a professional photographer since 2008.
Driven by curiosity, he travelled in search of new perspectives, people, and places, before finding his home in Dubai at the end of 2015. He now collaborates regularly with Vogue, Architectural Digest, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, GQ, Marie Claire, and Grazia.
The Accidental Start
For many artists, the call to create is loud and undeniable. For Ziga, it was a nudge from his mother on a boring winter day. "My mother noticed that I had nothing to do, so she suggested that I take a few photos of my sister, who was modeling at the time," he recalls.
With no formal training, he improvised — turning his sister's room into a studio by removing the wardrobe and gathering every light he could find. The moment he saw the results and began experimenting with post-editing, he was hooked. "I was amazed at what I could do. From there I just began taking more and more photos of my sister and friends, until finally I got noticed by a few model agencies who asked me to test. Once I began shooting for magazines, I established my passion."
A World of Inspiration
Ziga cites the giants of fashion photography as touchstones — Mert & Marcus, Txema Yeste, Mario Sorrenti, Greg Kadel, and Giampaolo Sgura. But his creative fuel runs wider than the work of others. "I also get inspired by beautiful locations, models, a particular look or style. And of course, art. Anything can trigger an inspiration — it's all around."
The Dream and the Reality
For Ziga, every shoot is a chapter in an ongoing story. "Every shoot is a different story, so it's impossible to have a favorite," he says. "Many times things go wrong on set, but the growing curve helps me get better and grow as a photographer. This is actually one of the best parts of my job."
His dream project follows the same relentless drive: to keep shooting for top-tier fashion magazines that champion creative expression, to work on major brand campaigns, and to create iconic celebrity portraits in the vein of his idol, Annie Leibovitz.
My European approach to fashion and photography is of interest to this fascinating market.Ziga Mihelcic, on shooting fashion in Dubai
A European Eye on the Dubai Market
"I noticed that many fashion editorials and campaigns here in Dubai look the same, or often share a similar style," he observes — not as a complaint, but an opportunity. "Fortunately, many foreign photographers are coming in and out of the region, which is what I'm trying to do. Both clients and editors are open to something fresh and unique."
His Digital Diet
"I still prefer print magazines — but it's obviously easier to access much more content online."
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