Dubai · Guide for photographers and filmmakers
“In a Dubai summer, the best location has air conditioning.”
From June to September, Dubai regularly runs well above 40°C with high humidity, and outdoor work is banned between 12:30 and 15:00 from 15 June to 15 September. Shoots still happen; they just move indoors, to the edges of the day, or into the night. Here's how to keep talent, make-up, cameras and crew working, and the one problem that catches every visiting photographer: the lens that fogs the moment you step outside.
Damas Jewellery · Dubai
01 · The rules
Heat, humidity and the midday break
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Midday outdoor work break, 12:30 to 15:00, 15 June to 15 September | No outdoor shooting in that window. Plan around it. |
| Temperatures well above 40°C | Talent, make-up and kit suffer fast in direct sun. |
| Humidity often over 70% | Lenses fog, hair drops and skin shines. |
Sources: What's On, UAE midday work break · Gulf News, August weather in the UAE.
02 · Where
Move the shoot, not the deadline
Indoors with big windows
Residences and hotel interiors give daylight without the heat. Waterproof was shot in a Downtown Dubai residence.
Studios
Full control and air conditioning. The Celine film was shot on a clean, minimal set with two diffused LEDs.
The edges of the day
Sunrise and the last hour before sunset are cooler and softer. Keep outdoor set-ups short.
After dark
Terraces, pools and the city lights come into their own at night, when it's finally bearable outside.
More on choosing locations: where to shoot fashion and beauty in Dubai.
03 · Kit
Keep the cameras working
On set for Damas Jewellery: shade, reflectors and kit kept out of direct sun.
Shade the kit: cameras, monitors and batteries under an umbrella or in a cool box between takes.
Cameras with cooling: cinema-style bodies with active fans, such as the Sony FX3, handle long takes in heat better than small sealed cameras.
Batteries: carry more than usual and keep spares out of the sun.
Monitors: a hood or shade, or the screen is unreadable outdoors.
Source: Popular Photography, Sony FX3 with active cooling.
04 · Condensation
The lens that fogs the second you walk outside
Take a cold camera from an air-conditioned room into humid heat and every surface fogs, sometimes inside the lens. It can take a long time to clear.
Bag it first
Seal the camera and lenses in a plastic bag before you leave the cool room, and only open it once the kit has warmed up outside.
Warm it up early
Leave the camera bag somewhere warmer, like a shaded balcony, before the outdoor set-up.
Don't change lenses
Swapping lenses in humid air lets moisture inside. Pick the lens before you go out.
Don't wipe and hope
Wiping just smears it. Wait for the kit to reach the outside temperature.
Sources: Canon Europe, shooting in extreme conditions · Fro Knows Photo, condensation.
05 · People
Look after talent and crew
Short outdoor bursts: a few minutes in the sun, then back to shade.
Water and shade: for everyone, not just the model.
Make-up and hair: blotting papers, setting spray and an artist on set for touch-ups after every outdoor take.
Wardrobe: watch for sweat marks on silk and dark fabrics; have a fan and spares.
Watch
Dubai shoots on film
FAQ
Common questions
Can you shoot outdoors in Dubai in summer?
Yes, at the edges of the day or at night. Between 15 June and 15 September outdoor work is banned from 12:30 to 15:00, and midday heat is hard on people and kit.
How do you stop a camera lens fogging in Dubai?
Seal the kit in a plastic bag before leaving the air conditioning and open it only once it has warmed to the outside temperature. Don't change lenses outside.
What is the best time of year for outdoor shoots in Dubai?
October to April, when the weather is cooler and outdoor locations are usable for most of the day.
Do cameras overheat in Dubai?
They can, especially in direct sun. Keep them shaded, carry spare batteries, and use bodies with active cooling for long takes.
Written by Joshua Swain, who shoots in Dubai and London. See the portfolio.