Introducing The Woman Behind The Dress: Alexandra

Before we begin Alexandra’s interview, I have to say this: I have been completely swooning over Zanzibar Flying Dresses from the very beginning.

Alexandra is the founder of Zanzibar Flying Dresses, based in beautiful Zanzibar, Tanzania. She started the business in 2023, and together with her husband, she has created something that feels truly next level. I thought Aruba had some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and then I saw their images from Zanzibar and honestly thought, “Holy cow, wow.” The white sand, the turquoise water, the dreamy island backdrops, the way the dresses move, the quality of the photos and videos, it is all just breathtaking.

Their work has this luxury editorial feel, where every client looks like she belongs in a perfume advert or on the cover of a high-end travel magazine. It is elegant, cinematic, romantic, and completely unforgettable.

But what I admire just as much as the visuals is the spirit behind the business. Whenever Alexandra and I have connected, it has always felt open, kind, and generous. We have swapped ideas, shared little tips, asked each other questions, and helped each other with those behind-the-scenes things that only another flying dress founder would really understand.

And honestly, that means so much.

As a female founder, it can sometimes feel intimidating to ask someone else in the industry for advice. You wonder if you should already know the answer, or whether someone will be guarded with their knowledge. But with Alexandra, it has always felt like we are on the same page: I love what you are doing, you love what I am doing, so why not share what we can and help each other grow along the way?

To me, that is the true meaning of women supporting women.

I am so happy to feature Alexandra and Zanzibar Flying Dresses in this Female Founder Friday series, and I cannot wait for you to learn more about her story, her business, and the beautiful magic she is creating in Zanzibar.

What were you doing before you started your flying dress company?

We have actually been working as photographers and filmmakers for around 15 years now. We started our journey in Poland, where we worked for several years, and then we slowly moved into destination photography and videography, creating weddings and shoots in many beautiful places around Europe and the world. In 2017, we visited Zanzibar for the first time, and it was truly love at first sight. We immediately felt that this place was special and that, sooner or later, we would somehow end up living there. And that’s exactly what happened. Zanzibar became our home and the place where we continue creating the work we love.

What first inspired you to start a flying dress photoshoot business?

My story with flying dress idea actually started back in 2015, when I saw this type of shoot for the first time in Santorini. I remember thinking: “Wooooow, these shoots are absolutely incredible. I would love to create something like this one day.” Then, when we moved to Zanzibar, at some point it suddenly clicked in my mind: “Wait… why not create this here? You actually can do it!!!`” And that’s when I completely fell in love with the idea and started building something around it.

What do you want women to feel when they book a session with you?

I want women to feel like they are blooming flowers — confident, cared for, powerful, and truly beautiful in their own unique way. I want them to feel beautiful not because they fit into any standards or expectations, but because they feel comfortable being exactly who they are. I want them to feel that they have the strength to do anything they dream of, that the world is within their reach, and that their beauty is not created by the location or the background — the place only becomes magical because they are there. Most importantly, I want them to walk away with a memory they will treasure forever, a moment they can come back to and remember how incredible, feminine, and powerful they felt. Like a flower finally blooming.

What has been one of your proudest moments in business so far?

One of my proudest moments in business is actually every woman who chooses to trust me with such a special experience. Every happy client, every message of gratitude, every person who comes back to us or thanks us with tears in their eyes is a reminder of why we do what we do. What makes it so meaningful is that every woman has a different story and a different reason for booking a shoot. For some, it’s about creating beautiful memories and having photos they will treasure forever. For others, it’s about celebrating important moments in their lives — birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, or personal milestones. But sometimes it goes even deeper. Some women come to celebrate themselves, to reconnect with their confidence, or even to let go of difficult experiences and heal from past traumas. Those moments are the ones that touch me the most. Seeing a woman transform in front of my camera and realizing that she feels beautiful, strong, and free is something I will always be proud of. So, in a way, every happy client is one of my proudest moments. Every woman who leaves feeling more confident and empowered is the biggest reward for the work we do.

What has been one of the biggest challenges you have faced while building your business?

From a technical perspective, taking care of the dresses has been a huge learning process. Zanzibar is a beautiful but very demanding place to work — the humidity is extremely high, temperatures are intense, and we don’t have the same technical resources or infrastructure that many businesses have elsewhere. We had to figure everything out ourselves: how to properly care for the dresses, how to maintain their quality, and how to make sure every client receives the best possible experience despite these challenges. Another challenge was seeing our ideas being copied once flying dress photography started becoming more popular here. At first, it was honestly quite frustrating to see people recreating not only the concept but also many details of what we had created. But with time, I changed my perspective. I started seeing it as a form of appreciation — because people usually don’t copy something that doesn’t inspire them. At the end of the day, we know that our style, our approach, the whole experience we create are something unique. A client who is looking for a difference will always see that difference. Another big challenge is the logistics of working in Zanzibar. Even though the island may look small on the map, it can be very challenging to move around. The roads, traffic, and distances between locations can make planning quite complex. On top of that, many clients arrive without realizing that Zanzibar is a tidal island, which has a huge impact on how the beaches look and what is possible during a shoot. That’s why communication is such an important part of our work. We love working with conscious clients, so we spend a lot of time explaining how everything works, helping them understand the environment, and creating realistic expectations. And finally, one of the biggest challenges is simply being such a small team. It’s just the two of us, and we are very involved in every part of the process — from communication with clients, to shooting, to editing. We are very protective of the quality of our work, so we don’t want to outsource the parts that are most important to us. We want every photo, every video, and every interaction to feel personal and done with the same level of care. As our business grows, the amount of inquiries and messages also grows, which can be challenging because we want to give every person the attention they deserve. But at the same time, this challenge is also a beautiful reminder that people connect with what we create, and that is something we are incredibly grateful for.

Can you share one client moment that made you think, “Yes, this is exactly why I do what I do”?

The moments that stay with me the most are the ones when I see tears in our clients’ eyes after the shoot. When women come to me and thank me with so much emotion, telling me that this experience meant so much to them and that it was something they had dreamed about for years. What touches me the most is that many of these women are not young girls following a trend. They are often women in their 40s and 50s who had seen this type of session years before and always thought: “Maybe one day…” But there was always something — they didn’t feel good enough, they didn’t have the time, there was never the right moment, and somehow this dream kept being postponed. And then Zanzibar happened. They finally decided to do something for themselves. For many of them, it is not only about the photos and videos they will receive later. It is about the entire experience — how they felt during the shoot, how they were treated, and the confidence they discovered in themselves. Those are the moments that remind me that we are creating something much bigger than just beautiful images. We are creating memories and feelings that they will carry with them for a lifetime.

What is one question clients ask you all the time?

When will my pictures be ready!

What is one misconception or myth you would love to bust about flying dress photoshoots?

One of the biggest myths I would love to bust about flying dress photoshoots is that you have to be a model, know how to pose, or look “perfect” to have this kind of experience. The truth is, you don’t need any previous experience at all. We guide our clients through the entire process — we show them how to move, help them find poses that feel natural and beautiful for them, and we are there every step of the way. Our goal is to make every woman feel comfortable, confident, and beautiful, so there is absolutely no need to stress or feel like you have to know what you’re doing. Another misconception is that flying dress shoots are completely effortless. Of course, we always aim to create images that feel natural, elegant, and full of movement, but behind those beautiful moments there is actually a lot of work. Our style is very inspired by dance and movement, which means many of the poses require body awareness, energy, and sometimes quite a bit of strength. A flying dress shoot can be surprisingly physical — you are working with the wind, moving the fabric, repeating movements, sometimes dealing with heat and challenging conditions. It can feel a little bit like a cardio or dance training session! So while the final images may look effortless, there is a lot of passion, guidance, movement, and teamwork behind every single shot.

What advice would you give to a woman who wants to book a flying dress photoshoot but feels nervous, self-conscious, or unsure?

My advice to any woman who feels nervous, self-conscious, or unsure about booking a flying dress photoshoot would be: first, take a look at our portfolio and see the hundreds of women who have already trusted us with this experience. The beautiful thing is that the majority of them had never been in front of a camera before. They were not professional models, and many of them arrived with the same doubts: “I don’t know how to pose,” “I’m not sure if I will look good,” or “I’m not comfortable in front of the camera.” And that is exactly why we are there. It is our job to guide you, to help you feel comfortable, and to bring out the best version of yourself. You don’t need to know how to pose, you don’t need to prepare, and you definitely don’t need to be perfect. We are not there to judge you — we are there to create something beautiful together. During the shoot you become part of our team. We are all working towards the same goal: capturing your beauty, your personality, and creating a memory that you will cherish forever. So my biggest advice is: trust the process, trust us, and allow yourself to enjoy the moment. The magic happens when you stop worrying and simply let yourself experience it.

What inspires you to keep going on the hard days?

Like everyone, we definitely have harder days sometimes. There are moments when the workload becomes overwhelming, when there are many clients to take care of, many messages to answer, and sometimes everyone wants everything to happen immediately. Running a business, especially one where you are involved in every single detail, can be challenging. But what keeps me going the most are the messages, reviews, and little words of appreciation we receive from our clients. Their feedback, their gratitude, and hearing how much the experience meant to them gives me so much motivation and reminds me why we do what we do. I always joke that these messages are like our gold medals. They are the moments that make all the hard work, long hours, and challenges completely worth it.

What is one life lesson running this business has taught you?

One of the most valuable lessons my business has given me is learning when to step away, close the laptop, and be fully present with the people who truly matter. When you build something yourself and you truly love what you do, it is very easy to get completely lost in your work. Especially when the business is growing, there is always something more you could do — another message to answer, another idea to create, another thing to improve. You could honestly work 24 hours a day because your work becomes connected with your passion, and the line between work and personal life can become very blurry, especially when your husband is your partner in crime, haha! But this journey has taught me the importance of setting clear boundaries. It has taught me that the time we spend with the people we love is something we can never get back. There will always be more work, more projects, and more goals to achieve, but the moments with family and friends are irreplaceable.

What does “women supporting women” mean to you in business?

For me, women supporting women is about remembering that we are not here to compete with each other, but to lift each other up. I think women are often taught, in subtle ways, to compare themselves — to compare their looks, their achievements, their journeys. But the truth is, we never really know what someone else has been through to become the woman standing in front of us today. Every woman carries her own story, her own experiences, her own struggles, and her own invisible battles. That is why I believe there is no place for judgment or competition. There is enough space for everyone. Another woman’s beauty, success, or confidence does not take anything away from ours. In my work, I have the privilege of meeting so many different women from all over the world. Some come to celebrate a special moment, some come to reconnect with themselves, and some come because they simply want to feel beautiful again. And being able to create a space where they feel safe, seen, and supported is something truly special. For me, women supporting women means looking at another woman and thinking: “I see you. I celebrate you. I’m happy that you are here.” Helping women feel confident, helping them bloom, and reminding them of their own beauty is one of the most meaningful parts of what I do.

If you could give one piece of advice to another woman starting her own business, what would it be?

If I could give one piece of advice to another woman starting her own business, it would be: don’t give a f_ck about what people think. I know it sounds simple, but honestly, this is something I had to learn myself. When you start something from zero, especially something that is very personal to you, it can feel like everyone is watching, everyone is judging, and everyone has an opinion. You start thinking: “What if I fail?”, “What if people don’t like it?”, “What if someone is better than me?” But the truth is, there will always be someone who has something to say. There will always be someone better at something, someone ahead of you, someone who doesn’t understand what you do. And that’s okay. You cannot build your dream based on other people’s opinions. The only person who truly needs to believe in you at the beginning is yourself. Your own belief, your passion, and your determination are what will eventually make other people believe in you too. And remember — people talk. They always will. Sometimes because they are bored, sometimes because they don’t have the courage to create something of their own. But those voices should never be louder than your own. Start, learn, make mistakes, improve, and keep going. Believe in yourself, because you are the first person who needs to see your own value.

If you were the model in your own flying dress photoshoot, which dress colour would you choose, which location would you choose, and why?

This is actually a very difficult question for me, because there are a few dresses in our collection that I absolutely love. But if I had to choose just one, my absolute favorite would be the Rose Quartz dress from our Luxury Collection. It is a true piece of art — made from 400 meters of tulle, weighing around 9 kilograms, with incredible volume and movement.

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