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Writer's pictureBex Maini

We Did It! An Epic Creative Brighton Retreat

What a week!


We had an absolute blast running the very first Camera Chameleons Retreat here in Brighton, England and we're already planning the next one!



Save The Date...


6th-9th June 2025, most likely in Manchester but we're still on the hunt for our perfect venue for CC Take Two so watch this space for more news soon!


In the meantime, we're delighted to share a few photos from the retreat by both us and our fabulous attendees below as well as their initial feedback...


Group shot after Bex's brand shoot at Village BN3

Photo of Bex & Natalie teaching by Kirsty Hamilton

Bex & Natalie on the photo walk by Kirsty Hamilton

Photo of Bex by Rachel Hunter during the creative play session

Capturing headshots with street art on our photo walk, photo by Kirsty Hamilton


Photo of Natalie by Louise Harmston during the creative play session


Night photo walk by Louise Harmston

And some wonderful words from our Chameleons:


"Just wanted to say THANK YOU for a great few days in Brighton!
I'm so glad I booked the full retreat to completely immerse myself in the whole experience. I wouldn't have wanted to miss any of it! I loved the community feel of staying together in our shared house. Thank you for making me feel welcome.
It was so great to be able to connect with other photographers in real life and take photos together - something I never get to do usually. It was really inspiring and also so much fun! Especially on the photo walk around Brighton.
I've come home from the experience feeling refreshed, inspired and keen to try new things and break away a little from what I usually do. My Lensbaby Sol 45 is on order! Thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone and believing in me.
I hope we get to do it all over again!  Love from Louise. x "

"Before the retreat I was most nervous about meeting everyone and staying in the house with people I didn’t know but I shouldn’t have worried!


I had been in a bit of a rut with my photography and I wanted to commit some time to it and also wanted to make some new photography friends.


The retreat was so much more than I expected! I thought I would be exhausted by the end of it but I just had so much energy all the way through, it has definitely helped my creative rut as well as giving me hundreds of new ideas!

 

My favourite day was the portfolio reviews followed by the photo walk. Being able to identify exactly what it was I wanted to achieve, and then go out and focus on finding those images & using those techniques in real life was incredibly helpful. I’m intending on scheduling some time now that I’m home to do similar photo walks where I focus on the things I’ve saved for my vision board (double exposures, light, etc.)


Since the retreat I've felt like a little ball of energy! I'm excited to make time for the things I enjoyed doing/thinking about on the retreat, so the challenge now is fitting it in - but I know this is so important for living my best creative life. I love how active the WhatsApp and Facebook groups are for keeping in touch, and I definitely have questions & ideas to follow up on with the other participants.


If you're thinking about booking the retreat, do it! It’s an incredible investment into yourself as well as your photography, and the benefits you’ll get from it go far beyond the technical aspects. It really has changed my perspective on what it means to be creative." Rachel


"What a dynamic duo! Bex and Natalie exceeded all my expectations with their new Camera Chameleons photography retreat. Their energy and enthusiasm were infectious, creating an atmosphere of positivity and camaraderie. Watching Bex in action on a brand shoot was inspiring; her ability to creatively capture the essence of a scene and relax her subjects was truly remarkable.
Through thought-provoking discussions and engaging activities, Bex and Natalie encouraged us to challenge ourselves and adopt a growth mindset. I came away with a newfound confidence and belief in my abilities. More things seem possible, and I feel empowered to pursue my passion with renewed vigour.
It was wonderful to meet Instagram friends IRL and to reconnect with old photography friends. The sense of community and support was invaluable, and I left the retreat feeling inspired and energised. Bex and Natalie offered valuable tips on how to cut out social media noise and focus on what truly matters in our photography journey. Their insights were eye-opening and left me feeling motivated to streamline my approach and prioritise what is most important to me. A huge thank you to them both." Kate Ainger

"I really enjoyed the retreat, what Bex & Natalie created in Brighton was perfect; creative play, feedback on portfolios, all set in a quirky house. I loved the house as a base as I felt it gave a more friendly and warm vibe to the event. I felt like it went so fast and everyone was so lovely.


It was a time to step back and be creative, have a play and learn from others, whilst also giving you feedback on your own work and a chance to really stop and think about where you're going and why. It's a great place to meet new people with a shared interest and it had a lovely, friendly vibe.


I'd lost sight of what truly lights me up. Camera chameleons gave it back to me and now I have a plan. I always find when you make time for things like these, you come away feeling inspired." Jo


"I was very nervous before arriving but felt immediately welcomed into the group which was amazing!  
I was most excited to see a brand shoot done by a pro and my favourite talk was "Fund It"!  It gave me a number of ideas of what I can do, even with my small portfolio, to raise some money to help towards my dream.
If you're thinking about booking the next retreat then go for it!  You will come back motivated, see the world in so much more colour and have a cheering squad of fellow retreaters and teachers that you've actually met!  I had an amazing time and I'd have major FOMO if I didn't come again!" Grace


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