There are many reasons why we think you should join us on The Chameleon Retreat in Manchester next June but why don't we let our previous attendees tell you...
We asked our alumni for some feedback, starting with
WHY did you decide to book?
"I really wanted to do something for myself that was completely different to anything I'd done before. I wanted the opportunity to meet other photographers in person and learn from Bex and Natalie and all the other attendees."
"It looked really good and I always love learning new things. I always find when you make time for things like these, you always come away feeling inspired."
"I had been in a bit of a rut with my photography and I wanted to commit some time to it - I also wanted to make some new photography friends!"
"I was excited to meet and hang out with some Insta idols and the learning was relevant to me and the next steps for my photography."
"The opportunity to take a day out from being mum, focus on my favourite hobby and my learning and to meet you all."
"I was keen to learn from 2 photographers I respect and I wanted the opportunity to meet up with Insta friends."
"So many good talks, opportunity to do a brand shoot, portfolio review, & easy location for me to get to."
How were you feeling before the CC retreat?
The feelings that came up most often were nervous but excited!
Was the retreat what you expected? How did you feel while there? Did it help you in the way you hoped?
"I had such a fun day and left feeling motivated and reenergised, thank you! The retreat gave me lots of food for thought."
"Was very nervous before arriving! Felt immediately welcomed into the group which was amazing! Loved that everyone seemed to be in a similar phase of life (working, children, love photography) and how strong everyone's personal style 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!"
"Felt comfortable and at ease throughout. Perhaps more comfortable than I was expecting! I found the sessions thought provoking and varied. I enjoyed the balance of discussion and shooting."
"I didn't really know what to expect but 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 great day full of laughs. I liked the variety of sessions."
What was your favourite part of the experience with Bex & Natalie and why?
"My favourite part was probably the photo walk on Thursday. I think I enjoyed the slightly more relaxed session away from the classroom and I enjoyed taking photos of each other and taking inspiration from others. Being out with the group helped me to feel more confident about getting the camera out in a busy place! I also enjoyed portfolio reviews as I found this helpful to do as a group and was helpful seeing everyone else's work and feedback too."
"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.)"
"Hard to pick! I enjoyed the session on making money and found the brand shoot really interesting. I loved learning from Natalie about double exposures both before and during the retreat. I loved how we were able to chat during and between sessions and share ideas with like minds"
"I really enjoyed the creative session and the chance to play/try things out. I liked being inspired."
"I loved that everyone was so willing to share their knowledge and experience"
"I liked all of it!"
Now that you've gone home, how have you felt since the retreat?
"I've felt glad that I was brave enough to book the retreat and do something for myself. I feel more inspired and looking forward to trying out new creative techniques more, especially when my new Lensbaby arrives! I feel like the experience has given me a bit of a mental lift too. I'm hoping to organise something over the summer to meet up with others that came as the community element was a big part of this for me."
"It's helped me to see what I really want to focus on and where I want my business to be. I'm a big planner (I do annual, 3 year and 6 week planning) and I'm always moving my business forward. But the retreat made me stop and reassess things and I find my brand is strong (as in I know what I like, I know what I offer and I know my ideal client) but my images and the types of shoots I'm doing don't match or maybe not as much as I'd like them to. I've got so caught up in the daily grind of hassling to get bookings in that I'd lost sight of what truly lights me up. Camera chameleons gave it back to me and now I have a plan."
"Like a little ball of energy! I want 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."
"Exhausted from having an amazing time but motivated to find the fun."
"Excited to get back into my photography after a bit of a lull. I’ve also felt more like a legit “photographer” who may have something in to bring to market"
"Inspired to try new things. Reinvigorated to use different lenses, tools, techniques and to keep experimenting."
"I feel connected to a likeminded group of photographers who I feel I can reach out to for advice/support etc."
If you were to recommend the retreat to your best friend, what would you say?
"I would say I really enjoyed it. It's a time to step back and be creative, have a play and learn from others, whilst also gibing you feedback on your own work and a chance to really stop and think about where your going and why. It's a great place to meet new people with a shared interest and it had a lovely, friendly vibe."
"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."
"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!"
"Bex and Natalie have a huge amount of skill knowledge and experience that they are willing to share. Make the most of that and ask lots of questions!"
"Bex and Natalie are fun, enthusiastic and full of energy and create a great environment to chat all things photography."
"Go for it! You won't regret it and you'll have a fabulous time meeting wonderful people and learning new things."
"I would say go for it and book the full retreat if you are able to."
So there you have it, real verdicts from the real photographers who came to the retreat in Brighton. We're so proud of what we have created and can't wait to share it with more of you in Manchester next year!
Fancy joining us and experience all of the above too? Book your spot here...
You still have a few hours left to save £100 with our early bird deal!!!
Comments