ARE PHOTOGRAPHY RETREATS WORTH IT? What you actually get for your money:
Photography retreats and styled shoots in the US have completely taken over and there's BIG questions about them. Are they worth it? Do they help your creative career or is it just making your portfolio full of styled images that aren't authentic and people will be able to recognize the difference? As an expert (maybe a biased expert) but an expert nonetheless, I wanted to write a blog about everything I know about doing
and attending photography retreats, styled content days, or sometimes considered "community days" in the photography world. If you've never been to a creative photography retreat before, this blog may help answer some burning questions for you before you make the commitment and if you're already attending one...this can help get you prepared.
What is a photography retreat?
Photography retreats are events that are all over the world where creative photographers come together for a anywhere from 1-7 days or sometimes even longer to capture content together, educate themselves further in niched down subjects, and meet creative friends from all over the world. They are meant to expand your business and creative mind to places you may not be able to access where you live. There are retreats with several different themes anywhere from countryside couples photography retreats to North Cascades National Park elopement educational retreats like mine, CASA2CAMERA program for photographers with a one-year business mentorship program. Some photography retreats will have vast and extensive educational offers and some of them will just be creative portfolio opportunities, some photography retreats will offer both. When I created CASA2CAMERA, I knew I wanted a strong program that included both creative portfolio, but also the business education side so you really know what you're doing to get sales once you actually have the portfolio shots you've been looking for.
Are they worth the money?
This is the big question. Are they worth the money... and how can you tell when prices range anywhere from $300 to $3,000?! YES! Photography retreats, especially niched down ones that cater towards where you want your business to expand in are totally worth the investment. You can reach dream couples and clients with ONE session you do at these retreats, for the rest of your career! If you are curious if they are worth it you can check the photographer who is hosting them's google reviews, the website SOOC.com Retreat Reviews for photographers, or ask for a reference of a student or attendee who has attended in the past. IF they are a legit host, they should have no problem getting you a reference of some kind. You can also tell who is truly passionate about retreat hosting and who is doing it for the money by checking their socials, checking their networking, and see if the environment they are building feels positive and uplifting for photographers or if they seem to focus on their own business 90% of the time. True passionate hosts who are going to put everything into it are going to never want to shut up about the photographers they are working with and mentoring or hosting - and they should seem excited about the design process and creation process long before the retreat actually happens!
How do I find a photography retreat that is best for me and my business?
This is truly the hardest part of it all -- finding a retreat that will work for you and your business, finding out what a normal investment price for it is, and how you are going to fit that into your budget and make it there. If you are looking for a retreat with education and true mentorship behind it, you should be looking at an investment price of anywhere from 3-5K and that is NORMAL for what you are getting in the experience. It's not just a trip, it's expansive 1-1 work on your real business problems and support expanding - and that isn't easy. Every photographer has a different audience, niche, and target.. and when you're hiring a mentor, they aren't just giving you a plan. They have to figure out what style of plan to give you first and that comes with getting to know you on a personal and professional level that takes time, effort, and excellent experience on the mentor side of things. If you search around for retreats WITHOUT too much educational or mentorship involved, you may be able to find a few to attend within the 1.5k range. If you want my professional advice, it really is SO worth it to invest in the retreats that come with real business education. It can really push your photography to places that really become profitable for you.
