Iceland Retreat - July 14-18, 2024
A little about me and why I want to do this
Hi, I’m Annie. If you don’t know me, I’m a wedding & elopement photographer based in Phoenix, AZ. 2023 was my biggest travel year yet, and one of the most incredible places I had the opportunity to travel to was Iceland, and now I’ve decided to make it my whole personality (and I hope you will too). My husband, John, (who will be putting this on with me!!) and I went last July and spent 8 days on the Southern coast of Iceland and we couldn’t have loved it more. We actually ended up changing our flight a few hours before we were supposed to leave to get one more day there, and for the chance to hike to an erupting volcano!! We did a ton of driving, and everything is just so so gorgeous that I consider the driving to be one of the “activities” in Iceland. With so much daylight in July (19 hours!!), we took our time stopping wherever we wanted, and taking as much time as we wanted, with no real itinerary. We ransacked every gas station we came across, they have the BEST snacks there. It’s one of those places where I truly just want to take everybody to see, and I want to share the experience with as many people as I can.
The Experience
My hope is that we will make new friends, learn from each other, and leave feeling creatively fulfilled and invigorated. I am genuinely so excited about the shoots I have planned, but above all else, I want this retreat to be community driven and invigorating. I want you to leave with a renewed inspiration to create with a fresh perspective. There’s such a cool feeling about getting to be somewhere amazing with people that share the same excitement about it. As photographers, I think we see the world with a unique appreciation of its beauty, always pulling inspiration from the world around us. I am creating this itinerary in a way that allows you all to experience Iceland, and not just grind out content. I want you to leave with photos that you got to create intentionally, and that really feel like a reflection of you and your best work. I want to challenge us all, myself included, to push ourselves to be able to create in any conditions. Any light, weather, etc , We will be shooting in some of the most stunning locations ever, so of course the photos will be amazing, but how can we level up from just a pretty backdrop? I want us all to think outside the box, take photos intentionally, and walk away with new friends and with work that lights us up inside.
What’s Included
July 14-18
4 nights, 3 full days
Lodging included- We will all be staying together in a seafront cottage
Breakfast daily, as well as snacks
5 curated photo shoots: 3 bridal/elopement, 2 casual/editorial, 3-4 couples
1 discussion style presentation: challenging ourselves as artists, and how to approach shoots artistically
Memories & a tour of Southern Iceland <3
Ticket Cost: $380010 spots available
These are a handful of photos I took during my time there last summer. I will be taking you to a lot of these places I know and love, and I can’t wait!!
Where are we staying?
Nestled centrally amidst the coast of Southern Iceland, our retreat's home base is a little Sea Lodge situated in the charming village of Þykkvabær. Just a scenic two-hour drive east from the Reykjavik Keflavik airport. One of the most important aspects of this retreat is the community I wish to build, which is why I think staying together is so important. I’ve met some of my best friends at retreats, they’re such a special place to bond over our shared love of photography.
Why July?
I've chosen July for our retreat for several reasons. Firstly, it's the season when the Lupines bloom, painting the landscape from late June to early August. They are what made our time Secondly, Iceland's summer gifts us with nearly 19 hours of daylight daily, offering extended shooting opportunities and the flexibility to schedule sessions amidst quieter moments, avoiding the hustle of tourists. This give us the max amount of time to enjoy the island each day. Lastly, the summer weather, though brisk, is the warmest and offers the kindest shooing conditions.
The Shoots:
I don’t want to create mood boards using other photographer’s photos, the photos all over this page serve as the mood board! Think earthy, dreamy, romantic, & organic.
Shoot #1 Elopement/Bridal
Shoot #2 Sound of music inspired romantic/editorial shoot
Shoot #3 Elopement/Bridal
Shoot #4 Casual/Editorial
Shoot #5 Elopement/Bridal
There will be 3-4 couples- The Icelandic population is not large so I will be flying in some couples. On the last day, we will have the opportunity to stop at places you’ve seen and pinned along the way, with the models. I want everyone to leave feeling like this experience filled you up creatively, and let you express yourself fully as an artist.
A few more things
- You will fly into Keflavík International Airport, you are responsible for your own flights. More info on exact arrival times coming soon. A detailed itinerary will be provided closer to the retreat date as well.
- Iceland is very spread out with such a small population of 300,000 people. We will be doing lots of driving, and in turn, seeing lots of Iceland! You will be able to coordinate sharing cars with other attendees, transportation is not provided.
-A little note about food, I was actually so surprised as I’m a bit of a picky eater, but Iceland has great food!! Every place we went had at least 1 vegan option too! As I mentioned, Iceland is spread out and you can end up in a food desert- so I will be mapping out where we’ll eat between shoots, but meals will not be paid for since we’ll be out and about. I’ll provide breakfast for us each morning (4 mornings) and snacks you can grab to take with you throughout the day.
- Weather in Iceland can be unpredictable. Pack for rain, wind, water proof boots, be up for anything, and think layers layers layers!