The Secret Retreat – Italy Re-discovered
Last week, I experienced something pretty unique. I went back to my country without actually stopping home, but instead, I got to spend a few amazing days with a bunch of very special ladies. The Secret Retreat is a photography business retreat led by three amazing women photographers in collaboration with Julie Mckenzie, the wedding planner behind My Secret Italy. Clare, Andrea and Lucy have very different personalities but all share a strong passion for photography. They also share the belief that everyone can create a life that fits them like a glove. This year we were particularly lucky to also have Melissa Love from The Design Space with us. Each one of them contributed with their own unique point of view and experience.
I can honestly say the retreat has been the safest and most empowering environment I have ever been to. Not only we all came back super motivated, but we had the opportunity to share our life stories freely and without any fear of being judged. As a photographer, I have always been very sensitive to beauty – in its widest meaning – and I must say I have never seen so many beautiful people altogether.
We cried, laughed, chatted, grieved, ate, enjoyed a ton of beautiful views and of course photographed. Paul has been mocking me saying that ”it must have been a bit like Love, Eat and whatever the f**k it’s called…”, but really it was!
Since I moved back to Europe from the US, I have been wanting to see more of my own country. This time, I had the great opportunity to visit beautiful Castellabate for the first time. I fell hard for it and was impressed with its beauty. I loved experiencing Italy through the eyes of my new friends. It has always saddened me to not have enough friends in the photography industry, I can now confidently say that this has forever changed.
Following are some photos I have taken during this trip. I’ve tried to tell the story at my best, mixing candid shots of us with some of our amazing models: Michael and Chloe, Sissi and Antonio. Hope you will enjoy them as much as I do. It was so hard to select them!
If you’re planning an Italian destination wedding, please talk to me. I would love to photograph your own Italian adventure.
