I recently had the pleasure of spending a few days in Portugal, photographing a yoga retreat hosted by Sophie of Shee Retreats. I was there in a professional capacity, but I also got to take part in the sessions, enjoy the scenery, eat amazing food, and spend time with some lovely women.
The retreat took place at Casas na Ferraria, a family farm set within a beautiful nature reserve about an hour south of Lisbon. The setting was stunning; olive trees, open farmland, wildflower fields, and gorgeous golden light.
Sophie had a clear vision for what she wanted: 'I'd love people to feel the vibe by looking at the photos - particularly around the connection between people, laughter, quiet moments, delicious food, movement.' So that's exactly what I set out to capture. The yoga sessions led by Robyn, the beautiful food prepared by private chef Francesco, the trips to the beach, the hike through the reserve, and all the small in-between moments. Nothing posed or staged, just watching, waiting, and making the most of the gorgeous Portuguese light.
Despite this being a work trip, I found a good balance between photographing the retreat and actually being present in it, which I think is important. When you're embedded in the experience alongside the guests and not hovering on the edges with a camera, people relax around you. They forget you're there. And that's when the real moments happen.
After the retreat, Sophie left me this review:
I can't recommend Carin enough. She came to my Portugal yoga retreat and captured both photographic and video content throughout the 3 days. She was so discreet whilst working and there was never a moment when guests felt uncomfortable being photographed. The quality of the content that she took was outstanding It captured the essence of the retreat so beautifully, with both the ambience and the beauty of the surroundings. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Carin - she was brilliant!
If you're running a retreat, a wellness event, or any kind of immersive experience and you've been wondering how to capture it properly, I'd love to chat. Whether it's a yoga retreat in Portugal, a wellness weekend in the UK, or something further afield, this is the kind of work I really love: lifestyle photography that's warm, natural, and that genuinely reflects everything you've created.
You can find out more about my brand and lifestyle photography here, or get in touch directly here.
