The Saltwater Retreat Experience Guest Post by Joan

Joan attended the inaugural 2017 Saltwater Retreat for women photographers on Hatteras Island, North Carolina.  Today she is sharing her thoughts and favorite photographs from the experience.

I had never met Jennifer when I decided to join her and 6 other women for The Saltwater Retreat.  Sure, I went to her website with a fine-toothed comb.  Jennifer certainly looked friendly and, of course, very pretty.  Her work was/is beautiful and a testament to her skill and the way she views her world.  Even if I tried, there was nothing telling me not to go.  Jennifer had the talent, experience and couldn’t have picked a more perfect location.

I consider myself a very intuitive woman.  I also consider myself a cautious person.  There was not one fiber in my being that didn’t tell me that this was going to be life-changing.  I wanted to tell everyone I know that I would be in a house with like-minded women who are driven by the art of photography.  And were we ever like-minded . . . It’s rare in a lifetime to meet someone and become friends.  It’s even rarer when you meet 7 women and become fast friends.  That’s exactly what happened to us.  We connected the night we met and spent 4 days and nights talking about everything and it wasn’t limited to photography.  Personal connection is always the most important element to me in any situation, but we were there to improve our skills.  I came out of my days at Saltwater Retreat, I believe, a better photographer and richer in spirit as well. 

Jennifer was completely prepared with information, materials and an open format.  She was flexible but led us in the direction she thought we needed to go.  The off-site trips were fun and relaxed with plenty of time for us all to see and do our own thing.  Nighttime was relaxed with open discussions about our work.  There is not one thing, honestly, that I would have changed.  Jennifer has nailed the concept of a photography retreat.  I just may have to go again. 

The Saltwater Retreat is a women’s photography retreat and creativity workshop designed to educate, inspire and help you become the photographer you long to be. Held on the shores of Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks of North Carolina, this is chance for women photographers to spend a week immersing themselves in the craft of creating photographs without the distractions of home, this photography trip is more of a vacation than a workshop. I invite you to join me at the next Saltwater Retreat.