Wild Vibes Retreat - Sintra, Portugal

Retreat

May 15

In April 2018, I had the opportunity to travel and explore the magickal city of Sintra, Portugal with my Wild Vibes family. To say it was a dream-come-true is certainly an understatement.

Retreats are always one of my favorite experiences to capture. When I capture a retreat, I’m focused on being fully present in each and every moment. I’m constantly scanning each situation for those blink-and-you-miss-it moments that become priceless memories once everyone has returned home.

I love the creative challenges that come along with capturing retreats - being prepared for an ever-changing environment, learning how to navigate inconsistent lighting or conditions, and always trying to strike the perfect balance between documenting invaluable moments and not detracting from the experience by over-capturing.

While in Sintra, we stayed at a 100-year-old oceanfront cottage. It was the most incredible backdrop for daily yoga, meditation, and freshly made locally-harvested meals. It also meant that the air was constantly thick with salt from the sea and full of humidity, with strong winds nearly every minute of the day, which can make for quite a challenging shooting environment.

Leaving the property meant exploring abandoned castles, hiking through the forest and trekking through whimsical hills of downtown Sintra. It’s always a treat when I get a chance to explore a variety of urban and natural settings, camera in hand, and Sintra did not disappoint. Quite possibly one of my favorite retreat experiences, I really got a chance to flex my landscape photography muscle while exploring Portugal with the Wild Vibes crew.

Capturing retreats creates so much space for me to integrate & connect with the group and each of the individuals attending. It allows everyone to drop in & be a little bit more present, knowing I’m there to document the most important moments. Witnessing & capturing a retreat is such a powerful opportunity to document what is often a life-changing experience for attendees & it will forever remain one of my highest honors.