There is a certain energy that comes with photographing retreats — a mixture of anticipation, vulnerability, and transformation that unfolds in front of the lens without ever feeling forced. Carly Rowena’s retreat in Greece was one of those experiences where everything aligned: the light, the setting, the women, the purpose.

From the moment I arrived, it was clear that this retreat wasn’t about escape. It was about returning — to yourself, to your body, to community, and to joy.

Greece held the perfect backdrop for this kind of work. Soft blue horizons. Slow, honey–coloured mornings. Whitewashed textures catching the afternoon sun. Every corner felt like a place where something honest could happen — and often, it did.

As a retreat photographer, my role is to move quietly. To blend in. To anticipate the moment before it arrives. Carly creates an atmosphere that makes this effortless. Her retreats are intentionally designed to encourage openness, curiosity, and play. That energy naturally spills into the images: real smiles, real sweat, real connection, real stillness.

There were sunrise workouts where the world felt beautifully simple. Journaling sessions filled with pauses that said more than words. Sea swims that ended with laughter echoing across the water. And conversations — the kind you only reach when you’re away from home, when you’ve slept well, when you finally have space to hear your own thoughts again.

Retreat photography is never just about documenting an itinerary. It’s about translating a feeling — capturing what it felt like to be there, not just what it looked like. With Carly’s retreat in Greece, that feeling was ease. Openness. Celebration. Women stepping into themselves without apology.

These images were created to support her brand, her community, and her message — but also to honour the women who said yes to showing up in the first place. Every retreat tells a story. Greece told a beautiful one.

Check out how the images from this retreat have been used on Carly’s website here.

Thinking of booking a travel photographer for your next retreat? Contact me.

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