Hold Still Workshops Retreat

Reflecting on an Amazing Photography Retreat: Hold Still Workshops 2024 Retreat in Suffolk

Last month, I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Hold Still Workshops Retreat hosted by the talented Photographer Emily Tyler. It was a magical few days spent in the beautiful Marsh Farmhouse at White Dove Barns in Beccles, Suffolk and I was lucky enough to experience it all alongside my lovely friend Hannah, who I’ve known since photographing her wedding over five and a half years ago. Our friendship has grown so much since then, and I often second shoot for her at weddings, and we always have such a laugh together as we don’t take ourselves too seriously and are both super clumsy!

From the moment we arrived at the charming cottage, I felt a wave of excitement as well as feeling nervous to meet new people and not knowing what to expect. Upon entering, we were greeted with a big smile and a hug from Emily which made us feel so welcome. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, filled with a diverse group of talented individuals—a wedding planner, a florist, a yoga teacher, a hair stylist, and a makeup artist as well as all of the photographer attendees. And let’s not forget the culinary genius behind our meals, the amazing Phoebe from My Kitchen Your Place, who kept us fuelled with delicious food throughout the retreat.

Day One: A Warm Welcome

Our journey began on Tuesday morning where Hannah & I had a 4 and a half hour drive over to Suffolk, fuelled by Old Skool RnB tunes, which we cranked up the volume and sang our hearts out to! After our arrival and getting unpacked, we kicked off with a welcome circle where everyone introduced themselves. Hannah and I may have indulged in a bit too much alcohol that evening, which led to a mini party in our room. After our giggles and selfies, we joined everyone downstairs for some canapés followed by a delicious dinner and late-night chats on the sofa. It felt so good to connect with like-minded creatives!

Day Two: Inspiration and Creativity

Wednesday brought a mix of motivation and creativity. After a delicious cooked breakfast, we started the day with an energising money talk from Emily about the business side of photography. Poor Hannah had to sit that one out as she was feeling a bit worse for wear from our little party the night before, but thankfully, the walls of White Dove Barns are quite thin so she managed to catch most of the talk from our room, and I took notes for both of us ensuring we wouldn’t miss any of the valuable insights!

Hannah was not feeling her bed in the photos below

After the inspiring session, we headed outdoors for a modern styled shoot featuring stunning models Jen and Sam. Each of us got the chance to direct the couple, which was a great experience for honing our photography skills and capturing some portfolio-worthy shots. Plus, I got to try out my new gimbal to stabilise my footage for some smooth content creation on my iPhone!

Afterwards, we enjoyed a tasty taco lunch and then indulged in a relaxing afternoon, starting with me having a reiki session with the lovely and talented Maia, then we all unwound taking part in yin yoga and a soothing sound bath session where we journeyed into a place of stillness, rest and deep relaxation with Michelle from Edge of Sacred. The day wrapped up with an inspiring goal-setting workshop led by the lovely Mair, followed by another yummy 3 course dinner.

Below is a little snippet of the styled shoot that I put together with some of the footage I captured

Day Three: Fun and Farewell

Thursday began with another yummy breakfast, followed by an enlightening talk by Kat titled “It’s me, Hi, I’m the problem it’s me.” This session explored how as women, our cycles can affect our mood, motivation, and personality based on our hormones. It was interesting to gain insight into why we might feel or act a certain way during different phases of our cycle. The highlight of the day was a fun head swap session where we took turns photographing each other around the picturesque grounds, capturing new profile pictures for our businesses. It was a lighthearted and creative way to bond with everyone further.

Below are some of the headshots that Hannah and another attendee, Emma Seany took of me

As the retreat came to a close, we had our goodbye circle, a bittersweet moment where we shared our favourite experiences and key takeaways. We also wrote sweet notes to each attendee to be opened later, which I thought was a lovely idea of Emily’s, and we each read one of the notes out to the group, which really uplifted everyone. Hearing heartfelt messages about what we appreciated in each other as well as some encouraging words made the experience feel even more special.

With hugs exchanged and goodbyes said, it was time for the long journey home. Hannah and I turned back on the RnB vibes and reminisced about the fun memories we created at the retreat.

Final Thoughts

Thank you so much Emily! The Hold Still Workshops Suffolk Retreat was more than just a photography workshop; it was a rejuvenating experience filled with inspiration, creativity, and connection. I returned home not only with new insights and a renewed sense of purpose, but also with cherished memories and friendships that will last long after the retreat. If you’re a photographer looking for a meaningful experience, with inspiration and community, I can’t recommend this retreat enough!

Here’s to more adventures, creativity, and amazing connections in the future!

Below is a video I put together of the 3-day retreat and you will see just how much fun we all had and some of the antics that Hannah and I got up to! It’s long but worth the watch 🙂

Click here to find out about the next Hold Still Workshops Retreat retreat and any future photography workshops by Emily Tyler Education.

Below is a little snippet of the styled shoot that I put together with some of the footage I captured

People involved

Retreat host and organiser (as well as a super talented luxury wedding photographer) – Emily Tyler

Luxury Wedding Planner – Senel Besim

Florals – Dear Luna Florals

Model couple – Jen Lou Meredith & husband Sam

Sound Bath – Michelle Nichols Edge of Sacred

Yoga & Reiki specialist – Mair Yinning at Life

‘It’s me, Hi I’m the problem it’s me’ talk – Kat Shot This

Food – Phoebe My Kitchen Your Place

If you enjoyed this blog post, check out this styled shoot that I photographed at Rownhams House.