The Saltwater Retreat
Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, NC
October 6 - 11, 2024
and
October 13 - 18, 2024
A women’s photography retreat designed to educate, inspire and awaken your creativity on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Dates:
October 6 - 11, 2024
and
October 13 - 18, 2024
$2500
Your all inclusive investment includes private bedroom, in home meals, and transportation during the retreat.
Intimate Group
Small group limited to up to 5 attendees
Skill level
Open to all levels and cameras-
dSLR, mirrorless, film camera, or your cell phone!
The Saltwater Retreat Photography Workshop
Join me on this 4 day, 5-night women’s photography retreat in the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. Hatteras Island is a picturesque barrier island surrounded on all sides by the Atlantic Ocean offering bountiful photography opportunities. A beautiful oceanfront beach home will serve as our base camp for the duration of the retreat.
We will kick off the retreat on Sunday evening with a welcome happy hour at 4 pm and an evening spent getting to know one another. Over the following 4 days, we will visit 2 iconic fishing piers and both the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Bodie Island Lighthouse. We will spend an afternoon beachcombing, seeking out those overlooked details that many people walk right past without photographing. We will have a day trip up the island to a small village called Manteo which is rich in American and Native American history. There will be opportunities for shooting seascapes, nature, macro, wildlife, and travel scenes. Throughout the retreat, I will provide individualized guidance and support while you are shooting. With a maximum of 5 attendees, you can expect personalized attention in an intimate setting. Shooting topics will include manual exposure techniques, creating long-exposure photographs, using filters and creative lenses, seeking out details, and unnoticed beauty.
Each day we will have an intimate discussion, talking through many of the challenges, fears, and concerns we face as photographers. You can expect intimate discussions on recognizing and facing your fears, overcoming obstacles and slumps, and building a strong, identifiable collection of images that you are proud of. We will discuss how using post-processing techniques through Lightroom can help put the finishing touches on your photographs. We will discuss blogging, social media, and sharing your images and the business side of fine art photography. But, mostly, we will dig deep into ways to create images that identify with who you are and what you are trying to say through your art.
This experience is framed as an intimate retreat where you are encouraged to not only connect with your fellow attendees but also to find a deeper connection with yourself and the photographs that you long to create. My hope is that you will leave the island feeling revived and inspired, ready to take on your next photography project. My goal is for you to find peace at the beach and enjoy the quiet connection that I find when I’m shooting along the shores. I believe that saltwater can calm even the most hectic of minds and I hope that you will leave the retreat feeling relaxed, inspired, and connected with yourself and your photography in a way you hadn’t experienced before.
“I didn’t want it to end, but when it did I left with a better understanding of myself as a photographer, new techniques and visions to experiment with and a strong group of women who are not only my friends but my support group!”
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• Introductory virtual chat & private online group to get to know your new friends
• 5 days of photographic opportunities and discussion with like-minded women
• Individualized hands-on instruction during immersive shooting sessions
• 5 nights of private lodging in a spacious oceanfront home
• At home meals, snacks, beverages, and cocktails for the duration of the retreat
• Transportation during the retreat
• Admission to botanical gardens
• New friends, lots of laughs, and more memories than you can count
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• Transportation to/from Avon, NC
• Admission to locations not listed above
• Travel insurance
• Personal gear, clothing, and photographic equipment
• Meals, snacks, beverages outside of the rental home
• Souvenirs & purchases
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$2500 Single occupancy king bedroom with a private bath
An initial payment of one-half of the retreat fee is required at booking. Remaining payments will be due April 1st and August 1st.
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6:30 am Sunrise shooting session
8:30 am Breakfast & coffee
10 am Guided photography discussion
12 pm Lunch on the deck
1 pm Free time to explore, rest, review images
3 pm Afternoon shooting excursion
5:30pm Sunset shooting session
7:30 pm Dinner
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• How to photograph landscapes, seascapes, and coastal scenes
• How to photograph beyond the grand landscape and seascape and see what others may overlook
• How to determine camera settings for long exposure photographs and intentional camera movement (ICM)
• Understanding the relationship between focal length, aperture, and distance
• How to use a tripod and neutral density filter
• How to improve composition using perspective and shooting techniques
• How to find inspiration in the scene when you are overwhelmed
• How to slow down, connect with your surroundings, and use your senses to improve your photographs
• How to decode and determine what and how you enjoy photographing
• How to tell the story of a place
• And much more!
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While the retreat will be full of activity, there will be breaks built-in throughout the day to offer you some downtime to rest, connect with your family back home, sight-see, or catch up on work.
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Both! By my definition, a retreat provides an environment for guidance and suggestion while allowing an individual the opportunity to explore concepts and ideas on their own. A workshop allows for guided instruction and an opportunity for intentional practice.
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To help achieve my goal of giving back and sharing the gift of creativity and photography, Jennifer Carr Photography and the Saltwater Retreat will be offering one discounted opportunity each year.
The retreat will include:
Introductory virtual chat & private online group to get to know your new friends
5 days of photographic opportunities and discussion with like-minded women
Individualized hands-on instruction during immersive shooting sessions
5 nights of private lodging with a king sized bed in a spacious oceanfront home
At home meals, snacks, beverages, and cocktails for the duration of the retreat
Transportation during the retreat
Admission fees to botanical gardens
New friends, lots of laughs, and more memories than you can count
The cost of the retreat is $2500 for a single occupancy bedroom with a private bathroom.
An initial payment of $1250, one-half of the retreat fee, is required at booking. Remaining payments will be due August 1st.
A Few Sights You Might See
F.A.Q.
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With typical highs in the 70s and lows in the 60s, the temperature remains comfortable. Rain is always possible, so please come prepared to shoot in a variety of weather conditions
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Camera- dSLR or mirrorless camera capable of shooting on manual mode.
Lenses- A variety of lenses is nice to have, but magic can be made with one lens. A wide angle can be fun, particularly on a crop sensor. And a telephoto is helpful for shooting sunrises/sunsets, wildlife, and flowers. My favorite all around lens is the 24-74 f2.8 lens. It’s a reliable workhorse for me. Additionally a telephone lens will help photograph shorebirds and distant sights.
Tripod- I prefer lightweight travel style tripods. My current favorite tripod is the Travel Tripod by Peak Design. You will want a tripod studying enough to withstand sand and wind holding the weight of your camera and heaviest lens.
Filters- I recommend a neutral density and/or dark circular polarizing filter for long exposures.
Rain/Dust Cover- this will also help if the wind is off the water and there is sea spray.
Optional- Laptop or Tablet with Lightroom updated and installed.
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I would expect it to be in the mid 70s for the retreat. I would suggest bringing layers, as the temperatures often dips in the mornings evenings. And if a northeast wind comes in, you’ll want plenty of warmth to shield you from the sea breeze!
Dress as you feel the most comfortable, keeping in mind we will be spending lots of time on the beach.
Rain boots and jackets are recommended as we will shoot in misty weather if it occurs. I don’t expect anyone to take their cameras out in a downpour (I won’t be), but sometimes even the sea spray makes you feel like wearing a waterproof jacket. And the boots will be helpful for pulling on for walks on the beach if you prefer not to be barefoot or if it’s chilly.
Sneakers or other comfy shoes are recommend for the day of our outing as we will be doing plenty of walking.
I need to also ask a favor of you all. I have an allergy to perfumes and artificial fragrances so please refrain from wearing perfumes or scented lotions.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need any help with packing ideas!
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Our ocean front cottage offers an elevator and decks overlooking the ocean. While sand provides a challenge, we have the ability to rent a beach wheelchair if needed. Most of our day trip locations provide handicap accessibility. Please reach out to me to discuss this further.
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Because the island is so remote, the closest airport is in Norfolk, VA, about 2.5 hours away. It is recommended that you work with the other attendees to share a rental car and reduce expenses. Transportation will be provided after your arrival during the retreat.
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An initial payment of one-half of the retreat fee is required at booking. Remaining payments will be due August 1st.
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This retreat is non-refundable. However, should you find another person to fill your spot prior to 60 days before the retreat date, you may transfer your registration to another person, less processing fees. There are no exceptions to this policy.
I will make every attempt to operate a retreat as planned, however, I do reserve the right to cancel, modify, or change a trip, at any time due to insufficient bookings and/or any other reasons I deem valid and/or reasons beyond my control that might create unsafe or undesirable travel conditions for the participants.
I strongly encourage you to purchase trip insurance and refundable flights to protect yourself in the event of unexpected circumstances preventing you from attending the retreat. I recommend Travelguard or World Nomads.
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We welcome adult guests of all ages! We’ve hosted all ages from 22-72.
About Hatteras Island
Hatteras Island is a tiny strip of land that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. The entire island is called Cape Hatteras National Seashore and is protected like any national park. While it is developed, many places on the island and wild and remote, with limited access only on foot. The east side offers incredible sunrises over gorgeous dunes and long sandy beaches. The island makes a sharp turn west, allowing the beach to face south and offering a unique perspective on seeing the ocean. Here the beaches are wide and littered with shells and the footprints of beautiful birds that will be on their wintering journey south in mid-October. The island is bordered on the west side by the Pamlico Sound offering still, shallow waters and breathtaking sunsets.
This gorgeous home will serve as our "base camp." The home offers spacious living areas for us to spread out our gear and be comfortable as well as plenty of space for privacy. The home offers multiple decks, pool table, game room, swimming pool and hot tub where we can wind down with a glass of wine after the events of the day. Your accommodation will be a spacious master bedroom with a private bathroom. Linens are provided. Please note that while there is an elevator, there are multiple flights of stairs in the home.
Team Saltwater Retreat
The Saltwater Retreat wouldn’t be possible without Carolyn “Muffin” Lowe. She keeps our bellies full, our hearts open, and handles all the behind the scene needs.
Read about the previous Saltwater Retreat experiences:
