The Saltwater Retreat
Sandbridge, Virginia Beach, VA

• Introductory virtual chat & private online group to get to know your new friends

• 4 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

• New friends, lots of laughs, and more memories than you can count

•Transportation to/from Sandbridge, VA. Uber, Lyft, or taxis are readily available.

•Trip insurance

•Personal gear, clothing, and photographic equipment

•Meals, snacks, beverages outside of the rental home

•Individual admission fees to local attractions

5:15 am                Sunrise shoot on the beach

7:30 am                Breakfast & coffee on the oceanfront deck

9:30 am                Excursion to the local sights or guided photography discussion

3:00 pm               Down time for rest and relaxation

5:30 pm               Home cooked dinner at the house

6:30 pm               Sunset shooting at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

*Locations are subject to change.

• 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!

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.

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.

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 scholarship opportunity each year.

Apply here

In Virginia Beach during May average daily high temperatures increase from 71°F to 78°F. Rain is always possible, so please come prepared to shoot in a variety of weather conditions.

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.

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!

Pack casual, comfortable clothes and flip flops or sandals that you don’t mind getting sandy or even a little wet.

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), 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 recommended for the day of our outing as we will be doing plenty of walking.

I need to also ask a favor of you. I have an allergy to perfumes and artificial fragrances so please refrain from wearing perfumes, scented lotions, or other scented products.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need any help with packing ideas!

We welcome adult guests of all ages! We’ve hosted all ages from 22-72.

If you are arriving by plane, you can easily find ground transportation by taxi, Uber, or Lyft at Norfolk International Airport. There is no need to rent a car as transportation will be provided during the retreat.

If you are arriving by car, I will provide you with the address of the home. For planning purposes you can navigate to Little Island Park.

An initial payment of one-half of the retreat fee is required at booking. Remaining payment will be due April 1st.

This retreat is non-refundable. However, should you find another person to fill your spot prior to 30 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.

Our ocean front cottage has 15 steps to get into the home. Once inside, there is no need to climb additional stairs. There are decks overlooking the ocean allowing you to photograph sunrise without needed to step on the sand. 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.