When was the last time you allowed yourself to spend time with your camera without having to prove anything? Without a long list of images you absolutely had to create? Without the pressure to be productive every day and return home with memory cards filled to the brim?
This is exactly the idea behind my Portrait Retreat in Crete.
It is neither a traditional photography trip nor a workshop in the usual sense. The Portrait Retreat is a conscious creative escape for people who love portrait photography but also understand that creativity needs more than technique, planning and performance. It needs time. Calm. Meaningful encounters. New impressions. And sometimes the courage to put the camera aside for a moment.
From 8 to 15 May 2027, we will spend eight days together in the south of Crete. The group is intentionally limited to a maximum of three participants. This creates a personal atmosphere in which meaningful exchange is possible while still leaving plenty of space for individual interests and personal time.
Why a Portrait Retreat?
Much of our everyday life is defined by speed. Photography can quickly begin to feel the same way: we are expected to constantly produce new images, improve our technical skills and make our work visible. In the process, it is easy to forget why we first started taking photographs.
Perhaps it was the joy of meeting people. Curiosity about others. A particular quality of light in a certain place. The desire to capture a fleeting expression. Or simply the feeling that carrying a camera made us look at the world more attentively.
With the Portrait Retreat, I want to create an environment in which you can reconnect with that original sense of joy. You will have time to explore your photography without turning it into a competition or following a rigid learning programme.
Of course, we will take photographs. We will work with two selected models, use natural light and draw inspiration from the landscape, architecture and atmosphere of the island. There will be shared photo sessions as well as opportunities to work independently in small groups. At the same time, the schedule will remain open enough for ideas to develop naturally rather than simply being worked through one after another.
Portrait Photography Without the Pressure to Perform
Portrait photography is built on trust, attention and genuine interest in the person in front of the camera. Strong images are not created through the correct camera settings alone. They emerge when we are present, when we observe carefully and when we truly engage with another person.
For this reason, the Retreat is not about producing as many perfect photographs as possible. A much more important question is how you photograph.
- What catches your attention?
- Which atmosphere do you want to make visible?
- How do you work together with another person?
- Which images truly feel like your own?
We will take time to talk about visual ideas, photographic language and working with models. We will exchange experiences, explore different approaches and inspire one another. You are welcome to try something new, but you can also build on methods that already feel right for you.
There is no obligation to use every part of the programme for photography. You might want to work intensively one morning and spend the afternoon sitting by the pool, walking through Plakias or simply watching the sea. These moments are also part of the Retreat.
Creativity does not only emerge while we are actively creating something. Very often, it begins precisely when things become quiet.
Exchange With Like-Minded People
Community is an important part of the Portrait Retreat. With a maximum of three participants, this is not an anonymous travel group. Instead, it becomes a personal circle of people connected by a shared passion. We will eat together, talk about photography, share thoughts and discuss ideas. And our conversations do not have to be limited to cameras, lenses or lighting techniques. There is also room to talk about inspiration, uncertainty, personal projects and the question of how you would like to develop your own photographic path.
Exchanging ideas with others can change the way you see your own work. Sometimes a single conversation, observation or different perspective is enough for a previously stuck idea to begin moving again. The Retreat is intended to be a place where these conversations can happen naturally, honestly and without the expectation that every question needs a final answer.
Crete Is More Than a Backdrop
For me, Crete is not simply a beautiful background for portrait photography. The island is an essential part of the Retreat. Crete brings together mountains and sea, openness and authenticity, lively villages and quiet landscapes. The island’s culture, food and everyday life are therefore just as much a part of our week as portrait photography.
A Greek cooking class is included in the programme. It gives us the opportunity not only to discover local dishes and ingredients, but also to experience a small part of the Cretan way of life. Exploring the region together will also allow us to experience the island more consciously.
Crete is an island of contrasts, shaped by mountains, gorges, coastlines, history, gastronomy and a strong cultural identity. This diversity makes it a special place to step away from everyday life and sharpen your awareness of the world around you.
Plakias: Between the Mountains and the Libyan Sea
Our base will be Plakias on the southern coast of Crete. The village lies in a wide bay surrounded by mountains, olive groves and the Libyan Sea. In and around Plakias, you will find long beaches, smaller coves, traditional tavernas and striking landscapes. The surrounding gorges and mountain villages also offer many opportunities to discover the region beyond a typical holiday itinerary.
Plakias combines a welcoming range of amenities with a relaxed atmosphere. You can walk along the sea, sit in a taverna, observe everyday life in the village or retreat to one of the quieter bays nearby. Well-known natural landscapes such as Kourtaliotiko Gorge and the area around Preveli are also within reach. This environment offers us many photographic opportunities. More importantly, however, it creates space: space to breathe, observe and arrive.
Staying at the Metatulia Exclusive Villas
During the Portrait Retreat, we will stay exclusively at the Metatulia Exclusive Villas, located above the coastline near Plakias. The modern property consists of multiple villas set on a hillside with open views of the sea and the surrounding landscape. The elevated location, spacious terraces and private pools create a peaceful atmosphere in which we can relax between our shared activities. The sandy beaches of the region are only a short drive away, while the centre of Plakias is approximately 4.5 kilometres from the villas.
The villas offer modern living areas, fully equipped kitchens, air conditioning and Wi-Fi. Your Retreat accommodation includes your own private bedroom. This means you will have both a shared space for conversations and encounters and a personal place to retreat whenever you need some time to yourself. This balance is especially important to me: community when you are looking for it, and privacy when you need calm.
Perhaps you will sit on the terrace in the morning with a coffee and look out over the sea. Perhaps we will discuss a photographic idea there. Perhaps a spontaneous portrait session will emerge in the evening light. And perhaps, for a while, nothing will happen at all. That is welcome too.
Who Is the Portrait Retreat For?
The Retreat is intended for photographers with experience in portrait photography who would like to take part in a special journey within a very small group. You should be comfortable operating your camera independently. However, the Retreat is not about how much equipment you own or how impressive your portfolio already is.
What matters far more is openness, mutual respect and a willingness to engage with people, conversations and new situations. Throughout the week, I will offer personal guidance, feedback and photographic input. At the same time, you will have enough freedom to follow your own ideas and work at your own pace.
A Week That Can Stay With You
The Portrait Retreat is not designed simply to provide as many scheduled activities as possible. It is intended to give you something that is often missing in everyday life: uninterrupted time.
- Time for your photography.
- Time for meaningful encounters.
- Time for conversations and new ideas.
- Time to discover Crete.
- And time in which you do not have to achieve anything.
Perhaps you will return home with a new photographic series. Perhaps you will gain a clearer idea of what you want to photograph. Perhaps you will return with new connections, fresh energy or simply beautiful memories.
Not everything has to be measurable to be valuable.
Your Place at the Portrait Retreat
The Portrait Retreat will take place from 8 to 15 May 2027. Participation is intentionally limited to three places.
The regular price is CHF 2,690.
Bookings made by 30 September 2026 benefit from the special early booking price of CHF 2,480, saving you CHF 210.
The price includes, among other things:
- Accommodation with your own private bedroom
- Breakfast
- Photo sessions and collaboration with two models
- A Greek cooking class
- Organisation and personal photographic guidance throughout the Retreat
Travel to and from Crete, additional meals, personal expenses and general expenses connected with the daily programme are not included. You can book your place directly with me or through the BeInspired Fotoschule.
You can also request further information about the Portrait Retreat here:
Perhaps you do not need another traditional photography workshop right now. Perhaps what you need is time, space and people who share your enthusiasm for portrait photography.
That is exactly what the Portrait Retreat in Crete is intended to offer.