Photography Retreat Vol.5
with Chantal Convertini and Lena Aires
Thessaloniki, Greece
5 - 9 October 2023
Chantal aka @paeulini
Lena aka @love.errs
We are so excited to finally reveal the location and details of our next Photography Retreat! This October we are going to a private villa right by the sea in Thessaloniki, Greece from 5th - 9th October. These get togethers are a real labour of love by Chantal and I — we look forward to them so much every year and each time they prove to be more magical than the last. You can find all the information that you need here including how to book your ticket.
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to shoot us a message via email or on our socials.
We hope to meet, connect and shoot with you very soon! xx
What to expect at the Photography Retreat
Our main aim of these special get-togethers is to create a beautiful space for like minded creatives to meet, connect, share their passion and get inspired!
Over the course of four nights and five days Chantal and Lena will share their knowledge and experience of their personal photography practice, lead several portrait shooting sessions and guide you through a loose programme of shooting and creating together. We aim to teach you about both the technical side of photography and how to delve deeper into your own practise, encouraging you to try new things and experiment. For those who want to learn more about shooting film / self-portraiture on film, and especially those who would like to dip a toe into analog photography but don’t know where to start, we have a dedicated Fundamentals of Film session with lots of tips, tricks and techniques for you:)
Aside from these inputs and giving you the opportunity to create relentlessly, there will be plenty of time to rest, relax, swim in the sea, have good conversation and make new connections, eat delicious food and drink good wine! The get-togethers are suited for any level of photographer, film or digital - whether you are a complete beginner looking to learn the basics, or you are an advanced photographer just looking to meet new people and find new inspiration.
For more info on the vision behind our retreats and to see more photographs, check out the ‘retreats’ page at the top of this page and you can also visit Chantal’s website here.
Location
The villa is located just outside the village of Nikiti, a one hour car ride from Thessaloniki airport. Once you have booked your ticket we’ll send out the exact location of the house along with directions on how to get there including various transport options.
The Villa
The villa is set in 3500 square metres of private green grounds full of trees and wild flowers and as it comes with its own private beach that sits right on the doorstep, so you have the luxury of stunning sea views whilst you sit and have your breakfast! There is a range of shared rooms, several bathrooms, two kitchens, a big living area, air-conditioning and free wifi. The villa offers plenty of light, airy space to shoot, socialise and relax in. Please see all the gorgeous photos below!
Food
All food and drink is included with your ticket price. We have a chef cooking us a hot main meal at dinner time and for breakfast and lunch we will provide a help-yourself style buffet of local produce. We will provide mainly vegetarian options to ensure all needs are catered for but there will also be some meat options for those who would like it. We supply a small amount of alcohol for the first night but the rest of the days you are free to bring your own. Usually everyone brings a bottle and we share! Please let us know of any allergies or dietary requirements you may have in advance so we can plan the menu accordingly.
Timings
We start our adventure on Thursday 5th October. We aim to gather together and start the retreat officially at 3pm. If you arrive earlier you can relax in the villa, take a walk to the beach for a swim or explore the house and get shooting! If you arrive later than 3pm then not to worry as this first afternoon is more about getting to know each other, settling into the house and sharing a bit about ourselves. The official end of the retreat is Monday morning when we are all required to check out by 10am sharp.
Cost and how to buy your ticket
The cost of the retreat is 1500CHF or £1350 per person and includes shared accommodation in the villa and breakfast, lunch and dinner during your five day stay. If you are ready to book you will need to make a deposit of either 500CHF or £450 and then pay the remaining amount by Thursday 7th September 2023.
To do this please send an email to Chantal or myself, (contact@paeulini.com / lena.87@gmail.com) telling us a bit about yourself, your photography journey and why you would like to join us on the retreat. Once you are ready to book your ticket we will send you a private payment link where you will be able to securely pay either in GBP or CHF via bank transfer, PayPal, ApplePay, credit card or bank transfer. Once we have received your deposit, your place is confirmed! This amount will then be deducted from the final fee (please bear in mind that the deposit is non-refundable). You can pay in instalments if you would like, just let us know and we are happy to accommodate your needs.
We hope you can join us in Greece!
Much love,
Chantal and Lena xx
