In June this year, I got approached by Paige Dryland to photograph her next retreat in Marrakesh, a destination that I hadn't personally explored but was super excited to. So, of course, I said yes! What followed were days filled with breath work sessions under the Moroccan night sky, shared dinners in our peaceful riad, exploring the souks together and a trip to the desert. Through my lens, I saw friends becoming strangers, women supporting women, and Paige's magic working its thing as each of us felt a little bit more grounded each day we were there.
Our Riad
Our beautiful riad – we stayed in Riad Le Cinq – in the heart of Marrakesh' historical centre was the perfect peaceful haven to come home to after a busy day exploring. Upon entering the riad, I immediately noticed the calming scents that filled the rooms, and the beautiful bright colours and abundance of plants that made the place perfect for us all to retreat in.
Yoga under the stars
Paige is not only a retreat host but also a passionate yoga teacher and sound healing facilitator. So, as part of the retreat, guests enjoyed yoga in the morning (the perfect start to the day!) and breath work sessions in the evening. Because of the riad's open roof, we could see the night sky during our breath work sessions, which added to the deep meditative experience. As the photographer, I quietly and gently moved around the room during some of the morning yoga sessions to capture some authentic, natural and spontaneous portraits of Paige's yoga. Paige and I also made use of the riad's beautiful setting to make time for a brief personal branding photo session, providing her with images she'd be able to use to promote future retreats and yoga sessions.
Exploring the souks
I'd heard many stories about Marrakesh' iconic souks – the traditional and bustling open-air marketplaces filled with vendors and artisans selling everything from spices and handbags to homeware and jewellery. When we visited Marrakesh, a heatwave made it nearly impossible to walk in the sun, so it felt good to stay under the shade of the souks' covered markets. Lucky for us, this also meant that the souks were relatively quiet, so we could wander around a little bit more freely than would've been the case on busy days. Most of all, I was mesmerised by all the beautiful colours of the buildings and artisan tapestries, so beautiful!
Desert Sunset
An afternoon and evening trip to the desert was by far my highlight of the trip. We started the afternoon with a visit to a community of local women making amlou, a type of almond butter mixed in with honey (which we got to try every morning and which is so so good!) and a selection of products containing argan oil, and ended the evening dancing in the desert. Watching the sunset in the desert was magical, to say the least.
Painting Session
Paige's retreats are centered around female connection and empowerment, and having been on a few of her retreats (both as a photographer and as a guest), I've noticed that arts and crafts are a core part of this. There's something really special and inspiring about getting creative with a group of women you've only just met. One of the retreat guests, Monica, hosted a painting session for all of us, talking us through colour theory and sharing her knowledge and passion for the arts with us.
My role & involvement as a photographer
As retreat photographer at this beautiful retreat in Marrakesh, I captured the retreat's most memorable moments – our wonderful excursions, craft sessions, daily yoga and spontaneous moments with the group – the stunning location, and the connections that are made between retreat guests. I move around the room and yoga sessions quietly and unobtrusively, making sure that memories are captured whilst respecting guests' privacy at all times. Photographing retreats, all its genuine and emotional moments included, is such an incredible honour, and something I'm very passionate about.