About The Retreat

The Portrait Photography Retreat at the Fattoria di Camporomano in Tuscany (Italy) is an immersive experience of self-discovery and personal growth, designed to bring deeper awareness to the way we photograph (and approach other activities in life).

It’s a fun, nourishing and creative journey crafted to support participants to cultivate new skills, find inspiration and improve interpersonal abilities.

The teachings focus on refining the photographer’s sensitivity, helping them break free from the habitual way of looking at the world and to easily move through the various steps in image production. It’s an intense and playful retreat that uses photography as a tool to inquire into reality and ourselves.

The retreats are really laid back, an opportunity to set aside competitiveness and enjoy the company of like-minded creative people. There’s nothing to prove, no results to achieve, no one to impress, just a playground brimming with inspiration to cultivate new skills and explore photography as a tool that supports us in an intensely nourishing creative journey.

Activities / classes

The retreat is intended for photography enthusiasts of all levels who are willing to embark on an immersive experience of self-discovery and personal growth.

Our classes are hands-on and experiential. There are exercises on perception, interaction and creativity to be performed individually, in pairs or in a group, with or without the camera.

How do we usually perceive reality around us? Objects, views and people emit a different light when observed with conscious attention: beyond their shapes, materials, colors and textures, they are an expression of life itself.

Capturing that depth through our lens is different from pursuing a “nice picture.” It requires knowing how to connect with the subject and how to use one’s own personal photographic technique promptly and flexibly.

And how do we feel while shooting? What makes us feel uncomfortable or excited? Several different exercises are designed to improve our presence and capacity to focus and interact.

We offer Qi Gong sessions every morning. We start with a warm up to generate energy and shake off stiffness or tiredness, followed by a simple sequence of movements.

These are like the movements you see in T’ai Chi practice: gentle postures that flow slowly, cultivate focus, relaxation and balance, and support us in finding more harmony between mind and body and breath. The sequence is performed standing, wearing our everyday clothes.

Throughout the retreat, we will cultivate presence with short guided meditations.

Optional activities

During the retreat, there will also be moments for relaxation with optional activities to better metabolize what you learn.

You can stay at the Fattoria, strolling along the botanical trail or enjoy some sunshine by the pool. Or you can discover and enjoy arts, archaeology and architecture when visiting the surrounding areas: Florence is about an hour away, Cinque Terre about one and a half, while Pisa and Lucca can be reached in 15 to 25 minutes.

Also in the vicinity is Lake Massaciuccoli, a birdwatchers’ paradise where you can rent canoes and bicycles for independent or guided excursions. Only a short drive away is the beautiful forest and nature trails of Migliarino/San Rossore.

Sea boat excursions can also be organized. If you want to treat yourself to a massage, that’s possible too. All these activities are not included in the retreat package and can be arranged as extras.

Teachers / instructors

Enzo Dal Verme

Enzo Dal Verme is an Italian portrait photographer drawing on over three decades of experience in meditation. He approaches photography as a path of self-discovery and personal growth.

His portraits have been published in Vanity Fair, l’Uomo Vogue, The Times, GQ, Madame Figarò, Elle, Glamour, Vogue Sport, Marie Claire and many other international magazines.

Bibi Brown

Bibi Brown has been practicing T’ai Chi and Qi Gong for over 40 years and has taught regular Qi Gong groups in London.

She is the author of the book “Qi Gong: The Chinese art of working with energy”.

Schedule / Typical day

The retreat begins with dinner on the first day and ends before dinner on the last day. During the retreat, lectures and exercises are alternated with free time to relax by the pool or venture out and discover the art cities nearby or the surrounding nature.

A typical daily routine goes something like this:

08:00 am to 08:30 am – Qi Gong & Tai Chi movement

08:30 am to 09:30 am – An abundant and yummy breakfast

09:30 am to 09:45 am – Meditation

09:45 am to 01:00 pm – Lecture, indoor and outdoor exercises on perception, framing, concentration

01:00 pm to 02:00 pm – A delicious lunch

02:45 pm to 07:00 pm – Lecture, indoor and outdoor exercises on natural light, photographer/subject interaction or free afternoon

07:00 pm to 08:00 pm – A delicious dinner

08:30 pm to 10:30 pm – Projection of photos taken by students on the day, editing tips and discussion or free evening

Food / Cuisine

Traditional Tuscan recipes are prepared daily by the farm’s cooks using hearty ingredients (some of them picked directly from the vegetable garden).

Meals are deliciously vegan, so the pleasure of good food is celebrated every day with tasty and mouthwatering dishes that are also healthy, minimize our impact on the planet and don’t harm the animals.

Those with food intolerances or special needs can indicate this when booking. Yummy snacks are available throughout the day.

Location and how to get there

Fattoria Di Camporomano is a beautiful historic residence nestled in an oasis of peace in the heart of Tuscany (Italy).

It is set on a 40-hectare hillside planted with olive trees that includes a botanical trail through forest and olive groves, plus spectacular views of the surroundings. Hospitality is offered in the renovated old cottages, each different from the others. Plants and flowers surround the swimming pool to enhance moments of relaxation.

The guest rooms are all distinct and located in the apartments/cottages scattered around the estate. Some rooms have private bathrooms, and others share a bathroom with another room.

The number of single rooms is limited; those who book early have a better chance of securing their desired room.

The nearest international airport is Pisa, about 30 minutes away. The Florence airport is about one hour away.

The nearest train station is Viareggio, about 8.5 km from the Fattoria di Camporomano. Cab service is available from the Viareggio train station and pick-up service can be arranged for a fee.

Retreat Price

From €1090,00 to €1450,00 depending on the chosen accommodation. If you book by February 26, 2023 at 7:30pm Central European Time we have a €100 Early Bird discount.

Included

• Accommodation
• Daily teaching sessions and all group activities
• Three freshly prepared vegan meals per day
• A variety of healthy and delicious snacks during the retreat
• Teas, juices, water throughout the retreat
• Use of the pool
• Daily housekeeping
• Wi-fi pass
• Taxes

Not included

• Airfare
• Airport transfers
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Personal expenses and extras
• Optional activities

How to book

To check availability and secure your place at the Portrait Photography Retreat, please visit the website.