Sandi Gaz Wellness Retreat 2024 | Event Photography | Finger Lakes, NY
Photographing this annual wellness retreat is a double level of happiness for me. First, event photography is some of my absolute FAVORITE. Second, getting the chance to share in a safe space with these incredible women each year fills my soul.
I’ve watched my sister build this retreat from the ground up. As a life-long mental health professional, she pours her heart and soul into the planning and customizing intricate details of every part of the weekend. We’ve learned so much, and each year the retreat grows and shapes into something new and beautiful. (See more from last year here.)
We began the weekend with yoga and meditation every day, a luxury in itself (who makes the time?! I am currently editing and typing this blog post at 5:53am hoping to get it done before the kids wake up.)
We experienced massages, an art therapy session, a spa night, personalized headshot sessions for each attendee, progressive muscle relaxation, and concluded the weekend with some Finger Lakes local wine around the bonfire (my personal favorite!)
I think what I love the most about the headshot sessions is that we chose to do them on the second to last day. At this point, the women are all pretty comfortable with me (we’ve gotten to know each other over shared experiences all weekend, and our relationship is strong.) Even if they aren’t the most comfortable in front of the camera, they absolutely GLOW. Headshots are so much more than just snapping a photo. They capture the soul and energy of a person, and when you’re able to establish a relationship first, what comes out of it is GOLD.
Thank you so much to my sister for hosting another incredible, soul-filling retreat. It’s one of my favorite events every year, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with for the next one!
