Key Takeaways from the Personal Brand Photography Retreat

Last month, I attended Angie McPherson’s brand photography retreat in Orlando, Florida. And oh my gosh, what a retreat! It was two full days of learning, laughing, and getting totally hyped about our businesses (you can feel our excitement in this Reel)! Here are my eight takeaways from the retreat:

1. The Power of Community & Support

There’s nothing quite as exciting as being surrounded by twelve like-minded, high-energy brand photographers. During the photography retreat, I was surrounded by a group of absolutely amazing hype women who genuinely celebrated each other’s strengths (I get chills just thinking about it!).

Even though we came from across the U.S. (and even from England!), our shared passion for business and photography bonded us instantly! While the networking opportunities were wonderful, the friendships we formed are what I’ll remember the most!

2. Learning from a Leader I Admire

Everyone knows the impact a great teacher can have, and Angie was a great teacher. My one-on-one coaching session with her gave me a new perspective and helped me gain clarity on my next steps in business. Having someone with her expertise guide me was amazing!

She also really focused on teaching us effective, easy-to-implement strategies for our businesses. During the photography retreat, we did deep dives into social media frameworks and email marketing strategies. We looked at real-life case studies, all of which helped me come up with actionable takeaways that fit into my current business strategies.

3. The Magic of Thoughtful Details

Not all photography retreats are the same, and Angie made sure that hers stood out! When we arrived, we each received a personalized goodie bag with our favorite candy (Sour Patch Kids for me!). She also created a content-focused bingo challenge to encourage us to step outside our comfort zones. Oh, and the bingo had prizes! Attendees won a $25 Amazon gift card for a regular bingo and $100 for a full blackout—and our group almost all got blackout bingo! I loved the way Angie turned learning into a game.

4. The Lesson of Saying Yes (Even When It’s Scary)

One of the bingo challenges required us to go Live on Instagram for over five minutes—something many in the group found (understandably!) intimidating! One of my 2025 goals is to get more comfortable going Live, so I already had some experience. However, one of the other attendees had never gone Live before, so I teamed up with her (there’s power in numbers!). We did an interview-style Live (where she asked me business-related questions!), which helped take the pressure off a little. My biggest takeaway from this challenge was that empowering others to step outside their comfort zones can be just as rewarding as doing it yourself.

5. Intentional Time to Learn, Create, & Rest

As entrepreneurs, we are busy. By attending the photography retreat, I was able to step away from my normal business tasks and really focus on learning ways to grow my business. Our mornings at the retreat were packed with lessons and discussions. We took a break in the middle of the day to recharge and connect–and to work on our bingo cards! The fun, lighthearted games gave the whole retreat slumber party vibes, which was a total blast! We even took some time to explore Disney Springs (where we had a delicious dinner) and do a photoshoot exchange in Celebration, Orlando (the cutest little downtown!).

6. Next-Level Content Creation

During the photography retreat, we learned how to level up our content creation, and we had plenty of time to practice! We swapped mini-shoots and really focused on capturing brand-aligned headshots. We also got lots of hands-on practice with making Reels content, as well as learning content repurposing strategies (because let’s face it, being an entrepreneur is hard, and we need to learn how to do more with what we already have!).

7. A Major Realization: I Need More Photography Retreats Like This

The last time I attended an in-person photography retreat was 2019–which was way too long ago! Even though I do a lot of local networking, these immersive retreats invigorate me in a totally different way. While not all retreats are worth the investment (I have heard some horror stories!), choosing the right one can transform your business (it has mine, that’s for sure!). Be sure to do lots of research before investing in a retreat, but don’t let too much time pass before you pour into yourself and your growth! Remember, you are worth it!

8. Walking Away with Confidence & Clarity

I left the photography retreat feeling affirmed in the strategies I already have in place (it was a relief not feeling like I had to completely overhaul my business!). I also left with tons of fresh ideas on how to build upon my business! 

But my biggest takeaway from the retreat was the realization that personal brand photography is exactly where I’m meant to be–and that is a truly wonderful feeling.

I learned so much during this retreat, and I can’t wait to share it with my fellow entrepreneurs! If you’re interested in learning some tips and tricks from a fellow businesswoman, check out Mentorship With Marissa. I want to help you invest in your business–and yourself!