Part two of the weekend: Okay, I am just going to warn you, this post is HUGE. Like REALLY huge. Like go & make your self a huge pot of tea + some snacks huge.

I am not much for words, but I do want to thank all the amazing staff and sponsors that made this retreat possible (all listed below). I am so lucky to have found such an amazing and hard working team who come back every year & slog it out with me. Nothing is too hard, none are too precious, and all of us are willing to wash dishes in the freezing cold at 3am (really planning to move the retreat to summer next year for this reason haha!).

The new additions this year was Nadine, who created THE most beautiful floral installations I could have imagined. She truly went above & beyond and our jaws were pretty much on the floor every time we walked into the next table set up.

But what made this retreat special and unique was our special guest Bea. I had the pleasure of spending a few days in Sydney with her and her husband. We ate our way through the city and got to know each other. I loved to know a bit about the girl behind the lens, and her beautiful, kind and generous personality was a true highlight for our guests. Thank you Bea for everything.

The photos here are from the second and third day of the weekend. We kicked Saturday morning off with a breakfast of Spanish hot chocolate & jaffles, then started the practical portions of our class. Bea taught her signature style of photography and I taught hard light (high & low apertures) and we tried our hand at some splash photography (this was messy but fun!). After a picnic box lunch, we got straight back to shooting until sunset. Then we all sat by the fire and did a Q&A, covering all things from marketing to pricing.

Then we retreated to the barn for a candle lit dinner. Louis cooked most of the food on hot coals (seriously check out the photos) which was pretty special. The night kicked on by the fire, and some of us even went to the middle of a dark road to photograph the sky – it was so beautiful.

Sunday was spent having a breakfast of black rice pudding and salep, then we headed off into the editing cave to talk all things Lightroom. We finished the day with a spot of morning tea + rolled everyone home with lunch take away packs of pastrami & Jarlsberg sandwiches + a pear & ginger meal cake.

I have included the links to our partners and the menus from the weekend (just so we never forget the DELICIOUS food cooked by Louis & Iwona). Needless to say, no one went home hungry.

~ Partners ~ 

Teachers: Bea Lubas | Instagram 

Venue: Bundara Farm | Instagram

Food: Boy & Spoon| Instagram

Styling: Wild Flora| Instagram

Most wonderful helpers: Ryan, Megan, Emma & Darek

Wine: Collector Wines | Instagram

Zero Proof Cocktails: Altina | Instagram

Ceramics: Clay Bee Hive | Instagram

Plateware: Ecology Homewares

Glassware: Luigi Bormioli | Pasabache | Sauvage Urbain

~ Gifts ~ 

Ceramic pourer: Girl Nomad Ceramics | Instagram

Baked goods: Three Mills | Instagram

Ceramic bowl: Clay Bee Hive | Instagram

Wine: Collector Wines | Instagram

~ Saturday breakfast ~ 

Moroccan Three Bean Jaffle

Feta & Avocado Mash, Shakshuka with Za’Tar , Quail Egg

Spanish Hot Chocolate

~ Lunch ~ 

Warm spanikopita

Fasolia Salata

Sour cherry chocolate rose bar

~ Afternoon tea ~ 

Three mills pastries

~ Dinner ~ 

Starters

Celeriac veloute, pine nut, parmesan croutons

Mains

South coast snapper, herbed yoghurt, chilli oil

Lamb shoulder, polenta

Sides

Charred vegetables, labneh, za’tar

Cabbage, anchoide, puffed grains

Jacket potatoes, blue cheese sauce

Dessert

Miso cheesecake, jujube, cornflake crumb

~ Sunday breakfast ~ 

Black rice pudding, coconut yoghurt, wild quince, puffed quinoa

Salep

~ Farewell morning tea ~

Pastrami, roast pepper & Jarlsberg on ciabatta

Pear & ginger meal cake with pistachios

This next shot is by Megann Evans.

Next 3 shots are by Bonnie Greene.

THE GROUP!!!!

Don’t forget to hashtag #workshopwiththemacadames when attending my retreats, I love to see your experience.

Anisa Sabet. xx