THE RETREAT 2026 itinerary
Casa Del Mar, Encounter Bay
One day + overnight stay
12
Reece Campbell
DETAILS
Host: Reece, 0421506412
Date: 10 September 2026
Address: 201B Waitpinga Road, Encounter Bay, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia
Arrival: 10:00AM
SLEEPERS
Overnight stayers, please see Reece when you arrive to allocate your bedroom!
Bedroom 1 - Reece, Neil
Bedroom 2 - Lucy
Bedroom 3 - Alix
Bedroom 4 - Tara, Charlotte
Bedroom 5 - Laura
DAYERS
Billie, Maria, Laila, Tina, Sophie
GETTING THERE
The address of the property is 201 Waitpinga rd Encounter Bay.
This is wat the entrance of the road looks like.
When you enter you follow the dirt road along (it says private rd a few times but you need to continue ahead).
You will pass a gate and come at a section where the road splits in two. This is what it looks like:
Follow the road on the right hand side and you will arrive at the Casa Del Mar on your left.
Villa VALUES
PRESENCE - Give 110%. Be on time, phones down, stay open-minded.
RESPECT - Be honest and kind. No judgment, no bad-mouthing clients or other businesses, no poaching or pitching.
TRUST - What's said here stays here. It's okay to pass. Only give advice if asked.
ENJOYMENT - Drink what you want, share what you want, have fun.
The Day
10:00 - Arrival
First names, coffee, overnight people see Reece for room allocation.
10:30 - Welcome circle (LAWN)
Values, rules, and rhythm of the day.
10:45 - Mini Sessions (LOUNGE)
Reece - Systems Fundamentals / business mindset
Tina - How I set goals in my business and why you should too
Alix - The Responsiveness Advantage: Why 'I've Got You' Is Your Best Marketing
Tara - Editing for Reach: BTS, Trends & Graphics
Maria - Consistency Beats Perfection
12:00 - Lunch
BYO. Loren (facilitator) arrives to set up.
1:00 - Creative Reflection Activity - (LAWN)
Guest facilitator Loren. The single most valuable skill in business is focus. Let's reflect on why we do what we do, and why we started it.
2:30 - Process time
Chill, connect, relax, use the games room, soak in the view, nap, do your own thing.
5:00 - Dinner
Provided. GF catered for. Everyone say thanks Neil!
6:00 - Mini Sessions, wine, platters (LOUNGE)
Billie - Finding (and Owning) Your Style
Lucy - From Events to Weddings
Laura - How I Landed and Upsold My Best-Ever Booking TBC
Reece - Meta Ads - the basics
7:30 - Closing circle (ATRIUM)
If something has gone well for you today, someone has given you an idea, challenged your thinking, or inspired you, now is the time to thank them. The compliment stays in the room, forever; the regret of not saying it does too.
*Day visitors can leave or hang around for fire chats and hot seat*
7:45 to late - Chill out, chats, fire.
What's better than one brain? Multiple.
Hot seat: bring a real problem, a question, or something you want the group's advice on to the pit.
It only works if you tell the truth - not the version for your family or your Instagram, the thing you haven't been able to solve for six months.
Bring a notebook. You'll want to remember this one.
Rules:
1) Speak as little as possible, listen as much as you can.
2) What's shared at the fire stays at the fire.
3) You can always pass.
CHECKOUT 10AM
Meet the Group
Photographer, REECE LACHLAN PHOTO
Reece
Years in business: 1
Strengths: I think I am really good at systems and business mindset. Coming from a background of running a school, I understand deeply how to make things efficient, get clarity on what's my "core work", and how the way we actually do things on our back end can help or hinder us. I am alright at meta ads, and basic sales techniques such as website client funnels etc! I am pretty good at getting to the actual root core of many things and not much fluff. Looking at evidence, best approaches, what works, and just giving it a crack! I also think my personal mindset of ALWAYS being a learner and in a constant state of improvement myself is a huge strength.
Recent win: I quit my education job of 10 years and grew a full time wedding photo business. Within 12 months we have 300k of revenue on the books for 2026-2027. I've done this by having razor sharp focus on my goals and also continually "checking in" with myself re my business vs hobby/creative mindset.
One thing I'm working on in my business: Omg, bloody photo editing. Drives me up the wall. Also re-gaining balance with business/personal life.
CELEBRANT, alix the celebrant
Alix
Years in business: 9
Strengths: The client experience. Noticing all the things. Taking couples and guests on a journey during the ceremony. I feel like I nail the flow of it.
Recent win: I’m often told “Alix you were by far the best and most responsive supplier and we never felt worried or anxious about you or your service (and I ain't someone who constantly replies the second an enquiry comes it) I think this is a huge win!
One thing I'm working on in my business: Basically anything automation, website, ads. I struggle with some of the “back end” stuff. Oh and tax. Tax and accounting kill me.
PHOTOGRAPHER, good lovin
Billie
Years in business: 7
Strengths: My style is so me so I could teach others about branding themselves and their work, finding their style etc.
Recent win: I fully booked my last 2 wedding seasons and feel like I have gotten to maybe 80% ideal client bookings (rough guess I should check this number) also shooting intentionally and loving shooting with film!!!!
One thing I'm working on in my business: Posing couples lol specifically awkward couples who need extra guidance. Switching my fkn brain off after hours hahahhaa.
Photographer, LUCY PARTINGTON WEDDINGS
Lucy
Years in business: 10+
Strengths: I have 20+ years in events, dealing with 200+ staff, high pressure situations, working on the arts, so my approach from a customer service and how I present myself is def tailored from that back ground
Recent win: The win for me was quitting my comfy full time job and going full time freelancer. It took a lot of planning and organising before also due to having 2 kids, mortgage and a dog.
One thing I'm working on in my business: Meta ads, marketing.
CELEBRANT, tina the celebrant
Tina
Years in business: 1.5
Strengths: It's usually other celebrants asking about the forms/legal requirements or hairy situations. They have a problem, don't know what to do, they ask Tina. So many don't have a contract, nor do they protect themselves by having things in writing. They should also be taking copious notes. I also get a lot of questions about instagram and I fucking love instagram. ChatGPT has taught me a lot about insta.
Recent win: For me it's been able to build a business that pays my mortgage. So being strategic with my time, tracking leads to see what works and setting goals for myself. Breaking down those goals and working towards them every single day. Also being a YES person whenever I can. Expos have been a huge success for me. I can speak to that too if you'd like.
One thing I'm working on in my business: SEO - don't get me started. It's on my to do list, I never seem to get to it. MY website hits are a joke!
PHOTOGRAPHER, shots by m
Maria
Years in business: 10
Strengths: I’m fairly good at being consistent in posting on socials + scheduling on the app. I also have a good approach to ‘waiting for the moment’ to arrive as opposed to over shooting - this can be so daunting.
Recent win: A big win was incorporating film into my packages because it’s something I’ve always loved to use in my personal life, so adding it is the bees knees in my work & having couples approach me specifically on my film shots is a big compliment.
One thing I'm working on in my business: I’d love to get better at Facebook ads, Reel ideas + Instagram captions: knowing what to write or market sometimes doesn’t come easy to me (it’s the bane of my work existence).
CONTENT CREATOR, visuals with tara
Tara
Years in business: 2
Strengths: Capturing the emotion, being a fly on the wall, being a comforting and friendly face throughout the day
Recent win: Assisting a few couples in sharing their elopement at their engagement party as a surprise! I’ve done 3 now which feels bizzare haha.
One thing I'm working on in my business: The back end of business! Platforms, spreadsheets, workflows, even advertising etc.
CELEBRANT, wed by laura head
Laura
Years in business: 1.5 years
Strengths: Making people feel seen and comfortable.
Recent win: I think I’m a natural sales person lol, but that’s not a win. I think launching the business and moving to Adelaide and figuring it out is a massive win. For me I love finding the interesting bits about couples and remembering them to incorporate into ceremony. How do I make the couple feel seen heard and valued. Doing a Mc and wedding gig (got the gig because originally celebrate pulled out) wrote the pitch got the client and then managed to sell on the mc component and get the best review ever. It was making sure to create an experience that was above and beyond.
One thing I'm working on in my business: Admin, Google adverts, systems and systems
PHOTOGRAPHER, neil sorano studio
Neil
Years in business: 4
Strengths: How I connect and get the most fun out of the event hosts and attendees.
One thing I'm working on in my business: Paid ads
PHOTOGRAPHER, SOLEMATE STUDIOS
Laila
Years in business: 6
Strengths: I’m absolutely not expert but branding and website design, a little bit of SEO, maybe marketing??
Recent win: Probably repositioning Solemate towards a higher-end market and increasing our pricing without losing bookings. I’ve become much more intentional about the work we show, the language on our website, our packages, how we respond to enquiries and the overall client experience. Rather than trying to appeal to everyone, I’ve focused on making the brand speak directly to the couples we actually want to photograph. I’d happily walk through the changes I made and what I think has had the biggest impact.
One thing I'm working on in my business: Breaking further into the higher-end wedding market, particularly networking and building relationships with planners, venues and other vendors who are already working with that clientele. I’d also love to get better at turning social media into a better marketing tool rather than just posting work and hoping the right people see it.
CELEBRANT, SOPH THE CELEBRANT
Sophie
Years in business: 3
Strengths: Honestly, I get asked so often how I manage the business with two kids and while also working at SAPOL. It definitely doesn’t come “easy” and it’s a huge juggle etc / but having passion for being a celebrant makes that part of it feel easy in a way.
Recent win: A win for me was getting to 1k followers on insta, putting my prices up and being more confident, showing up on stories etc more and being my real authentic self!
One thing I'm working on in my business: Posting to social media (my grid is lacking consistent posting and I get overwhelmed by all the content I have but don’t share haha)
live illustrator, charlotte beddoes illustration
Charlotte
Years in business: 3
Strengths: Adaptability - able to think quickly on my feet, problem solve and adjust my offerings to what the market wants. Personal connection, automated systems in place to keep admin up to date so I can allow for space and time to be creative.
Recent win:
Working on/would like to grow in: currently working on my stationery. Would like to expand skills in this, and work on some systems to help me stay organised. Would like to continue building my confidence in myself (and remove that self doubt!)
Whether you think you can or can't - you're right.
HENRY FORD
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.
Stephen R. Covey
Thanks for JOINING!