AMV Wedding Workshop Santorini
Let me take a brief moment and paint a picture for you: The year is 2017, I’ve just come out of my first, full calendar year with photography as my (almost) sole source of income, and I’m hanging on by. a. thread. Getting a business going ain’t easy - but that’s another entry entirely.
I stumbled upon a fine art photographer’s wedding workshop based in Greece and instantly fell in love.
Greece had already been at the top of my travel bucket-list for maybe 5 years and the opportunity to learn from leaders in the industry was practically just a cherry on top. I was also in no position to be making such an investment (I felt) at that moment but it gave me something to aspire to. The proverbial dangling carrot, if you will. I added it to my vision boards, my goals lists, and filed it away under ‘check back annually’ in my mind.
By the time I felt ready to throw myself in and just go for it (in the Spring of 2020, unfortunately), the world was closing all of its doors. And some, including the workshop I had my hopes on for a few years by this point, never reopened.
Travel was ill-advised and unreliable for some time after this point anyway, but, that didn’t keep that same old goal from popping back into my mind.
By late 2021 I decided to start browsing the gram to see what else might be out there. Enter AMV. To be honest I don’t even remember if that was how I found Amanda and her workshop retreats but I did.
Travel restrictions were still something of a concern and I don’t think I really let myself get excited about this trip until I had already made it over to Europe.. Ultimately I think that just made the whole experience more surreal..
All BTS photos by Konstantyn
Day 1
Having already spent just under two weeks in Italy by the time I was flying into Athens, I very much looked the part of a weary traveller. I was travelling with only a backpack for my camera gear and one carry-on suitcase for everything else. I had no intentions of so much as sharing in polite conversation with my seat-mate let alone already making friends but that’s the thing about these experiences, they don’t always care what you have planned.
So, when I overheard a couple ladies strike up a conversation with someone because they realized they all had the same camera bag, it was pretty clear we were all headed to the same place. After the brief, unavoidable internal-argument my introverted self needed to have before inserting myself into the group, I gathered my things and joined the other AMV attendees waiting for the same flight to Santorini.
Upon arriving at the Rocabella Hotel and Resort, our bags were gathered and we were shown to our rooms for the duration of the workshop. A quick refresh and outfit change later and I was on my way to the masquerade dinner. It was October 31st after all.
Day 2
Here’s where the fun really began. Over breakfast we listened to beautiful and inspiring words from Andreas - he’s one of those people I consider a true artist. It’s always lovely hearing from someone who so easily romanticizes not only their work but how they go about it.
Next was our first opportunity to shoot.
We were split into groups to move through the various gorgeous settings we had available to us: flat lays, ceremony, reception, and our bride and groom. Now, if you’ve never experienced working in this kind of setting, it can absolutely be overwhelming. It was a first (for the most part) for me and what a learning experience. There's really no room to be timid if you want to get your shot.
Day 3
At this point I was borderline spent already, there was so much to absorb from our first day of shooting. It was hard to wrap my head around there being more to do at this point..
Day 4
Obviously I said yes to the bonus capsule shoot.
I know I didn’t actually go too in depth on the shooting days, but I do really feel that the photos speak for themselves. It was exciting, it was hectic, it was probably even more than I had in mind as a 23 year old just trying to get her shit together back in 2017.
It was worth the wait.