The Real World Bainbridge Island | San Diego Family Photographer

This is the true story of 9 photographers picked to live in a house, to find out what happens when people stop being polite, and start getting real. The Real World Bainbridge Island.

Ok so this isn’t really The Real World, but are there any fellow Real World fans out there?? I started watching when Season 2- Venice was on, and continued to watch each and every season for the next 10+ years. At one time, I even thought I wanted to be on the show! What an adventure it would be; leave everything and everyone you know. Move to an awesome city to have crazy experiences with 6 other people who are probably nothing like myself. YES Please!… Except, then Real World Las Vegas happened. The franchise was suddenly all about people hooking up on camera and less about much of anything else. Meh. Adventure fantasy ruined.

For the sake of this blog post, let’s forget Real World Orgy ever happened. Rewind back to the cool years of Real World. Imagine you are one of the people leaving home, for a new city, to spend time with complete strangers. It feels exciting- and semi terrifying! This is how I felt last week as I embarked on a life changing adventure called Blair + Thurston Photography Retreat 2016.

Unlike the Real World, reality TV cameras did NOT follow us around [Thank God!]. Our retreat was 3 days, not 3 months. And a dirty bicycle messenger did not stick his finger in the communal jar of peanut butter. Instead, I met 8 amazing women [I’ll link their websites at the end of this post] from all over the country [Alaska, Hawaii, Texas, California, & Washington] who share a passion for photography. Elena S Blair and Bre Thurston, talented photographers, and savvy business women welcomed us to Bainbridge Island with open arms, and a killer house as the location of the retreat. Over the next 3 days I attempted to soak up every ounce of information they threw at us. The days were long but filled with so much goodness including: two photoshoots, portfolio critiques, a guest speaker, business advice, yoga, chef prepared meals, tasty beverages, and a lot of laughter. The strangers I was nervous about meeting turned out to be women I felt like I had known for years. We had so much in common, I loved getting to know more about their businesses, life, and families. The whole retreat felt so natural, and comfortable. I left this Blair + Thurston Retreat feeling inspired and energized to keep growing as a photographer, and hustling as a business woman. While I will never be on reality TV [phew!] I did get a taste of adventure with strangers I can now call friends. Thank you Elena + Bre!!!