Follow your dreams they said… so I arranged a women’s photography workshop and booked my flights to Madeira...

For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of creating something more than just a photography trip. I wanted to build a space where women could come together, pick up their cameras, and feel completely free: free to learn, explore, connect, and just be.

So, after months of planning, nerves, excitement (and yes, a little bit of imposter syndrome), I did it. I found the perfect island backdrop and brought together a group of incredible women for a photography experience in Madeira. This wasn’t just any trip - it was a photography retreat in Madeira built to empower women through creativity and connection.

To my surprise and joy; Fujifilm were just as excited about the idea as I was, especially because the photography retreat for women aligned so well with their values. When they heard what I was building - a creative, supportive space for women in photography - they jumped on board straight away. They offered to loan me the GFX 100s II for the trip - a beast of a medium format camera, promising to deliver exceptional imagery! And then they sent Carol, their brilliant tech specialist, along with her suitcase full of gear and wisdom. She brought not just cameras and lenses for the group to explore, but an incredible energy and depth of knowledge that helped elevate the entire experience.

This trip wasn’t just about taking beautiful images, it was about slowing down, sharing stories, building confidence behind and in front of the lens, and capturing more than photographs. We captured moments. Connections. Courage. Joy.

Why Madeira, Why Women, Why Now

When I started dreaming up this trip, it wasn’t just about ticking off a location or hosting a workshop. It was about creating something meaningful and something I would have loved to be part of when I was finding my way in photography.

As women, we often hold back, doubting our skills, second-guessing our creative voice, or simply feeling out of place in more traditional photography spaces. I wanted to flip that. I wanted to build an environment where encouragement was louder than ego, where questions were welcome, and where each woman could show up exactly as she was, camera in hand, ready to learn, connect, and grow.

Madeira felt like the perfect backdrop for this. Wild, untamed, and endlessly inspiring. From its misty forests and rugged cliffs to golden hours over the ocean and everywhere we turned felt like an invitation to be present, notice, and create.

But more than just the scenery on offer in Madeira, it was the people that made this trip what it was. A group of women who arrived as strangers, left as friends, and supported each other through every frame, laugh, and vulnerable moment in between.

What Made It

Instead of detailing where we went each day and breaking down the itinerary, (you can see my gallery here for that - adding as I get through the editing!) I want to share what we experienced - what stayed with us. The beauty of the island was undeniable, but what I’ll remember most is the way each woman showed up: curious, brave, open. We came for photography and left with so much more - with stories, friendships, and a little more belief in ourselves. As a photography trip for women, it was less about the technical itinerary and more about the transformational experience - capturing not only images but emotion, strength, and sisterhood.

Also as for discoveries of self believe, its been a journey for me personally too - I felt brave enough to make this dream actually become a real thing - to create a space bringing women together - a bunch of strangers finding connection together through photography.

The Photography Gear That Helped Me Capture Madeira’s Magic

To do justice to Madeira’s wild beauty and shifting light, I brought a carefully chosen kit that allowed me to work flexibly across landscapes, street scenes, and low-light moments.

Main Camera: My workhorse for this trip was the Fujifilm GFX100S II, paired with the GF 20–35mm for sweeping coastal vistas and the GF 100–200mm for those compressed perspectives and details tucked into the cliffs. You can see more about my experience using the Fujifilm GFX100S II for landscapes here on YouTube!

Street & Old Town Days: For the more spontaneous, fast-paced scenes—like the markets and old streets of Funchal—I relied on my nimble Fujifilm X-T5. Its compact body and versatile performance made it perfect for more casual, candid shooting.

Support & Stability: For those serene sunrise and sunset sessions, especially in lower light, I used the 3 Legged Thing Ray tripod—compact, lightweight, and rock-solid when it mattered most.

Filters & Optics: To manage reflections and light levels in such a dynamic environment, I packed a Tiffen circular polariser and their ND filter - essential for long exposures and enhancing skies and water textures.

Storage & Backup: Reliable storage is non-negotiable on a trip like this. I used Lexar memory cards and SSDs to ensure my files were safe, fast to access, and efficiently backed up throughout the journey. Lexar also really kindly gave everyone on my trip a goody bag - including some of their super fast SD memory cards!

Travel & Carry: All of this was carried comfortably with gear from Three Peaks - both my travel bag and camera bag kept everything protected and accessible, whether I was hiking up above the clouds or wandering along beautiful coastline. Then when I was wandering the old town streets and my set up became a little lighter, a sling bag was my go-to.

This setup gave me the freedom and flexibility to respond to the island’s ever-changing light and diverse terrain—making sure I could focus on capturing the story of Madeira in the best way possible.

My Heart is So Full

Anyway back to the group - The way this group came together with such openness, creativity, and support was truly something special. Watching each of them grow in confidence and connection as photographers was incredible to witness. They really brought to life the exact vision I had: a journey of community, friendship, learning, and inspiration - while on an epic adventure!

I’m leaving Madeira feeling tired in the best way - creatively full, emotionally recharged, and deeply grateful. This wasn’t just the start of a workshop series, it was the start of something much bigger. And the first of its kind of anything isn’t going to be perfect - yes there were moments of needing to adapt in making the experience the best I could… but the point is I did it, I can do it. And surely it just gets better from here!

So to those women who joined me - thank you for trusting me, for showing up as you are, and for reminding me why I followed this dream in the first place. Here's to more moments like these, and to the next adventure, wherever it may take us…..

I’m so proud to have created a truly empowering women's photography retreat - and this is just the beginning.

What they say

‘There are no words to describe how much I have loved the last week at your Madeira workshop. It totally blew my mind in so many ways I really don’t know where to start! My photography will be forever changed due to your creativity, passion, guidance and also knowing when to step back and encourage the magic to happen. I think your vision for this wonderful workshop was incredible and I hope you are very proud of what you have achieved in delivering a fantastic experience. It totally exceeded all my expectations and more. The images, the laughs and the friendships from this workshop will always have a special place in my heart.’

Thank you…

Not just a huge thank you to this group of wonderful women, but a heartfelt thank you also to the people and partners who helped make this dream real:

• Fujifilm UK, for supporting the creative vision with gear, knowledge, and community spirit - and to Carol for showing up with both cameras and soul.

• Inspired Ventures, who were instrumental in helping me bring this trip to life. Their guidance and support behind the scenes made the logistics seamless and the experience meaningful - for me and for every woman who joined.

I couldn’t have done it without you.

Whats next……

Ready for Your Own Adventure?

If this photography trip speaks to something in you, whether you're just picking up your camera or looking to reconnect with your creative self - I’d love for you to join me on the next one. There’s something truly special about coming together in beautiful places to create, explore, and grow.

You can find all upcoming trips and workshops over on my Workshops & Tours page – I’d love to see you there.

Let’s keep creating, together. 🌍📷💫

Love, Emily x

Now I’ll leave you with some behind the scenes moments - a big thank you to Carol for some of these!

… and don’t forget to head over to the full gallery for my photos from this beautiful part of the world!

As well as my YouTube - which will give you a short behind the scenes of 8 days squeezed into under 5 minutes!

From Dream to Reality: The Story of My First Female Photography Trip