Film Photography Retreat with Femmes & Thems Film Club
Femmes & Thems Film Club hosted our first women's analog photography retreat this autumn, bringing together six film photographers for a creative weekend in the Dutch countryside. It was exactly what our souls needed—trading Amsterdam for a serene environment allowed us to reconnect with ourselves and bond with each other, fostering deep conversations and ideas.
From Amsterdam to the Dutch Countryside
Last year, I craved working with a community of women who also love shooting film, and that turned into Femmes & Thems Film Club. Together, we explore the city and connect through our shared love of analog photography.
This year, our club organized six analog photography photowalks in Amsterdam, and over the last few months, there have been frequent requests for a longer creative gathering that lasts more than one afternoon. Inspired to cultivate something thoughtful, more involved, and intentional for us, so I organized and hosted our first film photography retreat!
We stayed at Vrijhaven Zwier, just 30 minutes from Amsterdam. It's a space created intentionally to slow down, reflect, and reconnect, and that was just right for us. Our weekend photography retreat included yoga and meditation sessions, as well as a wood-fired sauna to warm up the chilly autumn evenings. We ended the trip with a boat ride around the Vinkelveenseplaatsen, gliding through the water with our cameras in hand. Over the weekend, we enjoyed tasty vegetarian meals grown on-site in their garden. And the garden itself was a source of creative inspiration where we watched fuzzy bees dance through colorful flowers and leafy greens.
A sunny autumn weekend was just what we needed. Escaping the noise and chaos of Amsterdam was good for the soul, and waking up to the sunrise with bird songs was a lovely way to start our mornings. Spending time in nature gave me a whole new appreciation for the Dutch countryside.
Sharing space with other film photographers feels different because photography is so personal, and for many of us, it's usually an introverted hobby. We each have our own style and rhythm, but we also speak the same language of patience, like waiting for the right light, and mindfully planning each frame.
Above: A few photos created during the weekend…
Below: Group shot of the gals with our film cameras
Creating and Connecting the Analog Way
To set the analog tone for our weekend, I gave everyone a custom workbook with film photography tips and creative prompts to guide our creative practice. During our women's photography retreat, we shared knowledge about our cameras and enjoyed photowalks around the harbour and nature areas near our cabin.
Making an effort to connect in person, we all aimed to avoid our phones and spent time on analog things like reading, drawing, and, of course, shooting film. We also had a game night and an afternoon creative workshop hosted by Tania, who taught us how to carve stamps and create our own lino prints. So cool!
Slowing Down with Film Photography
Overall, this weekend was a refreshing reminder of why I started the Femmes & Thems community — to create space for women and non-binary photographers to connect over our shared love of analog photography and promote mindfulness and creativity.
This weekend was a special opportunity to slow down and create with our hands. Two days flew by, and my only wish is that we had more time to enjoy the space. In the future, I would love to do more of this.
Gathering people for a shared experience was a lot of work, but it brings me a lot of joy! I loved planning this event, and then getting to experience these slow, quiet days with the gals felt even more satisfying. Hearing everyone's positive feedback was a cherry on top. I definitely hope to organize another creative retreat for film photographers in the future, so stay tuned!
Below: Diptychs created with my Pentax 17 and Kodak UltraMax…
Want to join us next time? Follow @femmesandthems on Instagram to stay updated on upcoming photowalks and photography events in Amsterdam. We'd love to see you there!
