This year,
We're bringing together a stellar lineup of visionary educators who will each bring their unique energy and expertise to the retreat. Join internationally renowned photographer and educators Jai Long, Graham Passmore, and Kelly Bach—flying in all the way from LA—as they guide you through an inspiring journey of vision, creativity, and genuine connection.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Byron Bay, this retreat is designed to capture the essence of adventure elopements in a way that is authentic and deeply meaningful. From the first light of dawn to the golden hues of sunset, you'll be immersed in hands-on styled shoots that will elevate your portfolio and challenge your creative boundaries. Our focus is on bringing the vibes of all-inclusive elopements to life—where storytelling, artistic vision, and heartfelt emotion come together effortlessly.
With three full days of styled shoots and teachings, you'll have the chance to connect, learn, and grow alongside like-minded photographers. We are thrilled to introduce Lee Lou, who will be sharing her expertise on all things websites and branding, as well as the best of the best album suppliers to help you level up your offerings. Plus, don't miss an exclusive content creation session with Vanessa from Reel Social Weddings in Melbourne, and soooo much more.
Throughout the retreat, you’ll be soaking up invaluable insights and refining your craft in a space that fosters collaboration and inspiration. With three full days of styled shoots, masterclasses, and candid conversations, Venture Folk Retreat 2.0 is your chance to push boundaries and create work that truly resonates.
Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience—where creativity meets authenticity, and your photography journey reaches new heights.
If you’re ready to embrace your inner wild spirit, a little hiking and a jam packed adventurous 3 days of creating epic content for your business then The Venture Folk Retreat 2.0 is where you belong.
Be sure to book your spot now; we only have 15 spots!
At Venture Folk, we believe in nourishing both your body and soul. You will relish in the stylings of our shoots, breathe in the fresh air, and warm your hearts with your fellow adventurers. Inclusions such as head shots by your hosts (time permitting) and ending our day sharing a drink or two with your new photog friends! And, yes, you will leave with memory cards filled with nothing less than pure magic. You will be inspired, renewed and refreshed, ready to conquer the world and embrace life's beautiful moments.
Venture Folk awaits you, get ready to chase your wildest dreams, because you will be leaving with your soul on fire!
meet your vfr 2.0 team
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Founder VFR, photographer and your host
Carissa, the visionary founder of Venture Folk Retreat and Elk & Fir, is a passionate storyteller and photographer for wanderlust souls seeking meaningful, authentic experiences. With over 14 years of capturing love, adventure, and connection, Carissa brings her expertise in destination photography and creative education to every project she leads. As the driving force behind VFR, she curates immersive retreats designed to inspire, educate, and empower photographers to push creative boundaries. Her journey, rooted in resilience and artistic passion, invites others to embrace their own path and craft work that speaks to the soul.
Carissa also specialises in boudoir photography, offering couples the opportunity to capture intimate, empowering moments as part of their elopement experience. Whether it's a pre-wedding boudoir session to celebrate self-love and confidence or a romantic, private shoot during your elopement, she creates a safe, elegant space to honour your journey and connection.
Let her guide you through an unforgettable experience where art, emotion, and storytelling merge.
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I believe in two things: love and exploration.
Kelly Balch is an accomplished wedding and editorial photographer based in Los Angeles, California, with over 15 years of experience pioneering the queer wedding industry—beginning her career before queer love was legalised in the United States. Her work has been featured in over 33 prestigious publications worldwide, including Vogue, Variety, Vanity Fair, The Knot, and Dancing With Her, establishing her as a leading voice in global photography. As a non-binary, queer entrepreneur and founder of the international agency KBi, Kelly is a passionate advocate for diversity, bringing her creative storytelling and empathetic approach to every project. Additionally, Kelly is a gifted author of an adult queer-fantasy/fiction series, Aphrodite’s Sister, which reflects her passion for storytelling and imagination.
At Venture Folk Retreat 02, Kelly will be your in-house speaker and photographer, guiding attendees through three transformative days of education, mentorship, and creative shoots. Her sessions will focus on authentically capturing LGBTQ+ love stories while fostering inclusive practices in photography and business. With her warm, compassionate presence and commitment to celebrating every unique story, Kelly will inspire attendees to push creative boundaries and embrace inclusive, meaningful storytelling in their work.
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Business coach, photographer and educator
Jai Long, an internationally renowned business coach, photographer, and educator, will be dialing in from Japan as a keynote speaker for Venture Folk Retreat 02. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit and innovative approach, Jai has helped countless creatives build successful businesses by blending creativity with smart, scalable strategies. As the founder of the Six-Figure Business Map and host of the Make Your Break podcast, Jai brings a wealth of knowledge on marketing, pricing, and building sustainable, purpose-driven brands. His session will offer invaluable insights and practical steps to help attendees unlock their full potential and elevate their creative businesses to new heights.
In this episode of Make Your Break, we sit down with Carissa, a photographer and creative hustler who recently moved across the country and had to start her business from scratch—again. Carissa shares the real challenges of uprooting her established brand and rebuilding from the ground up, while also navigating personal transformations.
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A WEDDING & LIFESTYLE photographeR
film maker, content creator & PROUD DAD.
Graeme Passmore, based in Byron Bay is an acclaimed Australian photographer and filmmaker known for his nostalgic storytelling. and cinematic visuals. As the in-house photographer for Venture Folk Retreat 02, Graeme will guide attendees through an immersive, three-day photography journey, offering hands-on experience and valuable creative insights. With his expertise, he will help you refine your storytelling techniques, elevate your portfolio, and push the boundaries of your artistic vision. As a keynote speaker, Graeme will share his unique approach to capturing authentic moments, ensuring you leave inspired and equipped to take your photography to the next level.
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Where DESIGN Meets HEART
Lee Lou, the creative force behind Studio Lee Lou, is a branding and web design expert dialing in from Japan to share her knowledge on the second day of Venture Folk Retreat 02. As a keynote speaker, she will guide attendees through the essential elements of building a strong brand identity and designing impactful websites that resonate with clients. Known for her innovative approach and tailored solutions, Lee Lou will help you uncover how to translate your creative vision into a cohesive, standout online presence. Her session will empower you to refine your brand strategy and elevate your business through design that speaks directly to your ideal audience.
And for Leelou’s FAQ session she will doing a website audit for every 3 day ticket holder!
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Our b roll queen / content creator
Vanessa Hall, based in Melbourne, the creative genius behind Reel Social Weddings, is our in-house content creator for Venture Folk Retreat 02, bringing her passion for storytelling and dynamic social media content to life. With a strong background in capturing authentic moments, Vanessa will be on-site creating B-roll, behind-the-scenes footage, and captivating visuals across the retreat’s three days. Her expertise in crafting engaging social media content will give attendees invaluable insight into how to showcase their work, elevate their online presence, and connect with their audience. Vanessa’s presence ensures that every moment of the retreat is not only documented but transformed into content that drives impact and growth.
we BELIEVE IN shaping the wedding industry to be be a more inclusive space where all love is celebrated, authentically. -Tara and Arlia
Tara and Arlia have been around since 2016, when they got engaged. They struggled to find wedding inspiration they wanted – something beautiful, modern and something that gave them the ‘feels.’ But, what they found was queer wedding inspiration that was more celebratory of sexuality than it was the love stories behind it.
That’s where Dancing With Her was born. And since, they’ve shared more than 1.2k queer love stories, and stood on stages across the world talking about our mission towards a more inclusive wedding industry. Tara and Arlia even landed a Forbes 30 under 30 award and spoke on their stage about the positive changes they’ve made to the wedding industry.
DWH has released 10 print magazines, and 1 coffee table ‘mook’ (magazine meets hardcover book) and sent it to tens of thousands of lovers across more than 40 countries.
They’ve built the world’s biggest online community of LGBTQ+ humans who are wildly in love and planning a real celebration (read: wedding, elopement or something else just as special) because they finally see themselves represented in the wedding space.
We are looking forward to you all meeting this gorgeous power couple and learning from the best.
tara + arlia Founders
c Jackson Grant Weddings
(Arlia’s on the left, Tara on the right
elk and fir featured on dwh
the vision-aries
and partners
COMING SOON
Accommodation
caterer
Stylist -
Hair + Make Up
The gowns + suits
Swag Bag goodies
Blooms
Stylist
Albums and Prints
SPONSORS and soooo
much more!
Join us
Interested in joining us? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you! Only 15 Spots!!!