Creative Escapes

Creative Escapes Photography Holidays to inspire the creative in you .... Hello! We're Creative Escapes, the award-winning creative holiday company.
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For more than a decade, we've been taking small groups on luxury photography holidays to some fab locations worldwide. Along the way, we've been lucky to have been recommended by The Guardian, Sunday Telegraph, Country Living, ITV This Morning, Wall Street Journal, Sunday Times and more. We've even picked up 4 awards too.

20/03/2024

Stress less, create and Follow for more.

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - ANKUR (.ankur)From time to time, someone comes on these trips, and just has ‘it’. The holy grail of...
29/10/2023

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - ANKUR (.ankur)
From time to time, someone comes on these trips, and just has ‘it’. The holy grail of having a style - aka so it’s instantly recognisable as your picture - is too much for some, and the rest of us have to work at it for years to achieve. But from the outset, when we’d let the shackles loose on Ankur, her visual colour style shone through, this being a great example of it. Not only do her images blast you with gorgeous colour, but her attention to detail is something to behold. Yes the crowd is in the background, but needed for context, the moment of pressing the shutter coincides with a deep personal moment for the monk, the placing of the fire balanced beautifully by the candles, all with a rich connection and being in the moment. In photography, celebrating your trophies is as important as taking them, confidence is key in this game, the more you have, the more you take risks, and the more outside of your normal lane you shift too - that’s where all the best pictures are. We hope this trip has given you a new found confidence in your work, and you continue to explore and develop this style so others can continue to be wowed by your work.

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - SAM ()Sam had tried to come on one of our trips for years, but each time, something happened; break...
28/10/2023

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - SAM ()
Sam had tried to come on one of our trips for years, but each time, something happened; breaking her collar bone in a riding accident weeks before her first trip, and so on, so it was thrilling to finally welcome her to one of our experiences. Recently, she’s been doing a lot of writing and wanted to transfer some of that written communication into visuals, to see what happens. Again, we fixed the technical bit which blights so many people (patchy knowledge often leads you down a rabbit hole you’ve no idea how to fix) then we set to work. However ... there was a problem. Like most of us, in our world, the pace of life keeps accelerating, and bringing that pace into the creative space tends to lead to errors. We blitz through things so quickly, that technical mistakes are made, but more importantly, you are looking but not seeing - so the image feels a little transient. And that’s the beauty of this craft, you are forced to slow down, to get results. And learning that takes a little time. All creative arts are great for mindfulness, and photography is no different - it’s easy to lose hours in your creative task, and take a break from all of those other things you’ve been thinking about - such a relief! But it’s easier said than done, and takes time to slow down, so it took Sam almost to the last day to finally see the fruits of her labour - and boy, what an image it is. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe how fabulous this shot is, from its inch-perfect technical nature, framing, focus and angle, but it’s that gentle connection, the remarkable attention to detail, and (finally!) the enjoyment of the moment for what it was. Super job, Sam, you should be very proud.

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - DOMI ()Domi had been on a few photography trips in her time, never with us, so came along wanting t...
27/10/2023

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - DOMI ()
Domi had been on a few photography trips in her time, never with us, so came along wanting to fix some of those technical issues that kept cropping up, and start to try out some cinematic, moody images of Japan, so she could make a trip diary of her experiences. We filled in the gaps in her technical knowledge, so she had more confidence and reassurance, then we got her to slow down a bit, and enjoy the moment a bit more (which on the maiko shoot boy did she do that!) but it’s this one, taken in the backstreets of a wonderful location in Tokyo, where she captured the essence of night Japan, in that moody, cinematic way she wanted to develop. We engage with the image wondering what the woman is doing, marvel at the simplicity of composition which draws in the eye, yet noting key ‘clues’ in the image to place where it might be - all the elements of great night reportage - gritty, atmospheric and placing you there. Super well done!

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - MARCO ()From time to time, we get a passionate photographer, and a partner who wants to come along ...
26/10/2023

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - MARCO ()
From time to time, we get a passionate photographer, and a partner who wants to come along for the ride, but not shoot. And every time, we try to convince them to give it a go, may as well, what have you got to lose, and so on. And the best thing is, the pressure is off, you’ve only normally got a cameraphone, so expectations are low. Marco had a think, then agreed, so our objectives (he didn’t have any!) were to make him fall in love with photography, like the rest of us. And … I think we cracked it! Over the days, roaming the streets of Tokyo, the mountains of Fuji, and the historic streets of Kyoto and Koyasan, he developed a new swagger with this photography, staying out longer, surprising himself, and the group - eventually submitting some shots for everyone to see, and wowing them at the same time. On the last day, we shoot a maiko in situ, working to shoot something different in a sea of maiko pictures on the internet - and this little beauty just came along. Rich in texture and atmosphere, with delicious framing, and that misty effect of old Edo paintings, it has a lovely flow and that punch of a great shot. But more importantly, Marco, we’re thrilled you fell in love with shooting, can’t wait for you guys to come along, both as photographers, next time!

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - JOHN ()John’s first trip with us too, he came along wanting to shoot some images in all light - hav...
25/10/2023

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - JOHN ()
John’s first trip with us too, he came along wanting to shoot some images in all light - having previously been locked into the soft light syndrome of early morning and late afternoon (professionals shoot all day btw) - also wanting to improve his street/portraiture, and developing more of a connection in the moment. This is a pretty common request, and we all fall into it from time to time - shooting what we think we should shoot, staying in the lane, and it’s hard to get out of that if we’ve been doing it for a while. So we spent some time with John, one to one, to encourage him to play, try things he wouldn’t ordinarily do, and see what happens. Sometimes it doesn’t work out, but sometimes it does - like this scene here. We were roaming around Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple (it opened in 645AD) - but John took a great position at the front, in front of the omikuji stand (you shake a box filled with numbered sticks, then open a drawer of that number, revealing your fortune on a printed slip). This shot captures all of that moment, and intimacy of a local wishing a good fortune, in stunning light, with movement and energy, don’t you think?

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - DAVID ()David’s first trip with us, and now retired wanted to spend more time shooting, but had got...
24/10/2023

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - DAVID ()
David’s first trip with us, and now retired wanted to spend more time shooting, but had gotten a little stuck, shooting within the same genre, in a similar style, and wanted to break out of all of that, fix some of the technical issues he was experiencing, try out some street and portraiture, and find a more creative edge to his work. On our tours, we have people who’ve bought their camera at the airport on the way out, all the way to someone who’s been shooting for years. And in a way, it’s actually harder for those more experienced, as fixing those little mistakes can take time, as it’s a complete shift in working the camera. But David was brilliant, we fixed his overexposure on the first day, his look of surprise about how easy it was a joy to see, and this then provided a solid platform to go out and explore Japan, without any nagging doubts about whether his settings were correct. So it was with this newfound confidence, he started to explore, and shot this little beauty. We were doing a reportage night shoot around Shibuya, trying to capture the craziness (it’s Tokyo’s equivalent of Soho), the neon which characterises the area, and that quirky Japanese aesthetic - so he grabbed all of that in one shot! An inch-perfect exposure, not easy to get, an engaged subject, a lovely mix of contrasting colours, and the inclusion of signage so we knew a little more - that suggestion of a story. It’s a belter, and the group were all super jealous when he put this one up!

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - ALI ()Another seasoned Escaper, Ali had been trying to come to Japan for five years, and being anot...
23/10/2023

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - ALI ()
Another seasoned Escaper, Ali had been trying to come to Japan for five years, and being another regular (and waited so long) expectations were again super high! … so we bit the bullet and set an objective of getting an entry to one of the travel photography comps around, and start that process of making work for a wider audience. And, to cut a long story short, oh my did she shoot a cracker ... but under competition rules we can’t show it (yet) as it must be fresh to the market! No matter, once she hit her groove they just started falling out of her camera - one of the things we talked about is when faced with a scene that looks like a postcard, trying not to shoot it like a postcard shot, so it has greater depth and more reality. Postcards we tend to enjoy for a second, but don’t really remember them as they don’t have much meaning. Case in point, we all went to a fire ceremony - the Goma- where monks burn special firewood which have wishes written on them, then pray for the granting of their wishes. It’s stunning, but easy to make the obvious shot, but Ali cleverly looked beyond what was happening, and shot the monk at the end of the ceremony, as he opened the vents, smoke streaming out of them. The result is a shot packed with atmosphere, steeped in story, and the first go at shooting images more personal to her experience. Well done you.

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - SANDY ()Sandy’s a seasoned Escaper, on her ninth trip with us, and said it was one of her best yet....
22/10/2023

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - SANDY ()
Sandy’s a seasoned Escaper, on her ninth trip with us, and said it was one of her best yet. As ever, she’s keen to pick up where she left off, and you can just imagine after so many trips with us, her expectations are through the roof (!) and meeting those expectations can sometimes be tricky. But boy oh boy did she deliver. Once again, there are too many to show, but we’ll get round to those soon so you can see them - but this one also garnered gasps from the group at the final show, encapsulating all of the experience of shooting a maiko (geisha in training). It’s got everything, don’t you think?

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - RACHEL ()Rachel came all the way from sunny Ibiza, to get a bit more familiar with her camera, crea...
21/10/2023

MY BEST SHOT JAPAN - RACHEL ()
Rachel came all the way from sunny Ibiza, to get a bit more familiar with her camera, create some more atmospheric images - and most importantly, switch off from her busy life for a few days - and have some fun. She nailed the technical bits in just a few hours (which surprised her somewhat!) then set about exploring Japan with fresh eyes, trying out some new techniques we gave her, all the while encouraging her to ‘play' - the gateway to your creative self. There are literally about 30 shots to choose from for ‘My Best Shot’ but this one, taken quite early on in the trip, marked a turning point in her work, the first stab at people images she longed for, at telling stories, at bringing that atmosphere together. When we showed this image on the last night, everyone gasped, you connect with that moment immediately, and that’s the power of great . Amazing shot(s), see you in

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

Did you know that creativity actually induces positive health effects on the body, including the heart?In a recent study...
24/09/2023

Did you know that creativity actually induces positive health effects on the body, including the heart?

In a recent study, scientists found that by doing something creative for just 45 minutes, participants experienced a 75% decrease in their levels of cortisol, a hormone that the body secretes to respond to stress.

Just like physical exercise, creative stimulation engages and focuses our minds on the task at hand -- and distracts us from feelings of stress and anxiety.

When you create, you invoke your imagination, which is a productive and constructive use of your mind.

By focusing intensely on a creative task, you can achieve the state of “flow”, which you may have experienced sporadically as “in the zone”.

According to acclaimed author Steven Kotler, during periods of flow, your brain secrets a healthy dose of pleasure-feeling chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. By creating, we may enter flow, which can give us a rush of good feelings.

So when will you start your creative journey?

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio . . .

Whether you’re just starting out, finding your feet or a seasoned pro, getting good Photography usually requires a lot o...
21/09/2023

Whether you’re just starting out, finding your feet or a seasoned pro, getting good Photography usually requires a lot of walking. It has been said many times by some of the best but it’s always worth repeating.

“Your shoes in Street Photography are probably more important than your camera.” Eric Kim

What do you wear?

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio . . .

Many photography holidays teach you someone else's style. We teach you to shoot like you - all tuition is done 1-to-1, s...
17/09/2023

Many photography holidays teach you someone else's style. We teach you to shoot like you - all tuition is done 1-to-1, so you create unique images that are personal to you.

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

Daydreaming again?Why not get up early, board our 50m ketch; first stop at Nea Kameni, where you can take the path to th...
15/09/2023

Daydreaming again?

Why not get up early, board our 50m ketch; first stop at Nea Kameni, where you can take the path to the crater of the active volcano, then to Palea Kameni, and swim - and shoot photographs - in the volcanic hot springs.

For real

10 - 12 MAY 2024 | 3 DAYS | £890 | LIMITED SPACES

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

Simply click on the Book button on the trip page, or the shopping cart icon on the home page - fill in your details and ...
13/09/2023

Simply click on the Book button on the trip page, or the shopping cart icon on the home page - fill in your details and we'll do the rest!

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

Next morning, we’re back in Vrindavan for the Holi celebrations, darting around the streets with our expert guides seeki...
12/09/2023

Next morning, we’re back in Vrindavan for the Holi celebrations, darting around the streets with our expert guides seeking vantage points to shoot the colours unfolding, dipping into the crowd to shoot portraits of the local revellers, and venture towards the centre of the celebrations at the Bankey Bihari temple, built in 1864 and the most revered shrine in Vrindavan.

HOLI FESTIVAL PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAY | 15 - 25 MARCH 2024 | £2995

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

Yes, our tours can be easily enjoyed by non-snappers and we have taken couples many times with different interests.Hey! ...
09/09/2023

Yes, our tours can be easily enjoyed by non-snappers and we have taken couples many times with different interests.

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio . . .

On our Cambodia photo retreat, we only stay in one place. Close enough to the action but quiet and easy access to the te...
06/09/2023

On our Cambodia photo retreat, we only stay in one place. Close enough to the action but quiet and easy access to the temples. It Oozes style and cool and is the perfect location for a poolside 1 on 1 with your tutor. The recently renovated Foreign Correspondents Club is a magnificent place to call your base.

CAMBODIA PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAYS | 01 - 10 MARCH 2024 | £2680

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio . . .

On each tour around 50% of guests are beginners, we even get some who buy their camera in duty-free! Since we teach you ...
05/09/2023

On each tour around 50% of guests are beginners, we even get some who buy their camera in duty-free!

Since we teach you individually, you can develop your skills at your own pace.

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

Nepal is a colourful jumble of pagoda-topped temples, ornate religious monuments, carved wooden Newari architecture, cha...
03/09/2023

Nepal is a colourful jumble of pagoda-topped temples, ornate religious monuments, carved wooden Newari architecture, chaotic streets, and majestic mountains. The country is home to ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is bursting at the seams with cultural and natural wonders. A few monuments are still under repair, but their stories of rival kingdoms, mythical deities, and spiritual devotion are unchanged.

The best thing about Nepal is there’s always another adventure.

NEPAL PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAYS | 01 - 10 MARCH 2024 | £2480

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

Great question. We always say, bring what you have or can borrow. We spend much of the tour with you 1-to-1 working out ...
02/09/2023

Great question. We always say, bring what you have or can borrow.

We spend much of the tour with you 1-to-1 working out what type of photographer you are, so only then will you really know what kit you really need and what suits you.

One thing is for sure, Comfortable shoes will get you more shots than a fancy SLR.

Do you have a question?

Hey! 👋We’re Creative Escapes, a fun and friendly small group travel company for solo travellers. We run holidays across the globe, with camera or cameraphone in hand. We travel locally, getting under the skin of a destination and helping you take home photos to be proud to hang on your wall. For more info tap 👉 and follow the link in bio or https://bio.site/creativeescapes. . .

Address

71-75 Shelton Street
London
WC2H9JQ

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+442071111293

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Our Story

Hello! We're Creative Escapes, the award-winning creative holiday company. Over the last ten years, we've been taking small groups on high-end photography holidays to some fab locations worldwide. Along the way, we've been lucky to have been recommended by The Guardian, Sunday Telegraph, Country Living, ITV This Morning, Wall Street Journal, Sunday Times and more. We've even picked up 3 awards too -

“Top 10 Photography Holidays” - The Guardian

“Six Best Hands-on Holidays” - Independent on Sunday

“Best Photo Breaks” - Sunday Telegraph

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