IMMERSE YOURSELF INTO THE WORLD OF

LUXURY DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

 
 

SOLD OUT

NEXT WORKSHOP

Tuesday April 19th - Thursday April 21st, 2022

DANAI BEACH RESORT & VILLAS, CHALKIDIKI

63088 Nikiti, Sithonia - Chalkidiki, Greece

We show you how to to run an efficient, intentional brand, where compelling images and cultivated aesthetics are cemented by in-person sales, and process-driven, consistent workflow.

WHAT YOU’LL GET

NO CHALK & TALK ... INSTEAD, YOU GET…

 

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

 
  • We guide you with a step-by-step plan through your entire wedding photography business.

  • Discover the Language of Luxury Weddings and you’ll love it, just as we do.

  • Get into the destination Wedding mindset and practices to take you in the great wide open.

  • We help you understand Client Culture, attract the right clients for your business, and manage their goals and expectations.

  • Create an astonishing wedding photography portfolio together with us.

  • We’ll show you how to reap the most of social media benefits and build a loyal following.

  • Get your hands on Editing. We’ll guide you through.

  • We’ll present to you useful planning and creative resources, finding the best gear and apps for you, and talking you through web design.

  • Publishing your work in Wedding Media, such as magazines, blogs is key. We’ll show you how.

  • Flatlay and wedding weekend highlights styling. You’ll be able to practice together with us.

YOUR SOWL-MATES

 

SOTIRIS TSAKANIKAS

DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER & EDUCATOR

Sotiris' approach to photography has always carried a substantial essence of Grecian splendor melding with his visionary artistic foray and welding his definitive presence in the European wedding industry. With a long record dedicated to garnering the most graceful and stirring aspects of his clients' lives, his work has been featured in some of the most outstanding international publications, including Brides Magazine, Martha Weddings, and Harper's Bazaar. His commitment to learning drives his dual role as an educator, supporting passionate creators and aspiring wedding photography entrepreneurs to carve their creative imprint and see their businesses thrive in the living, breathing, fast-moving world of destination weddings.

SETTY LEPIDA

WRITER & EDITOR FOR FASHION & LUXURY WEDDING BUSINESSES

When all you need is ... words. That is what Setty's WordFinery proclamation. As a luxury wedding business copywriter, language, and voiced identiy are her métier. Her sociolinguist and creative director skills, paired to editorial aptness and a fully supportive, passionate attitude for aesthetic literacy set out her long series of collaborations with the wedding industry's brand vertex. She won't ever find a harmless fault charming, be it a branding practice, a sloppy copy, or candles without flames on a styled shoot.

What has collectivelly inspired SOWL is the belief that there is always something EVERY creator can improve on.

In pursuit of our craft, we keep pursuing for more.

Our SOWL commitment is to proffer substantial, tangible know-how and elevate the ways your direct, capture, and curate your work, to openly, and wholeheartedly dole out the means to streamline your brand, and resonate with your target clients.

 

SECURE YOUR SEAT NOW

Guest speakers and collaborators

  • CASSIE TSAGA

    WEDDING PLANNER & DESIGNER AT CÂLINS DE CASSIE

    Wedding planner, designer and creative director of the burgeoning Câlins de Cassie, Cassie's creative forces are flawlessly curated details, statement destination wedding style, and razor-sharp organization. Adding a wave of visual optimism to our styled shoot decor and theme and coordinating the teams of vendors she's bringing the oh-la-la to SOWL.

  • MARIA VOUDOURI

    LUXURY BOTANICAL DESIGNER, NORTHERN GREECE

    For luxury botanical designer Maria Voudouri timelessness is nothing more than impeccable aesthetics, resourcefulness, and inexhaustible inspiration. Maria's luxurious, signature designs have raised the ante on wedding floristry, and serve as sheer proof that artfully designed petals and stems should serve primarily as the material of dreams. Just what a SOWL needs to bloom!

  • MANOUSENIA KOMPOHOLI & MARIA GROSSI

    GRAPHIC DESIGNERS, PAPETERIE EXPERTS, STATIONERY & OBJECT D' ART CREATORS AT MANOUSENIA DESIGN, NARCISSUS FINEART, MARYGRO, & MMCUSTOM SILK

    Manousenia Design, a graphic design studio specializing in branding for luxury events, is one of Northern Greece wedding industry’s most sought after creators of bespoke printed materials. Combining calligraphy & graphic design paired with exceptional materials Manousenia works with many of the top event planners to create bespoke experiences for their clients. From personalized gifts, silk treasures, and unexpected props to sublime stationery suites this is a duo with true SOWL!

  • MICHALIS TSOTRAS

    CELEBRITY MUAH ARTIST

    No celeb goes red-carpet walking without their glam squad. The same goes for some of the coolest, most fashion-forward destination brides who tap on Michalis Tsotras to get the job perfectly done. A Vidal Sassoon Academy of London graduate, Michalis earned his stripes next to Toni&Guy, Patrick Cameron, Tim Hartley, and Mahogany, while his work has gained enthusiasts all across the globe thanks to his rocking loose waves, sleek buns, dazzling lashes, and no-makeup, MU looks. Michalis will be joining our journey to Danai Beach Resort and bring the gloss and dash of fash on our editorial beauty.

  • NICK KOPANAS

    MASTER IMAGE EDITOR FOUNDER OF THE IMAGE ARCHITECTS

    The brains behind The Image Architects, Greece's first image editing company whose creative vision and strong enterpreneurial heritage has set the bar high for photo editing services. Boasting an experience of over 500 individual full-wedding gallery editing projects and over 1000 albums, Nick is bringing his expertise to SOWL and will be discussing from Presets and Advance Image Editing to everything in between.

  • NIKOS XATZIIOANNIDES

    Whether a reception is indoor or outdoor, wedding lighting doesn't only enhance the look of a venue, but also underlines the décor elements couples spent so much time creating and designing. Enter Nikos Xatziioannides, the lighting designer expert and sound smith who will be bringing the illumination to our scene. For the first time ever a wedding photography workshop (yup, ours) will be featuring a magical night setting and.... fireworks (!!!) courtesy of this super talented creative and his team!

 

OUR STOMPING GROUNDS

Channeling Northern Greece's unbridled allure and exclusivity, Danai Beach Resort and Villas is luxurious hideaway perched on the bluffs of the Aegean and Member of “The Leading Hotels of the World”. Located in Sithonia, Halkidiki, the Resort occupies a long-stretch of powder soft sands, and resides within thriving Mediterranean gardens where vibrant native flowers compete with the shiny marble- laid estates.

Boasting uniquely designed Suites and Villas of exceptional grace and luxe living standards, three Restaurants ranging from award-winning Gourmet to the Mediterranean, one of Europe´s largest Wine Collections, serene SPA and Private Beach Cabanas to effortlessly let the calm rise in the lavender-induced sea air, Danai Resort provides luxury in every detail.

 
 

OUR SOWL AGENDA

 
  • Arrivals

    Welcome & Introductions

    Branding, Visual Identity & Social Media masterclass with Setty

    Photography & Mentoring Session with Sotiris

  • Danai Beach Resort & Villas wedding styled shoots.

    Hands on & photography sessions with Sotiris

    Creative Styling briefing with Setty

    Lunch break

    Styled shoot sessions with Sotiris

  • Portfolio reviews with Sotiris

    Coffee Break

    Editing sessions & Insights with Nick Kopanas

    Farewell dinner for attendees and speakers (optional)

 

INVESTMENT

€7OO

INCLUDES THREE DAY ADMISSION TO TUTELAGE, RESOURCES ACCESS, AND STYLED SHOOT PARTICIPATION

Does not include meals, transportations or accommodations.

To have your place ensured a total payment is requested. By request you will be receiving further details as well as our agreement document via e-mail. You are kindly requested to sign the document and deposit your attendee payment. The fee is non-refundable, but should you wish to cancel, you can recover your investment by reselling or transferring your admission to a new attendee.

 

Sowl Program

 
  • DAY 1 & 3 MENTORING SESSIONS

    LUMIERE STUDIO - Eleftheriou Venizelou 23, Thessaloniki.

    DAY 2 SHOOTING GROUNDS

    DANAI BEACH RESORT & VILLAS - Nikiti 630 88 Sithonia Chalkidiki.

  • April 19th. City buzz. Little Paris awaits. Oh, you'll know what this means once you've found yourselves in the heart of Thessaloniki city. Greeted by the majesty of the Stein House built in 1906 by Levi Eli Ernst the passage leads you to Ermeion Court, Thessaloniki's first Mall Ever established in 1925. Take the wrought iron elevator up two floors and you'll find yourself before Lumiere Studio, a minimalist studio where our mentoring sessions will be taking place. No better grounds to enjoy the good light of the city while sipping on coffee and discussing on taking your brand to the next level. We'll be visiting twice for the Editing Mentoring Sesh on April 21st as well.

  • A cultural hub and haven for creatives, Thessaloniki is often likened to San Francisco or Shoreditch. These comparisons only tell part of the story. In Greece’s Northern Capital, traces of the past and a cosmopolitan atmosphere born of diverse cultural influences form a dynamic metropolis with a rhythm of its own.

    Arriving in Thessaloniki today with hopefully broader horizons, you will still encounter the elements of the city that so enchanted earlier travellers, while discovering an urban landscape enlivened by contemporary culture and creativity, yet characterised by a pace of life affectionately summed up in the word "halara" which translates as "languid". You won't find rushing crowds here, rather easy going schools of "flaneurs" who enjoy life on the slower lane.

    Part of the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, Thessaloniki has been shaped by its history as an important trading port and home to diverse communities. This is nowhere more evident than in its foodie scene: Thessaloniki is Greece's second city, but it IS our country's culinary capital, the meeting-place of Greek, Jewish, French, Balkan and Turkish flavours and cultures.

    As in its cuisine, the ancient sits alongside contemporary creativity in the city's architecture and public space. When walking the streets of Thessaloniki - founded around 315 BCE by King Cassander of Macedon - it's near impossible not to stumble upon histrorical riches. Old and new cohabit so beautifully here. You'll love it!

  • Arrive a day earlier at least to experience the magic, because you WILL WANT TO SHOOT all these ah-mazing buildings and sites around you, and sit at every cute cafe and bistro for coffee. It's really our way of life here.

    Don't be shy to ask how to , or where to. Northern Greeks LOVE small talk and are super-hospitable and helpful with whatever you need.

    Ask US anything and we'll be happy to help. We'll be there a few days earlier as well! If you're arriving by car be prepared for a wee bit of Northern Greek jam. Know that most streets come with parking meters.

    If you love to shop, you'll find Thessaloniki is the perfect place to get those sleek mocassins and camera bag for the next wedding season. Proxenou Koromila Street, Tsimiski & Mitropoleos Avenues, and Ermou Street are the major shopping districts. Definitely visit HelloFrom to indulge your inner Kinfolk nerd.

    Eateries like Ergon Agora and Mamalouka are foodie musts . Be prepared to gain two pounds during your stay. Since it's impossible to add ALL the good places to eat and drink , DM Setty for everything you need to know about Thessaloniki's hottest spots.

    You HAVE TO try local delicacies such as Tsoureki / Trigona / Bougatsa / and Syrupy sweets.

    The city center is chockfull of super-chic, Airbnb's and hotels so you won't find it hard to book your accommodation. Need a helping hand? Ring or write.

    If you need a Taxi Cab to and from the airport, or any other place really you can Uber or Taxi Beat. More companies are available.

    Pack a comfortable pair of walking shoes for your city roamings. Pack a jacket for chilly nights. Bring a friend. Bring your readiest self for good times!

 
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KINDRED SOWLS

“Attending the Secret Owl Workshop was the best decision I have ever made in my professional photography career. It has really changed my life. Thanks to Sotiris, I am finally booking my dream clients and I am working with the best wedding vendors. Thanks to a very friendly atmosphere, I gained many friends in the wedding industry. And of course, I learned so much that it actually skyrocketed my wedding photography career. I actually got published in Magnolia Rouge, Wedding Sparrow, Wedding Chicks, Adoré, Bridal Musings and others thanks to this course. It opened door to the "big world" of wedding photography to me. And I am really thankful for that.”

— Thomas from Chec Republic

 

“SOWL is not only a portfolio building workshop - maybe even one of the best ones in Europe - but more a community of creatives, led by Sotiris & Setty, that set new standards in our industry, lift others up and teaches a great approach on wedding photography. Including great speaker make this workshop a „place to be“ for creatives, who want to refine their business!”

— Fabijan from Germany

 

“We attended the Secret Owl Workshop in 2017, the Mykonos edition. What a Workshop! The inspiration shoots, the talks, the feedback, everything was amazing… and we made friends for life. We highly recommend these workshops to anyone trying to enhance their portfolios and learn from the best! Thank you Sotiris & Setty for being such great hosts (& now friends!)!”

— Mailys from Switzerland

“It is one of the best experience and mindset changer for me." This workshop has exceeded all of my expectations in terms of what I've learned. Working with so many talented people is definitely uplifting and inspiring. All of the details were thoughtful and added a great value to the whole experience. The balance between theory and practice was perfect. The way Sotiris shared so openly about his business and his plans shows how much he values the attendees and their investment in this workshop.”

— Giorgios from Greece

 

“Opportunities were created to be given to anyone. And the Secret Owl is an open opportunity to those who want to take their artistry to the next level. Sitting next to the best of the industry, will surely make you dream of yourself reaching to the top. And you know what, the best thing an artist can do is to dream and of flying. Personally, I ‘grew up’ by the side of the Secret Owl family as I first attended on the 2017 November workshop. As a photographer, I can admit that I was really ‘lost’ at that time. But listening to the words of Sotiris Tsakanikas and Setty Lepida, made me feel deeply inspired and ‘find my way home’. After all those years and having seen my work published on some of the best publications and magazines out there, I can really understand how much those people inspired and helped me. I will be forever grateful for all the knowledge and inspiration shared by Setty and Sotiris. Guys, thank you so much for everything. My heart and ‘sowl’ will be your forever fellow traveler.”

— George from Greece

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

 
 
 

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