References for Summers Abroad

Nikolas Engström

I have been to two of Summers abroads events. They where both very good! It was clear that lots of hours had gone into doing research, scouting and planning the events. Locations we went to where amazing. All the finer details about the locations they knew about and shared with the photographers and models before so everything went very smoothe during photosessions.

Food, accomodation and transfers also was very nice!

Last but not least. Model linup is alway top. The models are experienced super pros that give the photographers top quality photos.

Highly reccomened!!!

MattB

The best models in the best locations with the best styling and the best hair and make up. In 1 day of their Casino Royale event I shot so many different styles of image I actually couldn't believe it - so superbly organised by Rachelle and Mark that it flowed naturally from one set to the next and a nice long break for lunch to recharge. Such a friendly group of photographers, as well.

I had a great time and got great images - what else is there to say?

Fantasy Dabblers

We enjoyed the amazing range of opportunities on the “Casino Royale” photography weekend.

This was a very varied and highly professional weekend stretching over three days. Each session (Friday evening; Saturday morning and afternoon and Sunday morning and afternoon) included four separate locations set up with clever theming, appropriate makeup and styling, and excellent models. The theming combined using the stylish house where the event was based with extensive decoration carried out by Summers Abroad. For example, a “Great Gatsby” set involved placing a classic car in the elegant driveway to the house, while the “Casino Royale” set involved transforming part of one room of the house into a casino, complete with roulette table and cocktail bar.

The weekend included the splendid, all inclusive hospitality that has been a part of all the Summers Abroad events we have been to. We were particularly grateful for the care and thought Rachelle put in to make the weekend more accessible for A. We both enjoyed the weekend very much and have some super photos to show for it.

Colin Daniels

This year I have been on various events hosted by Rachelle and Mark (shadow of doubt, winter wonderland, and a trip to Bali )

I can't recommend them enough their events are well thought out and planned meticulously.

They are the perfect host's during their events and look after you perfectly even in the evening (a piano 🎹 and a rendering of various Queen songs come to mind)

I look forward to working with them both again in the future thank you both for all your hard work

VictoriaLosAngeles

Did show up but is not recommendedShot 1667174400

otteypm

Another amazing trip! I joined Summers Abroad on this years Vegas trip. This time I did the sensible thing and booked the full week. As always the trips are amazingly well organised, with great locations, fantastic models and great fun throughout. They really are all inclusive, food accommodation and transport means you can pack a bag, book your flight and you are good to go!

Rachelle sourced a great set of new locations and some familiar ones too. Taking into account sunrises and sunsets to get the best out of the locations. There were loads of styling options available and the shooting time is genuinely in your control so each photographer can get unique images.

Huge thanks too to Mark for driving and feeding us through out! Fingers crossed I can get out on another trip soon!

mike rowley

Spent an amazing 4 days in Namibia with Summers Abroad!

I’d been looking forward to it for nearly a year and it exceeded my expectations. Rachelle and Mark had scouted amazing locations and worked out where to be when to get the right shots.. The accommodations were all first class, and the food outstanding.

It wasn’t easy, but Rachelle had found two simply stunning talented models, perfect for the occasion.

A superb photographic experience and a hugely fun social occasion – most highly recommended!

Fantasy Dabblers

Organising a trip to Namibia is not easy at the best of times but doing it with a group of photographers and models takes a lot of skill - and Rachelle certainly showed she has what it takes. The variety of locations, the meticulous care in scouting and the choice of models were all outstanding.

I see one person has left a not recommended for one of the later groups - I can think of no valid reason for doing so, this was a superb trip, well organised.

otteypm

It is hard to know where to start with this reference so I will just dive in! I have just returned from the most epic, majestic, awe inspiring trip across Namibia organised by Summersabroad. I first became aware of this trip a few years ago not long after I had attended my first ever photo event abroad. The fantastic Las Vegas trip also organised by Rachelle.

I was sold on it as soon as I saw the potential locations and images and I knew Rachelle and Mark would do a sterling job on the organisation, styling, locations, travel and accommodation. I smacked my deposit down as soon as I could.

As always there were a range of options for the trip available, there were two shorter trips that took in half of the proposed locations or a full trip that covered everything available. I already knew this was going to be a trip of a lifetime so I immediately chose the full 10 day option.

As soon as I could, I started booking flights and other miscellaneous things I needed in preparation but then Covid changed everything! Rachelle was on it straight away, she created a discussion group so the photographers who had signed up could keep in touch and Rachelle could keep us updated. As this trip was set to move across the country there were numerous accommodation and transportation issues to deal with as Rachelle worked tirelessly to find us solutions. We had all decided we still wanted to make the trip a reality so we kept our deposits in place.

We made a collective decision that we would be happy if Rachelle postponed in the hope that the issues surrounding Covid would be manageable. Amazingly she secured the locations for a future date and the trip was a go again.

On such an epic trip like this Rachelle was faced with a huge range of logistical issues but her determination to make it a reality did not waver.

As we got closer to the event Rachelle kept us updated and helped us out with key information for the trip as she was scouting with experienced guides to fully exploit the location opportunities.

All aspects such as airport transfers and logistics were dealt with so I could simply arrive with camera gear ready to go! Rachelle had a detailed schedule as we were moving around the country so keeping organised was simple, call times, meal times and shooting were all clear and easy to follow so I could stay prepped.

Once the photography started it became clear just how awesome the locations were, my expectations were high and they were exceeded at each place. Each time we finished I said to Rachelle and Mark how epic the location was and they kept saying, ‘wait for the next one’. They weren’t wrong, they just kept getting better. There was a great mix of grand vistas such as the iconic dune trees at Deadvlei, the grand views from the Fish River Canyon to the, fascinating rock formations at Spitzkoppe. This was mixed with other fascinating areas such as an abandoned mining town taken over by the desert to organised shoots with camels and flamingos! There is literally too much to list here and each one was epic!

The accommodation across the country was a fantastic mix of shared villas and unique individual cabins out in the desert, watching the sun rise at 5am across the plains got me ready for the shooting in the day.

A huge thanks also to Mark and Howard who took on the driving tasks, several thousand KM of mixed roads, gravel tracks and dune driving an epic challenge in itself but they also worked tirelessly to manage the shoots, keep us on time and keep us informed and also checking under rocks for snakes and scorpions!

Shoots were run efficiently and to time with a spot on balance of time for the photographer pairs to work and create individual images, I never felt clock watched and always had time to get the shots and sequences I wanted from each location.(Although I could happily have done the trip all over again straight away! Damn my pesky job!).

There was time to socialise and relax after the days shooting and our small party bonded really well. We wiled away the time on our 4x4 journeys chatting and playing ‘is it a Zebra or is it a rock?’ as we tried to spot the wildlife in the landscape.

So a huge thanks to Mark and Rachelle, for organising such an amazing trip, thanks to Howard for his insight and taking on the long drives. Thanks to Rachelle and Lucy for epic skills creating shapes in the landscapes and working so well together in the duo shoots. And thanks to my fellow photographers as we shared shooting time, shared ideas and worked so well together.

It was literally an epic trip that I will never forget….

Lucy Artmodel

Oh my gosh where to begin? I had heard from other models how awesome being on a Summers Abroad event can be, but they truly exceeded all my expectations. Sorry for the essay but here we go.

Attending the Summers Abroad photographic event in Namibia last year is honestly the highlight of my modelling careerere ar. Here a few reasons why:

The experience - Rachelle and Mark work so hard to make it a full package experience for everyone there. You find yourself in incredible accommodation, stunning location after stunning location, delicious meals and just really well taken care of in general. These two are wonderful people and create a really great vibe, I can see why they have such loyal photographers who want to attend so many of their events. They are fantastic at dealing with any difficult situations that may arise.

The organisation - They were great at communicating and all the planning was done well in advance. Everything was perfectly scouted before our trip and we were all sent our itineraries through our whatsapp group. Each day we knew what was happening and each day it just got better and better. The days were well laid out with a good amount of time for shooting, rest, fun lunches and dinners together and experiences (watching the cheetah feeding was a little highlight).

I've already said it but THE LOCATIONS!!! These are jaw dropping and inspiring places to shoot and really take images to a whole other level.

All in all, I so highly recommend attending these events (and have been saying so to all photographers I work with!) as you'll never forget the amazing experiences and the warmth of the people running them.

otteypm

Yes! It happened again.... I joined a Summers Abroad event and it was epic! This time it was the Wild West themed event, it was a 'must do' for me with my obsession with cinema. Starting off with the most amazing location. A full replica western town in the UK, used on many films, with its realistic main street, building interiors and authentic western performers joining in on the shoot. An epic find from Rachelle. Add to that a pair of super talented horses and their amazing handlers, not one, not two but three models that can ride the horses too. Galloping at full pace down main street! Every model, every bit of styling and every opportunity to shoot was spot on perfect. I came away with many epic shots. As always the comms, organisation and hosting were spot on. Thank you again or should I say Yeehaw!!!

Ellie Fox

Yesterday I shot a half day at my 3rd summers abroad event. It was a tad unexpected as unfortunately one of the models fell ill, so I was asked to step in. Naturally I jumped at the chance having experienced their events before, I knew I was in for a treat.

I turned up at an incredible location to be told that I would be shooting as an elf. Me being a LOTR geek I was absolutely chuffed!

Every detail is on point at a summers abroad event. The atmosphere is always so lovely. So many sets and options for ideas so models and photographers can really work as a team and get some amazing shots. Good food, good people, good times.... The list goes on.

They go above and beyond to look after the photographers and the models.

The planning and effort that they put into this is incredible. Highly recommended by me and I would adore to work with them again in the future.

Girl on Fire - Lydia

Today I modelled for their Lost World event and oh my gosh it was excellent!

Both Mr and Mrs Summer are so professional, welcoming and incredible hosts. The pre-communications were great and the entire event went so smoothly. What I loved most about the event was how cared for the models and photographers were and of course the stunning location that was booked for this event!

I would absolutely recommend their Summer Abroad events and really look forward to working with them again.

Thank you so much !

GOF

Gray2

This was the first Summers Abroad event that I have attended in this country as my previous event of theirs was in Spain last year.

As last year both Rachelle and Mark run a well oiled machine so everything flows so well. Their choice of venues is always excellent and this 'The Lost World' weekender was no exception with plenty of areas to shoot and use your imagination on.

Unfortunately I could only manage a morning three hour slot but I still came away with some fantastic images of the four models available during that period.

I would highly recommend one of these events, home or abroad, as you are so well looked after and they are good fun.

Thanks Rachelle and Mark.

Starglider Photography

Oh hell yeah would I recommend Summers Abroad for events!

I recently went to their Lost World event and it was simply the best experience. I have not done an event before so was understandably unsure of what it entails, but I could not have been looked after any better. Rachelle made sure that we had everything we needed, had everything prepared in regards to shooting, models, locations etc... and in no time at all I was shooting away with some amazing models in a stunning location.

The day went so quickly and everyone at the event was buzzing from the shoot. Afterwards we all enjoyed Mark's fantastic food and we all had a lovely social evening outside. The weather was perfect and I was honestly gutted that it had to end.

If you are an experienced event participant, or like me a complete noob, you cannot go wrong by joining one hosted by Summers Abroad and I very much look forward to tagging along to another one in the near future!

Sylph Sia

I was lucky enough to model for Summers Abroad during their Bali 2022 event. This was the second time I had worked with them on an international event (first time was France, 2019). I cannot recommend them highly enough!

Always an absolute pleasure and feel so looked after as a model. The atmosphere is always so creative and positive, and the planning and structure of the events is amazing. Attention to detail is second-to-none, and I always recommend their trips as honestly the best planned out photography/modelling events I have ever taken part in. Styling, concepts and locations chosen are always on point and diverse. It's always such an incredibly productive time photographically, but also socially such a lovely experience as well, being around a group of like minded and passionate individuals. Highly recommended!

djbestphotos

When Rachelle first mentioned a photography trip to Bali, I knew I HAD to go.

When I first paid my deposit it was due to take place in 2021 but because of Covid, the trip was postponed to 2022. Rachelle kept us updated in a chat with the other photographers and we all agreed that it would be worth the wait. She helped us out with arranging the times of the flight and transfers from the airport and I arrived jet lagged and hungry and was immediately welcomed by my friends Rachelle and Mark, the photographers and models who I would be spending the next 9 days with. We stayed in a beautiful hill side villa with epic views of the valley below. Each morning the staff cooked delicious breakfasts and every evening whether we were at the villa or eating after shooting at a location, the food and drink was top notch.

Rachelle and Mark had spent ages researching and scouting the locations knowing the best times to shoot to get the best light and to pack as much in as possible without feeling rushed.

We were taken in minibuses or 4 by 4s to each location and the 3 models and Rachelle were amazing. Shooting never feels rushed and we shot in epic locations at black sand beaches, rice paddies, waterfalls, a plane, temples and in the jungle. Each place had been carefully thought out and even though my camera malfunctioned because of the humidity, Mark and Rachelle helped me to get it fixed so that I could carry on shooting and I didn't have to rely on my backup camera body. One thing I will say about Bali the island is: be prepared to be stuck in traffic for a lot longer than you think you will be. Rachelle and Mark had factored all of this in time to journey times and kept us updated of when and where we'd be at different times and when and where we'd be eating and shooting.

Rachelle, ably assisted by Mark, makes the whole experience unforgettable. Her vision of what each location could be turns out even better than I had imagined. One place in particular was the Alas Harum Bali Swing on a REALLY hot and humid day, where our lunch spot was an elevated swimming pool and that feeling of swimming in the cool water relaxing with a beer at lunch was incredible.

An amazing experience, highly highly recommended. Whether Rachelle's events are in the UK or abroad I never have any doubts about how brilliant they will be from the models, to the locations, to the accommodation to the food.

Photonest

Summers Abroad plans and organizes small-group photo-shoots in exotic locations. And they are excellent, providing everything from pick-up and drop-off at the airport to local transport to well-planned shooting locations, securing of models, fine meals and comfortable accommodations. I have attended two Summers Abroad events and look forward to attending my third one in 2023. Anyone who wants a thrilling several days or a week should attend a Summers Abroad event.

MattB

If you like taking photos of top-notch models, impeccably styled and in fantastic locations, then look no further than Summers Abroad (yes, they also do UK-based events). I had a great couple of days working with a number of excellent models (most of whom I'd not worked with before), all fantastically well organised by Rachelle and Mark. You can tell they've put the preparation in when you take part in one of these events, and you also know you'll be working with a nice bunch of photographers and happy models trying to create the best images you can together. Such a good weekend, and so happy with the images!

Mark Abel

I have attended a number of Summers Abroad events both here in the UK and in Europe and the reason I continue to re-book is very simple: Rachelle puts a lot of effort into each event to ensure that they deliver lots of creative opportunities whilst also being very enjoyable.

Rachelle's latest event, Artistic Licence, was in my opinion her best yet and was simply off the scale. A great location with decor to suit all the themes, super styling and make-up and a stellar line up of models who all delivered brilliantly.

Well done to all. It was a triumph.