Preparing for your weekend in Arizona at the Rooted Retreat
This is a guest blog post by Suzy Goodrick, Rad Documentary Style Photographer who will be documenting the 2022 Rooted Retreat in Phoenix, AZ.
Hey Babes, I’m Suzy!
I’ll be attending the Rooted Retreat and participating in the rad breakouts Dara has lined up for us.
I’ll be one of the crew, staying on-site, and spending my time with y’all! I’ll also have my camera as a sidekick and will be taking casual, candid photos throughout the weekend.
This retreat is a vacation, an intentional weekend away to recenter and recharge. We’ll be rockin’ sweat pants and swimsuits and air-dried hair. I want you to fully be yourselves and allow me the privilege to capture you as you are.
I don’t take your invitation lightly, it’s a sacred moment to be seen through the lens of a camera. I hope you’ll get to know me and trust me when I say, I’m here to capture the real and raw you.
I’m here to capture the event so that you don’t have to; so that you can be present and enjoy every single moment and allow someone else the role of photographer.
A few tips for staying in the moment and being natural in front of the camera:
~ During group activities, leave your phone in your room. When the urge comes up to snap a photo or remember a moment, say “Hey Suzy, would you mind snapping a photo of us?” I’m here to serve you and capture all the moments, seen and unseen.
~ Do your best to stay present. I know it’s easier said than done, but let’s try to be so present in our bodies and souls that we forget about our insecurities and “how we look.” I’m here to get the best angle and make you look good babe.
~ Get to know me. I’m a chill babe who will be at the retreat as an attendee as well! So let’s have a coffee together and get to know each other! A few things to get us started; I’m an enneagram 4 wing 3, INJF, wedding photographer here in Phoenix, obsessed with local coffee, big fan of charcuterie, Disneyland fan, and live music junkie.
A few things to know about the Arizona desert:
Average temps for late September in the Phoenix area will land somewhere in the upper 90’s. The southwest is home to sunny skies and dry heat, so be sure to pack sunscreen, a hat, a refillable water bottle, and those sunglasses. The upper 90’s can sound a bit intimidating, but with ample air conditioning indoors and the pool outdoors, it’ll be a breeze – I promise.
The evenings in the desert are stunning. The nights will be in the mid 70’s. Bring a cozy sweater for indoors and a light layer for outdoors.
Hydrate before coming to Arizona. Drink lots of water the days leading up to the retreat. This will help prepare your body to be in the heat. No need to overdo it, just hydrate a bit more than normal. If you want to take the extra step, pack a few hydration/electrolyte tablets (like liquid IV) and drink those beforehand and/or pack a few for the weekend!
Packing List
For the pool: swimsuit, sandals, hat, refillable water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen
For the house: journal, pen, comfy clothes, facial moisturizer
I’m pumped to meet you and share the Arizona desert with you! See you soon!
Suzy Goodrick, Documentary Style Photographer
That’s right, you don’t even need to capture your own Rooted Retreat memories, Suzy will be taking care of that!
Suzy views photography as visual storytelling. She prefers capturing real moments in a non-intimidating way, ensuring that the resulting photographs reflect the true essence of the moment.
Suzy is an intimate wedding photographer for lovers and the occasional rebels. She’s all about getting to know you and making the entire photography experience relaxing, stress-free, and way less intimidating. Your nerves will melt away while she makes your photos feel like the most natural thing ever.
After Rooted, you’ll be gifted with the retreat photo gallery to cherish the trip long after you’re home.
