Finally some of the Scotland Retreat
Scotland Retreat with That Tog Spot – A Photographer’s Dream
Let me introduce you to something truly special—the photography retreat everyone wants to sign up for: this year the Scotland Retreat by That Tog Spot. With only 20 spaces available, it's damn near impossible to snag a spot. Jess announces the date and time tickets will go on sale, and from that moment on, it’s a countdown. As soon as the clock hits, everyone refreshes their browsers, racing to be one of the lucky 20. The stress is real—but so worth it.
I was lucky.
Once you’re in, the waiting game begins. It’s almost a year out, and the anticipation just builds. I always head to the UK 7–14 days early, just in case—flights, weather, connections… anything can go sideways, and I’m not about to miss it.
I can’t speak for future retreats, but so far, they’ve been all-inclusive, and I mean everything: accommodation, food, transport, support staff, models, and locations. Jess runs a tight ship, and every detail is planned to perfection. This year, Dan not only handled dogs and drove one of the minibuses as usual, he made sure we were all fed on the road at lunch(shoutout to Dan's lunch game). Rhys was the second driver, handler, and general man friday. Jess and Sophia were always on hand with instruction, support, and tech help—never far if you needed guidance on composition, camera settings, or just a bit of creative reassurance.
The group is split into two minibuses of 10, then into subgroups of five. Jess takes care to balance the dynamics—pairing more experienced photographers with those still building confidence, making sure everyone has someone to learn from and someone to lean on.
The days are long—think locations before sunrise and not returning until after sunset; hiking up mountains or walking miles along a beach—but every moment is meticulously planned. From the minute details of timing and light to the personalities of the dogs we shoot, everything is designed to set you up for success and help you grow as a photographer. While I haven’t finished editing all of the images just yet (they’re coming, I promise!), I wanted to share a little glimpse into what we got up to and why it was such a special week.
As part of the retreat, we had the opportunity to photograph a variety of dog models in some truly breathtaking locations. We’d promised those models (and their humans!) images from the shoots, so I've been focusing on getting those done first. It’s been a joy to edit and deliver those shots—they were absolute stars.
We began the retreat at the stunning Cally Palace, a grand and historic hotel nestled in the Dumfries and Galloway countryside. I’ll jump to day 2 as that was when we first worked with the models. Armed with a breakfast togo, a flask of tea and Dan’s amazing premade lunch we set off to a windswept beach framed by dramatic basalt and granite rock formations, with offshore islands scattered along the horizon. It was the perfect way to dive into the week: fresh sea air, crashing waves, and dogs loving every moment.
The second shoot of day 2 took place in the tranquil woodland within the Cally Palace grounds. Moss-covered trees, soft light, and the peaceful hush of the forest created a fairytale atmosphere. Later that afternoon, we moved to the expansive lawn of the Cally Palace for an action-packed session. with the Dalmatians zooming across the grass in golden light—it was high-energy, full of laughter, and an ideal way to end the day.
Day three started with a bit of an adventure—a long uphill hike through sheep fields and over stone walls, eventually leading us to a remote loch high above the moorland below. The effort was absolutely worth it. The views were breathtaking, and the loch, surrounded by wild grasses, heather and open sky, created a magical backdrop for photographing some truly beautiful dogs.
From there, we made our way to Barstobrick Equestrian Centre for an equine shoot with Rose Foley, a dressage rider on the horsescotland Performance Programme. Rose and her horses were an absolute dream to photograph—elegant, strong, and totally in sync. We also took the opportunity to shoot in the surrounding fields, where we had stunning views of Nelson’s Tower in the distance. (Though to be fair, I think I only managed to get one shot with the tower actually in frame—but hey, it still counts!)
There’s much more to share but for now, here’s just a little taste—and a big thank you to the incredible people (and pups!) who made this retreat so memorable.
Stay tuned!