It’s “figureoutable”: NEW world? The Food Photography ESCAPE?

How did I end up in Portugal? How I was in quarantine with The Nomad Escape crew for more than 3 months? Why I launched the food photography escape?

Healthy Laura Food Photography & Styling @healthylauracomFOODIE NOMAD TRIP copy

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Maybe you went into the quarantine with an online business.

Or maybe you just opened your online business during isolation. 

Either way, I guess you have had some time to think through your life and goals and want to achieve something.

Food Photography Retreat by Healthy Laura Food Photography & Styling @healthylauracom HealthyLaura (www.healthylaura.com

So how do you keep the momentum going? 

My online business changed completely when I surrounded myself with like-minded people who are obsessed with the online world. 

Healthy-Laura (on the left in red) & Michelle (on the right) The-Nomad-Escape

Me (on the left in red shirt) & Michelle from the Netherlands (The Co-Founder of The Nomad Escape on the right)

Yes, I mean all the online world “nerds” (in a good way)!

Think of online business owners, software engineers, digital marketers, strategy consultants, media buyers, brand strategists, PR & communication advisors, project managers, virtual assistants, music producers, videographers, photographers, bloggers, graphic designers, copywriters and many more.

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How did I end up in Portugal?⠀⠀

Maybe you are already familiar with that story since you follow me on Instagram @healthylauracom.

However, since some are not familiar with the whole story, then I felt like I need to write it all down since I have been telling it already for soooooo many times. BUT people are still asking how did it happen. 

SO here it is!

Me (on the right) & Andreas from Sweden (Videographer & The Co-Founder of The Nomad Escape on the left)

It’s a crazy story. It still feels unreal. Like a movie. But it’s real. 

I have no idea where it’s going to end or if there should even be an end. It’s a journey & I like to think that it’s figureoutable.

Flight & aviation leaflets

I was in quarantine with The Nomad Escape crew for more than 3 months and I was very aware that I was in a very fortunate situation in these hard times! My quarantine was full of masterminds, skill shares, good food, connection sessions, and endless brainstorming sessions in my yoga pants. 

From the back (Federico from Italy, Hossam from Israel, Kurt from Malta, Andreas from Sweden, Me, Sabrina from Portugal, Marcus from the UK, Rachel from the US, Ronell from South-Africa & Michelle from the Netherlands)

All the up-to-date online world knowledge you CAN’T study in school!

Healthy Laura @healthylauracomIMG_2685

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Travel alone? One of the best decisions I made in my life. 

In the end of 2018. I made a decision. I want to travel alone. 

In 2019, I prepared myself to be able to travel alone.

In the end of 2019 I made my final decision. 

I’m going. Period. No excuses.

Where? I don’t know. Yet. 

Maybe somewhere in Spain? Let’s start with Europe. 

I decided to back up my apartment before I made up my mind. I repeated myself I have made my decision. 

Sounds like I’m crazy. BUT I decided to trust my intuition. Once I made that decision, then the same day I saw one post in Facebook group. All the keywords I needed were there:

  • REMOTE WORK
  • TRAVEL
  • THE NOMAD ESCAPE
  • FREEDOM

Sounds too good to be true. BUT I was willing to try! I read the information & I signed up straight away. I felt that in my gut that I need this in my life. 

No excuses. 

A quick video call with The Nomad Escape full of positive energy. They wanted me to join the team. YESSSSSS!

Decided. 

Done. 

I told my friends & family. I’m going. See ya soon!

2-WEEKS “Vacation” became 4-MONTHS “Staycation” (End? UNKNOWN)

In the beginning of March 2020, I SUPPOSE to have a 2-weeks trip with The Nomad Escape in the Azores islands. I traveled alone in Portugal and then met a group of digital nomads there. 

Everyone there was from a different countries all over the world! The ONE common thing was that they can ….

… all work remotely or have an online business + they love to travel!

From the left (Healthy Laura, Sabrina & Ronell) at the Nomad Escape Trip

From the left (Me, Sabrina from Portugal & Ronell from Cape Town)

We had ….

  • a software house owner (Israel)
  • a software engineer (Italy)
  • a brand strategist (Malta)
  • PR & communication advisors (South-Africa)
  • a digital marketer and business owner (Netherlands)
  • a videographer and business owner (Sweden)
  • a copywriter (US)
  • a tourism & language specialist (Portugal)
  • & me (ex-lawyer who became a food photographer/ food blogger/ online business owner from Estonia).

It felt like I entered to another world. NEW world. 

Something that I have been looking for years!

Everyone was working behind their laptops and making video calls. 

@healthylauracom Instagram TV (IGTV)

@healthylauracom Instagram TV (IGTV)

Imagine a villa full of remote workers who speak 9 different languages mixed with English at the same time! 

In the evenings & weekends, we explored the outdoors or cooked something together with a group. Brainstorm about ideas in while we enjoy the morning workout or hike in the canyon.

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It was perfect!  

… and then it was a lockdown …. 

… everywhere … 

… confused …

I got a call from home: 

“Today is the final day to come back home.”

“Okay, that’s fine. My whole plan was to stay in Portugal for 2-3 months. I’m staying!”

“Are you sure? You are crazy!?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

I had a call with my dear father and he told me: “Of course, stay there! You are in the best spot in the world for this situation! Just enjoy the moments there & learn!” 

YES! Indeed, I am.

Healthy-Laura-Food-Photography-Styling-@healthylauracom-

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We extended the 2-weeks trip for another 2-weeks.

2 peoples took the last flight back home & the 7 of us decided to stay together.

I also posted a new blog post HERE, many Instagram stories @healthylauracom & told myself that everything is figureoutable.

@healthylauracom Instagram TV (IGTV)

@healthylauracom Instagram TV (IGTV)

After about 2-weeks in the Azores …. we got kicked out of the hotel we were staying. 

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They closed the hotel. What?

It became real. We were in the bubble for a while. When we started the trip, then we were making silly jokes “It’s not a nomad escape, it’s corona escape!” Azores were basically the last place in Europe where they didn’t find any cases.

The reality hit us. Suddenly the jokes became a reality. It wasn’t that funny anymore.

One flight after another was cancelled. Which air companies still fly? Google + google + calls. Obviously, getting touch with a customer service was another challenge. Somehow, I even felt a little bit happy because I didn’t really want to fly anyways. Azores islands were stunning!

That’s okay. We will figure something out. We can still camp, right?! Panic mode = camping gear?

We still managed to stay in another house for extra two weeks. The owners were extra nice! Thank you! Probably they felt sorry for us. 

BUT after that? Hotels & guests houses are closed & car rentals don’t like to rent out the cars anymore. It’s a full lockdown. 

New plan. It’s figureoutable! Just stay calm. 

Somehow in 6-hours, we managed to book the last tickets back to Portugal’s mainland & the next moment, we were on the flight to Lisbon and driving to Algarve (South Portugal). 

 

We were fortunate that our group member has contacts in Algarve & we managed to go there. 

Right now I might describe it a little bit dramatic. BUT the truth is that when you are in that moment & you have no idea what’s coming, then it’s a different story. 

We arrived safely to Algarve to quarantine the whole group. The whole traveling at the end of March & April was a new experience. A lot of thermometers, hand sanitizers and social distancing. Most of the people around you are on panic mode. 

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Still in Portugal … 

Right now, I’m still living together with a group of digital nomads in the same building who are specialists in their field. 

Yes, I mean all the online world nerd! Think of online business owners, software engineers, digital marketers, strategy consultants, media buyers, brand strategists, PR & communication advisors, project managers, virtual assistants, music producers, videographers, photographers, bloggers, graphic designers, copywriters and many more.⠀

Jobs that didn’t exist 30 years ago. OR at least didn’t exist on this format. ⠀

Remote work & Food Photography Retreat by Healthy Laura Food Photography Styling @healthylauracom HealthyLaura www.healthylaura.com

It’s like an online business incubator where the magic happens. I try my best to make the most out of this situation. I know that this dream might end. But now is the moment for me to enjoy it. I try my best to learn as much as possible.

I was in quarantine with the group of nomads for more than three months and I was very aware that I was in a very fortunate situation in these hard times!

Now I would like to give back. 

Why retreat? Are you crazy?

I decided to give back to my audience to offer them the experience I had. It’s unforgettable & I can’t even describe it! You have to experience it.

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*We are aware of the current health and safety regulations regards to COVID-19 and respect all the restrictions made by any government. We have a full refund policy! More information when you send your applications. We will post-pone this event if there are any restrictions.

Healthy Laura @healthylauracom Food Photographer & Stylist Laura Kuklase9

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Why is the price so low? 

Yes, workshops, masterminds, accommendation, food and transport to the explore Portugal are included! It’s a retreat! But it’s the first time I’m doing this kind of retreat with the Nomad Escape. It might never happen again. We are testing it out to see if there’s a future. Right now it feels like there is since the feedback and excitement I get in my inbox is something I didn’t expect! We are happy if we break even with the first retreat. After that we will raise the price. 

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So, are you ready to escape the ordinary?

And if you just entered into the online business, this will make you stand out from most of them. 

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How Do I Join The Food Photography Escape? 

  1. Click HERE to watch the introduction video.
  2. Subscribe to my retreat list.
  3. Get an automatic email about the retreat + read all the information (if you have any questions or problems, then send me a message on Instagram @healthylauracom or email [email protected] ).
  4. Fill out an application. 
  5. We review your application (max. 3 working days).
  6. Quick phone interview (15 minutes). Okay, maybe 30 minutes since the calls I have had so far were so fun that we couldn’t stop chatting!)
  7. See if you’re approved! (1 day) 

Food Photography Retreat by Healthy Laura @healthylauracom & The Nomad Escape21

Click HERE to get the information & watch the introduction VIDEO about my food photography retreat with the Nomad Escape (not just a workshop).

LIMITED SPOTS! We already have reservations from Sweden, Mauritius, United Kingdom & Canada! So excited for the upcoming retreat & I can’t wait to talk to you all! 

Stay strong!

Laura 

FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY escape

Not just a food photography workshop!

Join photography workshops, masterminds & create social media content for the next 3-6 months! Explore the stunning outdoors!

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