Traveling and Working with Your Camera: Dream or Reality?
2 months in Bali and 10 campaigns after...
Ever since I can remember I’ve dreamed of traveling the world.
When Instagram became really popular, I found myself following countless influencers and photographers who seemed to be living the dream—working while traveling. But I couldn’t help but wonder: Is this real? Or just another social media illusion? Is it actually possible to make this work without having a million followers—or a million dollars?
Back in Buenos Aires, I was studying psychology. I had always loved photography, but I never thought I’d do it professionally. That all changed during my trip to Australia, where I reconnected with this passion and after building a portfolio from scratch, I finally started booking my first paid gigs. Around the same time, I began noticing photographers producing campaigns for brands in breathtaking destinations—completely remotely. My mind was blown. My two biggest passions, photography and travel, suddenly collided, and I knew I had to try it for myself.
The first destination that came to mind (and the one I had dream of going ever since I watched “Eat, Pray, Love” at 15yo) was Bali.
Turning an Idea into a Plan
When traveling to Bali to do remote productions went from being an idea to an actual plan, it was April and I was in Argentina. The trip was set for August, just before the spring/summer season —perfect timing to pitch to brands in Argentina and Australia (my home country and the country where I’ve been living for the past four years).
I started by putting together a PDF proposal that included a mood board, photos of Bali, possible models, and my portfolio. The goal was to help brands visualize the campaign and decide if they wanted to be part of the trip.
This part came easily—I had a clear vision of the type of campaigns I wanted to produce and knew the resources Bali could offer. I also reached out to model agencies I was already in contact with. But pitching to brands? That was more challenging. Many were interested, but as soon as rates were mentioned, they ghosted.
After weeks of back-and-forth, countless emails, and a few meetings, I “secured” five productions, one for an Argentinian brand and the rest for Australian brands. Or so I thought…
Adjusting Expectations
Of course, things didn’t go exactly as planned. The Argentinian brand’s deal was closed only one day before my flight — just in time to bring some of the bikinis with me but still a very stressful timing — and two Australian brands backed out when my friend, who was supposed to bring their products to Bali, canceled her trip, and they didn’t want to cover international shipping costs. That left me with only three confirmed productions for my first month.
Despite the hiccups, I had clear goals for this trip:
Work with at least three brands.
Connect with creative people.
Push myself out of my comfort zone.
Bali Time - August
My first shoot in Bali was a creative test with Emma, a model from Barcelona, who I already connected with while I was in Australia, but we never got to shoot together. We spent a morning at Nunggalan Beach in Uluwatu — a stunning beach with a super steep cliff descent (which was definitely challenging) but when we finally got down there it was beautiful and empty, and we got some really great shots.
Next shoot was the first part of a 2 day campaign for Calipsian, an Argentinian swimwear brand. We shot 36 looks with 2 models at Dreamland Beach in Uluwatu. This is probably the shoot that most pre-production required, but this story deserves it’s own post in my newsletter so I’ll share all the details here soon. Stay tuned for that one!
CLICK HERE if you want to check out the results.
Shoot number three was with By Mija, an Australian resortwear brand who produces the most beautiful knitted dresses. This was a mini-shoot of only an hour and a half where we shot 3 dresses but lots of content. As it was such a small production the pre and post was super easy and I really enjoyed the overall process.
CLICK HERE if you want to check out the results.
The fourth shoot was a big one for me: working with Ghanda, one of my favorite Australian brands. Shooting with Antonella, a Peruvian model, made the experience even more meaningful. Collaborating with another Latin American creative so far from home felt super special.
CLICK HERE if you want to check out the results.
On top of these productions, I collaborated with a Hotel in Ubud creating three days of content with three models. Hotel photography is definitely something I’d love to keep exploring as it pairs very well with these kind of trips.
August ended, and honestly, It felt busier than I thought I’d be. As I was producing these campaigns and constantly communicating with the clients to make sure everything was perfect, I was editing and pitching for the month of September. So there was more “work” than “holiday” time during the month.
Bali Time - September
For this new month, my friend Jenbo (freelance model & creative director) and I joined forces to build proposals together (In contrast with my august campaigns, where I pitched different models from a Bali agency). We booked six campaigns, plus a seventh one once she arrived in Bali. All but one were Australian brands, and she brought the clothes with her, which simplified logistics.
Building the PDFs and choosing brands together was so much fun. Having that extra support and someone to share production tasks with made the process much smoother.
Initially, we planned to complete the seven campaigns in ten days since many were mini or half-day shoots. However, after some unexpected challenges—like my camera being splashed by a big wave or nearly passing out climbing a cliff at 1 p.m.—we decided to extend Jenbo’s trip. Slowing down allowed us to enjoy the process and produce even better results.
CLICK HERE or HERE if you want to check out the results.
In September, I also completed the second day of production for Calipsian, the Argentinian brand I had worked with last month. Although originally planned for August, delays in shipping and a big storm that disrupted our schedule caused the shoot to be postponed to September.
CLICK HERE if you want to check out the results.
September was crazy. Between juggling seven campaigns, handling last-minute changes, and navigating unexpected challenges like equipment issues and tight schedules, it felt like a whirlwind. On top of that, I had some personal situations come up that added an extra layer of stress to an already packed month. By the time Jenbo left Bali, I knew I needed a break to recharge. I decided to spend a quiet week in Ubud, taking time for myself to relax and reflect before heading back home to Buenos Aires. That week was a much needed pause—a chance to soak in the serene atmosphere, enjoy slow mornings, and prepare for the next chapter with a clearer mind.
Traveling and Working with Your Camera: Dream or Reality?
After trying it myself and speaking with others I met in Bali who are doing the same, I can confidently say that traveling and making a living from photography IS possible. Here are some key takeaways from my experience:
Working and traveling is possible but not without a lot of effort and persistence.
It’s really important to create a budget beforehand and understand how much the trip will cost so you can set your rates to not only cover expenses but also pay yourself for the work you’re doing.
The trip is 10% holiday and 90% work. Not everything you see in social media is real.. or better said, we usually choose to show only the highlights. Truth is, reality includes countless hours of admin work, planning, and coordination to make a trip like this happen.
While being in paradise sounds incredible, there’s a lot nobody tells you: the stress of organizing productions in a foreign country with different laws, customs, and language barriers can be overwhelming.
Time zone differences can make communication with clients tricky, often extending your workdays to accommodate their schedules.
Shit happens.. Things will go wrong—usually at the worst possible moment. You have to be ready for anything, stay proactive, and think creatively to solve problems on the spot.
Your proposal needs to be strong, from the concept to the moodboard to the location & model suggestions. Not every destination will resonate with every brand at any moment, so thorough research is essential.
Focus on quality over quantity when pitching. Identify brands that can genuinely benefit from the specific destination you are going to and craft personalized proposals that consider their aesthetic, audience, and needs.
Trips like this are always a challenge, but the reward is unbeatable. Seeing the stunning final results and knowing your client is thrilled makes all the hard work worth it.
..and that’s it for this comeback post to Substack. Coming soon: the behind-the-scenes of many of these campaigns, how to build a proposal, working with agency models vs working with one model for the same trip, and a very special interview!
Flor
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