Travel Photographer in Los Angeles and Abroad, Emily Winnie
As a travel photographer in Los Angeles, I’m lucky enough to photograph incredible women in unforgettable places—and this time, I had the honor of capturing magic in Bali. I recently joined Solo Female Traveler’s Club as the photographer on one of their epic group trips and documented the beauty, adventure, and connection that unfolded over nine incredible days (plus two on my own before joining the group). From lush jungle temples to peaceful spa moments, here’s a peek inside this amazing journey through my eyes and lens.
Alas Harum & Spa Day Bliss
The trip kicked off in Ubud with a day of exploring the city and relaxing by the pool, followed by an early morning shoot for myself at Alas Harum—a stunning spot that began as a coffee plantation and has transformed into a dreamy club-like destination with pools, restaurants, and endless photo ops. Even though I always feel awkward being in front of the camera, I think it’s important to be photographed at least once a year, both to capture amazing memories of whatever place I’m visiting and also to help remind me what it’s like to be a photography client. After that, I treated myself to a luxurious 5-hour spa day. Bliss! Here are some photos from my photoshoot with Bali Image Photography…
Temples & Spiritual Life
After meeting up with the group of very cool women I’d be photographing over the next 9 days, we immersed ourselves in Balinese culture, guided by our amazing local host Henni and Mar, our fearless leader and one of the owners of SFT. We started by visiting three ancient temples, most dating back to the 10th or 11th century. The architecture and energy were breathtaking. This part of the trip gave me the chance to slow down, observe, and photograph the deeply rooted spiritual life that flows through the island. We also had an amazing Balinese lunch that was so beautifully presented and absolutely delicious!
Foraging, Cooking & Water Purification Ceremony
One of the most unique days included a forest foraging tour with a local chef. We tasted native plants (yes—I tried durian!) and learned traditional Balinese cooking techniques. Later that day, we participated in a water purification ceremony, where holy water washed away fear and negativity as we asked the Gods to bless us.
Monkey Forest, Rice Fields & Temples
We explored the peaceful Sangeh Monkey Forest (less chaotic than Ubud’s!) before wandering through the breathtaking Jatiluwih rice terraces and visiting the serene Pura Ulun Danu Lake Temple. These were some of my favorite places to photograph—quiet, expansive, and alive with natural color.
Pools, Waterfalls & Storms
After a morning shoot at the hotel pool, we visited GitGit Waterfall and settled into a hotel on the north coast. We had a workshop on how to make the offerings Balinese women make every. morning for their homes and businesses, and then I got a massage by the beach as a tropical storm rolled in—rain and ocean waves combined into the perfect natural soundtrack. Travel never goes 100% according to plan, and that’s part of the adventure.
Lava Fields, Temples & Beach Clubs
The weather threw us a curveball, so a few things had to be canceled, but we pivoted beautifully. A Land Rover tour of ancient lava fields gave us dramatic scenery to photograph, and I squeezed in some editing time. The next day, we visited Bali’s largest and most sacred temple—Besakih—before stopping at a beach club for some lounging time and then heading to the iconic Potato Head Beach Club for our last two nights.
A Perfect Ending
Our final day included more pool time, massages (yes, again!), a sound healing session that melted into a nap, rooftop happy hour, and a farewell dinner. The next morning I did a shoot with Mar and Henni. This trip was such a beautiful reminder of why I do what I do—capturing the magic of new places, shared experiences, and powerful moments of connection.
Whether I’m shooting in Culver City or halfway across the world, being a travel photographer in Los Angeles allows me to bring stories to life with my lens. I’m so grateful to be part of the Solo Female Travelers community and can’t wait to photograph the next adventure!
Interested in working with a travel photographer in Los Angeles for your next trip or retreat? Let’s chat
