Losing my online job in Seville was never part of the plan. At the time, I honestly thought I had everything more or less figured out. I was living in Spain, working remotely, enjoying the sunshine, and slowly building a life that actually felt right for me.

Then my company offered me a permanent contract. Sounds great, right? Well… there was one condition. I had to move back to the Netherlands full-time. And that was the problem. I love the Netherlands. It will always feel familiar to me. But after building a life in Spain, the idea of returning permanently felt wrong. Almost like taking ten steps backwards after finally finding some freedom. So I said no. At that moment, saying no felt like the right thing to do. Until a few hours later when reality kicked in and I suddenly realized: Oh no. I just quit my job.

Starting over in Seville

The strange thing is that I had already been thinking about freelancing for a while. Photography kept pulling at me. Travel photography, food photography, storytelling, people, atmosphere. Every time I picked up a camera, it felt more natural than sitting behind a laptop answering emails all day. The only problem was this tiny little detail: I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I did not have a business plan. I did not have a strategy. I did not even have a proper niche yet. I just knew I wanted something more creative. And honestly, when you suddenly lose the safety of a steady income, your brain starts producing approximately 46 panic scenarios per minute. One evening, while overthinking my entire future like a true professional, I somehow ended up on Steve McCurry’s website. That was the moment everything changed. He was offering a photography workshop in Rome together with Eolo Perfido. The 2024 workshops were already fully booked. But there were still spots available for 2025. The moment I saw the workshop, I got excited immediately. It felt completely like something I would love, and before I knew it, I had already booked it.

From “I Don’t Know” to “Let’s See What Happens”

I’d been thinking about going freelance, but I didn’t know what direction to take. I love photography—especially travel and food— but I wasn’t sure how to shape that into a business. The possibilities felt endless and overwhelming. Then one night, I found myself on Steve McCurry’s website. He was offering a photography workshop in Rome. Two dates. One city. Fully booked for 2024, but 2025? Still open. I didn’t hesitate.

Booking the workshop

The second I booked the workshop, I felt excited immediately. This was exactly the kind of experience I love. Photography, travel, Rome, learning from incredible photographers… honestly, it sounded perfect to me. For me, traveling solo was nothing new. I had already traveled to many places alone before, so getting on a plane to Rome did not feel scary at all. What made it exciting was the workshop itself. It felt like the start of something new creatively, and that feeling stayed with me from the moment I booked it.

Discovering Eolo Perfido

At first, I mainly focused on Steve McCurry because, honestly, everybody knows Steve McCurry. His photographs are legendary. But then I started looking into Eolo Perfido’s work. Completely different style. Completely different energy. And that made it even more interesting. His photography felt raw, cinematic, powerful, and incredibly creative. What also fascinated me was how many different worlds he works in. From black and white street photography to commercials and new technology, his work constantly pushes creative boundaries. The contrast between both photographers made the workshop even more interesting because you were seeing two completely different ways of looking at the world.

The new camera disaster

Now here comes the part that still makes me laugh. Right before the workshop, I bought a Sony A7 III. Very exciting. Very professional. And completely unfamiliar. There was only one tiny issue. I had barely used it. So there I was, arriving in Rome for a photography workshop with internationally known photographers while still trying to figure out half the buttons on my camera. Nothing builds character faster than accidentally changing settings you do not understand in the middle of a workshop. At one point I genuinely had to stop and think: Why did I do this to myself? But strangely enough, it turned out to be a good thing. Because I could not rely on comfort or routine. I had to slow down, pay attention, and really think about every photograph I took. And maybe that was exactly what I needed.

Preparing for Rome

I was not the kind of person who arrived with a giant shooting schedule and color-coded planning sheets. I mostly arrived with ideas. I knew I wanted to photograph Rome quietly. Not the loud tourist version with giant crowds and people waving selfie sticks in every direction. I wanted soft morning light. Small everyday moments. Shadowy alleyways. Old men reading newspapers outside cafés. Scooters passing through narrow streets. That kind of atmosphere. Rome itself was already high on my list, and I was especially curious to experience the city through photography during the workshop. Rome has this strange way of feeling chaotic and peaceful at exactly the same time. That balance fascinated me from the start.

More than just a workshop

Looking back now, I realize the workshop became much bigger than photography. It was the first real step toward rebuilding my life creatively after losing my job. At the time, I thought I was simply booking a photography experience in Italy. But it became something else entirely. It gave me direction again. Not in a dramatic movie scene kind of way where suddenly everything makes sense and inspirational music starts playing in the background. More in a realistic way. It reminded me that sometimes you do not need a perfect five-year plan. Sometimes you just need one decision that moves you forward instead of backward. And for me, that decision was Rome. This is only the beginning of the story. In the next blogs, I will share more about the workshop itself, photographing in Rome, learning from Steve McCurry and Eolo Perfido, and everything that happened behind the scenes during those unforgettable days in Italy. Disclaimer: This article reflects my personal experience during the Steve McCurry and Eolo Perfido workshop in Rome. All opinions and experiences shared are entirely my own, written with respect and admiration for both photographers.