Sunday Retreat Case Study: Capturing Their Latest Linen Range in a Blink

Sunday Retreat is a Melbourne-born haven for ethically crafted home linens—everything from buttery-soft duvet covers and towels to cozy table linens that transform everyday moments into quiet luxuries (sundayretreat.com.au). Their brand story is rooted in nostalgia: inspired by childhood Sundays filled with laughter, tickles, and slow-release comfort, Sunday Retreat believes in threading warmth, quality, and sustainability into your home.

The Brief

We were brought in to photograph their latest collection—linens that stand out for texture, tone, and mindful design. The goal was to create a set of images that felt authentic to the Sunday Retreat lifestyle: warm, natural, and inviting. The challenge? Just half a day was allocated to capture the entire range, from intimate product details to styled lifestyle shots.

The Challenge

With twelve distinct setups and roughly 15 minutes per scene, efficiency became our best friend. Each shot needed to highlight not only the beauty of the fabric but also the relaxed, effortless atmosphere Sunday Retreat is known for. Planning, quick transitions, and tight coordination between talent, styling, and lighting were essential to keeping the shoot flowing.

Lighting Strategy

Our priority was to achieve a look that mirrored natural daylight—soft, balanced, and true to the product. Outside, we relied on a broad light source to replicate the sun, while indoors, smaller fill lights were used to keep exposure even without sacrificing mood. The intention was simple: let the linens breathe, glow, and tell their own story without feeling overly polished or artificial.

Technical Blockbuster

Photographing linens in action—ruffled, folded, or gently moved by the models—meant motion blur was a lurking risk. To counter this, we used a high shutter speed in tandem with Profoto and Godox units, whose fast flash duration froze movement beautifully. This approach ensured sharpness right in camera, cutting down the need for heavy-handed post-production later.

Post Production Philosophy

The editing stage was guided by one principle: keep it natural. We removed only the smallest distractions—minor creases, surface marks, and subtle skin blemishes—while retaining the textures and details that make Sunday Retreat’s linens so inviting. By keeping retouching light, we were able to deliver polished, authentic imagery to the client quickly and efficiently.